“Magistratesandlawyers；relationsandfriends；enduranceofinjuries，patience，hope，andhonestwork——Ihadtriedallthese，andtriedthemvainly。LookroundmewhereImight，theprospectwasclosedonallsides。
“Atthistimemyhusbandhadgotalittleworktodo。Hecamehomeoutoftemperonenight，andIgavehimawarning。’Don’ttrymetoofar，Joel，foryourownsake，’wasallIsaid。Itwasoneofhissoberdays；and，forthefirsttime，awordfrommeseemedtohaveaneffectonhim。Helookedhardatmeforaminuteorso。Andthenhewentandsatdowninacorner，andheldhispeace。
“ThiswasonaTuesdayintheweek。OntheSaturdayhegotpaid，andthedrinkingfittookhimagain。
“OnFridayinthenextweekIhappenedtocomebacklate——havinghadagoodstrokeofworktodothatday，inthewayofcookingapublicdinnerforatavern-keeperwhoknewme。Ifoundmyhusbandgone，andthebedroomstrippedofthefurniturewhichIhadputintoit。Forthesecondtimehehadrobbedmeofmyownproperty，andhadturneditintomoneytobespentindrink。
“Ididn’tsayaword。Istoodandlookedroundtheemptyroom。