The Soldier's Wife — page 224: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE SOLDIER'S WIFE. 203 quarters of London. He however proved the| dwelt, and which he had purchased,—together most constant patron of his own malt and} with three thousand pounds in ready money spirituous liquors; and what with inattention to] She accordingly took up her abode there. te business through his intemperate habits, and | devote herself to the education of her son. But the fierce competition of a rival establishment, |it was destined that the widow and the orpha Mr. Langley in due time found himself utterly | of the murdered soldier were not much longer ruined, The brewers and distillers, who held|to breathe the air of this world: the former had his lease and a warrant of attorney over his|received a shock which it was impossible for goods, took possession of everything—while a) one who had loved so tenderly and so well, to couple of Sheriffs’ officers seized Mr. Langley’s | surmount — aud the seeds of decline slowly portly person and bore him away to Whitecross-| developed themselves on the part of the iatter. Street Piison. Thence he emerged after awhile; Three years after Lonsdale’s execution, Lucy by passing through the Insolvents’ Court; and was stretched upon the bed of death: but kind on thus obtaining his release, he sank down into/friends were there—and in her last moments avery degraded condition, his entire dependence |she was solaced by the assurance of Reginald being the wretched pittance of a pension he|/and Adela that her son should again find a home received from the Government. He continued | with them and become the object of their tender for a few years to haunt the tap-room of thejcare. Alas! she little thought how soon that public-house where he had once presided as the|well-beloved boy would be laid beside her in master; and there might he have been seen, |the silent grave !—she knew not that the hues spending his money freely when he had any—J|upon his cheeks were the death-roses of consump- cadging for beer and tobacco when he had none |tion! She expired in the hope that he might —and telling the most marvellous tales of his|live long to experience a happier destiny than travels and his exploits to all who would listen|his unfortunate sire had known; and her to him. At length he received an unlucky blow |remains were consigned to the same grave where on the head from a quart pot that was flung in|her husband lay in the churchyard at Middleton, a drunken row ; and being taken to the hospital,| Within two years from the second date graven he died in a few days. Thus ignominiously |on the stone which marked the resting-place ot perished the once magniloquent and redoubtable | Frederick and Lucy Lonsdale, the sod was Sergeant Langley. removed again—the earth was thrown up—the Lucy and her boy found a home at Clive Hall,| pit was hollowed to receive another shrouded and kind friends in those who were so generously |slumberer—and a third name was now inscribed interested in their behalf. The death of Mr.|upon the head-stone. Need we say whose Davis shor‘ly afterwards, put Lucy in possession |name it was? The son lay sleeping with his of the hovxe at Coventry where her father had | parents ! Eom O JOOKSHEO