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She added, that it was a rare thing indeed to ſee him ſober; for, not contented with gorging beer, he had of late grown very fond of drains; but ſhe fancied that he would ſoon have drank up his drink, for he had a power of complaints of late.
Mrs. Andrews was ſhocked at hearing a wife talk in this unfeeling manner of her huſband, and gently reproved Mary Sparks for doing ſo; who replied, Ah! Madam, you do not know what a trial it is to have a ſottish huſband. It is very true, that I do not know it by experience, anſwered the lady, but this I know, Mary, that no women ought to wiſh for her husband's death, as your expreſſion implies that you do, let me entreat of you to perform your duty by him, whether he does his by you or not; conſider how tender and ſolemn the tie is that binds you together. You have vowed, in the preſence of God, to love and to cheriſh your huſband, now is your time to ſhow that you do ſo, if his health is declining. Take care to have no cauſe to reproach yourſelf when he is dead for having neglected him. Mary promiſed that ſhe would do all in her power for him, and the lady left her to pursue her work; but could not help feeling a great deal of concern at the thoughts of a poor wretch, who, according to his wife's account, was in danger of putting a ſpeedy end to his own life, and who was to ill prepared for the next world,
