From Wealth to Poverty | Page 2

that I have only been animated with a sincere desire to do my little all to sweep the drink curse from our country and the world.
A. P.

CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
A Departure.
CHAPTER II.
Richard and Ruth Ashton.
CHAPTER III.
On the down grade.
CHAPTER IV.
Sail for America and meet a kindly welcome.
CHAPTER V.
Good resolution--A tempter and a fall.
CHAPTER VI.
Arrival in Canada--A friendly host--Applies for a situation.
CHAPTER VII.
Mr. and Mrs. Gurney.
CHAPTER VIII.
Ashton meets with friends and secures a situation.
CHAPTER IX.
Ruth's misgivings and mental agony.
CHAPTER X.
All in Canada.
CHAPTER XI.
Aunt Debie and her friends.
CHAPTER XII.
A worthy Sheriff and Judge--Dr. Dalton.
CHAPTER XIII.
Ruth Ashton's introduction to Aunt Debie--Ruth's dilemma.
CHAPTER XIV.
A happy home.
CHAPTER XV.
Mr. and Mrs. Gurney's satisfaction with Ashton-- Mutual congratulations.
CHAPTER XVI.
Ashton revisits old scenes.
CHAPTER XVII.
Mr. Howe gives his views in regard to Canada.
CHAPTER XVIII.
The banquet, and what followed.
CHAPTER XIX.
A startling newspaper item to Mr. and Mrs. Reid.
CHAPTER XX.
A base plot, and what it led to.
CHAPTER XXI.
Utterly broken--Blasted hopes.
CHAPTER XXII.
The Dunkin Act--A discussion in which strong language is used.
CHAPTER XXIII.
The conspirators formulating their scheme.
CHAPTER XXIV.
Alderman Toper's flattering opinion of the "Dodger".
CHAPTER XXV.
The friends of temperance rejoicing over their victory.
CHAPTER XXVI.
In which the reader listens to a tete-a-tete between mother and daughter.
CHAPTER XXVII.
Barton's despair, and what it led to.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
The conspirators perfecting the details of their conspiracy.
CHAPTER XXIX.
Mr. Brown's opinion of the trial, and the presiding magistrates.
CHAPTER XXX.
The insult to Allie Ashton--Her gallant defender.
CHAPTER XXXI.
Richard Ashton and little Mamie--Mamie's dream.
CHAPTER XXXII.
A bar-room settlement of a misunderstanding.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
The home and family of Morris--He nearly kills little Harry.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
Tom Flatt's hut--A description of the scene in which he murders his wife.
CHAPTER XXXV.
John, jun.'s wedding--Barton's murder--Luella Sealy's suicide and Ginsling's tragical death.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
Some of the characters who helped the repeal-- A hoodlum's victory.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
Death of little Mamie--A promise.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
Richard Ashton murderously attacked--His death.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
Mr. Gurney speaks his mind--Death of Dr. Dalton And Aunt Debie.
CHAPTER XL.
Conclusion.
CHAPTER I.
A DEPARTURE.
"Richard, you will keep from drink, will you not, dear?" and the speaker, in order to make her pleading irresistible, kissed the one to whom these words were addressed again and again; and, as with a hand upon each shoulder, she looked lovingly into his eyes, there was an added pathos which, to a man of Richard Ashton's sympathetic and sensitive nature, was all powerful.
"Well, Ruth, dear, God helping me, I will again be a man, and when I am tempted I will think of my dear little wife and my darling children at home; and remembering how they love me, though I have been such an indifferent husband and father to them, I will not touch nor taste the cursed stuff."
The tears gleamed in his eyes as he thus spoke, but feeling his manhood was being compromised he endeavored to suppress them, the effort, however, was in vain, for the deepest depths of a noble, sensitive nature had been wrought upon by the loving appeal of his wife and the pent-up feeling, gathering force by the very effort which he had made to suppress it, manifested itself in a series of short, choking sobs. He returned the kisses of his wife, clasped her convulsively to him, and, as he looked down into the upturned face, his eyes manifested an affection which found no expression in speech. He stooped down and fondly kissed his children and then opening the door, with satchel in hand, he darted out, only looking back when his wife called to him, as she stood with her three little ones on the threshold--
"Remember, Richard, your wife and children will pray for you, that our Father in heaven may preserve you from danger, give you strength to resist temptation, and bring you back in safety to those who love you better than their own lives."
He stood looking back for a moment, and as he saw his wife and children still gazing intently after him, he murmured, "God bless you, my darlings;" and turning again, walked rapidly on until he was lost to view.
CHAPTER II.
RICHARD AND RUTH ASHTON.
Richard Ashton was a native of the town of G----, in the county of B----, England. His father, who was a draper in good circumstances, had given his son a liberal education and had brought him up to his own calling. The son, a young man of quick parts, took advantage of the opportunities so generously offered to him and prosecuted his studies with commendable success, and by the time he was a stripling of sixteen was possessed of knowledge that few of his years could boast.
Richard was also an omniverous reader, and, as his father possessed a good library, he, from a very early period had literally devoured the contents of the books which lined its shelves, and thus became well versed in history, both ancient and modern, in the biographies of most of the celebrated men of all ages, and was also well acquainted with the most eminent poets,