Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-06-25

strange, unnatural errand. But she shrunk
not in the blast, but walked rapidly along,
almost dragging the children after her. AT
length she stopped before the window Of an
ale-house, and standing on tip-toe, looked
over the red curtain that shaded half the win
dow, and concealed the inmates from the view
of passers by. Within she saw her husband
sitting comfortably by a table, a glass by his
side, and a pipe in his mouth. Half a dozen
~pot-companions were sitting around, and all
seemed enjoying themselves well.
Mrs. Lyon remained without only a few
moments; then taking hold Of the door she
walked firmly in, and without appearing TO
notice her husband, went up to the bar and
called for three glasses of brandy. After do
ing this, she seated herself at a table near by
her husband. Great, of course, was the sur
prise of Lyon at this apparilion. lie Jumped
from his chair and stood before his wife, just
as she had taken her seat at the table, saying,
in an UNDERGONE, as he did So
For Heavens sake, Sally! what brings
you here?"
st is very lonesome at home, Ralph" she
replied, in a calm but sad voice. "Our wood
is all gone, and it is cold there. ! I'm your
wife, and there is no company for me like
yours. will go anywhere to be with you.
| am willing to come even here"
"But, Sally, to think CT your coming 10
suchka place as this"
"lf it is pleasant 10 you, it shall be so TO
me. Any where that my husband goes, sure
y | can go. God hath joined US together as
one, and nothing should divide u.s.
BY this time The three glasses of brandy
that Mrs. Lyon had called for were placed
before her on the table.
Bring another glass; said Mrs. Lyon,
calmly, "my husband will drink with us"
sally. are you mad :" calculated Ralph.
"Mad TO go with my husband Why
should you say that, Ralph Drink, chill
dren," she added, turning TO her lille ones,
and placing a glass of unadultera,ed brandy
before them. alt will do you good" As
Sally said this, she lifted her own glass to
her lips.
"Surely, you are not going to drink that!'
said Ralph.
"Why not! You drink to forget sorrow;
and If brandy have that effect, | am sure no
living creature needs it more than do. Be-
sides, | have eaten nothing to-day, and need
something to strengthen me-"
Saying this, she slipped the burning liquid,
and smacking her lips, looked up into her
husbands face and smiled.
sit warns to the very heart, Ralph ~ she
said. 81 feel better already" Then turning
to The children, whose glasses remained un-
touched before them, she said to the astonish-
ed little ones,
Drink, my children, 1t is very good"
woman! are you mad : My children
shall not touch il" and he lifted the glasses
from the table and handed them to one of the
company that had crowded around TO witness
this strange scene.
"Why not?" said his wife in the calm
tone with which she had at first spoken. 'lf
it is good for you, it is good for your wife
ard children. 1t will put these dear ones 10
sleep. and they will forget that they are cold
and hungry. To you it is fire and food and
bed and clo,hing-all these we need, and you
will surely not Withhold them from us"
By this time Ralph was less under the in
fluence of liquor than he has been for weeks,
although he had drank as freely as ever
through the day. Taking hold of his wife's
ARM, he said, in a kind voice, for he began
10 think that her mind was really wander
ing
Come, Sally, let us go home"
"Why should we go, Ralph ;" she repli-
ed, keeping her seat. "There is no fire at
home, but it is warm and comfortable here.
There is no food there, but here is plenty to
eat and TO drink. | don't wonder that you
liked this place better than home, and | am
sure ] would rather stay here"
The drunken husband was confounded.-
He knew not what to do or TO say. The
words Of his wife smote him 10 the heart; for
she uttered a stunning rebuke that could not
be gainsaid. He felt a choking sensation,
and his trembling knees bore heavily against
each other.
Sally" he said, after a pause, in an alter
ed and very earnest tome know it is more
comfortable here than it is at home, but | am
going home, and | intend staying there
Won't you GO with me-, and Try TO make it
as comfortable as it used TO be ! The change
is all my fault, know; but it shall be my
fault no longer. Here, once and forever, |
solemnly pledge myself before God never
again to drink the poison that has made me
more than half a brute, and beggarcd my poor
family. Come, Sally let us hurry away
from here the very air Expresses me. Come,
in Heavens name! come -
Quickly, as if an electric shock had star
tied her, did Mrs. Lyon spring from her seat,
as her husband uttered the last word, and lay
hold of his arm with an eager grasp.
1.-THE Lord in Heaven be praised!' she
said, solemnly, - for it is his work. Yes,
come! Let us go quickly. There will again
be light, and fire, and food in our dwelling.
Our last days may yet be our best days.
Lifting each a child from the floor, the has,
band and wife left that den of misery with as
hasly steps as Christians when he fled from
the City OF Destruction.
The hopeful declaration Of Mrs. Lyon pro
we'd indeed true. There was soon light. anC
fire, and food again in that cherries dwell
ing and the last days of Ralph and his fam
lily have proved to be their best days. Ill,
has never since tasted the tempting cup, anC
finds that it is a very easy matter to save on,
or two dollars a week, and yet live very com
fortably. ..'
The scene in the ale-house is never allu
ded to by either the husband or the wife
They take no pleasure in looking back-pre
; ferring, rather, to look forward with hope
When it is thought of by either. it is some
: Thing as a man who has endured a painful op
Grafton to save his life, thinks Of The intens,