Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-06-08
miscellaneous.
THE MUG OF CIDER,
BY T. S. ARTHUR.

IllluullCuCC llbt wac ulihobiu w III
His words were addressed 10 his little
daughter Mary, only about eight Yeas
old, who stood near him with q pint mug
in her hand.
The child look frightened and quickly
left the room.
ats strange how that girl acts" said
Farmer Williams to his wife, "whenev-
err | ask her 10 bring me a mug of cider.
If want my hat, or a drink of water, or
anything else, away she bounds TO get ii
for me, as light as a playful kitten. But,
for three or four days past, I've had to
speak twice or three times, when I've
asked for my mug Of cider"
sit is a little queer" remarked Mrs.
Williams, letting her kniuing-work rest
for a momen or two in her lap, and look
ing thoughtful. "Perhaps"-
Perhaps what 2" inquired Farmer
Williams, seeing that his wife paus-
ed.
"Nothing," said Mrs. Williams, as she
resumed her kniuing.
Mary came in just then with the mug
of cider, to the enjoyment Of which the
farmer applied himself, and in the pleas
ure he experienced, forgot for the time
the strange hesitation evinced by his lit
tie daughter.
Half an hour afierward, as Mary sat in
the porch playing with her doll, her faith
er called out, "Come here, Molly, | want
YOU"
Mary ran in quickly.
"Here, draw me some CIDER" said he,
reaching out the mug.
The child's countenance, which was
animated when she came into the room,
Instantly changed, her step fingered, and
she evinced a strange reluctance to do
her fathers bidding.
Mr.. Williams held out the mug and
looked steadily and rather sternly at the
child, for her conduct fretted him, say.
ing, as he did SO, "Why don't you move
quick 2"
There was something sad in Mary's
face as she took the mug and slowly went
off 10 the cellar.
81 don't know what 10 make of the
girI," multered the father.
Mary staid longer lhan he thought nee
essary, but at length appeared with the
mug only two thirds full.
"Why didn't you fill it ?" asked Far
MGR Williams, with some impotence in
his voice.
81 though, that was enough" said Ma
ry, innocently.
Enough - exclaimed the father,
impatiently. "Whal RICH, had you to think
anything about it, | should like TO know ?
The next lime | send you for a mug Of
cider, remember 10 draw il full"
Mary went slowly back into the porch,
and commenced playing with her doll
again. After finishing his second mug
of cider, and smoking his pipe, the far
mer felt a good deal inclined to try q
third mug and a third pipe. But he fell
TOO heavy and dull 10 go into the cellar
himself, and he did not wish to trouble
Mary again, as she seemed so averse 10
serving him in this little matter. So,
with only two mugs of cider, added to
one he had taken with his dinner, Far.
mer Williams composed himself for his
regular afternoons nap, His flushed
face and hard breathing, told pretty plain,
y. that in both ealing and drinking the
farmer had INDUCED rather freely.
The nap occupied a couple Of hours,
and it took half an hour after sleep had
departed for the farmer 10 get his eyes
fairly open and to throw off his sluggish
feelings. lie always wondered why he
felt SO heavy after dinner; but il never
occurred TO him that thelwo or three mugs
of cider that were poured down 10 dilute
his food, might be the real cause.
Farmer Williams was industrious, pru-
dent, and, in the judgment of his neigh.
bors, a very temperate man. or course
he was thrifty. His lands, well TILED,
yielded annually a rich harvest, and he
was becoming every year better and bet.
or oft in the world. But there was dan.
ger of all this prosperity being checked
in lis growth. The farmer had a large
orchard of fine apples, and he had made
a good deal Of excellent cider, a few bar
rels Of the best Of which he always KEEP,
for his own use. There was always a
large pitcher OF this beverage on the din.
ner.table. and the farmer used it freely
with his food. He drank Il mug of cider
at II O'Clock; also with his pipe aflel
dinner; and before going to bed at night
Regularly, every day, from half a gallon
10 three quarts Of cider found its way in,
TO the stomach Of The farmer. 1t was nc
wonder, therefore, that those who saw
the effects of all this upon the farmer
began 10 prophesy that he would go tc
the dogs, as they said.
Now don't mean to say thai Farmer
Williams ever got ,ipsy, as it is called
that is, ever drank so freely as 10 stag
ger about, and attract the attention of hi.
n%eighbors. But no man can drink az
much cider every day as he did, wi,hou
It's reddening his face or bloaIing him up