Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1852-11-20
COLUMBUS:
wednesday Morning, Nov. ~, 1852.
A Story with Spice In it.


Land" of young man that had just entered into
the silken bands of matrimory. His wife,
most amable creature, had mortal hatred Of
liquor and though Tom often INDUCED on the
sly, with his convvial companions he took care
always to be fright side up" on going home. He
would not have his wife find him in such state
for all the universe and yet he could not sign
the pledge of total abstinence from the fact of be-
ing the vice president of club of Jolly fellows all
Of whom believed in grape juice. For at least six
months after his marriage, in the presence of 'his
better half he was as straight as PIN" and
she had set it down that blessing in the shape of
strictly sober husband had fortunately fallen to
her lot.
Tom one morning, said she lovingly, eve
have now been a welded couple half year, and
never once have had the slightest occasion to re-
proach you"
OF course Tom was delighted to hear his little
wife talk so encouragingly, and express her happi-
ness at his behavior; and he repeated the assur-
of his determination always be an attentive
and sober husband
But in the ocean of life, how little we can forsee
the breakers oftemptation Tom had TO dine that
very evening with the "Owls," (the ornthologi-
cal title Of his club and he felt in admirable >pr
It's and his health was drank warmly and frequent
II after the removal of the cloth The consequence
WAS, that by the time the company had separated,
be was IN happy state of elevation, with vivid
notion of men, women, and an things terrestrial
"Hic-c-c, | r-realiy believe I'm drunk - So
lIoquized Tom, posing himself on his heels, with
his arms clasped endearngly around lamp-post.
''W-w hat the The Odd to be done Am
d-d-reaming. or am dd-runk-which isit? viii
somebody tell me -
A knot of wags passing at the moment hearing
his voice, roared III combined tones, - \ GU are
drunk-beastly drunk p
I'Tbprp now It's ont and no rDor, than I S-snS
pectet," continued Tom mourntully. in Il maudln
voice. ''What will Clara say. ugh Curse thai
last julcp, | sayif it had not have been for tina,
should have passed muster, but now she can tell
it by my eyes-I i I-leel as il | had dozen pan
of.ycs as for tou-tongues, I've got a score all
Eagging away for dear hte.'
Tom here losing proper and important equi-
brjum. his heels suddenly few higher in The All
than necessary for every day cases OF pedestrian
ISM, and, per consequence, he was the next mo-
ment IN a most unsracious position in The gutter,
HE. hic, this is r-rch, III -ust SAY. > pose
Clara should me now-'twas only loday
s-hee praised my in-in-tegrlty. Tom, Tom, you
are b-b-yes you are, uon't deny it-you are a
b-beast -
By dint of series of vast efforts he succeeded
in gaining his feet, and proceeded towards home
reelIng and talking to himself all the way. After
mistaking the house next door, the door front OF
which was the same for his own, he had Al unde-
cded search of at least half an hour for his latch
key, which he at length found in his boot, it having
slipped down his trousers leg through hole IN hl>
pocket.
Now in the hall, he leaned up against the wall
and undertook cogtaton. He could sufficiently
gather his senses to remember the clock in hIS wife
room out of repair, and, she had retired
she would not be able to know the time he had go
in. That was grand point gained,
81 know what | III do II rO 10 bed in the dark
and then she won't notice my eyes" rumnstec
Tom. But hold on--shell smell my breath
how can fix that ?"
He puzzled for few moments, and in the enc
concluded seek the kitchen, and NEEDLE Slight!
with the spicebox. Down the stone stairs hi
went, and after putting his hand into half dozer
various fluids, feeling into a of pans. jugs an(
dishes, at length he found handful OF cloves
which thrust into his mouth as if they had been St
many sugar-plums.
''T-they re d-devillish h-hot," spluttered Tom
with his face all a-glow; "but they answer tn
purpose. How wish Bob STYLES was here to tel
me whether the brandy is sufficiently disguised.
Satisfied that the fragrance of the cloves ha
out-odored the scent of the ardent he mounte
the stairs, and with the exception of a couple c
small stumbles, gained his chamber in safety
Now he would have been happy had not his wit
been wide awake.
why, Thomas, how late you are" said she
'where is the candle ?"
"Oh, never mind the CANDLE" said he, in a
steady tone as he could command-"its nc
late"
al should Judge it was very late" said sht
"dear me, l must have that clock fixed
Eyes, so we must" said Tom, with mracr
lous deIiberation, for solitary hiccup wou
have betrayed him. As to tie clocks uncerta
condition, it was phenomenon OF good luck f
him.
''Does it look like rain, dear ?" kindly inquire
Clara
Now if Tom had been put on his oath, ne cou
no more have answered correctly, in regard to q
appearance of the weather, than the man IN Il
moon, and not half so much, for it is far to su
pose that ifthere be a manin the moon, ne is n
addicted to the practice of drinking, and thereto
keeps bright lookout on things below.
He replied gradually" Pom my word I dor
know, but I'll look, " and feeling his way to d
window, he threw aside the curtains, and a bar
pale starlight threw itself Immediately ON bis wife
face "Clear as crystal, You perceive, dear
and down went the curtain again.
Clara was very thoughtful and affectonste, al
suggested that if the curtain was kept up be cou
see bis way better about the room.
~No no, dear replied Tom. very slowly
before have heard that starligh produces
nn.y 1night - ~ about - psys