The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1853-05-03

alady of cultivation and refinement
and a most charming daughter.
"This gentleman had become most
decidedly Incorporate in his habits,
and had fully alarmed his friends in
regard to him. At one ti,Le when a
number of his former associates were
together, they counselled as to what
could be done for him.
"Finally, one of them said to h..n,
'why don't you send your daughter a
way to a certain distinguished
school?' which he named.
"'Oh, l cannot, said he, SITS
out of the question. | am not able to
bear the expense. Poor girl! I
wish I could
"'Well,' said his friend, 'if you
will sign the temperance Pledge" l
will be at all the expense of her at.
tending school for one year.
''What does this mean?' said he
do you think me in danger of be-
coming q drunkard?'
''No natter said his friend,
'about that now: but I will do as
said.'
''And T. said another, will
pay the rent of your farm year, if
you will sign the pledge
''Wcll these offers are certainly
liberal, but what do you mean? Do
you think me in danger Of becoming
a drunkard? What can it mean! But,
gentlemen, in view Of your liberallty,
| will make an offer. | will sign it
if you Wilt
'rhis was proposition they had
not considered, and were not very
we'll prepared to meet: but for his
sake they said we will, and did sign,
and be with them.
And now, for the first time, the
truth poured into his mind, and he
saw his condition, and sat down bath
ed in tears.
''Now,' said he, gentlemen, you
must go and communicate these
facts to my wife--poor woman! 1
know she will be glad to hear, but l
cannot tell her
1.-TWO of them started,for that pur.
pose. The lady met them at the
door, pale and trembling with emo.
ton.
'NVhat,' she inquired, SIS the mat
ter9 What has happened to my hus.
band?
'Thcy bid her dismiss her fears, as.
suring her they had come to bring
her tidings of her husband--but good
tiding- such as she would be glad
to hear.
g Your husband has signed the
temperance p!cdge---yea, signed in
good faith
'The joyous I.cws nearly overcome
hcr--she tren5led with excitement
-wcpt freely, and clasping her
hands deyotionally, she looked up to
Heaven, and thanked God for the
happy change. Now said she,
have a husband as he once was, in
the days Of our early love-
But this was not what moved
me- said the gentleman. 'Therc was
in the same vicinity another gen,
tlcman. a generous, noble soul--rnar.
ried young-marricd well-into a
charming family, and the flower OF
it. His wine drinking habits had a.
reused the fears Of his friends,
and one day, when several of them
were together, one said to another,
'lct us sign the pledge. i will, il
you will,' said one to another, till
all had agreed to it, and the thing
was done.
This gentlemen thought it rather
a small business, and felt little sen.
sitive about revealing to his wife
whHt he had done. But on return
ing home, he said to her:
Mary, my dear, I have done
what | fear will disr'ease YOU
''Wcll, what is it?'
''Why, I hare signed the tenn.
perance pledge
''lIave you?'
E'Ycs | have certainly
Watching his manner, as he re.
piled, and reading its sincerity, she
entwined her arms around his neck
and laid her head upon his bosom,
and burst into tears. Her husband
was affected deeply by the conduct
of his wife, and said:
''Mary, don't weep; l did not
know it would aillict you so, or |
would not have done it; | will SO and
take my name off immediately
Take your name OFF, said she;
'no, no! let it be there. | shall now
no more solicitude in reference to
your becoming q drunkard. l shall
spend no more wakeful midnight
hours. | shall no more steeO nv