The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-10-26
BY MRS. @. LADD. -

thought-thc Society was new thing in
the p'ace-she knew nothing of its bene.
ficial effects, and therefore did not wis!,
to lose the company Of her husband one
or perhaps two evenings in q week, for
the mere hope Of reforming a parcel OF
drunken men, that neither she nor her
husband knew anything about. Ofcourse
a man could drink il he pleased, and could
in the mind of Mrs. ucnly-as easily
let It alonc-thcrcfore, n society Of sober
men could h I'VE no effect upon those who
wished TO drink. .r.. -. t-.'s...
Mr.. Henly had, when he first returned
home, really wished to join, merely to lend
his influence to the cause that he would
ever drink or that the Society would ever
be any restraint on himself WAS never
thought Of. He had laughed at the very
idea, when 1t was advanced by one ofthe
young men who had been pursuading him
TO join. .' .''' s'
Iienly and George Bennett had enter
ell the counting house of Messrs. Mount g.
Co. together they had been as brothers.
and HenIy, for the first time the day af.
ter tho oconversatiou with his wire-avoid
cd being alone with Bennett. He fel, how
hard 1t was to refuse so simple request
from his early friend. = . : q,
Bennett was not to be avoided. As the
door closed, he called Henly, saying
"You go with us tonight, of course Z"
IL believe not, Bennett in fact it is of
49, ----------i l., ,.c,s .lrinl and my ;,fJr,roo
cannot avail much"
Your influence can do great deal, Hen
ly: do not urge you on your own ac-
count, yet you, rs well as myself, are in
the habit of taking \ glass with your
friends, and | am we'll pursusd,d it is n
growing evil"
Il do not dispute that, Bennett, but
surely a man can drink or not drink, as
he pleases. mean one who only drinks
as we do, occasionally n glass of wine.
admit, the habitual drunkard should have
some restraint upon him, and even then,
unless the man has nice sense Of honor,
the pledge would be but little restraint or
him."
well, llenly, hope you may mover
think otherwise. You have wife. and
the charms Of home may keep you from
mingling with those, who might, perhaps,
induce you to taste too freely Of the wine.
cup. have no home but the hotel.
" That is no ones fault but your own
why, half the girls in town would have
you, ifyou would give them half chance
! Thank you, Hcnly, for your good opin-
ion, could think so, would try some oi
them, but the fear of refusal will surely
add me to the bachelors list"
And thus tho friends parted.
Time passed on, and brought but little
change to Henly, in the eyes Of the world
but the eyes Of love could mark tha
change, that was likely 10 bring sorrow to
a then happy home.
Louisa could see that her husband VA.
indulging too freely in the wine cup-and
once or twice he had returned home suffi-
cient'y under the influence Of liquor, to
make the wife and mother dread the fli.
ture. Mrs. Henly now mentally wished
that she had urged, instead Of opposing
his joining the Sons Of Temperance but
who could Lave foreseen such an issue
| She felt she was 10 biame,sHd sesol7ed, in
As gentle manner as possible, TO pursuade
her husband to become member Of the
Sons Of Temperance. But how was she
to do this, without exciting in the mind o.
her husband. a suspicion Of her fears
This for some days kept her silent, but the
accidental mention Of BENEFITS name al
the breakfast table, in connection with tn,
Society, was too good m opportunity tO
lose.
"By the by" said Mrs. Henly to he
husband, in as careless . manner as sh,
could assume-"how comes on the Socie
tyi think would like you to join.
believe all the clerks in the establishment
belong TO il, except yourself 90 do tell Mr.
Bennett you will make one Of the mum
ber."
Henly gszsd moment in the face o
J bis wife
@You have changed, Louisa, woult
have joined once, but will not now !" an,
rising from an almost untasted breakfast
he left the house.
BE was out Of humor. With glauc
. he had read tie thoughts and fears Of hi
, wife, bat love tor Che Intoxicating BOWL
was rapidly acquiring an ascendancy owe
him. The voice Of the tempter whispers
} 20 him that he could refrain II he pIeases
, but 70 go now and join the Society whe
is friends know he was in the habit {
q !. I. arae j. a.