The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-06-13
THE w1FE's GIFT:
OR TWO GLASSES A DAY,
M MRS. s. poronrr.

ny MRS. 3. DOUGHTY.
"No, No, Tom, 1t is Of no use to persuade
me (; am no tstotaler. Two glasses da,
1 Is my rule, and good one 1t is. Just
enough to make man feel lively, without
upsetting him in the least. leave signing
| the pledge to those who fear to trust them
selves. No danger Of John Wilder being
seen rceling in the streets"
"But we have such fearful examples be-
fore us, john" urged the friend who was
endeavoring to persuade Wilder to take the
pledge of total abstinence.
"There Is but one safe course for us to
pursue"
"For you, perhaps, but not for me-" was
the reply.
"Every man is his own best judge. Don't
be offended, Tom; your counsel is well
meant, and / thank you 1T. But do not
magnify the danger. Here is my little wife;
she Is not afraid to trust me without signing
the pledge. Say Catharine, my darling"
"No, John, am not afraid to trust you;
and yet I would rather that you were resolved
never to tasto another drop of ardent spirits
unless the doctor ordered it,
"Make me present of two glasses day
"Indecd, will not my little woman, for
could not get along without an occasional
drop Of the needful. If you wish for q
present, you must think of something else."
"Nothing else will do" replied Catha-
rinc.
"Only hear that, Tom," said the husband
in o jesting tone.
"Nothing less than two glasses day will
serve my wife for present. You had bet
ter talk of the pledge to her. But you
mind, Catharino, 1t shall never be said that
l treated myself better than l did my wife !;
and therefore promise to allow you two
glasses day as take them myself.
"Bear witness, Tom, every evening on my
return from work will hand to my wife the
price of two glasses, and she my cat, drink
or wear 1t just as she pleases. >--.
"You are bad fellow, John, or you would
give her what she asked for, said his friend,
as he 'badc them good evening.
"And you are unreasonable, or you would
SEQ that / have done so," replied Wilder,
laughingly, at the same time rendering q
small piece of silver to Catharinc, which
she at first seemed disposed to reject, but on
the second thought accepted, saying quiet
ly:
at will come in use sometime"
"No doubt it will, Catharine," said the
advocate of temperance, looking down the
little lane which led to the main road.
"Take my advice and keep oil you can
get. Two glasses day has brought many
man to want
"Tom is q raven, and you must not mind
his croaking, Catharine, " remarked the hus-
band, as the two rc-entercd the cottage.
The moon shed q pleasant lustrc through
the clustering vines that shaded the easement
and made the little room with its pretty,
though simple furniture, look even moro at
tractiye than IL was wont.
It was the honeymoon, besides, therefore
no one can wonder tho, Catharine should
think, as she looked around, that II was the
very softest, most lovely moonlight she had
ever beheld, and that the little cottage and
all It contained, husband included, were
among the most choice of Gods blessings.
And no one can wonder that she slipped
her little hand into Johns broad palm and
nestled close to his side, as she whispered
"lt would take moro than ravens croak-
ing to shake my faith in you, dear john
Her husband drew her still closer to his
bosom, and pressed kiss on her white fore
head, but he did not speak, and for q while
they sat in that pleasant stiffness, busy with
their own thoughts. .re.
At length Catharine again broke the still
moss, by saying in o slightly tremulous
voice f
"And yet, would rather that you med
died not with edged tools, my dear husband.
"Still harpins on that subject, little wife.
al thought not that Toms idle talk would
affect you 50 much, Catharine.
"It was not alone what he said, John, but
his words brought sad remembnnccs to
mind-my own miserable childhood, my
poor broken hearted mother, and more to be
pitied than all, my wretched, misguided fa-
ther." E.... r.-....-
"And yet my mother has often told me oi
the first happy years Of her married life, 0i
q kind husband and q pleasant home. In
temperance changed her happiness to misery
and harsh treatment from him she loved,
brought her to an early grave, and LEFT me
the lonely being that was, until l knew
you dear John. No wonder that dread
the sound Of even two glasses day."
Deep feeling had given to the once simple
village maiden an unusual degree OF elo'
quence. Her blue eye bcamcd upon her
husband with such earnest and implorine
tenderness, that his sterncr nature could
hardly resist tho appeal. Bot false pride
came to his aid; he had withstood the ar
gumcnts Of his friend, and he would mol
yield to the pleadings Of his wife. Thal
Others had fallen, proved not that he l. would
do the same. Asa man, he would stand
forth and prove 70 all that the moderas'
drinker and the drunkard were not 70 D
| clased together; that one might stand o.
= -sr 81 81 s.-'s 1i lvs 20 81