Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-12-23
THE TEMPERANCE PLEDGE.
BY 7. :. ARTHUR.
: / want a quarter Of a dollar. Jane.

Ihis was addressed By a miserable
creature, bloated and dIsfgured by in
temperance, to a woman, whose thin.
pale face, and heart-broken look. told but
too plainly that she was the drunkard's
wife.
Not quarter of 4 dollar. John p
Surely you win not waste a quarter
dollar of my hard earnings, when you
know that I can scarcely get food and
decent clothes for the children.
As the wife said this, she looked up
into her husbands face, with a sad, ap-
pealing expression.
l must have quarter. Jane, was the
firm reply.
20, John remember our little ones
The cold weather viii soon be here. and
l have not yet been able to get them
shoes. If you viii not earn anything
yourself, do not waste the little my hard
labor can procure. VIII not sixpence
do? Surely that is enough for you to
spend for
Nothing will do but a quarter, Jane,
and that must have, if I steal it was
the prompt and somewhat earnest reply.
Mrs. Jarvis laid aside her work ne
chsnically, and rising, went TO a drawer.
and from a cup containing a single dollar
IN small pieces, her little all, took ont a
quarter of dollar, and turning TO her
husband said. as she handed it 10 him
Remember, that you are taking the
bread out of your chiIdren's mouths
Not so bad as that, hope, Jane, the
drunkard replied, as he clutched the
money eagerly, something like feeble
smile fitting across his disfgured and
distorted eountenance.
Yes, and worser was the response.
made in a sadder tone than that in which
the wife had at first spoken
How worse Janey
Johnr and the wife spoke with a
sudden energy, while her countenance
lighted up with a strange CLEAN. John,
I cannot bear this much longer I feel
myself sinking every day. And you
you who pledged yourself
Here the voice of the poor woman
gave way, and covering her face with
her hands, she bent her head upon her
bosom, and sobbed aand wept hysteri-
,cally.
The drunkard looked at her for mo-
ment, and then turning hurriedIy, passed
from the room. For some moments after
the door had closed upon her husband,
did Mrs. Jarvis stand, sobbing and weep
ing. Then slowly returning to her chair
near the window, she resumed her work.
with an expression Of countenance that
was sad and hopeless.
In the mean time, the wretch who had
thus reduced his family to a state Of pain
ful desti!ution, after turning away from
his door, walked slowly along the street
with his head bowed down, as if engaged
IN. 10 him, altogether a new employment,
that of self-eommunion. All at once a
hand was laid familiarly gpon his should
er, and a welI-known voice said
Come, John, lets have a drink
Jarvis looked up with a bewildered
air, and the first thing that caught his
eye, after j; glanced away from the face
Of one Of his drinking cronies, was a sign
with bright gold letters, bearing the
words ~ EAGLE COFFEE House.
Tha, sign was as familiar to him as the
face of one of his children. At the same
moment that his eye rested upon this
creating an involuntary impulse to move
towards the tavern door, his old crony
caught hold of his coat collar, and gave
him a pull in the same direction. Bu
much TO the surprise of the latter, Jarvis
resisted this attempt to give a direction
that would lead him into bis old &C
customed haunt
Wont you drink this morning, Jarvis?
asked the other with a look Of surprise.
There was evidently powerful strug
gle going on In the mind of the drankard
This lasted only for a moment or two
when he said loudly and emphatically-
4Nop And instantly broke from his ok
boon companion and hurried On his way
A loud laugh followed him, bat Re heed
ed it not. Ten minutes walk brougb
him 10 the store Of a respectable trades
man. Is Mr. z. in?' he asked as b,
entered
Back at the desk was the reply Of
clerk. And Jarvis walked back with
rssolute air.
Mr.. R, I want to sign tbi
pledge.
You, Jarvisy Mr. Z. asked II graf