Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-03-04
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door.
"Ah-it's Marshall" returned her hus-
band, who had looked out at the window, and
recognized the grocer's cart
"And what have you had sent home now,
Henry;"
But before Mr.. seaburn could answer, the
door of the sitting-room was opened, and one
Of the domestics looked in. and asked
"Whatll do wild the dimeiohns, mum ~
"Demiiohns ?" repeated Mrs. Seaburn
"Let them set in the hall. and I'll attend
to them" interposed the husband.
"Henry what have you had sent home
now :" the wife asked after the domestic had
gone.
"Some nice wine, Cora, and a little choice
old brandy, replied Henry.
Cora Seaburn glanced mp at the clock and
then looked down upon the floor. There was
a cloud upon her fair brow, and it was very
evident that something lay heavily upon her
fair brow, and it was very evident that some
thing lay heavily upon her heart Presently
she walked to the wall and pulled the bell
cord, and the summons was answered by the
chamber-maid.
care George and Charles in their room -
"Nes ma am"
"Tell them it is school-time
The girl went out. and in little while two
boys entered the sitting-room, with their
books under their arms. and their caps in
their hands. They were bright. happy heal
thy fellows, with goodness and truth stamped
upon their rosy faces, and the light Of free
conscionces cleaning in their sparkling eyes.
George was thirteen years of age, and Charles
eleven, and certainly those two parents had
J. IL. L
ed their mother-gave a happy good morn
ing 20 their tather-and then went away to
school
Cora" said Mr.. Seaburn, sometime after
the boys had gone, 'what makes you so so
Der -
"Sober: repeated the wife, looking up
"Ncs. You have been sober and mute ever
since the grocer came
"Do YOU want me to tell you why"
"Of course do
"Well. Henry. am sorry you have had
that spirit brought into the house"
"Pooh What's the use in talking so.
Cora: You wouldn't have me without it,
would you
yes"
"Why--what do you mean ;'
a mean that l would cut clear from the
stuff. now and forever
"But-Cora-you are wild What should
we do at our dinner parties without wine;'
"Do as others do who have it not"
"But-mercy what would people say (;
Are YOU afraid But mol won't ask so
foolish a question
ASK it, Henry. Let us speak plainly now
that we have fairly commenced"
"Well-I was about to ask if you were a.
fraid that | should eyer--drink too much
That is not fair question, Henry | was
not thinking Of that at all But will swer
it by and by. You have no fixed appetite for
it now -
"Of course not"
"Then it would not cost you any effort of
will TO abstain from its use;"
mot particle
And you only have it in the house, and
servo it to your friends, and drink it yourself,
because it is fashionable or, in other words,
you do it because others do il e
IL do il because" said Mr. Seaburn. hesi-
tating some in his choice of language-"be-
cause it would appear very odd, and very mig
gardly. and very tanatical, not to do it. This
I last was spoken emphatcally.
4 But pursued Mrs Seaburn, with the
calmness and assurance of one who feels the
sustaining influence of Right, "you would not
do what YOU were convinced was wrong, out
/ of respect to any such considerations, would
/ you;'
"You know | would not Cora. This ques-
| ton Of temperance, know, is good one in
! the abstract and am willing to live up to it.
as ! understand it; but ! aul no tee-totaler -
"Henry, said his wife, with an earnest
look into his face "will you answer me a few
questions and answer them honestly and
truly without equivocation or evasion y
BLESS me, how methodcally you put it,
Cora. But ! will answer
"Then-frst Do you believe you or your
friends, arc in any way benefited by the drink
ing Of Intoxicating beverages at your board /;
That is--do YOU derive any real good from it,"
"No--I can't say that we do"
"Do YOU think the time has ever BEEN
since we were married, when we actually
needed wine in the house, either for our
health or comfort;"
"Why-I think it has ministered to our
comfort. Cora"
How: :'
"O-in many ways"
"Name one of them
"Why-in the enjoyment Of our guests"
"Ah-but ! am speaking Of ourselves
Henry-of you, and me, and our own little
family Has it ever ministered to our COM
fort :"
"No-I can't say that it has"
"And if it was banished from our house to-
day, and forever, as a beverage, should we
suffer in consequence" :"
Certainly. What would our friends--'
"Ah-but stop | am only speaking of
our own affairs, as shut in from the world, by
our own freside | want all extraneous con-
siderations left out. Should we, as family,
suffer, in our moral, physical, social, or do
nestle affairs in the total absence of this bev-
erage;"
"No,-l don't know that we should"
Then to you, as a husband, and father,
and as a man, it is Of no earthly use :"
mo"
"And it would cost you no effort so far as
you alone are concerned, to break clear from
/ it,"
Not particle
"And now, Henry pursued the wife, with
increased earnestness, ~ have few more
questions to ask; Do you believe that the
drinking Of Intoxicating beverages is an evil
in this country"
"Why--as it is now going on, certainly
do"
uAnd lent II an evil in .ocietv ;"