Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-01-24
HOME INFLUENCES.
A TEMPERAN STORY

DhScultlG uOOr.
'Ah-it's Marshal returned her
husband, who had looked out at the
window, and recognized the grocer's
cart.
And what is it you have sent home
now, Henry?'
But before Mr.. Seaborn could ans
wer, the door of the sitting-room was
opened, and one of the domestics
looked in and asked:
'What'll | do wild the dimijohns,
mum?'
Demijohns 2 repeated Mrs. Sea
born.
Let them stand in the hall, and I'll
attend to them, ,'interposed the husband.
Henry, what have you sent home
now? the wife asked after the domes-
tic had gone.
Some nice wine, Cora, and little
choice old brandy replied Henry.
Mrs. Seaborn glanced up at the clock,
and then down upon the floor There
was a cloud upon her fair brow, and
it was very evident something lay
heavily upon her heart. Presently
she walked to the wall and pulled the
bell-cord, and the summons was ans
wered by the chamber-maid.
Are George and Charles in their
room?
Yes ma'am
Tell them it is school time
The girl went out, and in a little
while two boys entered the sitting
room, with their books under their
arms and their caps in their hands.
They were bright, happy, healthy fel-
lows, with goodness and truth stamped
upon their rosy faces, and the light OF
RESPONSIVENESS cleaning in their spark
ling eyes. George was thirteen years
of age, and Charles eleven. and Ger
tainly those two parents had reason
to be proud Of them. The boys kiss
ed their mother-gave a happy good
morning to their tather-and then
went away to school.
Cora, said Mr.. Seaborn, sometime
after the boys had gone, what makes
you so sober 2
Sober ? repeated the wife, look.
ing up.
Yes. You have been sober and
mute ever since the grocer came.
DO you want me to tell you why =?
OF course | do
well, Henry, l am sorry you had
that spirit brought into the house
Pooh! What's the use in talking
so Cora? You wouldn't have me be
without it would you?'
yes.
Why-what do you mean?'
4 mean that | would cut clear o
the stuff, now and forever
But-Cora-you are wild. What
should we do at our dinner partie;
without wincY
DO as others who have it not.
'But-mercy! what would people
say! Are you afraid-But no. won
ask so foolish a question
Ask it, Henry. Let us speak plain
ly now that we have fairly com
menced.'
Well was about to ask if yO1
were afraid | should ever-drink to-
much.
That is not a fair question, Henry
was not thinking of that at all. Blu
| will answer it by and by. You hav
no fixed appetite for it now
'Of course not
Then it would not cost you any e
fort of will to abstain from its use
Not a particle
And you only have it in the hous
and serve it to your friends, and drin
it yourself, because it is fashionable
or, in other words, you do it becaus
others do it,
4 do it because, said Mr.. Seaborl
hesitating some in his choice of lal
guage, because it would appear ver
odd, and very niggardly, and very f
natical not to do it. This last VIZ
spoken emphatically.
But, pursued Mrs. Seaborn, wit
the calmness and assurance of OF
who feels the sustaining influence
right, you would not do what yC
were convinced was wrong, out Of +
spect to any such considerations, wou
you?
You know [ would not, Cora. Th
question of Temperance, | know, is
> good one in the abstract, and | am W
e ling to live up to it as | understal
= it: but | am no teetOtaler.
q Henry said his wife, with an ca
- nest look into his face, will you al
wer me few questions? ? and answ
+ them honestly and truly, without
:, auivocation or evasion? 2
. Bless me, how methodically y
put it, Cora. But | will answer
'Then-first: do you believe yc
or your friends, are in any way bel
fted by the drinking of intoxicati
s. beverages at your board? That
he do you derive any real good frt
" it.?'
es 'No-I can't say that we do
e. DO you think the time has eH
~ been. since we were married, when
I'd actually needed wine in the hou
ne either for our health or comfort
al Why-I think it has ministered
4c- our comfort, Cora.
at How 2
at 'O-in many ways.
at Name one of them
or 'Why-in the enjoyment of o
guests
'Ah, but am speaking of ourscl'
id Henry-of you, and me, and our lii
on family. Has it ever ministered
Id our comfort !?
1No-I can't say that it has,
ly sAnd If IL was banished from