The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-05-22

mony. His wife, most amiable creature,
hail moral hatred Of liquor; and though
Tom often INDUCED on the sly with his
convivial companions, he took care always
to he fright si,lc up on going home. Tic
would not have his wife find him in such a
slate for oil The gold in the universe and
yet he could not sign the pledge Of total nb
stinence, from the fact OF being the vice.
presiden, OF club ofjolly fellows, all OF
whom believed in grippe juice. For at
least six months nfier his marriage, in the
presence Of his betior hail. he was rs
straight rs mutch, and she had sct Il down
iha, blessing in the shape Of strictly So
Der husband Ind fortunately fallen to her
LOT.
atom" one morning, said she, lovingly.
1--WE have been married half year, and
never once have had the slightest occa.
sion to reproach YOU"
Ofcourse Tom was delighted to hear his
dear little wife talk SO encoumgingly, and
express happiness at his behavior and he
repeated assurances Of his determination
always to be an attentive, sober, candid
husband.
But in tho ocean Of lie how little we can
foresee the breakers of temptation! ! Tom
had to dine that very evening with the
"Owls," (the ornithological title OF his
club.l and he felt in admirable spirits, and
his health was drank warmly and fro.
quently after the removal Of tho cloth the
consequence was that by the time the com
pany separated ho was in happy state Of
elevation, with u vivid notion Of men,
women and all things terrestrial.
'Hic.c.c, Ir.really believe lam d.drunk'
said Tom, posing himself on his heels,
with his arms clasped endcaringly around
lnmp.post. "W.w.hat tho d.d.cVil's to
bc done ? Am d,,l.reaming, or am ! d'd'
rnnk-which is III Will somebody tell
Itnc 2"
A knot Of wogs, passing ut tho moment.
hearing his voice, roarcd IN combined tones
-"You re dr,lnk-beastly drunk J"
"Thcro, now, It's OFT, and no more than
| 8 suspected" continued Tom. mourn
fully, in n mnu'llin voice. "What will
Clara say, ugh? Curse that last julep, say
III il hadn't been for that Id have passed
muster; ; hut now she can tell it by my eyes
II feel rs if | had dozen pair Of eyes
and as Tor ton tongues. I've got score all
wagin' away for dear lfe."
Tom here losing n proper equilibrium,
his hec's suddenly flow higher in tho air
than is necessary for everyday cases ofpc.
dcstrianlsn,, and per consequence, ho was
The next moment in most ungracious po.
s,lion in the gutter.
"Hic, hic, this Is r.ricl, ! must say. s..
spose Clara should see me now-'twns
only to day she p I,.praised my in.in.tegri.
ty. Tom, Tom. you're l'.l'-ycs, you
are, 80 don't deny it-you'rc beast, you
are!"
BY dint ola series Of vast efforts he sue
cccded in gaining his feet, and proceeded
towards home reeling, and talking to him.
self all tho wny. After mistakins the house
next door, the door front Of which was tho
same for his own, l,e had an undecided
search ofat least nn hour for his latch key,
which he at length found in his boot. Il
having slipped down Ills trowscrs leg
through hole in his pocket
Now in tho hall. he leaned up against
the wall and undertook cositation. He
could sufficiently gather his senses to re.
member tho clock in his wile's room was
out Of repair, and as she had retired, she
wollld not bc nbc to tell the time he lad
got in. That was grand point gained.
III know what III do; III go to bed in
the dark, and then she won SEQ my eyes"
r,imina,cd Tom. "I,u hold on--l'd like to
forget it she'll smell my brcuth-how cnn
! fix that ?"
lie puzzled for few minutes, and in the
cnd concluded to seek the kitchen, and
mcd'lle slightly with the sI'ice.box. Down
the stone Stars he went. md after putting
his l,unI into n ,ulfdozcn various fluids,
feeling into n row of pans, jugs and dishes,
he found n handful Of cloves, which hc
thrust into his mouth US ii' they had l'ecn
SO many sugar pluIns.
"r.t,hcy'rc d.dcvlisl' hot splnltcrcd
Tom with his face ull a.glow; shut they
answer tho purpose. How wish Bob
Giles was here to tell me whether the bran.
dy is sufficiently disguised.'
Satisfied That The fragrance OF tho CLOVIS
had oul.odorcd tho sccnt Of tho "ar,lcnt,'
he mounted the stnirs, and, with the ex'
ception ofu couple of snail siuinbIcs, gain
cd his chamber in safety. Now lic would
have been happy had his wife not been
vide awake.
"Why, Thomas, how late you arc SAID
she, "wl,erc's the cnndlc?'
'Oh, never mind the candle," said he,
In as steady tone ns he could assume. "lt
Is not late"
81 should judge it wns very la'c.' said
shc .'deur ,nc, | must have that clock fix.
od."
Eyes. so we must" sail Tom with
miraculous deliberation, for ono solitary
hiccup would'have betrayed him. As to
the clocks uncertain condition, it was a
phenomenon Of good luck for him.
.Docs il look like rnin, dear p kindly
inquired Clam. r".1 '.r ~ .. f.'
Now, ifTom had l,ccn put on oath he
couIdn't have answered CORRECTLY, in regnrd
TO appearance Of che weather. than the
.n T., Tho ynoon md not haif no fni,ch