The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-08-26

N>NNo ., oIIO SO' his SOOSS. anu
II was beauty-all picked and finished
OH as smooth and fair as a chicken.
''Tell Mary that I've cleaned it all out
inside," said Mrs. Burke ssShe'll know
my work and when Susan Burke says a
goose is clean, she'll know ',is clean -
Lemons, sugar, spice, nuts, raisins; and
then came the last item on the list one
gallon of Madeira wine
''Taste of that, old fellow - cried the
store>keeper, holding up tumbler half
full of the clear, blushing liquid That
was before the days of the Maine Law and
Adulteration.
Sebastian tasted of it-tasted again
smacked his lips, and slipped again
''Don't be afraid of it. That's the stuff
that puts life and vigor into man %
And Sebastian drank it down.
SPY glory, Walpole, you ought to have
SOME of this old Sherry to 60 with it
Just try that. If you don't say that's the
best Sherry you ever tasted, Ill give it to
you"
A man, full blooded and vigorous, who
had tasted nothing stronger than coffee for
two years, could not contain a gill of old
Madeira without feeling it in his brain
very quickly. Sebastian waited not to
be asked a second time to take the Sherry.
He drank off half tumbler full, and then
entered into a spirited conversation -
Mercy how his tongue had loosened
and how liberal he felt Of course he
would have gallon of the Sherry.
SIS old Sol Marshall going to be at your
wedding %
Certainly"
SCOT any brandy at home %
"No."
''By glory! you ought to have quart
say a bottle of it-just for old Sol He'll
appreciate it. And then you'll want it in
the house, you know. I've got about the
best article of pale Martel that ever cross
ed the water. There, just put drop of
water in that-not too much-don't drown
it J"
Sebastian poured a very little water into
about half a gill of pure old brandy and
having held it up to the light, and marked
the oily waving of the bright topaz tinted
liquid, he poured it down his throat Ii
was good, capital. He would have bot>
tie of it. Yes, "put me up two bottles of
J
low isn't married only once !"
'That's the idea, Sebastian"
"Ahi Tom! Charlie! Harry how are
you old fellows %
''Jerusalem! Sebastian, is it you! Say,
old chap, it's coming off tomorrow -
"Yes.''
"Then you ought to do the handsome"
"Of course will. Come up-What'I
ye have 7"
The three young men who had just en-
tered the store had been old cronies of Sc
bastianS in his days of fun and frolic, and
they were glad enough to find him in a
social mood for during the past two years
they had enjoyed but little of his COM
panionship. But he was pleased to meet
them now. With the fire in his blood
that set him on the road to frolic, they
were the three of all others he would have
chosen for companionsbip at that time
There is no need of enlarging here
When Sebastian commenced to drink with
his old cronies he was gone. He lad
Jolly good time, no doubt but he was to
carry little remembrance Of it home with
him.
ing, Mary, who had been watching al
night, saw old Dobbin turn INTO the yard,
with the sleigh behind him but she could
see no Sebastian. Calling Polly, she ran
down to the door. She did not stop for a
lantern, for the moon was up and gave
light enough. In the sleigh fanked with
demijohEs, bottles, bundles, and goose,
lay Sebastian. At first Mary grew faint
with a great fear but very soon she di-
vined the truth. Was she incensed? No
Her first thought was-and she spoke it
aloud-''Its all my fault, Polly It's all
my own fault, and not his. He didn't
want to buy the wine, but coaxcd him.
Poor, dear Sebastian! Oh God send that
this is the worst -
They got Sebastian up, and got him into
the house, he the while declaring:
''No, no, boys-(hic)-no anor'er
drop ! I-(hic)-tell ye-(hic)-Molly'll
cry! I'm hic)-cussed fool !-(hic)
Oh, dear Molly, (hic) wha' ford ye (hic)
want me to get the (hic) dern'd stuff for
Oh! git me home %
Towards the middle of the forenoon Sc
bastian awoke, and Mary was soon with
him. He had said enough in his wander
iugs while she and Polly had been getting
him to bed, to give her an understanding
of the whole affair, and instead of blaming
him, her first words were of love and
kindness. She acknowledged that it was
all her own fault, and that she had been
sufficiently punished for persuading her
! lover to do that which he felt he ought
not to do.
$50 let US think no more about it,
dear ~ cried Mary, with kiss.
But Sebastian was not willing to leave
his Mary bear the burden of blame He
claimed it for his to bear, and acknowl>
edged his sin, and promised not to do it
again. He looked into his pocket book,