The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1869-05-28

ut the basement door.
"Ah it's Marshall" said her
husband, who had looked out at the
window and recognised the grocer's
cart.
"And what have you sent home
now, Henry -
But before Mr.. Seaburn could an
swer, the door of tho sitting.room
was opened, and one of the domes-
tics looked in, and asked
What'll I do wid the demijohns
mum p
Demijohns ?" repeated Mrs.
Seaburn. > -
Put them in the hail, and I'll
attend to them," interposcd the
husband.
Henry, what have you sent
home now :" the wife asked, after
the domestic was gone.
"Seme nice old brandy" replied
Henry.
Cora Seaburn glanced up at the
clock, and then looked down upon
the floor. There was q cloud upon
her fair brow, and it was very evil
dent that something lay heavily up
on her heart. Presently she walk
ed to the wall and pulled the bell
cord, and the summons was answer
ed by the chambermaid.
Are George and Charles in their
room 2"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Tell them it is school-timc.'
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
fellows, with goodness and truth
stamped upon their rosy faces, and
the light Of free consciences gleam-
ing in their sparkling eyes. George
was thirteen years Of age, and
Charles eleven and certainly those
two parents had reason to be proud
of them. The boys kissed their
mother, gave a happy "good-morn-
ing to their father, and then went
away to school.
"Come," said Mr.. Seaburn,
some time after the boys had gone,
"what makes you SO sober?'
" Sober !" repeated the wife,
looking up.
g Yes. You have been sober
and mute ever since the grocer
came"
q Do you want me to toll you
why %
"Of course l do"
"Wcll, Henry, I am sorry you
have had that spirit brought into
the house."
Pooh /! what's the use il talk
ing so, Cora? You wouldn't have
me to do without it would you?"
"Yes."
"Why, what do you me.n?"
/" I mean that l would cut clear
Of the stuff, now and forever
" But, Cora, you are Wild
What should We do at our parties
without wine ?"
"Do as others who have it not. -
"But-mercy!-what would pco-
pie say? Are you afraid but no,
| won't ask so foolish = question. )"
ASK it, Henry. Let rs speak
plainly, now that we have fairly
commenced"
g Well. I was about to ask if
you were afraid that should ever
drink too much 20
THAT'S not a fair question, Hen
ry. I was not thinking Of that at
all. But I will answer it by-and-
by. You have no fixed appetite
for it now 7"
"Of course not"
"Then it would not cost you
any effort Of will to abstain from
it's use"
mot a particle.
"And you only have it in your
house. and serve it to your friends
and drink it yourself. because it is
fashionable !? or, you do it because
others do it -
Il do it because said Mr..
Seaburn. hesitating in his choice of
language" because it would ap-
pear very odd, and very niggardly,
and very fanatical, not to do it."
This, last was spoken very empha t.
ically.
But" pursued Mrs. Seaburn,
with tho calmness and assurance Of
one who feels the sustaining influ-
cnce Of right, "you would not do
what you were convinced was wron e
out Of respect to any such consider
alton, would you p
you know I would not, Cora.
This question Of temperance, l know
il . good one in the abstract, and I
am willing to live up to it as I un-
dersta nd it; but I am no teetotaler. !"
"Henry," said his wife. with an
earnest look into bis face, will
you answer me few questions p
and answer them honestly and truly,
without equiyocation or evasion -
sBless me, how methodically
you put it. Cora But I will an
swer.'
''Then frst-do you believe you,
or your friends, are in any way bne-
ftcd by the drinking of intoxicat-
ing beverages at your board ? That
is-do you derive any real good
from it %