The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1869-06-18
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who's that, I wonder |? said Mrs
Sesbufn, as he heard a ring at the
basement door.
'Ah it's Marshall returned her
husband, who had looked out of the
window and recognized the groeer's
carr
And what have you sent home
now, Henry?'
But before Mr.. SeabErn could an
Ewer, the door of the sitting room
was opened, and one of the domcs.
tics looked in and asked
'What1l 1 do wild the demjohns,
mum?'
'DemfOhus p repeated Mrs. Sea-
burn.
'Put them in the hall, and pll at
tend to them, interposed the hus-
band.
Henry, what have you sent home
now2' The wife asked, after the do
mestic was gone.
Some 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 evident
that something lay heavily upon her
heart. Presently she walked to the
wall, and pulled the bell-cord,
and the summons was an
sWered by the chambermaid.
Are George and Charles in their
room p
Yes, ma'am.'
Tell them that 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 hats in their hands.
They were bright, happy, hearty fel-
lows, with goodness and truth stamp
ed upon their rosy faces, and the
light Of free conscience cleaning in
their sparkling eyes. George was
thirteen years Of age, and Charles
eleven and certainly those two pa
rents had reason to be proud of them.
The boys kissed their mother, gave a
happy "good morning" to their faith
er, and then went away to school.
Come said Mr.. Seaburn, some
time after the boys had gone, what
makes you so sober?
'SOberp repeated the wife, looking
up
yes. You have been sober and
mute ever since the grocer came.
DO you want me to tell you why ?
'Of course l do
well, Henry, I am sorry you have
had the spirits brought into the
house.
Pooh what's the use in talking
so, Cora? You wouldn't have me do
without it, would your
Yes
why what do you meanP
Il 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 p
DO as others who use it not
'But-mercy what would peo-
pie say? Are you afraid but no,
l won't ask so foolish a question
ASK it Henry. Let us speak plan
ly, now that we have fairly commene-
ed
well, 1 was about to ask if you
were afraid that 1 should drink too
much p
That's not fair question, Henry.
1 was not thinking of that at all. But
L viii answer it by-and-by. You
have no fixed appetite for it noWP
f0f course not.
Then it would not cost you any
effort of will to abstain from its use p
Not 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 itY
Il do it, becaase,-said Mr.. Sea-
burn, hesitating in his choice of Ian
guagc-'because i. would appear very
odd, and very niggardly, and very
fanatieal, not to do it. This last was
snokan ernnhaticaliv-
But pursued Mrs. Seaburn, with
the calmness and assurance of one
who feels the sustaining influence of
right, you would not do what you
we're convinced was wrong, out of re-
spect to any such considerations,
would youT
sYou know 1 would EOt, Cora
This question of temperance, I know,
is a good one in the abstract, and l
am willing to live up to it'as 1 un-
derstand it; but / am no teetotaler.
Henry said his wife, with an
earnest look into his face, will you
answer me a few questions 2-and
answer them honestly and truly,
without equivoeation or evasionF
Bless me, how methodically you
put it, Coral But 1 will answer
Then hrst-do you believe you, or
your friends, are in any way benefit
ted by the drinking Of intoxicating
beverages at your board2 That is
do you derive any real good from it2'
No, cant 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 eomfOrtr
Why, 1 think it has added to our
comfort, Cora
'HowF
'0h in many ways
Name one of them
why in the enjoyment Of our
guests
'Ahl but 1 am speaking of our