The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-07-12
And isn't an evil to society ,"


is not terrible evil?'
A terrible evil grows oui Of the abus,
Of it. Cora
And will voulclI me what good arise
out of p"
Really, love, when you come down t.
this abstract poiut. you have the field
But people should learn to. govern thei
appetite. All things may be abused"
Yes. But will you tell me the use
the real good--to be derived from drink
ing wine and brandy p
As said before, it is social custom
and has its charms
All there you have it, Henry. L
does have its charms, as the deadly snak,
is said to have, and as other vices have
But | see you are in hurry"
e." 1t is time | was at the store"
Il will detain you but moment lon
ger, Henry. just answer few more
questions. Now call to mind all tn,
families Of your acquaintance; think o.
all the domestic circles you know from
your schoo..boy days to the present rur
your thoughts through the various homes
where you have been intimate; do this
aud tell me, if iu any one instance you
knew single joy to be planted by the
hearth.stone from the wine-cup? Did you
ever know one item Of good to flow to a
family from its use p
{" No; | cannot say that | ever did
not as you mean."
And now answer me again. Think
OF those homes once more, call to memory
the playmates of your childhood, think OF
the homes they have made, think of other
homes, think Of the firesides where all you
have known dwell, and tell me If you
have seen any sorrows flow from the wine
cup? Have you seen any great griefs
planted by the Intoxicating bowl upon the
hearth h-stone ?"
Henry Seaburn did not answer, for
there passed before him such grim spec
tres Of sorro,o and grief that he shudder.
ed at the mental vision. He saw the
youth cut down in the hour Of promise /;
he saw the gray head fall in dshouor /;
he saw hearts broken; he saw homes
made desolate; he saw affections wither
up and die; and saw noble intelccts
stricken down Good Heavens. what
sights he saw as he unrolled the canvass
of his memory.
Henry" whispered his wife, moving
to his side and winding one arm gently
about his neck, 1--WE have two boys. They
are growing to be men. They are noble,
generous and tender.hearted. They love
their home and honor their parents. They
are here to form those characters, to ,e-
ceive those impressions, which shall he
the basis upon which their future veal or
woe must rest Look at them, oh think
of them doing battle in the great struggle
Of the life before them. Shall they in
the time TO come fall by the wayside, cut
down by the demon Of the cup. and in
theirdying hour curse the example whence
they derived the appetite? Oh for our
children, for those t~o boys. !or the men
we hope to see them, for the sweet memo
ries We would have them cherish Of their
reap, let US cast this thing out now and
forever"
Cora kissed her husband a. she ceased
speaking aud then be arose to his feet,
bit he made her no reply.
Henry, you are not offended 7"
No." he said. He returned her kiss,
and without another word left the house
and went to his store
How strangely did circumstances work
to keep the idea his wife had given him
alive in his mind. That very morning he
met youth, son of one of his wealthy
friends, in state of wild inioxication ;
and during the forenoon he heard that
young Aaron C. had died at sea. lie
knew that Aaron had been sent from home
that he might be reclaimed.
After the bank was closed. aud as Hen.
ry Seaburn was thinking of going to his
dinner, he received note through the
penny post. II was from medical
friend, and contaiued request that he
would call at the hospital on his way
home. This hospital was not much out
of his way, and he stopped there.
There i, man in one Of the lower
wards who wishes 10 see you,' said the
doctor.
Does he know me? :" asked S-ahurn.
:" He says he does."
What is his name ?"
:" He won't tell Us. He goe. by the
name of Smith but I am satisfied that
such il not his true name. He is 10 the
last stage of consumption aud de!irium.
He has lucid intervals. but they do not
last long He has been herea week. He
was picked up in the street and brought
here He heard you name and said be
knew you once"
MIR. Seaburn went 10 the room where
the patient lay, and looked at him. Sure
ly be never knew that man There mast
be some mistake" he said.
The invalid heard him, and opeaed hi,
eyes,--such bloodshot. unearthly eyes
Harry" he whispered, trying to lit
himself up on his elbow; " is this Henry
Seaburn
That is my name.
" And don't you know me z
Il am sure | do not" And he would
have said that he did not wish 10, only
the man seemed so utterly miserable that
he would not would what little feeling ht
might have left.
Have you forgotten your old play
mate in boyhood. Harry-your friend in
other years, your chum in college ?"
What !" gasped Seaburn, starting
back aghast, for glimmer Of the trutl
E burst upon him. This is not Alec LON
berg?'
An tina, is left Of him, my Hail. re
, turned the poor fellow, putting forth hi
wasted. skeleton hand, and smiling iain
, quivcring, dying smile.
! " Alexander Lomberg" !" said Henry
gazing into the bloatcd, dishgured fac
, before him.
You wouldn't have known mo, Hal ?
Indeed. no."
4. lnor | am ult.rad