Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1870-07-15
General Literature.
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"Who's that, 1 wonder" said Mrs. Sea-
burn, as she heard ring at the basement
| door.
"Ah it's Marshall" returned her hus-
band, who had looked out at the window
and recognized the grocer's cart.
"And what have you sent home now,
Henry?'
But before Mr.. Seaburn could answer,
the door of the sitting room was opened,
and one of the domestics looked in, and
| asked:
"Whatll l do wild the demijohns mum?"
"Demijohns r. repeated Mrs. Seaburn.
"Put them in the hall, and I'll attend to
| them," interposed the husband.
"Henry, what have you sent home now?"
the wife asked after the domestic was gone.
"Some nice old brandy" replied Henry.
Cora Seaburn looked up at the clock, and
then looked down upon the floor. There
was a 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 answered by the chamber
maid.
"Are George and Charles in their room?"
"Yes, maam."
"Tel them it is school time.'
| The girl went out, and in "A little while
| two bows 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 cleaning 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 happy good morning to their IA
ther, and 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.
"Yes. You have been sober and mute
ever since the grocer came,"
"Do you want me to tell you whyf"
"of course do"
"Well, Henry, am sorry you have had
that spirit 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 mean?'
| 81 mean that l would cut clear of the
stuff now and forever"
"But, Cora, you are wild. What should
we do at parties without wine?"
| "Do as others who Lave it not"
| but, mercy! what would people say
Are you afraid I, but no, won't ask SC
foolish question"
"Ask it, Henry. Let us speak plainly,
now that we have fairly commenced"
swell, was about to ask you if you
were afraid that ! should ever drink too
much?"
"That's not a fair question, Henry. j
was not thinking of that at all. But will
answer it by-and-by. You have no fixed
| appetite for ii now2''
| "Of course not"
| "Then it would not cost you any effort OF
| will to abstain from its user"
"Not particle"
| "And you only have it in your house,
and serve to your friends and drink II
| yourself, because it is fashionable? or you
do IL because others do it7"
81 do it because" said Mr.. Seaburn, hes
itating in his choice Of language, "because
1t would appear very odd, and very mig
gardly, and very fanatical not to do it,,
The last was spoken emphatically.
"But," pursued Mrs. Seaburn, with the
| calmness and accurance of one who feels
the sustaining influences of right, "you
would not do what you were convinced
was wrong, out Of respect of any such con-
siderations, would your"
"You know l would not, Cora. This
question Of temperance, know is good
one in the abstract, and l am willing Ia
live up to it as understand II; but am
no teetotaler."
"Henry," said his wife, with an earnest
look into his face, twill you answer me a
few questions 2-and answer them honest
ly and truly, without equivocation or eva
sion?'
"Bless me how mothodically you put 1t
Cora But | will answer"
"rhen tirst-do you believe that you OF
your friends, are in any way benefited b,
the drinking Of Intoxicating beverages a
your board H-That is, do you derive any
real good from itR"
mo, can't say that we do"
"Do you think the time has ever beer
since we were married, when we actually