The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-07-12


ment door.
All its Marshall" returned her
husband, 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
What'll do with the demijohns,
mum ?"
Demiiohns !" repeated Mrs. Sea-
burn.
" Put them in the hall, and LII 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 Hen.
ry.
Cora Seaburn glanced up at the clock
and then looked down upon the floor.
There was cloud upon her fair brow,
and il 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 chambermaid.
Are George aud Charles in their
room ?''
Yes, ma am.
Tell them 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
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 thir.
teen years Of age and Charles elevea
and certainly those two parents had reason
to be prouud Of them. The boys kissed
their mother gave a happy good morn
ing to their father. and went away to
school.
Come" said Mr.. Seaburn, some time
after the boys had gone. what makes you
so sober p
"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 why ?"
"Of course l do"
We'll. Henry, am sorry you have
had that spirit brought into the house"
Pooh what's the use in talking 40,
Cora ? You wouldn't have me do without
it, would you?"
Yes"
"Why, what do you mean 7"
- 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 have not wine"
/" But, mercy. what would people say
Are you afraid |, but no, | won't ask so
foolish question"
ASK it, Henry. Let us speak plain
ly, now that we have fairly commenced"
well, | was about to ask if you were
afraid that I should ever drink too
That's not a fair question, Henry. /
was not thinking of that at all. But
will answer it by-and-by. You have no
fixed appetite for it now ,"
"Of course not"
Then it would not cost you any effort
Of will to abstain from it, usc?" i
" Not particle"
And you only have it in your house,
and serve to your friends and drink it
yourself, because it is fashionable or.you
do it because others do it ?"
:" | do it BECAUSE" said Mr.. Seaburn,
he,itating in his choice of language, be.
cause it would appear very odd, and very
niggardly, and very fanatical not to do
it. The last was spoken very emphati.
cally.
But, pursued Mrs. Seaburn, with the
calmness and assurance Of one who feels
the sustaining influences of right, you
would not do what you were convinced
was wrong, out ofrespect of any such con.
siderations, would you ?"
You know would not, Cora. This
question Of temperance, know, is good
one in the abstract, and am willing to
live up to it as understand it but am
no teetataler."
Henry" said his wife, with an earn.
est look into his face, Twill YOU answer
me few questions:'-and answer them
honestly and truly. without equivocation
or evasion ?"
Bless me, how methodically sou yut
it. Cora But I will answer it."
"Then frst--do you believe you, or
your friends. are in any way benefited
by the drinking of intoxicating beverages
at your board ?--That is. do you derive
any good from it ?"
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 comfort ?"
Why. think it has added to our
comfort, Cora"
How ?" go
"Oh ! in many ways"
Name one of them"
Why, in the enjoyment OF our guests ~
"Ah but | am speaking of ourselves,
Henry--of you, and me, and of our own
little family. Has it ever administered
your comfort ?"
"No, cannot say it has
And if it was banished from our house
to-day and forever, as beverage, should
we suffer in consequence p
Certainly What would our friends
"Ah but stop, am only speaking ol
our own affairs, shut out from tho other
world, by our own fresidc. want al
extraneous considerations left out of the
question. Should We, as family, suffer
in our moral, physical, social, or domestic
affairs, in the total abstinence from thi,
beverage?"
mo, do not know that We should.
Then to you. a4 husband. and {
A. - Al A.