Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-07-13
VOLUME XVI
THE WIFE's GIFT.
BY wt1L1AM A. sIeoupNpY,

just enough to make fellow feel lively
without upsetting him in the least.
leave signing the pledge to those who feal
to trust themselves. No danger of Bill
james being seen reeling in the streets"
"But we have such fearful examples be
was endeavoIing to persuade young James
to join the Good Templars, and pledge
himselfto total abstinence. "There is bu,
one safe course for us to pursue"
For you, perhaps, but not for me" was
the reply. Every man is his own bes
judge. Don't be offended, Jim; youl
counsel is well meant, and l thank you fol
it. But you magnify the danger. Here
is my little wife; she is not afraid to trust
me without my signing the pledge. Say
Lizzie, my darling?"
Lizzie had been wife but cne short
month, and it was hard for her to say any
thing which might seem to differ from the
opinion which her husband had advanced
but she was very truthful, and Jim was an
old friend, SO that his presence was little
restraint, and she answered frankly:
No, William, am not afraid to trust
you; and yet would rather you would
join the Templars, and resolve never tc
taste another drop of liquor, unless the
doctor ordered it. Make me present Of
the three glasses day"
Indeed, will not my dear, for I could
not get along without an occasional drop
of the useful. If you wish present, you
must think of something else"
Nothing else will do" replied Lizzie,
smilingly.
"Only hear that, Jim," said the young
husband, in a jesting tone. Nothing less
than three glasses day will serve my
little wife as present. You had better
persuade her to join your society. But
never mind, Lizzie, it shall never be said
that treated myself better than l did my
wife; and, therefore, l promise to allow
you three glasses day as long as take
them myself Bear witness, Jim, every
evening after my return from work, will
hand to my dear little wife the price of
three glasses, and she may eat, drink or
wear it, just as she likes"
"Y You are sad fellow, Bill, or you would
give her what she asked for" said his
friend, as he bade them good night.
"And you are unreasonable, or you
would see that I have done So" replied
William, laughingly, at the same time
rendering thirty cents to Lizzie, which she
at first seemed disposed to reject, but on
second thought accepted, saying quietly:
1t will come in use sometime"
{" No doubt it will, Lizzie" said the ad-
vocate of temperance, looking back as he
passed through the gate to hemain street.
Take my advice, and keep all you can
get. Three glasses day has brought
many man to want"
Jim is raven and you must not mind
his croaking," remarked the husband, as
the two re- entered the cottage.
The full moon shed pleasant lustre
fhrO r1rrI, Il, a1r r1cfa 1,oL oh Iol
the easement, and made the little room,
with its pretty, though simple furniture,
look even more attractive than was its
wont. 1t was the honeymoon, besides
therefore no one can wonder that Lizzie
should think, as she looked around, that
1t was the very softest and most lovely
moonlight she had ever beheld, and that
the little cottage, and all it contained, hus-
band included, were among the most choice
of Gods blessings. And no one can won
der that she slipped her little hand into
Williams broad palm, and nestled close to
his side, as she whispered:
1t would take more than a ravens
croaking to shake my faith in you, dear
Will"
Her husband drew her still closer to his
bosom, and pressed a kiss on her pure
white forehead, but he did not speak, and
for awhile they sat together in that pleas
ant stiffness, busy with their own thoughts.
At length Lizzie again broke the 81
lence, by saying in slightly tremulous
voice:
"And yet would rather that you med
died not with edge tools, my dear hus-
band"
"Still harping on that subject, my little
wife. thought not Jim's idle talk would
affect you so much"
!" 1t was not alone what he said dear
William; but his words brought sad re-
membranes to mind-my own miserable
and more to be pitied than ALL my wretch
ed, misguided father. And yet my mother
has often told me of the first happy years
of her married ife-of kind husband
and pleasant home. Intemperance
changed her happiness to misery, and
harsh treatment from him she loved,
brought her to an early grave, and left me
the lovely being that l was until I knew
you, dear Will. No wonder that [ dread
the sound of even three glasses day"
Deep feelings had given to the once sim
pie village maiden an unusual degree OF
eloquence. Her blue eyes beamed upon
her husband with such earnest and implOr.
ing tenderness that his sterner nature
could hardly resist the appeal. But false
pride came to his aid; he had withstood
the arguments of his friends, and he
would not yield to the p1eadings of his
wife. That others had fallen, proved not
that he would do the same. AS a man, he
would stand forth, and prove to all thai
the moderate drinker and the drunkar6
were not to be classed together; that ont
might stand on the brink of precipict
without danger of plunging in the abys.
below.
And thus in his own vain strength he
stood. Human strength! Alas it is but
weaknessl The power to resist evil
nay, the very consciousness that evil exists
and the desire to shun it, belongs not t.
man. In God also must we trust.
My tale lies but in humble village life
William James was the blacksmith of the
pleasant little village which had been hi
birth place, and which was endeared tt
him by all the tender and endearing asso
Citations of infancy, boyhood and youth
His father had pursued the same -occupa
tion, and it was with pride and pleasure
that he placed the hammer in the hands o
his son. and directed his first attampt a