South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-07-14
THE WIFEjS GTfr.
BY WILLIAM A. sIeouRNEY.

dust enough to make a fellow. feel livel
withclt tipse.ting him in The least.
leave signing the pledge 10 tho3e Iiio fe'
to trust themselves. No danger of Bi
James being seen reeling in the streets"
But we have such fearful examples b.
fore rs, William" Urged the friend, VIII
was endeavorIng to pezsuade Young Jane
to join the Good Templars, and pledg
himselfto total abstinence. "There is bU
one safe course for US to pursue"
For you, perhaps, but not for me" wa
tie reply. Every man is his. own bes
judge. Don't be offended, Jim; Soti
counsel is well meant, and | thank you 70
1t. But you magnify the danger. Her
is my little wife; she is not afraid to trus
me without my signing the pledge. Say
Lizzie, my darlingg"
Iizsie had been a wife but one shor
month, and It vas hard for her TO say any
thing which might seem to differ from tn,
opinion which her husband had advanced
but she was very truthful, and Jim was al
old friend, SO that his presence was littlt
restraint, and she answered frankly:
Mo- William, l am not afraid TO trus
you; and yet ! would rather you woulC
join the Templars, and resolve never tC
taste another drop of liquor, unless the
doctor ordered it. Make me a present Of
the three glasses a day."
Indeed, will not my dear, for 1 could
not get along without an occasional droI
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 testing 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, promise to allow
you three glasses day as long as l 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 1t, just as she likes"
"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 1 have done So" replied
William, laughingly, at . the same time
rendering thirty cents 10 Lizzie, which she
at first seemed disposed to reject, but on
second thought accepted, saying quietly:
1t will come in use sometime"
mo doubt it will, Lizzie" said the ad-
vocate of temperance, looking back as he
passed through the gate TO the main street.
3" Take my advice, and keep all you can
get. Three glasses a 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 a pleasant lustre
through the clustering vines that shaded
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
{ was the very softest and most lovely
she had ever beheld, and that
he little cottage, and all it contained, hus-
1and included, were among the most choice
If Gods blessings. And no one can won
Ter that she slipped her little hand into
Williams broad palm, and nestled close to
lis side, as she whispered:
1t would take more than a ravens
.roaking TO shake my faith in you, dear
Will"
Her husband drew her still closer to his |
)Osom, and pressed a kiss on her pure |
White forehead, but he did not speak, and |
or awhile they sat together in that pleas |
mt stiffness, busy with their own thoughts |
1t length Lizzie again broke the 81 |
ence, by saying in a slightly tremulous
'oice:
And yet 1 would rather that you med
lied not with edge tools, my dear hus-
and"
"Still harping on that subject, my little
wife. l thought not Jim's idle talk would
fleet you so much"
1t was not alone what he said dear
but his words brought sad re- !
nembrances to mind-my own miserable |
my poor heart-broken mother, |
nd more to be pitied than all, my wretch
d, misguided father. And yet my mother |
as often told me of the first happy years
f her married ife-of kind husband /
nd a pleasant home. Intemperance
hanged her happiness TO misery, and
Iarsh treatment from him she loved,
rought her to an early grave, and left me
he lovely being that was until l knew
ou, dear Will. No wonder thst dread
he sound of even three glasses day"
Deep feelings had given TO the once sim
lie village maiden an unusual degree of
loquence. Her blue eyes beamed upon
er husband with such earnest and implor-
lg tenderness that his sterner nature
Ould hardly resist the appeal But false
ride came to his aid; he had withstood
he arguments of his friends, and he
7ould not yield to the pleadings of his
-ife. That others had fallen, proved not
nat he would do the same. As man, he
-ould stand forth, and prove to all that
ne moderate drinker and the drunkard
rere not to be classed together; that one
light stand on the brink of a precipice
Iithout danger of plunging in the abyss
Glow.
And thus in his own vain strength he
TODD. Human strength Alasl it is but
7eakuessi The power to resist evil
ay, the very consciousness that evil exists, |
nd the desire to shun it, belongs not to
ian. In God also must We trust.
My tale lies but in humble village life
William James was the blacksmith of the
leasant little village which had been his
irth- place, and which was endeared to
i'm by all the tender and endearing asso-
iations of infancy, boyhood and youth.
lis father had pursued the same occupa-
ion, and it was with pride and pleasure
hat he placed the hammer in the hands of
is son, and directed his first attempt at
be anvil
at is a respectable and useful trade
|iIly," he would often say, land one
7hich will always insure you an honest
wing This is all you want; the lawyers
nd doctors could desire no more"
So William grew to manhood as
borough blacksmith as his father; and
D due time, as the old mans health de-
lined, the business came altogether into
is hands, and the old gentleman was COM
snt to smoke his pipe, and watch the
rogress of the work in which he had once
AIKEN so active part.
What blessing it is" he would some
ines say to his wife, " that our Bill Is
ober, industrious lad, and works at the
orge as well as l could myself A good
rade is worth all the newfangled notions
hat the boys have nowadays"
1t was a joyful day with the old folks
Then sweet Lizzie was introduced to
hem as Williams wife. 1t was at first
proposed that they should be made
ne family; but there were other sons and
aughters now nearly men and women,
Who could well fill the vacancy in the old
homestead, and that pretty little cottage,
Ialf hid in the clustering vines, was but a
tones throw, and the young people pre-
erred home of their own.
So all was made ready, and when the
raddino dau cana II uvae ac all UeddiDp /