Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-08-09
naiscella
THE wIFE'S GIFT.

pledge to those who fear to trust themselves.
No danger Of Bill james being seen reeling
in the streets"
But we have such fearful examples before
US, William urged the friend who was en-.
deavoring to persuade young james to join
the Good Templars, aud pledge himself to
total abstinence. There is but one safe
course for rs to pursue
For you, perhaps but not for me- was
/ the reply Every man is his own best
Judge Don't be offended, Jim your coun-
sci is well enough, aud | thank you for 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 a wife but one short month,
aud it was hard for her to say anything 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 ans
wered frankly:
No. William, | am not afraid to trust
you aud yet | would rather you would join
the Templars aud resolve never to taste an
other drop Of liquor, unless the doctor orders
/ it. Make me a present Of the three glasses
day"
" Indeed will not, my dear, for | could
not get along without an occasional drop Of
the useful. If you wish a present you must
think Of something else"
Nothing else will do" replied Lizzie
smilingly.
Only hear that Jim, said the young hus-
atsl 80. Natht tr.r. Loo han,
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 did my wife and, therefore, |
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 II, 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 | have done so, replied William,
laughngly, at the same time rendering thirty
cents to Lizzie, which she at first seemed dis.
posed TO reject, but on second thought ac
cepted, saying quietly
' 1t will come in use sometime"
No doubt it will, Lizzie said the adyo
cate Of temperance, looking back as he passe
through the gate to the main street "Tak
my advice and keep all you can get Thre
glasses day has brought many man t.
want"
Jim is a raven, and you must not min,
his croaking,' remarked the husband, as tn
two re-entered the cottage
The full moon shed pleasant luste
through the clustering vines that shaded tn,
easement, and made the little room, with it
pretty, though simple furniture, look evei
more attractive than was its wont 1t wa
the honeymoon besides therefore no one ca
wonder that Lizzie should think, us she locke
around, that it was the very softest and mos
lovely moonlight she had ever beheld an
that the little cottage and all it contained
J. husband included, were among the most choic
n of Gods blessings. Aud no one can wonde
!. that she slipped her little hand into William
/. broad palm, and nestled close to his side, a
e she whispered;
lie 1T would take more than a ravens croal
" iuE W ahuht lh) AalAu III Jbuf hbdi " llis
l. Her husband drew her still closer to b
s. bosom, and pressed kiss on her pure whit
10 forehead, but he did not speak, and for
|, while they sat together in the pleasant still
ness, busy with their own thoughts At lengt
e Lizzie again broke silence, by saying, in
d slightly tremulous voice:
4, " And yet would rather that you NEEDLE
,r not with edged tools, my dear husband"
m Still harping on that subject, my lit
IN wife l thought not Jims idle talk wou
~ affect you so much
ne I" 1t was not alone what he said, dear Wi
er liam but his words brought sad remembran
to to my mind--my own miserable childhoo
Or my poor heart-broken mother, and more to
pitied than all, my wretched, misguided
e. ther And yet my mother has often told Il
ut Of the first happy years Of her married life
a of kind husband and pleasant home. |
ed temperance changed her happiness to miser
It's and harsh treatment from him she low
lg brought her to an early grave, and left \
he the lonely being that | was until knew 20
We dear Will No wonder that dread the SOU
1t, OF even three glasses day"
ho Deep feelings had given to the once smF
RS village maiden an unusual degree Of eloquen'
he Her blue eyes beamed upon her husband wi
such earnest and imploring tenderness til
his sterner nature could hardly resist the q
peal. But false pride came to his aid
had withstood the arguments Of his frien
er' and he would not yield to the poadings Of
zen wife. That others had fallen proved not Il
III he would do the same. As man, he wo,
.op stand forth, and prove to all that the mod
ltl ate drinker aud the drunkard were not to
lle classed together that one might stand on
INK brink of precipice without danger of plu
len ing into the abyss below
oie And thus in his own vain strength he sto
On Human strength Alas it is but weakne
W The power to resist eyl-nay, the very c
~ sciousness that evil exists, and the desire
so' shun it, belongs not to man. In God all
must we trust
~, , IN My tale lies but in humble village life
IN William james was the blacksmith of
ana pleasant little village which had been
an .e birthplace, and which was endeared to
, II by all the tender and endearing ASSOCIATE
~ rnu Of infancy, boyhood and youth. His fat
uo had pursued the same occupation, and it
ny with pride and pleasure that he placed
uuulihcl III Aut VI hiH oOhi ohN ~
" his first attempt at the anvil,
at is a respectable and useful trade,
ly," he would often say, "and one which '
'er' always insure you an honest living. This
nse all you want the lawyers and doctors co
cry desire no more"
al SO William grew to manhood as thoroug
'ol' blacksmith as his father and in due time
la the old mans health declined, the BUSH
ian came altogether into his hands, and the
OF gentleman was content to smoke his pipe,
10 watch the progress Of the work in which
rye had once taken SO active part.
'ial " What blessing il is, he would sol
the times say to his wife, " that our Bill
the sober industrious lad, and works at the 70
on as well as could myself, A good trad
hey worth all the new-fanged notions that
pre- boys have nowadays"
lies 1t was joyful day with the old fc
a when sweet Lizzie was introduced to them
ow; Williams wife. 1t was at first propo
led that they should be made one family ;
BOD there were other SONS and daughters u