Mower County transcript., 1871-07-20
Miscellany.
THE WIFE'S GIFT.
BY WILLIAM 4. SIGOURNEY.

IHE NAFES GlFis
BY WILLIAM A. SIGOURNEY.
"No, no, Jim; it is no usc to persuade
me. l am no tertotallcr. Three glasses s
day is my rule, and good one it is too
Just enough to make Il fellow feel lively
without upsettinE him in the least
leave signing the pledge t" those who fear
to trust themselves. No danger of Bill
James being seen reeling in the streets"
"But we have such fearful examples be
fore us, William" urged the friend, who
was endeavoring to persuade young James
to join the Good Trmplars, and pledge
himsclfto total abstinence. "Thcrc is bu,
one safe course for us to pursue"
"For you, perhaps, but not for me, J" was
Judge. Don't be offended, jim; your
counsel is well meant, and 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 t'arling?"
Lizzie had been wife but one short
month, and it was hartk9Or 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 Ri
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 to
taste another drop of liquor, unless the
doctor ordered it. Make me a present of
the three glasses day"
Indeed, will not my dear, for I could
not get along without an occasional drop
Of the useful. It you wish present, yol,
must think Of something else
Nothing else will do," replied Lizzie,
smiingly.
"Onl y hear that, ,Jim," said the young
husband, in Il testing tone. Nothing less
than three glasses day will serve my
persuade her to join your society. But
never mind, Lizzie it Shall never be said
that I treated myself better than I did my
wife; and, therefore, I promise to allow
you three glasses u day rs long as | take
them myself. Bear witness, jim, every
evening after my return from work, l will
hand to my dear little wife the price of
three glasses, and she may eat, drink or
wear 1t, just as she likes
"Iou are a sad fellow, Bill. or you would
give her what she asked tor,' said his
friend, rs he bA,le them good night.
And You arc unreasonable, or you
would see that 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 all
vocate Of temperance, looking back as he
passed through the gate to the main street.
Take my advice, and keep all you can
get. Thr"c glasscs Il day has brought
many man to want.'
".Iim is n raven and you must not mind
his croaking,' remarked the husband, as
the two re. entered the cottage.
The full moon shed 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
it was the very softest and most lovely
moonlight she had ever bcheld,. and that
the little cottage, and all it contained, hus.
band included, we're among tho 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 8
croaking to shake my faith in.you, dear
Will"
Her husband drew her still closer to his
bosom, aud pressed 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 trcmulous
voice:
And yet would rather that you med
died not with edge tools, my dear hus-
baud"
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-nly own miserable
childhood, my poor heart broken mother;
and more to be pitied than all, my wretch
ed, misguided father. And yet my mother
has often '"l'! me of the first happy years
and pleasant home. In,cmpcrancr
changed her happiness to miacry, and
harsh treatment from him she loved,
brought her to an carly grave, and left me
the lovely being that 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
cl"uuence. 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 withstool
the arguments Of his friends, and he
would not yield to the pleadin gs Of his
wife. That others had fallen, proved not
that he would do the same. AS man, he
would stand forth, and prove to all that
the moderate drinker and the drunkard
were not to be classctl together; that one
might stand on the brink Of precipice
without dangcr OF plunging in the abyss
below.
And thus in his own vain strength he
stood. Human strength! Alas! it is but
weakness! The power to resist evil
nay, the very consciousness that evil exists,
and the desire to shun it, belongs not to
MAI IN God also must we trust.
WIZ; m? u'G hcs but in humble village life
% Imam ,'anes y, w'.s the blacksmith of the
I':':"SalaI 'l'''e V'I'ar: which had been his
nirth place, and which was cn,l.ard tn
nun ny all the tender and cmlcarinr aeon.
cItllons OF infancy, boyhooh and vr,,th
!! 10 A"'liCi HUI I)ulSuCU JDe same N,r,,nu
ton, and it WAS with pride and pleasure
that he placed the hammer in the hands oi
his son, and directed his first attempt at,
the anvil.
1T is a respectable and useful trade
Billy" he would often say, "and one
which will always insure you an honest
living. This is all you wait; the lawyers
and doctors could desire no more"
80 William grew to manhood as
thorough blacksmith as his her; and
in due time, as the old mans health dc.
ctlned, the business came altogether into
his hands, and the old gentleman was con.
tent to smoke his pipe, and watch the
progress Of the work in which he had once
taken $" active u part.
-" What a h"ssi,lg it. is," he would some
times say t" his wife, :" that our Bill IS a
sober, industrious Ial and works at the
forge as we'll us could myself. A good
trade Is worth all the new tangled notions
that the boys have now-adays."