Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-07-20
Miscellany.
THE WIFE'S GIFT.
BIZ WILLIAM A. sIsoURsgY.

BIZ WILLIAM A. sIGoURsRY.
"No, no, jim; Il Is 20 use 70 persuade
me am no tsetotaller. Three glasses q
day Is my rule, and good one it Ia too.
Just enough 70 make fellow feel lively,
without Jpsett.ng him in the least. l
bave signing the pledge 70 those who fear
V 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 endeavoriug 10 persuade young James
70 join the Good Templars, and pledge
himselfto total abstinence. There Is but
one safe course for us 70 pursue"
For you, perhaps, but not for me" was
The reply. Every man is his own best
Judge. Don't be offended, jim; your
counsel 10 well meant, and thank you for
it. Bat you magnify the danger. Here
il my little wife she is not afraid 10 trust
me without my signing the pledge. Say,
Lizzie, my darlingf"
Lizzie had been wife but one short
month, and II was hard for her 10 say any
thing which might seem 70 differ from the
opinion which her husband had advanced;
but she was very truthful, and Jim was an
old friend, 50 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 Tem1Dlsrs, and resolve never TO
taste another drop Of liquor, unless the
doctor ordered it. Make me present OF
she three glasses a day"
Indeed, / will not my dear, for 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,
zmilingly.
"ODly 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 10 join your society. But
never mind, Lizzie, IL shall never be said
that treated myself better than did my
wife and, therefore, i promise to allow
you three glasses day rs 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 cat, drink or
wear II, just rs she likes"
"You are sad fellow, Bill, or you woiHd
give her what che asked for" said his
friend, as he babe them good night.
And you are 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
I" II 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 the main street.
aTake my advice, and keep all you can
get Three glasses a day has brought
many man TO want"
Jim is raven end you must not mind
ms croaking," remarked the husband, as
the two re. entered the cottage
The full moon shed pleasant lustre
through the clustering vines that shaded
tine easement and made the little room,
with its pretty, though simple furniture,
look even more attractive than was its
wont. 1t was the honey moon, 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 bcheld, and that
the little cottage, and all II 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:
ut would take more than q ravens
croaking to shake my faith in you, dear
Will"
Her husband drew her still closer to his
bosom, and 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 ST.
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 30 much"
ut was not alone what he said dear
William but his words brought sad re-
membranes to mind-my own miserable
childhood, my poor heart broken mother,
and more to be pitied than all, my wretch.
cd. misguided father And yet my mother
has often told me Of the first happy years
OF her married life-of kind husband
and q 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 was until l knew