The Sweetwater enterprise. (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1869-187?, 1872-02-22
LOVED TO DEATH.
A New Years Temperance Story
BY NED BUSTLISE.

1t was Irene Gray who thus addressed
her only brother, fine, manipulating
young man, whose dress and carriage
told his position to be that Of gentle
man in the common acceptation Of the
term.
1t was the day before the New Year
holiday Of 1870.
Eyes. dear sister, if in my power You
know it is ever a joy to me to add to your
pleasures when l can. What is it now {?
Do you wish me as an escort to the thea
ter or ball?"
"No, dear brother, it is this. Do not
make any New Years calls tomorrow.
Heavens, Irene! You astonish me,
What possible harm is there in this dear
old custom Of visiting On IS laly friends,
and wishing them u Ii,ppy Nov Year
"Charles, do you remember IN w.a,
condition you came, or rather how You
were brought home last New Year Day,
and the long, terrible sickness which fol-
lowed"
"No, sister; nor the tender care which
most likely saved my life, for you were
the watcher by my side, But, sweet one
signed the pledge ut your request as
soon az l got well. | have kept it ever
since, for l feel as You feel, that my
character and my very life both depend
on my total abstience from alcoholic
drink"
"Yes, Charles, you signed, and SO far
with Gods help have kept the pledge.
But tomorrow will be day of terrible
temptation. Wine and hot punches will
dt.gacc many table where you would
visit; fair lips will tempt you to taste,
and
"Stop one moment, dear Rene-do
you think any iady will ask me to break
my pledged word?"
"Chmles-you will find, even as l
have found, among our acquaintances,
those who will laugh at what they term
the folly OF abstinence, the fanaticism of
temperance. You will be pressed to
take but one glass here, or one there, and
ihen-alas you know as well as |, that
appetite excited by single drop will
become again the iWaut, and you are
lost"
Nonsense, darling sister! I am firm
l will make my usual calls and show
them all that l am and will be man ="
"Charles-I tremble for tho result
At least promise me not to go to the
house OF Mr.. William Tinshop!"
"Why sister--of all places nat to neg
lect that is The one. l don't think much
of old Tinshop for he as whisky-bloat;
but love Flora and she loves Inc. We
are As good as engaged now, and were
not to call on her, it would seem like a
cruel insult"
"Ah, CHARLES, you know rs well as /,
that tho tables there will contain the
deadly temptation, and that her father will
laugh at your scruples, and that She his
pet and his heiress, will have to concide
in his views"
"Yet for all that, my sister, will stick
to my pledge, for III keeping It know cx-
its all my safety. Ii I break Il, honor.
character, all that make life worth DOS.
sessing, will go. Do not iehl !or me. l
love you, and will not swerve from the
path you opened out to me when | Law
upon my sick-bed."
She said no more. She saw that AZ
gument was useless; she could but pray
to her Heavenly Father to save the
brother of her love from q drunknrd 3
death.
"Ah, here comes welcome visitor,
Floe!" cried Mr.. Tinshop, when Charles
Grey entered his parlors early on that
New Years Day. "AIr. Grey, 1 am glad
to see you"
"Charles, you are very, gerry welcome p
was the warm tender greeting OF Flora,
as she clasped his extended hand in both
of hers.
Dear Flora, came to wish you a
happy New Year, and | never saw you
look so lovely as now! Oh, how beauti-
full you are!"
This Was in low tone, for Mr.. Tin
shop at that moment Was busy at the ta-
ble
He came to them amoment after, with
silver salver in his hand. On it three
glasses OF sparkling wine stood but toe
visible.
"Here is to hundred New Years as
bright as this!" cried Mr.. Tinshop, as
Flora took up one glass, and he another
Hardly can We expect hundred, but
Twill say many" said Flora with q smile
"Why, Charles, what is the matter
You do not touch your glass;" said Mr.
Tinshop. "You are not sick?"
"No sir, but I signed the pledge about
eleven months ago and have kept it even
since"
"Pshaw, I did not dream that you
were such spoony. believe you tc
be young man of spirit and of manly
independence. AS such have rejoiceo
IN IN oppnrank az oh N, ant orrin ~; =, n, ~,