Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-07-03
Lucia's Enemy.

home his girlish wife, just turned eighteen,
all their friends said it would prove happy
marriage. And, indeed, there seemed fair
prospect for happiness
Harvey had worked steadily for years at
a good trade, aud out Of his earnings, and a
small sum left him by his mother at her
death, he had purchased and gradually
furnished the little house in which they were
to live. Everything about it was as fresh
and neat as a new cedar pail, and there was
no lack Of stores for sensible house and home
keeping.
For two years nothing occurred to mar the
surface Of this life So happily begun. Busi.
ness prospered, aud Harvey set mp a horse
and wagon to aid him in his work, while
Lucia not to be behind him. started some.
thing on her own account. A cradle, with a
swee, girl baby, occupied the cosiest nook by
the liying-room fire, aud a fair copy OF
fathers handsome face peeped out between
uops, at the sweet young mother trotting
about briskly from one to another Of her
pleasant household tasks.
No thought had Lucia that her future
could lack anything Of the comiortaud plenty
which made warm and bright her present; no
ANNA-NN ullNAl MNilf AA was llht ANlrs
She was sitting one bright, hot July day
beside her window, knitting socks for baby
Lu The air was full Of sweet odors, aud
drowsy with the hum Of bees in the garden
The gentle breathing Of her child asleep in
a shaded corner, and the loud ticking Of the
kitchen clock, made the silence only more
complete to Lucia as she sat almost dreaming
over her work. and hearing, as if through
sleep, the whetling Of the scythes in the
meadow over the way, aud anon the tap Of
llarvey's hammer as he mended the gate.
latch down by the road. Rousing herself tc
resume her work, Lucia saw a man spring
hastily over the meadow fence aud run across
the road to speak to her husband, who, cast.
ing aside his TOOLS followed the man instantly
into the field aud joined the mowers where
they were gathered in a group about some
thing, Lucia could not see what.
Presently a boy left the rest, and came
across the road toward the house. Seeing
Lucia at the window he ran directly to her
aud, handing her a key, said
Mr.. Rose wants you to get me the black
bottle out of his tool-coset. am to take it
over at once = then. to her wondering look
." one of the mowers in Prestons field has cut
himself with a scythe, aud he's deadly faint
with the blood running So"
Now the closet named was a little poky
hole by the ktchen-chimney, the Inside Of
which Lucia had never seen. Harvey was
iussy about his tools and could never endure
that other hands than his should tou,h them
80 he kept the closet always Locked, and his
wife, being superstitously timid about such
articles, was glad he did, aud never Rad either
wish or occasion to open it. She went, how.
ever, at once TO the chimney cupboard, and
finding the bottle, gave it to the boy, noticing
as she did So that it was labeled " Pure Old
Brandy"
Liquor was Lucas enemy. She hated the
very sight Of it, since the bitter years of her
girhood, when with her widowed mother she
had toiled early and late to keep want at
bay, because Of the intemperance of her
grandfather, whose death was finally caused
by his darling sin.
HIrvey knew how she felt about this mat
ter and it seemed queer that he should have
had such a thing so close at hand without her
knowledge, uuless, indeed, he kept it as medi-
cine, in view Of some such accident as this.
But then there we're other things that would
do as well, or better, and people didn't often
cut themselves aud grow faint in front OF
their very door
Lucia was thoughtful and almost worried
the whole afternoon, moving about her house.
work and baby-tending, aud forgot the
wounded man in thinking about his remedy.
Toward evening Harvey came in, bringing
with him the bottle, now nearly empty. At
sight Of it LUCAS customary greeting froze
upon her lips, aud, missing the glad word and
tender smile. her husband bent over her,
begging to know if all were we'll
"Yes, dear Harvey" she replied, "only
do Dot feel quite at ease;' aud, pointing to
the bottle which he had placed upon the table,
" never knew before to-day that we had
that about US, and it worries me. Need we
keep it any longer, loye2"
Nonsense, Lucia replied her husband
laughing, to hide some real annoyance,
you've never been botkerng about such a
trae as that hope Lucky for poor Hawes
| did have it at hand TO prop up his failing
courage-the man was more frightened than
hurt, and became quite faint at the sight OF
his own blood"
"Well," said Lucia, signing, " I'm glad il
it did llawes any good, but | never had any
thing, save grief aud trouble, come out Of a
thing like that" Nothing more was said
Harvey replaced his bottle in the closet, and
Lucia went about the preparation of supper,
trying bravely to put on bright face, and
shut out all unhappy thoughts. She was too
true and loving wife to irritate her husband
by useless chiding, aud she hoped he did not
habitually use liquor, from mere liking of it,
Time went on. Harvey was steady and
thriving at his work, loving and kind in bis
home, aud Lucia was SO happy that she al.
most forgot her skeleton. But she never felt
the same security in her home and happiness
that she had done before the key Of the
chmney.cupboard was placed in her hand.
In time she saw that Harvey did drink oc-
casionally, but it seemed not excessively, and
she endeavored by her influence and gentle
persuasions TO induce him TO break off the
habit altogether but this seemed quite in
vain. He insisted that he was a man able to
take care of himself, that wine aud spirits
were well enough when used 10 season, that
he used other good things without abusing
them, and why not ths2
One day when she had been more than
usually persistent in her entreaties, Harvey
said, almost augrily;
Lucia, did you ever see me drunk ~
"No, Harvey, not drunk" was the grave
reply, but much fear l shall, if this
goes on"
"Wait till you do twill be time enough
then to scold"
shall never scold, dearest you know
that we'll
You'll have no cause" grufiiy replied
her husband, aud hastily left the house.
1t was the nearest approach to a quarrel
they had ever known, and Lucia, drying some
bitter tears, resolved never again to refer to
the subject, since she could do no moro than
make him angry, but strive TO bear her cross
in patience Well enough she knew, poor
soul, what it was likely to be-
ln the third year Of their marriage a
/ H.. L.. -