Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-05-09
Tales aud Sketthes.
"LEAD Us NOT INTO TEMPTATION"
BY FRANCES HENsHAw BADEN.

Mabel Clifford sat before one of the win
dows of her fathers magnificent mansion.
\ servant stood in waiting. She was MAX
ing out list of articles wanted tor the
next day. Coming footsteps arrested her
attention. She raised her eyes from the
paper and looked out The crimson flush
deepened on her bright young face as
"Oh! y in tone of deep regret escaped
her lips.
She turned after an instant of thought,
and said:
John, am not just ready to finish this
list. and shall not send for an hour yet.
Ii you have anything to attend to in the
meantime you can do it,"
MIR. Clifton had been reading in dis
taat part of the room. Hearing the door
close after Johns departure, he asked:
"You have not forgotten to send for
those wines spoke of, my dear P"
''He has not gone yet, papa"
"Ah, well; do not make it late. They
will be very busy tonight" her father
said, turning again to his paper
Papa !"
well, my dear?"
"a boon, papa. Promise to grant me,
this last day Of the year, my boom
What is it, love ?''
Promise to grant it first"
mot in ignorance, my child"
Trust me. father"
She had an earnest, eager, noble look
in her eyes that her father did trust in, and
he promised her.
"Well, well; you shall have your way"
'Father, let us have no wines to-mor-
row."
What! No, no; cannot grant you
that. No wines? Why, child, have you
gone crazy9 For twenty-five years past I
have offered my friends wine on New
Years Day, and never have felt that was
doing anything wrong. What has come
over you?"
"Oh. father, have never felt Just right
when offering young men wine and just
now when was making out the order for
John, | Glanced to raise my eyes just a.
Edward Livingston was passing. 1t need
ed but glance to see he was very much
under the influence of wine. Father, his
mother is widow; he her only child.
Will they not be wrecked, think you, il
he indulge in the wine cup? Tomorrow
he will make many calls. Beautiful wo-
men will offer him wine. He will not
have the courage, possibly the wish, to
decline. Tomorrow night, most likely,
then. he will return home to fill his moth
er's heart with sorrow. Iwish not to con-
tribute one drop to that bitter cup"
''My dear, whether we have wines or
not, with him it will be all the same; as
you say he will make many calls"
"Father, If you had son you would
feel differently. Think how many Young
men of the highest promise have failed,
nay, worse, won truly disgrace and early
graves from the love of wine. l feel as Il
Edgar Livingston stood on the brink of
fearful precipice. Father, stretch forth
your strong arm to draw him back-if on
ly one step. and for moment. If we do
not save him, it will be a comfort to think
we urged him not forward on his fatal
course
mabel, you are very deeply interested
in the young man. Am to conclude
"Nothing more than for his own and
his mothers sake. would endeavor to
save him, or any other young man in his
danger, futher. Here will be one Of his
first calls. Possibly can detain him long
enough to prevent his visiting many plac-
es where he would be exposed to great
temptation. Oh, father, please grant me
this ?"
Really. dear. feel disposed to do as
you wish. but so many will be very much
disappointed. Besides, I have not the
courage to make this great change, and
set five hundred tongues to work specu-
lating about the cause of it. Some will
declare I'm about to fail others, that
have grown penurious. All. what is 1t,
John?H
rcoNTNuEp ON FOURTH pAcE.1