Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-05-22

Mabel Clifford sat before one of IN,
r windows of her fathers maonificor
mansion. A servant stood in wa;,;,,
She was making out a list of article
wanted for the next day. Coming foo,
steps arrested her attention. Sb,
raised her eyes from the paper apf
looked out. The crimson flush deem
ened on her bright young face as "Ob j.
lips. pc" Ne'
She turned after an instant .,
thought, and said:
John, am not Just ready to finish
thls list, and shall not send for an bopr
YET. II you have anything to attend
W IN the meantime you can do it,"
Mr.. Clifton had been reading !,
uiS'aht part of the room. Hearing the
door close after Johns departure, he
II on have not forgotten to send for
those wines spoke of, my dear p
he has not gone yet. papa"
"Ah, we'll do not make i. late
inef a,Ih VII be verv busy to-nioht-" a." ha-
"Wcll. my dear
"A boon, papa. Promise 10 grant
me, this last day Of the year, nv
boon"
"What is it, love!'
promise TO grant it first
Not 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, we'll; you shall have your
way"
Father, let us have no wines to-
morrow
What No. no l cannot grant you
that. No wines: Why, child, have
you gone crazy: For twenty-five years
past have offered my friends wine on
New Years Day, and never have felt
that l 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 l was making out
the order for John, chauced to raise
my eyes just as Edward Livingston
was passing. 1t needed but a glance
TO see he was very much under the in
iuence of wine. Father, his mother
is widow; he her only child. Will
they not be wrecked, think you, if he
indulge in the wine cup! Tomorrow
he will make many calls. Beautiful
women 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 mothers cup with sorrow. l
wish not to contribute one drop to that
bitter emp"
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.
feel as if Edgar Livingston stood on
the brink of fearful precipice. Fa-
ther, stretch forth your strong arm to
draw him back-if only one step, and
for moment. If we do not save him,
it will be comfort to think We urged
him not forward on his fatal course"
Mabel. you are very deeply inter-
ested in the young man. Am l to con-
clude-"
Nothing more than for his own and
his mothers sake. ! would endeavor
TO save him. or any other young man
in his danger, father. Here will be one
of his first calls. Possibly can de-
tain him long enough TO prevent his
visiting many places where he would
be exposed to great temptation. Oh,
father, please grant me this:'
Really, dear, l feel disposed to do
as you wish, but SO many will be very
much disappointed. Besides, l have
not the courage to make this great
change, and set five hundred tongues
to work speculating about the cause of
it. Some will declare I'm about. to
fail others, that have grown penuri-
Gus. All, what is it, John?"
Just then the servant entered and
handed him an envelope, saying:
"A telegram, SIR"
Mr.. Clifton tore it quickly open, read
it, and exclaimed:
"My old friend Hartwell is dying,
and begs that will listen to him. i
cannot deny him. So you will have to
entertain nv friends tomorrow. and
explain the reason of my failing to
see them, the first time for so many
years. And-well, dear, you can do
as you please about the bill Of fare.
As shall not be ct home, the folks
will not hold me responsible for what