The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1874-06-19

incoherent reply.
Machine oil, probably" he answere
with assumed careIessness.
mo, it isn't machine OIL said Mrs
Deering decidedly. But there was n
censure or reproach in her tones. "Cu
it be possible, thought Mr. Deering
that she does not suspect meF' An,
then he warmed into that degree O
interest which men usually display wlIel
endeavoring TO act a part, but whicl
only serves more surely to betray thei
secret.
Smell it," SAID his wife, passing til,
deInijohn to him.
Mr.. Deering had smelled it before
However, he did not mention that as al
excuse for not doing so again. why
it is whiskey, as sure as | am alivel" Ia,
exclaimed.
But how do you suppose it came il
| the mowZ'
''Oh, 1 can tell you now, " 6he thought
suddenly occurring to him You know
Alf. Brown was here awhile last Summer
helping the carpenters that were at work
on the house. remember of seeing hin
make several visits to that mow-noW
that accounts for it," he exclaimed, tri
umphantly,
Mr.. Deering was not used to prevari
eating and he made rather confused
work of it; his wife seemed perfectly
satisfied with this plausible statement.
however, and set away the demiiohn
with the remark that it was a ''nice one
and would ''come handy" She took
up her sewing again and resumed her
seat at the table.
What a pity!' she said. ''He looked
like an honorable sort Of a man. One
would think that he would have more
respect for his family, even if he did not
for himself, than to knowingly bring dis
grace and ruin upon Them"
Mr.. Deering WINGED under this inno-
cent thrust, and involuntarily took the
defensive.
Il do not see why you should con-
clude so, " he said, '.just because a man
takes an occasional drink. A man can
be temperate without practising absti-
nenee."
1T is n disgrace for an honest man to
even enter a saloon for the purpose of
purchasing liquor. The desire which
leads him TO crafty his taste for stimu-
lating drink, shows that he already has
acquired the appetite, and when once
this is established, how quickly the habit
follows. | can think of no instance.
where a man does not practice absti-
nence, but what lie has gone TO ruin, or
is OH the downward road. Can yOul'
Mrs. Deering waited for a reply. Mr.
Deeering tried hard to think of a single
exception; but at length was obliged to
reluctantly admit that, although he pre-
sunled there were many exceptions. he
could not just at that moment call any
to mind.
Il know of none" said his wife.
There are men who are capable of eX-
ercising powerful restraint over their
appetite, and their downward course is
so slow, that it is only when we think
back to what they have been, that We
are able to see that they are slowly but
surely losing their influence and position
in society. John Sheldon was such an
one; but now debt after debt. and mort
gage after mortgage has accumulated.
until few months at most will sweep
everything"
at is SIeldon's management that has
ruined him. lie is too slacF, altogetl er
too slack. No man could make any
thing tn, way lie manages. All that he
has paid out for liquor hasn't affected
him any, for he had property enough to
supply dozen men, and not feel it,"
Yet he acquired this property by his
own skill and foresight before he became
intemperate. This terrible curse inI-
pairs man mentally and physically. 1t
undermines his constitution, saps his
energy, and destroys him, soul and body
When a man is i'll the practice of keep
ing liquor concealed constantly near
linn, yOn ought to be aware that the
habit is already formed"
What exclaimed Mr.. Deering, with
indignant emphasis, thrown completely
off his guard. do you mean to say
that | am in the habit of drinking2'
Mrs. Deering paused in her work, and
looked up in grieved surprise. Why,
Horace! How could you suppose sol
Even if did not know your better judg-
ment, have always had too much con-
fidence in your integrity and honor to
suspect you of such thing-I referred
to the man who hid the demijOhn in the
now"
This was the keenest thrust of all.
Mr.. Deering had often felt pride in the
Difference with which his ket n-sighted
wife always regarded his Judgment, and
the trust which she repOsed in his honor.
He felt that he had not only betrayed
her confidence, but used it as a means
for deceiving her.
Mrs. Deering continued in a peculiar,
soft, low tone of voice, which had a
way of going straight to Horace Deer
ing's heart,-''I never felt more how
I lIna,la1 -, h.,
band in whom | could safely trust my
happiness and reputatiOn-fOry you know
a man and wife are regarded as one in
this respect by society, and all the
household must rise or fall with the
head of the family-than the other
day when | went to see Jennie Sheldon.
Everything about the house showed a
pitiful effort, which some women have
the courage to make, TO have things
look bright and cheerful, even in the
face of every encouragement. While
Jennie and were talking, little Willie
came and stood by my side, waiting to
be noticed. why, Willie." l said at
length, why amt you at schoolI'
Il saw i'll a moment that my question
had touched tender spot. He looked
down embarrassed, and then answered
with childish sincerity, - because
have no clothes to wear
Il glanced quickly up to my friend
she turned her face away. And then.
hardly knowing whether | ought to
make the offer. lest it should pain her,
said, IL will tell you, Willie-my
Robert has a suit that he has outgrOwn.
He wore them last Summer for nice;
they are good and whole, and if mamma
will let you come over some day you can
have them. | would much rather you
would have them than not"
Poor child, he was almost wild with
deligh.r ''Oh, | am sogladI' he cried.
Now can go to school, and play with
the other children, and learn to read,
can't /, mammal:
.sJennie turned her back toward Inc
quickly and walked to the window. In
This effort TO hide her emotion, / saw
volumes of the secret sorrow, the heart
breaking anguish, which intemperance
can bring TO a wOman's heart. / tell
YOU | had much TO do to keep back the
tears. for know that Jennie still loves
her husband. in spite of his faults, and
nothing would wound her afIectionaIe,
sensitive nature more. than show OF
nitv for her on account other husbands
weakness.
Mrs. Deering's tears were falling now.
Mr.. Deering felt his own eyes nOisten.
He had known Jennie Sheldon when a
child; ne remembered with what pride
he asked TO draw the red-hoOded,
laughing little girl on his sled to school.
Some way those old friends of our child
hood. who have been confined with Us
through the long bright Summer days,
on the hard. straight backed benches in
the old weatIler-beaten schOolhouse, and
while the songs of the free, happy birds
come floating in through the high shut
terIess windows have had to endure