The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1875-09-24
THE WIEES GIFT,
OR
The Village Blacksmith Three
Glasses a Day
BY WILLIAM A s1GoURNEY.


mo, no, Jim; its no use to persuade
me. l am no tetotaller. Three glasses a
day is my rule, and a good one it is too.
Just enough to make fellow feel lively,
without upsetting him in the least. !
leave signing the pledge to those who
fear to trust themselves. No danger of
Bill James being seen .reeling IN the
str eets."
"But we have such fearful examples
before US, William" urged the friend,
who was endeaving'' to persuade young
James to join the Good Templars, and
pledge himselfto total abstinence There
is but one safe course for US to pursue "
"For you, perhaps, but not for me" !"
was the. reply. Every man is his swn
best judge. Don't be offended, Jim; your
counsel is we'll meant, and 1 thank you
for it. But you magnify the danger
Here is my. little wife she is not afraid
to trust me without my signing pledge.
Say, Lizzie, my darling?"
Lizzie had been wife but one short
month, and it was hard for her to say
anything which might seem to differ from
the opinion which her husband had ad-
vanced; but she was very truthful, and
Jim was an old friend, so that his pres
ence was little restraint, and she answer
ed frankly:
mo, William, am not afraid to trust
you; and yet l ould rather you would
joia the Templars, and resolve never to
taste another drop of liquor, unless the
doctor ordered it. Make me a present
of the three glasses a days,
Indeed, 1 will not, Emy dear, for 1
could not get along without an occasion
al drop of the useful. If you wish for a
present, you must think of something
else"
Nothing else will do, replied Lizzie,
smiling.
"Only hear that Jim," said the young
husband, in a jesting tone. Nothing
less than three glasses day will serve
my little wife as a present You had bet
ter persuade her to join your society.
But never mind, Lizze, it shall never be
said that treated myself better than l
did my wife; and, therefore l promise
to allow you three glasses a day as long
as 1 take them myself. Bear witness,
Jim. every evening on my return from
work, will hand to my dear little wife
the price of three glasses, and she may
eat, drink, or wear it just as she likes"
"You are a sad fellow, Bill, or you
would give her what she asked for"
said his friend, as he bads them good
night. "And you are unreasonable, or
you would see that have done so, re-
piled William, laughingly, at the same
time rendering thirty cents to Lizzie,
which she &C first seemed disposed to re-
ject, but on second thought accepted
saying quietly:
SIT will come in use some time,"
"No doubt it will Lizzie, said the adVo
cate of temperance. looking back as he
passed through the gate to the main
street. "Take my advice and keep all
you can get. Three glasses a day has
broght many a man to want"
Jim is a raven, aud you must not
mind his croaking," remarked the hus-
band, as the two re-entered the cottage.
The full moon shed a pleasant lustre
through the clustering vines that shaded
the easement, and made the little room,
with its pretty, though simple furniture,
even more attractive than was its won't
1t was the honeymoon, besides; there
fore no one can wonder that Lizzie should
think, as she looked around, that it was
the very softest and most lovely moon
| light she had ever beheld, and that the
little cottage, and all it contained, hus-
band included, were among the most
choice of Gods blessings. And no one
can wonder that she slipped her little
hand into Willie's broad ralm, and
nestled close to his side, as she whispered:
cit would take more than a raven S
croakiug to shake my faith in you, dear
Will"
Her husband drew her still closer to
his bosom, and pressed a kiss on her
pure, white forehead, but he did not
speak, and for awhile they sat together
in that pleasant stiffness, busy with their
own thoughts. At length Lizzy again
broke the silence, by saying in slightly
tremulously voioe:
"And yet would rather that you med
died not with edged tools, my dear hus-
band,
''StiI harping on the subject, my little
wife. thought not Jim idle talk would
affect you so much
"It was not alone what he said, dear
William; but his words brought sad re-
membranes to mind-my own mi SCRABBLE
childhood, my poor heart-broken mother,
and more to be pitied than ali, my wretch
ed misguided father. And yet my moth
er has often told me Of the first happy
years of her married life-of kind hus-
band and pleasant home. Intemper-
ance changed her happiness to misery,
and harsh treatment from him she loved,
brought her to an early grave, and left
me the lonely being that ! was until
knew you, dear Will No wonder that
l dread the sound of even three glasses a
dsv "