Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-02-09

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bah |"
He goes every Saturday night"
what pity Charley is good fellow
and 1t is great shame that he should herd
with these fanatics" said Frank Winslow
Don't you talk so about my husband
Frank" interposed the loving wife. ale is
not half so much Of a fanatic on temperance,
as you are on coguac and sherry"
"Fic, sis | believe In all sorts of good
things and being a Son i', in my opinion,
the next thing 10 being fool"
"Why don't you tell him so 2"
Z" ] would if he were here. You don't
think am afraid of him, do you 2"
" No but the last time you argued the
question with him"
" Bah p exclaimed Frank, impatiently.
Promising to call for his wife at ten
o'clock, he left the house.
:" hope our husbands won't quarrel over
this temperance question" said Mrs. Wins
low.
"I hope not"
:" But this Sons business does seem SO
silly to me, that ] cannot wonder Frank
laughs at him"
"Well, don't care anything about il,
only that Charles is out so late every night at
the meetings"
And leaves you all alone ?" asked Mrs.
Winslow.
yes"
81 wouldn't let him II is a shamel Why,
! should 60 into fits if my husband left me
alone till eleven o'clock ~ and Mrs Winslow
was Mortified at the very thought.
have said good deal about H."
Said Why, would tip the house over
before ! would submit to it,"
lie is so deeply interested in it,"
/" lie ought to be deeply interested in his
wife, too"
NAY, nay. Lucy, you wrong him. lie
loves me with all his soul"
And leaves you alone till eleven o'clock p
I'm not afraid to stay alone"
Why. it's almost as bad as having a
drunken husband to sit up for"
40, no, I'm sure it is not"
Charles Prescott was warmly condemned
by the visitor, and warmly defended by the
wife, who, poor thing, though she wished he
would stay at home, could not bear to hear a
word said against him.
CHAPTER IH
Before ten o'clock the two ladies' had
settled the question of Charles detection,
and passed naturally enough into mousse de
laines, laces, and the newest fashions. Mrs
Winslow did not like TO say that he was
monster, in the hearing of his wife but she
fully believed it and Mrs. Prescott, moved
by the arguments Of her friend, concluded
that she was used much more hardly than
she had ever suspected.
Punctual to his appointed hour, Charles
came home. Mrs. Winsow playfuly up
braided him for his want of constancy in
leaving his wife to spend the evening alone !;
but the husband made "moral question "
of it, and proceeded to discuss the topic at
length.
An hour was used up in the Improbable
argument, and the clock struck eleven.
Mrs. Winslow yawned and wondered why
Frank did not come-began to think the
books must have gotten into a snarl 10 keep
him so late.
1t was half-past eleven before he came.
How are We. old boy 2" said he, grasp
ing the hand of Prescott. How are the
Sons tonight 2"
As usual-thriving
"What makes you so late Frank ?" asked
Mrs. Winslow. :" You promised to come at
ten o'clock"
"The books got little twisted. But sit
down, Suke; want to talk with Charley /"
and Frank threw himself into a rocking
chair before the fire.
No, no, Frank it is almost twelve
o'clock"
Never mind; sit down. They say there
is more liquor drank since the Maine law
was passed than ever before" turning to
Charles Prescott.
"And there is more cheating, killing, and
stealing since the ten commandments were
made than ever before. What does that
prove ?"
"Bahl"
"You refer to the golden calf ?"
Seriously, Charley, in my opinion, the
fanatics who made that law ought TO be
held responsible for half the drunkenness in
the community"
"And Paul, Peter, aud John for half the
sins the gospel was intended to prevent"
You talk like one of the fanatics" said
Frank, his cheek reddening with anger.
al merely change the application of the
principles which your remarks cover"
You distort them. A fanatic can't argue
the question fairly. Come, Suke, let's go
home"
Frank Winslow rose from his chair, but
instantly sank back again.
"What is the matter, Frank ?" asked his
wife.
Nothing don't you see 2" and he at
tempted to rise again, but without success.
"What ails you How strange you act i"
+" "Your Sons and your Maine laws are
humbug, Charley there's no rubbing that
out. Tell me about -hic-Maine law !"
40 Heavens !" groaned the poor wife.
"What the deuce's the-hic-
now 2"
II was too plain TO be longer concealed /;
Frank Winslow was drunk The heat of
the room was revealing the terrible truth to
the poor wife, to the fond sister, that the
husband and brother was hopelessly intoxi-
Gated
Charles Prescott was shocked Carries
cheek was pale, and her frame trembled I;
that smile was gone, for the loving brother
was drunkard
twas an agonizing moment 10 the fond
wife. Mountains of .ombre clouds came
rolling down before her bewldered senses,
and the future was dark with poverty, woe,
disgrace and death. The drunkard's grave
yawned like cavern of hell in the path Of
her husband.
30, Frank, Frank |" exclaimed she, throw
ing herself into his arms, and bathing his
brow with her womans tears.
What in - ails you all 7" said Frank,
gazing round with drunken leer.
Charles attempted TO get him upon his
feet but he was utterly helpless
Let me-hic-alone ! am none of your
cussed -hic--fanatics, that can't 60 alone !"
and he fell at full length upon the floor.
Mrs. Winslow threw herself into a chair,
and sobbed in bitterness of spirit. Carrie
wept upon her bosom. II was sad sight,
that group OF weepers over the drunken
body Of a noblehearted, generous young man
Angels weep over such pitiable objects.
With much difficulty Charles Prescott
succeeded in putting him to bed but to all
save the besotted inebriate it was a sleep
less night. Tears stained the pillow of the
wife and sister, and silent prayers rose to
heaven for the preservation of the erring
young man.
Morning came, and Frank had slept of
his debauch. lie was conscious OF his po-
sition, and with shame and humiliation he
presented himself in the breakfast room OF
his friend. The pale, anxious faces, the red
and swollen eyes Of his wife and sister, told
him what they had suffered.
Like true man, he acknowledged his
fault, and promised 10 amend Charles
pointed out the necessity of making prin-
ciple of abstinence, 10 which he assented,
and promised TO connect himself with the
Sons. lie kept his promise, and in few
weeks was initiated.
Mrs. Prescott, after the impressive lesson
she had received from the experience OF her
brother, was convinced that active member