Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-03-12

"Mercy!" he gasped, starting for
ward; ''what is it /? Hannah! Hannah !.
Hannah my wife o, what is it?
Hannah Hannah p he cried, catching
her by the arm and shaking her.
The sleeper opened her eyes, and look
ed up with dull, vacant stare, and a
low, cultural sound came up from her
throat.
"For the love of God, what is it ?"
Claudius cried, starting now towards the
old man, and seizing him by the arm.
Can you not guess ?" Peter asked,
in whisper.
! "No-no ~
sWell, to tell you the truth. she has
been at the wine-cup 7"
!"What Drunk ? My wife"
But the husband did not finish the
sentence. With heavy groan he sank
down upon the side of the bed, and cov-
cred his face with his hands. For the
moment, Peter felt sorry that he had
tried the experiment; but it was only
for the moment, for on the next he saw
that such state of things must work
out some good.
Come" he said, laying his hand up
on Browns shoulder, "let us 60 down."
But how happened this Z? Tell me
how it happened" uttered the husband,
starting up.
"Why, you see she has been drinking.
She has some how contracted an appetite
for it, and probably being away from
l-Vr.e sr-0 gave --~v-.~-ss sss---r'fu you ever
know of her drinking before %
"Never-never."
"But is there not some way that she
can get it at home without your knowing
it? Does she not keep it in the house ?''
''I didn't know that She
But Claudius stopped. At length he
finished by saying:
~ have kept it in the house."
"Ah then there's the mischief. She
has got it there - =, ~ 'N0 '
-.au and then he added, with much
feeling: go, rather than see child of
mine under the influence of strong drink
again, l would rather see that child in
its grave. But can cure her. Promise
me that you will never mention this to
her, and | will engage to cure her."
Claudius promised readily, and the
parent promised that she should never
be seen in such plight again. Very re-
luctantly the young man left the room,
and shortly afterwards dinner was ready.
But Claudius Brown could not eat. He
drank cup of tea, and then went out.
Half an hour afterwards, Peter found
him sitting under tree in the orchard,
crying but he did not disturb him.
"The medicine is working" the old
man muttered to himself ut is harsh,
l know, but the malady to be cured is
ten thousand times harsher.'
Sarah went up towards the middle Of
the afternoon, and awoke her sister, and
wiped her face, and smoothed back her
hair, before she could know how bad
they looked. The wife was all astonish.
ment when she found how long she had
slept. and blamed Sarah for not waking
her when her husband came.
, "Now remember" said Peter, as hi
heard the girls coming, ''do not on any
| account let Hannah know what you have
} seen. Never breathe it to her, nor lie
) her suspect it from your looks, and II
, pledge you my very life that the thins
t shall not happen again"
"But will she let it alone ?" asket
/, the husband, anxiously.
e "If you are careful to keep the temp
i tation away from her while she viii
a give it up. Remember, you must do you
d part of the"
: But before the old man could fnis
t his sentence, the females entered. Th
d fresh air and water had entirely revive
S the young wife. and she never locke
more lovely than now. Her husband a
e most forgot the dreadful scene he ha
y witnessed for the while, and when sh
g threw her arms about his neck and kis:
,e ed him, he loved her more than ever.
l. Peter saw that she was upon the poiE
= of making some excuse for not comm
Is down before, and he commenced RAJ
t. tling, laughing conversation, and tn
he kept up until Hannah had entirel
S, forgotten the excuses she would ha'
to made.
That evening there was merry par
a. at Peter Dowdy's house. Somehow
other Claudius himself felt more hapE
n, than usual. Perhaps he had called |
some new spirit from within that help'
him. 1t was late when the family sep
is rated for the night. For some time aft
they had retired, the husband and wi
remained silent. At length Ham;
placed her arm about her husband
"a neck, and in a low tone. said
l "Claudius, we will be happy hcnc
{? forth.
"Yes, yes" he murmured; and as
lot kissed her, they both burst into tears.
,er 1t was curious, how those two felt
that moment. Hannah felt sure that