Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-04-20

snRtlIy, ana advancing INTO Tue nall
"there must be some mistake"
"No mistake, me'm," said the cabman,
touching his bat respectfully i've brought
the gent from the Welsh dinner, and here's
his card"
"Good heavens T. said Mrs. Jones, rec
ognizing her husbands card. "Irs too true.
o dear, how shall | survive this shocking
disgrace Mary, go down stairs; 1 know l
can rely upon you not to say word Of
this dreadful misfortune TO tue ether SER
wants."
Mary retired accordingly, and Mrs. Jones
continued:
"Cabnau, must ask you TO assist Mr..
Jones up TO his bedroom; 1t Is the front
room on the first floor; you will find the
gas ready lighted. l can give you no help;
for l think ii would kill me TO see him In
such a condition."
"Lor, don't take on SO, ma'am," said the
cabman good naturedly; "it ain't nothing
when you're used TO it. Why, some o
them nobs does it every night. My old
horsell stand steady as a church, and I'll
have the geneman up stairs in a jlfiy."
Poor Mrs. Jones returned into the din
ing-room, holding ber handkerchief to her
eyes; after moments pause she was made
aware, by a sort of scuffling In the passage,
accompanied by exclamalions OF "Wo-ho,"
"lIold up" aud other CALCULATIONS of
horsey nature, that the cabman was assist
ing Mr.. Jones up stairs. AIler an interval
of about ten minutes, which seemed an age,
he reappeared at the dining-room door, and
said in confidential manner:
1--WE got the gent into bed quite COM
Portable, mum. lie was a little okard TO
undress, but I done him at last, proper;
and he's sleeping like a babby."
Mrs. Jones dismissed the mau with fee
beyond his widest expectations, and re
sumed her seat, feeling as If her peace OF
mind was fore,er lost. She felt that she
could never have the same respect Tor her
husband again. lie, who had always been
a model Of all that was dignified and gem
tlemanly, very pattern husband, 10 come
home he!pessly drunk from tavern din
ner! II was incredible; and yet the fact
was beyond question. Surely there must
be some mystery about the matter. Could
he lie i'll? But no; he bad never been in
better health than when be lefl her a few
hours previously, aud TO send for doctor
would only be TO publish his disgrace.
Could his wine have been drugged? But
surely at pubic dinner, at frst-rate
place Of entertainment, this was equally
out OF the question. There seemed to he
no alternative but 10 suppose that, carried
away by tho excitement of the occasion,
Mr.. Jones had fallen into one Of those sud
den fralties TO which poor human nature,
even that Of the nohlest Is subject. At
first the weeping wife had felt as if the Of
fence was beyond pardon; but gradually a
softer feeling came over her, and she felt
that, though the wrorg could never be for
gotten, ii might in lime he possible TO for
give II. And then she mentally rehearsed
the painful scene which would take place
between herself aud her eTring husband
on his return 10 consciousness and self re-
spect; and she had just arranged few lit
tie speeches, TO be spoken more 10 sorrow
than in anger, when suddenly latch key
was heard in The door, and in walked Mr..
Jones himself, calm and unrufIled, with
out a hair ont Of place, or crease on his
snowy shirt-fTont. Mrs. Jones gazed al
him "A moment, scarcely believing her own
eyes.
"Owen land sober I" she exclaimed;
then flung herself into his arms, and went
into fit of decided Mysteries.
"My darling wife, what on earth is the
matter?"
"Oh, Owen. l am so thank ful r. said the
little wife as soon as her sobs would lei her
speak. Il am so thankful But then, who
is the man in our bedv'
1.-The man in our bedH" said Mr.. Jones.
Whatever DO you meanS"
"OOwen, dear, you can't tlell what have
gone through. A cab came half an hour
ago, and brought you home from the din
ner at least the csbman said 1t was you,
very lirsy and fast asleep, and he had your
card and so I told him to put you'll
mean TO say hiu,-in our room, and there
he is now"
"The devil he isl" said Mr.. Jones. "I
must have look at this double OF mine;"
and seizing 4 candle, be strobe up stairs.
Presently he again entered the room.
81 think see how the mistake happen
ed" said he. "Tbis fellow up stairs was at
the dinner tonight, and had had more than
evening. He was rather rude to me but
it was no use 10 be angry with a man in
such a condition; so l merely handed him
my card, and told him when he returned
10 his senses be might come and apologize,
though can't say had much expectation
that he would. What became of him alter
ward / can't say. smoked a cigar with
our friend Grifliths, and then walked les-
urely home. Meanwhile, l suppose, this
fellow was too drunk to answer for himself;
and finding my card about him they as
Sumed il was his own, and sent him here
accordingly. The only thing that puzzles
me is that you didn't find out the mistake"
"Well, dear, to tell you the truth, was
so shocked and Mortified that you should
be, as supposed, in such condition that
would not even see you. or let Mary do
so either; SO 1 sent her down stairs, and
told The cabman TO take the wretched man
up to our room. But whatever shall we do
now The idea of afilthy, drunken wretch
in our bed Its too horrible"
1--WE mustn't be too hard upon him, dear.
could see at a glance that he was one Of
our poorer brethren; 1 daresay a hard
working, sober man enough in general
way, but the temptation of good dinner
and unlimited liquor was too much for
him. Besides, dear, We must consider the
occasion. 1t is the immemorial privilege
of every Welshman to get drunk, IL he
likes, on st. David's Day. Some Of us
waive it, but that's not 10 the purpose. We
must move into The spare room for tonight,
that's all. You had better give Mary or
ders accordingly; and at the same time 1t
will be as well to restore my blackened
character by showing her that am not
quite so far gone as she imaglnes."