Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1878-05-14
MIscELLAHEo s.
THE PLEDGE PURSE.
z sc EUf 30. 4rA -.aA t..'
BY EMMA GARRISON JONES.

. rs
rfBY EMMA GARRISON JONES. .sa
..,A,E0RGE,a DEAR" said Mrs. Prescott,
looking up from her basket of meud>
ing, asrshe and her husband sat by their FIRE.
side, one winter night, "hasiit ever occurred
to you that it is time our boys were signing
the pledge - .-,--7 ,,-,-,..F
3" Mr. Prescott tossed aside his paper with
laugh. on sr ~ Ii"9 ~
you go, my dear !; and l really ex-
pccted it. The wonder is you hayen't caught
the fever sooner" -E.fra q ..-
7tra"What fever, George ?" siEz7
.r-' = ,,.'Why, this temperance fever that seems
to be cruzing everybody just now. The
town 3 full of it; every second man L meet
wears q gay rosette in his button.hole, and
every church is converted iuto temperance
hall but the thing won't last-such spas
modic movements never do" -
His wife's bright eyes grew wistful, and
cloud crossed her pretty, fresh face. She
was happy little woman, the mother of
three promising boys, always busy and full
of plans for the comfort of her family.
at is good movement, George" she
continued. Il trust it will be more lasting
than you think !; and it would" she added,
with spisit, "if the known men of the town,
S the strong, reliable men like yourself, George,
would take hold ofit." -'".-7
sr Much Obliged for the compliment, my
, loye," laughed her husband "but 1 don't
think I'm in any danger of becoming
drunk ard" --A s FF'. fa"'r-
b .s'.Nor do I, George, but you are not tenn
perance man, and there's always danger in
having aught to do with SIM
"Why, Lizzie. how much in earnest you
seem. You've caught the fever without
doubt. a. You always hsda weakness for run.
ming after fashions. But really, child, I'm
in no danger. I'm not a total abstinence
man, Eli admit; ever since can remember
I've had my drink or two day, but mover
was intoxicated in my life, and never ex-
pect to be. .-.s-s- .....--- .r- -
81 trust not, George, but you have sons,
and there's no telling into what errors your
example, may lead them" 4aW :..
"Why, Lizzie, do you mean to say that
set my boys a bad example .,..a yraU
mo, George, there never was a better
husband and father than you are, but you
teach your boys to drink intoxicating liquors.
We have wine on tho table occasionally, and
almost every morpipg the boys have their
toddy." g-.,.,rr r-- -, -r-. sr.
"And you have always mixed the bever>
age. my dear, and shared il around to u.s."
AZ know it, George, but shall never do
it again. In the first place, it is waste of
money. The liquor used in this house costs
every cent Of dollar week. ..r-u .
:'That's not much, Lizzie" ..s,rg ..r.,
'tNo but it counts up. And how much
does your private drinking amount to,s do
you suppose 2""- 1hr.H .ss4---stnsF EgE
BLESS my soul, Lizzie, what has come
over you? Ten cents sometimes, never
more than quarter" = sEtTf'3- -.i
q '.Each day 2" 81 aeft1sl sfl B. .r1--1i .
iiIYes, You don't grudge me that triaiag
i y Igyffudge you nothing, George, that viii
make you and your boys hsppy, cried his
wife, her eyes filing with tears 'but l
wish you could sec this matter as do. Let
me give an illustration. The Ashford boys
were here an evening or So ago, and they
wore their blue temperance badges on their
jackets. - ID -'.E "-Stl .'
- Larry. why don't you fellows sign the
pledge 2 It isso awfully jolly, said one of
them. ~ -...-. .--.
"our Lawrence laughed, just as you
laughed at me minute ago, George. he is
his fathers own son, my handsome Larry, and
it would break my heart to see him do wrong.
L" Its jollier to drink your social glass,
and have your hot toddy when you feel dulI,'
he replied. Ny father thinks the pledge q
humbug, and SO do l." .- ...... r--9
"Did Larry say that" asked Mr.. Prescott.
''Tbose were his words, George, and they
cut me to the heart. Now, husband, you
have never denied me anything since the
day you made me your happy wife-don,t
deny me this. Let's Danish all sorts Of in
toxicating drink from our house, and do you
take your boys BY the hand and make them
sign the pledge. As their father does they
will do willingly" And the little. woman
put by her sewing, and crossing to ber hus-
bands chair, TOOK his head in her two hands,
and laid her cheek against his face. "Now,
George, dear, surely you'll not say no to me
for the first time, will your 20 .S -
There was silence for minute, and then
the husband drew the pretty face down and
kissed it. II 20 - q
II couldn's say no, Lizzie, If wanted"
be said. 'tNo man could Withstand such
witch as you are" ~ ass-r.- q; Il
On the following day Mr. Prescott and his
three sons signed the pledge, and the boys
took great pride in their gay badges
9 Intoxicating drinks were banIshed from
their home, and no one seemed to be one
whit the worse for it. If the boys had .
cold their mother administered hot mulleln
tea, and she found the remedy even more et1.