Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-05-14

look nice enough 2"
Franks mother looked up at her boy. II |
almost saddened her to see Frank growing |
so tall and manly. Why, il seemed but YES. |
terday that he was little fellow in knee. |
pants She stood up to give a finishing
touch TO his cravat. and then. LAYING 10th |
hands on his shoulders, said, You're going
to call on Mary Weston, aren't YOU 2"
ayes, mother. You don't mind, do Won ? |
I'll not be late, and you see I've brought Won
the last Hdrper's"
mo- my son, ] shan't mind only, Frank,
the Westons all drink wine | know it to
my cost. Frank don't take even one glass"
The boy flushed he was sensitive on the
subject, and his mother knew it and seldom
referred to it. He had never touched liquor;
but his father had died when he was a little
baby, and Frank knew that he might still
have been alive if he had not tasted wine.
Strangely enough, just because of that Frank
never liked to be warned about his danger.
lie did not wish to be thought weak, not
having learned yet that "when we are weak
then we are strong" if we depend on Christ's
strength.
Have no fears, mother dear / wish
that wine were not such a bugbear to you.
Good night till ten O'Clock"
AS the WeStons lived some way out Of
town Frank had cold walk, and when he
reached the house he felt quite chilled.
Alter chatting awhile with the whole family
Mrs. weston said MARY, your frierd has
had cold walk you'd better take him into
the dlnlng-room and give him glass of
WINE
FRANK really dld not care for the wine;
he would have preferred cup OF hot tea or
coiiee. But the room was full OF people
Mr. Denison, whom Frank had never met
| before, was there; and so the young man
followed Mary INTO the next room, hoping to
he able to refuse when they were alone.
Mary don't really care for any wine"
go, yes Please take just one glass it
VIII warm you up. Here now that | have
poured II out You cant refuse
| The Young girl handed the glass and as
she sald Frank could not refuse, weak, fool
lsf boy that he was But as he took the
glass Mr. Denison stood between them;
young Weston, ! was your fathers
| TREND, ana since ne mas gone, Will you al
low me to take his place for one evening
and ask you not to take that winef ven
ture to say that II Miss Mary would brew
us good cup OF coffee we would both en-
JOY it more. Is 1t not so"
MIR. Denison's manner was so kind that
|
brightly "lndeed 1t is. was wishing
some one would propose coffee rather than
vine
Mary was gone IN minute, and MIR. Deni-
son drew the boy to one side OF the room and
talked with hun III an undertone. Frank,
he said, " | call you so, for 1t was your IA
Tiers name, and we were always Frank and
Ned when together. | know just how
You feel about this matter of wine. Because
your father drank you do not like to refuse
Tor fear people Will think you afraid. My
dear boy, make up your mind TO be afraid
that your only safety lies IN being afraid
When your father and were about your
age we were urged to become members OF a
temperance society. knew that my father
had been very fond OF liquor, and that there
was chance that might have taste for
it; so joined. Your father laughed at my
fears. Thank goodness he said come
OF strong people who can drink aud know
when to stop There's no hidden taste for
me to dread
alt was in this honse-long before Mr..
Weston was married-that Frank and |
were first offered wine. Frank took glass
and enjoyed it. Soon he liked the taste of
wine so well that he kept some in his room.
lie said it was hospitable to offer it to others.
Still, no one thought of his drinking too
much, Tor, as he had said, he came of a
strong, sturdy people. Then he married as
sweet girl as ever lived. Business troubles
came, and he drank more-never to excess,
as we say; but any wine was excess to him,