The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1886-05-07

exert Neat influence as she is such So
cicty leader What a brave, noble ex-
ample She is giving, isn't she, Norman !?
active work, but it's plain to be seen that
her heart is i'll the cause. ! called there
this afternoon, and she was practicing a
new song for tonight. | stood by the
disturb her. She sang it as though her
heart was in the words. | could almost
fancy she had a drunken lover, but that's
absurd, of course, Norman. We all know
you do not drink. It was lovely song,
so sad and tender. You will hear it to-
night, and--I declare, ii is time to dress.
Here Norman, you shall have one badge
if you are not yet member" and fasten-
ing it to his coat, she ran lightly up the
stairs, unmindful that every word she had
uttered cut her brother more kcenly than
two-edged sword
Norman gazcd at the tricolored badge
with mingled feelings of wounded pride
and love, then placed it in an inner
pocket.
That night light and gaYety reigned
in the Ellsworth mansion, and many Gu
rious eyes were fastened upon the fair face
of their hostess, who stood beside her
father receiving her guests in her usual
sweet gracious way.
Norman Fitz James was among the late
on,norS ond clio fvrootod him, With o,,oe
tioning culver in her voice. The large
rooms were laultess in their arrangements,
and merry repartees flew from laughing
lips under the brilliantly lighted chandel-
iers.
''Be brave and true to your happiness,
my child, and all will be well. :" said good
Mr.. Ellsworth, when his daughter had told
him her fears and asked his advice But
now, even with his fond, reassuring eyes
upon her, and the firm pressure of his arm
as they led the way to the supper room,
she could only answer the enquiring glances
of her friends with brave, trembling
smile.
1t is not an easy task to be the first to
throw aside an established usage of society
The sparkling dccanters, filled with the
ruby liquor that clouds the reason and be
numbs the brain. were banished from the
side boards, and in their places stood great
shining coffee pots, whose fragrant steam
| filled the air, aud whose contents were
| speedily made into nectar fit for the gods
by the liberal addition of pure, rich cream.
This isn't so bad as it might be, - said
Charlie Kelly, as he slowly slipped it.
Greatly our fair hostess will carry the
palm for coffee as she has always done for
wine
$50 brave and. good of you, dear,
whispered Young wife, as she pressed
Dora's hand, while her eyes rested in
thankful joy upon her husband who had
already begun to make fashionable suppers
an excuse for wine drinking.
'.You set us older ones an example to
be proud Of said matron whose opinion
she had feared, but no word or encourage
ment came from the ono for whose sake
she was Drawing public opinion.
When they again entered the parlors,
Dora advanced to the piano and took her
seat there. Her face was very pale, but a
look of tender resolution shonc from her
eyes, as she ran her fingers lightly over the
polished keys.
The guests stood in hushcd expectation
as the sweet, young voice swclled in
wistful cadence through the rooms. None
knew its hidden meaning SO well as he who
stood in the curtaiucd alcove apart from
the rest. Never until Norman Fitz James
dies viii he forget the cntrcaty of that
simple song.
''Yon are coming 10 WOO nc, but NOT a. of
When FASTENED TO welcome your ring ~ the
door,
For l trusted that he who Stood waiting me
then,
Was the brightest, the trirsi, The noblcst of
men.
Your lips on my own when they printed Fare
wen
Had never been soiled by The beverage OF
hell
But they come 10 mc now with hacchanal
sign,
Ana the lips that touch liquor must never
touch mine.
"oh, John, how it crushed me- when first in
your face
The pen of The Rum iend' had written dis
grace
And turned me in silence and Tears from the
breath
All poisoned aud lonl from the chalice of
death.
IT scattered the hopes had treasured to last!
Ii darkcned The future, ana clonded The past
II shattered nay idol ana ruined the shrine,
For the lips that toneh liquor must never
touch mine.
81 loved you-oh dearer than language can
tell.
And you saw it, you proved it, you know it too
well.
But the man of my love was far other than he
Who now from the 1ap-roon,' comes rceling to
me.
In manhood and honor 50 noble and right
His heart was 50 irue and his genius 80
bright
Though in silence, with blighicd affections l
pine,
Yet the lips that touch liquor can never touch
mine.
at one spark in your bosom OF virtue remain,
Go ian ii with prayer till ii kindles again;
Resolved, with cod helping in future TO be
From wine and its follies unshacklednd free.
Nud +l,.f, ,-nt baxp connupred fhiG fn, hi vDur