The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1886-11-26
COMFY A CHILD's pRATTLE.,

let in the light and brightness of the morn
ing. 1t was a handsome house, somewhat
old-fashioned, but handsome still and ele-
gantly furnished. 1t should have been a
| happy home, but there was a shadow rest
ing upon it; as yet it was not deep, dark
shadow, indeed it was scarcely perceptible
to any but one troubled heart. Mr.. Gran
horrible fear was sometimes clutching at
the heart of his almost idolized wife. He
did not suspect his own peril and did not
| see as she did, the demon lurking in those
bottles and decanters on the sidebeard.
| That morning, little Alice, the one pet
| ted darling of the house, was playing upon
the lawn, with no other companion than
| her favorite doll, almost as large as Alice
herself. She had wandered about the
| grounds, the mother watching the golden
head and thinking that sunshine itself was
not brighter, until suddenly the child's at
tention was attracted by what was to her
an altogether new sight. 4 young man
| was passing. Just in front of the house he
staggered and would have fallen had it not
been for the assistance of a companion a
| little less helpless than himself. | need not
describe the scene. Unfortunately, to the
most of us it is not an unusual sight. We
have seen too often the unsteady and UNI
certain step of a drunkard, we have too
often heard the silly laughter and listened
to the imbecile chatter eli those who have
| drowned their manhood in a glass of
liquor.
| But to Alice Granger, child OF five
| years, it was new and strange sight and
one which she could not comprehend. Her
doll lay unheeded upon the ground while
| with all earnest, curious expression upon
her face she watched the two travellers out
| of sight. Then she ran to the house.
Mamma she said, "tferc were two
funny acting men went past just now.
They went on both sides of the street and
did not act as if they knew how to walk.
They were just as silly as could be"
Eyes, my dear; saw them"
Mamma, what made them act SOP" in
| quired the child.
Mrs. Granger was inclined TO evade the
question She was sorry that her darling
had witnessed the disgusting spectacle.
She would have spared her the know ledge
| of this form of sin While longer, but it
| could not now be helped, and as Alice per-
sisted she said ut length,
'shIy dear child, those young men have
been drinking too much wine.
'sToo much wine! But mamma, wine
does not make folks act ike that"
eyes, it does
but papa drinks wine, and the little,
round face wore look of perplexity.
Say, mamma, papa drinks wine. Does
it make him walk like that and talk SO
that nobody can understand him? Say,
mammal
What could the mother say? How
should she teach her darling to hate the
wine cup and at the same time preserve
the respect and love for her father?
"My darling" she said at length, wine
is dangerous thing. | will teach you all
about it. And papa thinks that IL little
does not hurt anybody; but perhaps when
you know more about it, you and can
coax him to not drink any"
That day at dinner Alice astsnshed her
father by exclaiming suddenly:
Papa, | wish you wouldn't drink any
more wine,''
Mr.. Granger looked up in surprise, but
he laughed and asked,
''Why not?"
The little face was very sober and the
voice very earnest as Alice replied, Be
cause it makes men act 50 dis gust-ing-ly!'
The last word was brought OUT slowly. as
if it were too large for her.
What do you know about it p The
question was addressed to Alice, his daugh-
ter but Mr.. Granger looked at his wife.
''Alice had her first temperance lesson
to-day" replied Mrs. Granger, land 1t has
made an impression.
''Seems to me you are beginning early
to teach her your peculiar views, said the
gentleman, half laughing, half sneering.
AT least IL WAS as near IL SueVT as int gen
tleman in Mr. Granger would allow.
ut so happened that was not the teach
en-, responded his wife; ''it was an object
lesson. She saw young Morgan and his
friend pass.
''Aud papa, they acted just awful. |
wouldn't have yeu act that way for any
thing
Don't be afraid. Fred. Morgan drinks
a great deal and | only drink little.
That's the difference
Alice was still quite "a time. Then, as
her father drained his glass, She asked sud-
denly:
"Papa, how much is a great deal Of
wine?"
.'IIow much? Oh, don't know" re-
Piled Mr.. Granger carelessly.
81 wish you did know"
And now the voice was very anxious.
"Why do You wish that?'
why, don't you see you might make a
mistake and drink too much. But if can
find out I'll keep watch and tell you, so
you need not be afraid of being like Fred.
Morgan
Mr.. Granger rose from the table laugh
ing, and betook himself to the library; but