The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-08-31
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
WELDING TO THE SPIRIT.
How Two Old Comrades Came to Sign
the Pledge.

the Pledge.
There's no use, Dorothy" said John
ThaXter to his wife; "a little cider is as
harmless as so much water. It's my
belief that the earth was created for
man and the fullness thereof as the
parson said in his sermon recently.
And what would my old comrade, Jack
Cray, say to such fanaticism? Now
with you women, there's a difference.
You dear souls get together and pass
all sorts of wild resolutions not to
touch, taste or handle, when not a
mothers daughter of you can tell
sherry from claret. You amuse your
selves and each other by it, but you
harm nobody and accomplish nothing.
1t pleases you, and furnishes harmless
recreation, of which we wouldn't de-
prive you for the world. But we men
see things differently, my dear Doro-
thy"
There was a moments pause. Bob,
the canary, swinging in his cage among
the green vines that overran the shin
ing window panes chirruped loudly in
the CRATE purring lazily, watching Bob
the while with greedy, half-shut eyes
Just now" pleaded Dorothy, in her
soft, persuasive accents, 'there seems
to be such an awakening on the sub
ject of temperance, and then we have
to consider Tim, too"
Jersey, the black cook, standing
just inside the kitchen door, which
was slightly ajar busy concocting a
mysterious and wonderful dish, known
in her repertoire as plum pud'n, ~
listening attentively, as was her wont,
had the full benefit of Mr.. Thaxter' S
reply.
The regimcntal reunion occurs here
to-day; my old friend Capt. Cray will be
here for dinner, and have ordered his
favorite dessert, plum pudding with
brandy sauce and walnuts and cider.
And, Dorothy dear, don't take occasion
to air any of your hobbies. You are
welcome to all the Bibles and temper
ancc notices and badges you like, and
you are quite at liberty to adopt the
whole waits MISSION if it pleases
you, but | must have my privileges,
too. It's only fair Dorothy
Jersey grinncd. Mrs Thaxter was a
kind mistress, but Hersey had been
obliged to submit, most unwillingly, to
her authority on more than one occa-
sion, and human nature is very human,
indeed in the relation that subssts be-
tween mistress and maid. She now
tasted 10 the full the sweetness of Sec
ing her mistress will subordinated to
higher authority.
Pears like she can't alters be boss ~
she chuckled. dat ar man, he mighty
heady when he git agwine, and pud'n's
poor, no count stuff widout brandy.
What am you-uns a doin' now, you
young limb?"
1t was Tim, the waif, to whom she
spoke; Tim, recently Installed as a
member Of the household by Mrs. Thax-
ter, whose tender heart had been
touched with compassion for the poor,
forlorn creature, on recent visit to
the waits mission"
Muffin replied Tim, laconically, a.
Jersey, having poured out sufficient
quantity of the brandy set the bottle
down on the kitchen table; cant ye
let Teller look on, Hersey?'
He took up the brandy bottle and
eyed it generously. Hockey! What a
sumner for bait when go a'fishin'."
He felt of it delightcdly. 1t was fiat,
covered with wicker, and Tins greedy
glance took in its proportions.
lIersey's back was toward him as she
tried the heat of the oven with her
hand. "l'll torrer it." whispered Tim,
tampcring with conscience. A large
glass pitcher of cider stood near and
Tim, hastily lest Jersey should tnrn
and detect him in the act poureI the
brandy into the pitcher and slipped
softly away, Just in time to escape
the keen glance of Herscys eyes.
Capt. Cray was jolly and talkative,
and Mrs. 'phaxter enjoyed almost as
much AS the two old comrades the re.
hearsal of oldtime adventures in camr
and field. She began to feel new
pride in her husbands record as sol
riicr and listened with delightei interest
while the captain told anew the stories
which she had heard dozens of times
before.
IF you would like quiet place tc
sec the drill and marching" said Capt
Cray, there is window opening from
my Sitting-room at the hotel on to q
private balcony, and you can have it al
yourself if you choose"
All the town had turned out TO dc
honor to the event. On platform at
tached to the band stand" were the
town dignitaries, MAYOR and alderman,
the Survivors of the Mexican war, tn,
ministers who we're to assist in tn,
civic ceremonies, the principal lawyer
of the town, careless,y tilted back il
his chair, envied of his younger breth
rem in the profession as occupying ;
position which would excuse little
carelessness as to cuffs and Singer nails
DR.. Crane, Mrs. Thaxter's father,
fine old man with white locks, sat be
side him, feeling thrill of patriotism
as he watched the flags that fioatet
from awnings and roofs and balconies
and heard the distant sound of martha
music, for he too, had been surgeon
in the service, and felt all soldier
pride in the occasion.
Nv. Focbush," he said, leaning for
ward. to his student tall, gawlIy
youth with spectacles, will you driv
the carriage around from the Office ant
wait few minutes FOR me, till the reg
1imrnt has pasScd?'