The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-01-13

full OF grippe germs, it was well to be
on the safe side.
The relations between himself and
Mrs. Brett were severely strained.
She had used upon him every argument
that love, or common sense, scorn, or
contempt could make use of, and all in
vain
DO not understand me that Mr.. Brett
grew into brute all at once upon the
use of whisky, as Ulysses companions
were TUNED to swine by partaking of
the tire acherous dainties of Gree. AT
first he laughed at Mrs. Brett; then he
became goodnaturedly sarcastic; then,
gradually, her reproaches were met
with sullenness and anger. Then he
told her twas sorry day when he ever
married her. She said it was-for her.
Then he went off to business. She
fretted all day over the unkind words
of the morning, and longed for the
slow hours TO pass that he might re-
turn, and she would throw herself into
his arms, and they would make mutual
concessions. She would prevail on
him through his love for her to give up
that terrible whisky, and they would be
happy once more.
Poor Carries father had been one of
those unfortunate who commit spirit
ual and moral suicide through drink.
She knew its insidious tendencies, and
she felt she would rather die than live
to suffer through it such anguish and
sorrow as her broken. hearted mother
had known.
The fact that Wallace Brett had been
a temperance man had been the casting
I'll. L. 4 IL 4. l.,
between him Other suitors.
Within eight or nine months from the
time when Mr.. Brett took cognizance
of his headache, and said "A choul
over his ledger in November, he was
pretty well along on the "primrose
path of dalliance " that leads to the
everlasting b infre.
His nose had grown rcd; there were
whisky pimples on his face, which was
tiabby and unwholeso looking. He
began to stay out late, and come home
drunk. The children had stopped run
ming to meet him, aud skunk out Of
sight when they saw him coming.
He had stopped going to church; he
wasn't banking any of his salary; he
had fallen behind with the payments
on his property. AT the office, the
proprietors said it " looked as if Brett
was going to the dogs; if he didn't pull
up pretty soon they'd have TO ship
him"
About this time, Mrs. Brett, who had
been growing pale and thin with the
intolerable trouble she was bearing,
fell into low, nervous condition, bor-
dering on prostration. She couldn't
sleep or eat; everything she attempted
seemed to overcome her. She would
sit in her chair or lie on the couch all
day, and brood and sigh, or burst into
tears if spoken to.
Mr.. Brett told DR.. Kayo that she
was " down in the mouth ~; to " 90 and
see her and give her tonic"
Next day the two men met
" What do you think of my wife?"
asked Mr.. Brett.
" It's serious case; very serious"
Serious-eh?" asked Brett in
amazement. Thought It was only
nerves."
"Nerves are enough, for that matter;
but Mrs. Brett has a germ disease.
I'm not sure but that it's incurable."
Mr.. Brett turned white and stared
hard at the doctor.
" 1t is induced by the most danger
Gus and destructive microbe ever met
with in medical Jurisprudence. It's
the arch-microbe that swallows up all
the other microbes, as Aaron's serpent
rod swallowed up all those of Pharaoh's
magicians. She's dying woman,
Brett" .t
90, Doctor, don't tell me that!
Can't anything be done for her?"
Well" said the doctor gravely,
there's only one chance, and haven't
much hope of that. We seen that one
little chance fade out so often in cases
like hers. If we can only kill the
microbe-the whisky microbe-that's
destroying her home, hopes, happiness,
and husband, she'll get well fast
enough. There's not another thing ails
her; but she's of a delicate, nervous
organization, and, if you don't stop
breaking her heart with your drunken
brutality, she won't be alive three
months from now"
That's pretty plain talk" said Mr..
Brett, gasping 1t out in broken, dis
| jointed way.
" Exactly, when l have a surgical
operation to perform, | cut as deeply
as necessary. You'd better not get
mad, but think over what I've said.
It's true as preaching"
" Doctor, have you got"
" Anything 10 help kill the microb,
Yes; come into the Office. Fix you up
something to steady your nerves and
stop that craving. But mind you, man,
nothing but God and you in full part
nership of activity and determination
can kill it. This kind goeth not out
even with fasting and prayer alone.
You must fight like Leonidas at Their
mopy@ against darts that darken the
SUM-"
Mr.. Wallace Brett went home with
another bottle in his pocket. He threw
himself on his knees beside his wife
and told her of the battle about to be
fought for her life and his soul
With mingled tears and united hearts
they prayed that the God of battles
would strengthen, uphold, and give
them success.
Twas terrible fight; for the whisky
microbe in Satan's vicegerent on earth;