Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-09-29
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
TAMPE7INo WITH DANGER.



How 1wo Ola Comrades Came to sign
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 eomrade, jack
Cray, say to such fanaticism? Now
with you women, there's 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.
Ii 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 moments pause. Bob,
the canary, swinging in his cage among
the green vines that overran the shin
1 ing window panes, chirruped loudly in
defiance of the old eat, that lay before
the CRATE purring lazily, watching Bob
the while with greedy, half-shut eyes.
"lust now" pleaded Dorothy, in her
I soft. persuasive accents. there seems
To be such an awakening on the sub
/ iect 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 connecting u mystic
rious 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 regimental 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
ance notices and badges you like, and
you are quite at liberty to adopt the
whole waits mission II it pleases
YOU but ! must have my privileges,
too Its only fair Dorothy
Hersey grinned. Mrs. Thaxter was a
/ kind mistress. but Hersey had been
4 Obliged TO submit. most unwillingly, TO
i her authority on more than one occa-
4 sion. and human nature is very human,
4 indeed. in the relation that subsists be
tween mistress and maid. She now
4 tasted TO the full the sweetness of see
i ing her mistress will subordinated to
/ higher authority.
Pears like She caa't alters be boss, y
she chuckled. "Dat ar man, he mighty
heady when he sit agwine, and pud MS
poor. 20 count st,f widout brandy.
What am you-uns a dom now, you
i young limbo"
] II was Tim. the wait 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 70
the waits mission"
Muffin. replied Tim. laconicallv, as
/ Jersey. having poured out a sufficient
quantity OF the brandy set the bottle
down on the kitchen table; can't We
let Teller look on, Hersey2"
He took up the brandy bottle and
eyed it generously. Hockey! What a
sumner for bait when 60 a-fshins
lie felt Of it delightedly. 1t was fiat
covered with wicker, and Tins greedy
I glance took IN its proportions
Hersey's back was toward him as she
tried the heat Of the oven with her
hand. "I'll borrer it." whispered Tim.
tampering with conscience. A large
/ glass pitcher of cider stood near. and
Tim. hastily lest Hersey should turn
and detect him in the act, poured the
brandy into the pitcher and slipped
softly away, Just in time to escape
the keen glance OF Hersey's eyes
Capt. Cray was jolly and laxative,
and Mrs. Thaxter enjoyed almost as
much as the two old comrades the re-
hearsal Of old-time adventures in camp
aud field. She began to feel a new
pride in her husbands record as a sol
der and listened with delighted interest
white the captain told anew the stories
which She had heard dozens of times
before.
III you would like a quiet place "a
see the drill and marching. said Capt
Cray, there is window opening from
my sitting-room at the hotel on to a
private balcony. and you can have it all
to yourself If you choose.
All the town had turned out TO dc
honor TO the event. ON q platform at
tached to the band stand" were the
town digniiaries, MAYOR and alderman.
the Survivors of the Mexican war. the
ministers who were to assist in the
civic ceremonies, the principal lawyer
of the town, earelessly tilted back in
his chair. envicd of his younger breth
rem in the profession as occupying a
position which would excuse little
carelessness as to cuffs and finger nails
Or. Crane. Mrs. Thaxter's father. a
fine old man with white locks. sat be-
side him. feeling a thrill of patriotism
rs he watched the flags that floatec
from awnings aud roofs and balconies.
and heard the distant sound of martial
I music for he too had been "a SURGEON