The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1892-08-25
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
YIELDING TO THE SPIRIT. .

P0A SOA C1AN IA AlS ocIIuOu TCC0uVlYs
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 ciaret. 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
sec 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
defiance of the old cat, that lay before
the CRATE purring lazily, watching Bob
the while with greedy, half-shut eyes.
Just now" pleaded Dorothy, in her
to be such an awakening on the sub.
ject of temperance, and them we have
to consider Tim. too"
Hersey, the black cook, standing
just inside the kitchen door, which was
slightly ajar, busy connecting 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.. Thaxtcr's reply.
1.-THE regimental reunion occurs here
to-day; my old friend Capt Cray " i'll be
here for dinner, and have ordered his
favorite dessert, plum pudding with
brandy sauce and waluuts 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 if it pleases
you, but l must have my privileges,
too. It's only fair Dorothy
Hersey grinned. Mrs. Thaxter was a
kind mistress, but Jersey 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 subsists be-
tween mistress and maid. She now
tasted to the full the sweetness of see
ing her mistress will subordinatcd to
higher authority.
'"Pears like she can't alters be boss, -
she chuckled. ''Dat ar man, he mighty
heady when he git agwiue, and pud'n's
poor, no count stuff widout brandy.
What am you-uns a doin' now, you
young limb?"
1t 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 a recent visit to
the "'waifs' mission.'
Muffin replied Tim, laconically, as
Hersey, having poured out sufficient
quantity OF the brandy set the bottle
down on the kitchen table; cant We
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'."
lie felt of it delightedly. 1t was fat,
covered with wicker, and Tins greedy
glance took in it's proportions.
Hersey's back was toward him as she
tried the heat of the oven with her
hand. CPL borrer it," whispered Tim,
tampering with conscience. A large
glass pitcher of cider stood near, and
Tim, hastily lest Jersey 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 talkative.
and Mrs. Thaxter enjoyed almost as
much as the two old comrades the re-
hearsal of o]d-time adventures in camp
and field. She began to feel new
pride in her husbands record as a SOL
der and listened with delighted interest
while the captain told anew the stories
which she had heard dozens of times
before.
''1f you would like a quiet place to
see the drill and marching" said Capt
Cray, there is a 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 do
honor to the event. On platform at
tached to the band stand" were the
town dignitaries, mavor and alderman,
the survivors of the Mexican war, the
ministers who were to assist in the
civic ceremonies, the principal lawyer
OF the town. carelessly tilted back in
his chair, envied of his younger breth
rem in the profession as occupying a
position which would excuse a little
carelessness as to cuffs and finger nails.
DR.. Crane, Mrs. Thaxter's father, a
fine old man with white locks, sat be-
side him, feeling thrill of patriotism
as he watched the flags that foated
from awnings and roofs and balconies,
and heard the distant sound of martial
music, for he, too, had been a surgeon
in the service, and felt all soldiers
pride in the occasion.
''Mr. Forbush," he said, leaning for
ward, to his student, tall, gawky
youth with spectacles, Twill you drive
the carriage around from the Office and
wait few minutes for me, till the reg
iment has passed?'
Mr.. Forbush acquiesced cheerfully.
He liked to push his way as person of
Importance through the crowd that
had already begun to block up the
mounted on unframed, fiery colts, sat
their caracoling animals like young
Centaurs. Farmers wagons, crowded
with occupants, were drawn up beside
the street through which the column
was to pass, small boys, filled with rap
ture at the sound of the fife and drum,
and prospect of unlimited noise and
confusion, filled the interstices of the
crowd where it was thickest, and when
the clear, shrill clamor of the fife and
rolling of the drum told that the line
was moving, a tumultuous excitement
filled every urchin's breast.
Two triumphal arches had been
erected, one at the corner of the park
near the band stand, the other farther
down the street. From her post on the
balcony. Mrs. lhaxter saw her husband
and the captain take their places at