Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-01

the shore who agreed with Ann that this
was an accident that might happen again.
And although their husbands laughed at
them, they were in a state of alarm like
that of a brood when hawk hovers in the
air. Il don't care what 10 says" cried
Mrs. Byrnes. letting her fatiron cool when
Libby y, and Susy Wayne ran in next morn
ng. I'D ruther see my Benny brought
home without breath in his body than
with that breath. You keep still, Benny! l
know your throat's dry. and ia orter be!
An his tongue-you'd orter to see his poor
little tongue the dear innercenti My lord,
shouldn't think man'd want that tongue
twice. To think of that childs being made
a tppler without KNOWN it,
"'Twould break me all up" said Susy,
looking sorrowfully down the orchard, her
face still pink and white as the apple
blossoms there, IF my little Davy got into
the habit of this. And of course, Hum
phrey'l coax them In again. I've trembled
some even when I've seen him sucking cider
through a straw-new cider, too. But
cherry brandy-oh. it really is wicked"
Wicked amt no name for it." cried Mrs.
Carter, who had followed her.
And with this sort of feeling abroad
| among the mothers. 1t was not remarkable
that going down for their shopping to the
Port the Port people heard Of Humphrey
and the still and the cordial and the boys.
In this way the matter came to my aunt
Pamela's ears. And my aunt Pamela was
the head and front of an association which
just then was sweeping all before 1t in the
cause OF temperance, an entirely new cause
In our part of the world at that period.
when the decanter stood upon the side
board and every well-furnshed store closet
had it's key Of MARSHA or Madeira Even
Aunt Pamela, in all the exuberance Of her
enthusiasm. had not banished the old rum
bottles that had her grandfather's name
and date blown In them, from the corner
buffet. where stood her grandmother's flow
cred china, the lovely Lowenstall that she
always washed herself. And she never
thought twice about mixing the comfort
ha p}nio nd fhA Ina
tor took together before going out. without
thought Of harm. to address the temper
ance society: for it was temperance-not
abstinence-they were preaching; and they
were preaching that for poor fellows who
really could not afford to drink: not for
gentlemen like themselves, who sent their
sherry on long. rolling voyages Of calm
and storm to season 1t. 1t is plain, you
see, that the temperance society had come
to us none too soon.
But even enthusiasts in a great cause out
of their enthusiasm may make mistakes;
and, sooth to say. my aunt Pamela was one
OF those people who take up a cause simply
for the sake OF its excitement, and for
something to be busy about. Nothing she
seeked. because nothing she knew, Of homes
beggared Of widows made. and orphans of
hearts broken, of great powers brought to
naught, of the profound misery Of those
who watch for late uncertain footsteps, who
see poverty and degradation coming see
the corruption and decay Of the soul they
love. Nothing Of all the terrors Of drunk
enness did she know, nor any Of the heart
burning when the man who sells the poison
takes the house. as he has taken the hap
piness OF the house, and rolls by with the
riches that he has wrung out of tears and
pangs. A feeling Of this had hardly be-
gun in the country. and Aunt Pamela was
no better than her day. All she knew was
that there was a private still somewhere I'D
along the shore; that 1t belonged to q wo-
man named Sally Lavendar, whose hus-
band was making drunkards Of little bows:
and 1t was against the law to have a pri-
vate still. At least she believed 1t was
against the law. And at any rate she
would destroy the still first and see about
the law afterward.
She called q meeting Of the Tabitha-
styled the Tables by the irreyerent-and
after assuring them that the matter Of
changing their name to that of the Martha
Washingtons could wait a while, she laid
before them the monstrous fact that bovs
were being ruined by the possessor Of a
still five miles up the river, and that. Of
course. their own boys were in danger
near as they were to a community subject
to such demoralizing influence: and She
moved that they send constable at once
for the destruction of that tool of evil
and declared that 1t was a vote.
But, Pamela" cried my mother hurry
Ing in as soon as she heard Of 1t, you are
all of. 1t IL nothing OF the sort She IL a
poor woman who sells herbs and distills
rosewater-"
II never heard that rosewater Intoxicated
little boys" said my aunt. loftiIy.
And know her-I am very fond NJ h.r.
buy great deal OF her"
Il know you refused to toin our soc,etv
but you needn't boast Of buying stimulants
Emily" said my aunt.
Stimulantst' exclaimed my mothar mt