Year: 1869

lmlDlstered TO our COMFORT


NO, can't say that it has


And if it was banished from oul
house to-day and forever, as bever
age, should We suffer in consequence?


Certainly. What would cur friends


sAh but stop. am only speak
ling Of our own affairs, shut out from
the world, BY our own freside.
want all eztraneous consideration;
left out Of the question. Should We
as family, suffer in eur mora, phys
Iical, social, or domestic affairs, in the
total abstinence from this beverage2 2


NO, l donft know that we should.


Then to you, as a husband, and a
father, and as man, it is of nc
earthly use p


NO


'And it would cost you no effort. SO
far as you alone are concerned, to
break clear from it?
Not particle
AID now, Henry, pursued the
wife, with increased earnestness, i
have a few more questions TO ask :
Do you believe that The drinking Of
Intoxicating beverages is al evil in
this countryY


why as it is now going on, l GER
tainly do


And isn't it an evil in society,"


yes


Look over this city, and tell me
If it is not q terrible evil


"a terrible evil grows out of the
abuse oft, Cora


And will you tell me what good
grows out of the use of it?'


Really, love, when you come down
TO this abstract point, you have the
field. But people should govern
their appetites. All things may be
abused.


yes. But will you tell me the use
the real good-to be derived from
drinking wine and brandy ?"


'As / said before, it is social Gus
tom, and has its charms


'Ahl there yon have it, Henry
1t does have its charms, as the dead
ly snake is said to have, and as other
vices have. But I see you are in a
hurry


1T is time l was at the store


4 will detain you but a moIent
longer, Henry. just answer me a
few more questions. Now call to
mind all the families of your ac-
quaintance think of all the domestic
circles you have known from your
school-boy days to the present; run
your thoughts through the various
homes where you have been intimate
do this, and tell me, if in any in
stance you ever knew a single joy to
be planted by the hearth stone from
the Wine-cup? Did you ever know
one item of good to hOw to a family
from its use p


Ne; I can not say that ever did
not as you mean.


'And now answer me again. Think
of those homes once more-call to
memory the playmates of your child
hood, think Of the homes they have
made, think of other homes, think of
the fresides where all you have
known dwell-and tell me if you have
seen any sorroscs flow from the wine
cup? Have you seen any great griefs
planted by the Intoxicating bowl up
on the hearth-stone?'


Henry Seaburn did not answer, for
there passed before him such grim
spectres Of sorTOa0 and grief that he
shuddered at the mental vision. He
saw the youth cut down in the hour
Of promise ; he saw the gray head
fall in dishonor; he saw hearts bro
ken he saw homes made desolate );
he saw affection wither up and die !;
and saw noble intellect stricken down !
Good heaven what sights he saw as
he unrolled the canvas of his mem
ory.


Henry, whispered his wife, NOV
ing to his side and winding one arm
gently about his neck, Eve have two
boys. They are growing to be men.
They are noble, generous and tender
hearted. They love their home and
honor their parents. They are here
to form those characters, to receive
those impressions which shall be the
basis upon which their future veal or
woe must rest. Think of them doing
battle in the great struggle of life
before them. Shall they carry out
from their homo our evil influence !?
Shall they in the time to come fall By
the wayside cut down By the demon of
the cup, and in their dying hour curse
the example whence they derivhd the
appetizer Oh ! for our children-for
those two boys-for the men we hope
to see them for the sweet memories
we would have them cherish of their.
home-for the good old age they may
reap-let US cast this thing out now
and foreveTr


Cora kissed her. husband as she
ceased speaking and then he arose
to his feet; but he made her no reply.


Henry, you are not offended !?


'No.' he said. He returned her
kiss, and without another word left
the house and went to his store.


How strangely did circumstances
work to keep the idea his wife had
given him alive That very morning
he met a youth, the son of one of his
wealthy friends, in a state of wild in
toxication and during the forenoon
be heard that young Aaron c.
had died at sea. He knew that Aaron
had been sent away from home that
he might be reclaimed.


After the bank had closed, and as
Henry Seaburn was thinking of going
to his dinner, he received a note
through the penny post. ItWas from
a medical friend, and contained a re-
quest that he would call at the hospi-
tai on his way home. This hospital
was not much out of his way, and he
stopped there.


There is a man in one Of the lower
wards who wishes to see you,' said the
doctor.


Does he know me p asked Seaburn.


He says he does


what is his name?


'He won't tell US. He goes by the
name of Smith; but lam satisfied
that is not his true name. He is in i