Year: 1859

'Malcolm, l wouldn't go out tonight.
Come, stay with me this evening""


'Not this evening, Alice. 1 have
promised to meet some friends this eve-
ming, and must keep my word. l will
be at home in good season."


"I had hoped that l should have
your company. Come, why can't you
try and see if 1 cannot make you as
happy as those companions whom you
are to meet? Just this once, Malcolm.
o, this once!'


"No, no, Alice; 1 am going out.
What-crying! Now what's the use
of that? Can't fellow 60 out once
in while without leaving a crying
wife ?"


81 can't help it Malcolm. But here,
kiss me before you 60"


Thus spoke Malcolm Warren and his
young wife. Malcolm was a young
man, twenty-seven years of age, and a
carpenter by trade. His wife was one
of the sweetest dispositioned girls in
town, and she made one of the best
wives. She loved her husband with
the whole energy of her pure soul, and
she knew that she was loved in heart.
Her two children, boy and girl, often
saw her shed tears when they were
alone with her in the snug little sitting.
room, and the boy was old enough to
ask what made his mother cry, but she
dared not tell him.


Malcolm Warren owned the little
cottage in which he lived, and he had
paid for it all out of his own hard earn
ings, while Alice had borne her own
share of the burden, by purchasing all
the furniture. Malcolm was stout, and
an excellent workman, and had never
yet seen the hour when he needed to
lay idle for the want of work. A bet
ter-hearted youth lived not in the town,
and when he took the gentle Alice for
his wife, there was many fair maiden
whose bosom gave place to kindly,
wistful envy. They would not have
robbed Alice of her prise, but they on
| ly hoped that their own lot might be as
fortunate. Why, then, should a cloud
come upon their house? Why should
Alice weep? All, for the same reason
that hot tears are ever crying out their
silent appeals for mercy; tears that
run until they make flood that fairly
shrieks as it rolls over our land.


Malcolm Warren had a high social
nature-his society was priced by all
who could secure it-and he had been
indulging in the false smiles of the
wine-cup. For the last year he had
been allowing his appetite to gain
strength. At first it was only an g oc-
casional glass;" then ca glass or so
once in while," and then " one or two
glasses day." Butlately he had gone
SO far as to spend his evenings away
from home, and for nearly two months
past he had spent all his money with
Jovial companions. Alice saw all this,
and she knew full well where it would
end if it was not stopped. She knew
her husbands nature, and she knew
now surely he was fallen. She had
whispered to him her fears, and he lad
tried to laugh them off as idle whims
She prayed to him to stop the fatal Ca
reer while he yet had strength, but he
had been offended because she would
think that he would ever become q
drunkard. SO Alice was afraid tc
speak all her fears. Yet she saw with
a clear eye all that was coming. She
sow the broad road upon which her be
loved was travelling, and her heart wa'
aching. She knew that even now wan
!. was staring them in the face! 1t was au
tumn, and she had asked of Malcolm
for money to buy warmer clothes fol
lherself and children, and he had none