Year: 1874

The stiffness was broken by the nois


twittering of the swallows, who, dis
turbed bv this unusual intrusion. wer
fitting out and in through the three
cornered windows in the gable, AM
darting in graceful gyrations and curve
near their nests, close to the rafters
Even old Bob ceased in his search afte
tempting bits in the bottom of his man
ger, and looked up with an air of NUT,
wonder.


1t was rather unusual for the bus,
housewife to venture into this part o.
the domestic domain; but while in the
midst of preparations for tea, she haC
made the discovery that there was MOI
| an egg in the house As the children
were all at school, and the men in the
field at work, there was but the one al
tentative; so. snatching up her bonnet
she started out in the search. She had
relished this exercise in girlhood; but
now she glanced up the perpendicular
ladder which led to the top of the NOW
with feeling of trepidation. However,
she had no time to lose, so at work she
went, searching in boxes and under
managers, and prying into hidden corners
in the bays and mows. She was about
to descend with a well-filled apron, when
mysterious looking hole in the hay,
close to the side of the barn, attracted
her attention.


well, now," said the little woman to
herself, 81 wouldn't wonder one minute
but that is where the top-knot has been
hiding her nest. heard the children
say that she had stolen it off somewhere
and they couldn't find it."


So she crossed the NOW, and crouch
ing DOWN she thrust her hand deep
down in the bay and drew forth-a dem
john


To say that Mrs. Deering was surpris-
ed, would but fesbly express her amaze
ment. What did it containl Who could
have concealed it there, and for what
purposel were questions which thrust
themselves upon her mind. The first
was easiest of solution, for, after smell
ing the contents, she even, as if to make
assurance doubly sure, put the demijohn
to her lips, and, with very wry face,
tasted it,


There could be no mistakel 1t was
that liquor which bears so many appeiia-
tions, but is more universally known,
perhaps, as whiskey. But who could
have secreted it there? Could it have
been her husband! And then little acts
and circumstances which. at the time of
their occurance she had scarcely noticed,
came TO her mind TO clinch this cOnvic-
ton. Indeed, she almost wondered,
now, how she could have been so blind
as to not have suspected the truth soon
er Such had always been her conf
dense in her husbands integrity, that it
was a terrible blow; for time she was
unconciOus her surroundings; every
faculty seemed stunned by the sudden
ness of the revelation which came crash
ing home upon her. And then came the
thought of the disgrace and ruin which
follows this curse, and settles like a
mildew upon all the enjoyments and
comforts of home.


She felt that already her husbands
feet were standing upon slippery places.
How could she best warn him of his dan
gerl What could she do. Alas! poor wo-
man, what could she do The demon
that she had TO encounter, is one that
mocks woman's tears, and turns deaf
ear to her entreaties. Scarcely an hour
afterward the stable doors were opened,
and Horace Deering entered, leading n
span of grays. After tying each to their
respective stalls, he removed the har-
ness, and springing lightly over upon the
threshing floor, was soon mounting the
ladder He crossed the NOW, and
crouching down as Mrs. Deering had
done, he thrust his hand down into the
hay, and drew it back empty, with a
look of perplexity upon his face. Then
he gave low, prolonged whistle, express
i've of CONSERVATION and surpriseAgain he
searched, this time more thoroughly, but
only:to find that his demijohn was gone.
He felt disappointed at missing his usual
dram, Imore probably than he would
have been willing to have confessed,
even to himself.


The warm weather had come on sud
denly in the Spring, and Mr.. Deering, ex-
periencing the languor and lassitude
which this sudden change in tempera-
ture always produces, had procured
bottle or so of those universally adver-
tised, and highly recommended bitters.
Their effects had proved so agreeable,
that their use was followed by the pur-
chase of the demijohn filed with the
substance from which these bitters de
rive their pleasant and stimulating. but
really pernicious properties He discov-
cred that, during haying and harvest, it
was just the thing to prevent sun-stroke,
or any injurious effects which might
follow from too copious draughts of cold
wafer. And even after the hot weather
was over the nights were damp and chill,
and he felt the need of something to
warm and brace him up inwardly. In
deed, lie had come to the conclusion
that it was just what any Iaboring man
needed. So the morning dram had been
increased to three during the day. and
the demijOhn had been filed and refiIled
Did no Horace Deering realize his dam
ger! / cannot say, dear reader. | only
know that men of even stronger purpose,
and better judgment, have fallen by
this same temptation.


Horace Deering readily guessed who
had taken the demijohn-he knew there
had been no one about the place since
noon, but Mrs. Deering s'Of course
there will be n scene, " he muttered, as
he slid down from the NOW, and proceed
ed TO answer the call of the horses. who
were neighing for their customary feed
oats. MARY makes such fuss over
such things; women always do. But
there is one thing about it. 4" he said de-
cidedly, emptying the well-iIled meas
ure into the feed boxes-'I'm NOT ago
ing to be tied to woman's apron strings.
and she may as well find it out first as
last. don't want any one to dictate to
Inc, what shall or shall not drink. /
work hard enough know, to earn all |
get and am a-going to have it"


Ali, Horace Deerlng would not nave
reasoned thus in regard to his wife's
opinions one year ago. Although he
was kind husband and an induIgent
father, yet, if he had asserted what ne
considered to be his rights, he was very
apt to maintain them: for he was man
of strong, resOlute will; perhaps Mrs.
Deering knew this Yet, with all his
high resolutions, he rather shrank from
the little ''scene which he felt must fol-
low; for Mrs. Deering was a quiet, gen
tie little woman, and their peace was
seldom


"Interrupted by those cataracts AM breaks
Which humor interposed, too often makes"
But with all her gentleness, he knew she
was capable of entertaining opinions of
her own. And so when he entered the
house and she looked up from across the
well spread table, TO which she was put
ting the finishing touches, with the same
bright smile with which she always well
coined his coming, he felt imneasurably
relieved; for whoever had taken that
demijohn, it was evident TO him that
she knew nothing about it. So the
evening meal passed as pleasantly as US
ual.


After the housework was done and
the little Deerings were all snugly tucked
away in bed, his wife drew out her sew
ing table and placed the light upon it
preparatory to improving the short time
which interviewed before their usual hour
for retiring. Mr.. Deering entered and
after exchanging his heavy boots for