Year: 1878

p
had been taught from my earliest
childhood to fear and abhor drunken
ness. Indeed, il was to me the very
acme Of the expression Of original sin.
Very seldom had I seen a drunken man,
and the few times ] had met such a one
I had kept myself at a safe distance
from personal contact. But here / was,
and the man who staggered into the
cabin, with bleared eyes and bloated
visage, was my husband Would to
God 1 had known enough to lock myself
away from his sight, and out of hearing
Of his maudlin utterances.


All, me.


He lay down, or, rather, wallowed
down upon the sofa, and remained for a
long time in a heavy drunken stupor.
Then the effects Of the liquor died par
TALLY away, and he awoke and glared
upon me like a maniac. Oh, those eyes!
They haunt me yet!


"Bring me some whisky :" he said,
waving his hand with an emphasis
even more authoritative than his voice.
Just here let me so far digress from
the main story of my life as to give
young wives a recipe for drunkenness.
Would to God had known enough TO
understand the lesson and utilize it be-
fore it was too late. But never mind.
It will surely benefit somebody else.
Instead of silently and timidly doing
my lords bidding, as I then thought il
my wifely duty to do, even though he
had commanded me TO do anything
short Of murder or theft, ought to have
gotten the whisky and babe him drink,
and be filled. Then / should have
sewed him tightly in the blankets and
saturated them with the DEVILS own
elixir; and for fully ten days I should
have kept him stupefied with alcohol.
I should have used it as liquid for max
ing his tea or coffee, cooked his potatoes
in it, saturated his meat with it, and
soaked his fruit in it. Maybe the treat
ment would have effected a cure in less
than ten days, but I am satisfied that it
would have been radical and permanent.
I would advise every wife in all the
land who is thus situated to try it.


Drunkenness is a disease, and in al
most every instance can be cured in
this way. But I was weak and fright
ened and ignorant, and knew not what
to do.


Mrs. Chalmers did not dare to speak
to me. Her husband had enforced his
divine command, and she did not pre-
sumo to disobey, lest by so doing she
should provoke her righteous lord tC
drunkenness. Indeed, the Elder as-
sured her, and ] overheard him through
the half-open door, that 1t was no won
der the Captain was in his cups.
woman who defied the authority Of hel
natural protector, as I had done, mus
expect to bear the weight of her owl
wickedness upon her own shoulders.


As Mrs. Chalmers could not speak tC
me, and the Elder passed me with a Sc
rene bow Of stiff politeness that had al
air of "good enough for you" in it, sai
nerveless and helpless, not knowing
what to do.


"Get me some brandy, sayr ssiC
my lord, clutching his hands tightly
over his aching head, aud speaking
louder than before.


It seemed to me that could not rise
I essayed to speak, but failed.


"Bring me some gimp


looked helplessly at Elder Chalmers
and my mute appeal for sympathy anC
guidance must have touched his heart o
flint.


"Bring your husband some whisky
Mrs. Grey, and do not let this lesson b,
lost upon you" he said, with a voice al
hard as an iceberg. MANY a man ha
gone to ruin because Of his wife's failur
to know her place and keep it, Mrs
Grey. Be careful, lest the sin Of you
husbands drunkenness rest not wber
it evidently belongs, upon your own de
voted head"


If had not been so young aud so sim
pie, should have then aud there defie
that oracle.


suppose wife does sometimes IA
to do her duty in some little particular
Is that any reason why her husban
should make a beast of himself?p
asked, mentally, yet outwardly was
meek as a kitten.


"How much whisky must I pi,
him en I asked, feeling that my hea
and hands were as immovable und
my will as though they had been
much lead.


GAS his physician, madam, for I he
tile body as well as the spirit, prescri
for him half wine glass full every HI
hour. See to it that you administer
regularly, and nurse him properly"


did as hidden, with my hands a
heart a-tremble with a strange forbo
ing, and my soul overloaded with
dismal, oppressive, unutterable dread.


The lethargic spree lasted sevel
days, during which time I was as one


the rack.


Elder Chalmers prescriptions We