,,the ,,lights ,,and ,,shadows ,,of     
,,real ,,life4    ,,by ,t4 ,s4 ,,arthur4
    ,,philadelphia3    #ahea4           
,,preface4            ,to all1 as they  
pass through the world1 come light and  
shadow4  ,though the sun may be in the  
heavens1 clouds often intervene1 and    
cast deep shadows about our footsteps4  
,but1 it is a truth which we  cannot too
 deeply lay to heart1 that1 in our life1
 as in nature1 the  exhalations which   
form the obscuring cloud arise from     
below4 ,they  are not born in the pure  
heavens1 but spring out of the earth    
beneath4 ,if there was nothing evil in  
the mind1 there would be no  cloud in   
the sky of our being1--all would be     
eternal sunshine4    ,if1 therefore1 in 
this book the lights and shadows are    
blessed2 if1  in a word1 the clouds     
often hang heavy and remain long in the 
sky1  the fault is in those whose       
histories we have written4 ,but the sky 
does not always remain dark4 ,as the    
heart becomes filled with better        

purposes through the trials and pains of
 adversity1 or comes out  purer from the
 furnace of affliction1 the clouds      
disperse1 and the  blessed sunlight     
comes again4 ,lay this up for your      
consolation1 all  ye who are in trouble 
and affliction1 and look hopefully in   
the  future4 ,it will not always remain 
dark as in the present time4            
,,publisher',s ,,introduction4          
,,accompanying this volume1 is a brief  
auto-biography4 ,in circulating  ,mr4   
,arthur's ,sketches of ,life and        
,character1 the publisher met so        
frequently with an expressed desire to  
know something of one whose  writings   
had made him a general favorite that he 
was led to solicit  a personal sketch1  
to go with a new collection of his      
writings4 ,it  is but due to the author 
to say1 that his concurrence in the     
matter  was not without considerable    
reluctance4 ,from this sketch it will be
  seen that ,mr4 ,arthur is a self-made 
man1 and that he has gained his  present

 enviable position through long and     
patient labor1 and  against the pressure
 of much that was adverse and           
discouraging4 ,in  his elevation he has 
this pleasing reflection1 that in       
seeking to  gain a high place for       
himself1 he has dragged no one down1 but
  rather1 sought to carry along1 in his 
upward way1 all who could be  induced to
 go with him4    ,the portrait given in 
this volume1 was engraved from one      
recently  painted by ,lambdin1 and is   
considered a very good likeness4 ,mr4   
,arthur is now in his forty-second year1
 and looks somewhat younger  than the   
artist has represented him4    ,for the 
information of those who wish to procure
 ,mr4 ,arthur's  ,temperance ,tales1 the
 publisher would state1 that in ,lights 
and  ,shadows of ,real ,life1 are       
included all the stories contained in   
the  recently issued edition of         
,illustrated ,temperance ,tales1 besides
  nearly two hundred pages of additional
 matter1 thus making a larger1  more    

miscellaneous1 and more acceptable book 
for all readers4              ,,brief   
,,autobiography4            ,in         
compliance with the earnest request of  
the publisher of this  volume1 ,i have1 
with a reluctance that ,i find it       
difficult to  overcome1 consented to    
furnish a brief sketch personal to      
myself4  ,although my name has been     
constantly appearing for some twelve or 
fifteen years1 yet ,i have lost none of 
that1 shrinking from  notoriety and     
observation which made me timid and     
retiring when a  boy4 ,the necessity to 
write as a means of livelihood1 and to  
write a  great deal1 has brought me so  
frequently before the public1 that ,i   
have almost ceased to think about the   
matter as any thing more than  an       
ordinary occurrence2 but1 now1 when     
called upon to write about  myself1 ,i  
find that the edge of a natural         
sensitiveness is quite as  keen as ever4
 ,but1 ,i will call the feeling a       
weakness1 and try to  repress it until  

,i have finished my present task4    ,i 
was born in the year #ahji1 near        
,newburgh1 ,orange ,county1 ,new ,york2 
and my eyes first opened on the         
beautiful scenery of the ,hudson4 ,my   
earliest recollection is of ,fort       
,montgomery1 some six miles below  ,west
 ,point1 on the river1 where my parents 
resided for a few years  previous to    
#ahag4 ,in the ,spring of that year1    
they removed to  ,baltimore1 which      
became my place of residence until      
#ahda1 when ,i  came to ,philadelphia1  
where ,i have since lived4    ,my early 
educational advantages were few4 ,there 
were no public  schools in ,maryland1   
when ,i was a boy1 and1 as my father had
 a large  family and but a moderate     
income1 he could afford to send his     
children to school only for a limited   
period4 ,he knew the value1  however1 of
 a good education1 and did all for us in
 his power4  ,especially did he seek to 
inspire his children with a regard for  
religious truth1 and1 both by precept   

and example1 to lead them into  the     
practice of such things as were honest  
and of good rest4 ,in all  this1 he was 
warmly seconded by a mother who still   
survives2 and for  whom1 it is but just 
to say1 that her children feel the      
tenderest  regard--and well may they do 
so1 for they owe her much4    ,at       
school1 ,i was considered a very dull   
boy4 ,my memory was not  retentive1 and 
,i comprehended ideas and formulas      
expressed by others  in a very imperfect
 manner4 ,i needed a careful1 judicious1
 and  patient teacher1 who understood   
the character of my mind1 and who  was  
able to come down to it with instruction
 in the simplest and  clearest forms2   
thus helping me to think for myself and 
to see for  myself4 ,instead of this1 ,i
 was scolded and whipped because ,i     
could  not understand things that were  
never explained4 ,as1 for instance1 a   
slate and pencil were placed in my hands
 after ,i had learned to  read1 upon    
which was a sum in simple addition for  

which ,i was  required to find an       
answer4 ,now1 in the word1 ,addition1 as
  referring to figures1 ,i saw no       
meaning4 ,i did not comprehend the      
fact1 in connexion with it1 that two and
 two made four4 ,true1 ,i had  learned  
my ,addition ,table1 but1 strangely     
enough1 that did not  furnish me with   
any clue towards working out the problem
 of figures  set for me on my slate4 ,i 
was then in my ninth year2 and ,i can   
remember1 to this day1 with perfect     
distinctness1 how utterly  discouraged  
,i became1 as day by day went by1 and   
still ,i had not  found a correct result
 to any one of my sums1 nor gained a    
single  ray of light on the subject4    
,strange as it may seem1 ,i remained for
  several months in simple addition     
before ,i knew how to sum up  figures1  
and then the meaning of addition        
flashed1 in a sudden  thought upon my   
mind1 while ,i was at play4 ,i had no   
trouble after  that4 ,during the next   
week1 ,i escaped both scolding and      

belaboring  7a favorite phrase of my    
teacher's71 and then passed on to       
subtraction4 ,five minutes devoted to an
 explanation1 in some simple  form1 of  
what ,addition meant1 would have saved  
me the loss of  months1 to say nothing  
of the pain1 both mental and bodily1    
that ,i  suffered during the time4      
,with such a mind and such a teacher1 it
 is no wonder that ,i made but  little  
progress during the few years that ,i   
went to school4 ,beyond  reading and    
writing1 ,arithmetic and ,english       
,grammar included the  entire range of  
my studies4 ,as for ,arithmetic1 ,i did 
not master half  the common rules1 and  
,grammar was to my mind completely      
unintelligible4    ,in the end1 my      
teacher1 declared that it was only      
wasting time and  money to send me to   
school1 and advised my father to put me 
out to a  trade4 ,this was done4 ,i left
 home and entered upon an apprenticeship
  shortly after passing my thirteenth   
year4    ,if ,i found it extremely      

difficult to comprehend ideas as        
expressed  in ordinary written forms1 ,i
 was not without thoughts of my own4 ,i 
had an active mind1 and soon after      
entering upon my apprenticeship  the    
desire for knowledge became strong4 ,as 
food for this was  supplied1 even though
 in a stinted measure1 the desire gained
  strength1 and ,i began a system of    
self-education that was continued  for  
years afterwards4 ,of course1 the system
 was a very imperfect  one4 ,there was  
no one to select books for me1 nor to   
direct my mind  in its search after     
knowledge4 ,i was an humble apprentice  
boy1  inclined from habit to shrink from
 observation1 and preferring to  grope  
about in the dark for what ,i was in    
search off1 rather than  intrude my     
wants and wishes upon others4 ,day after
 day ,i worked and  thought1 and night  
after night ,i read and studied1 while  
other boys  were seeking pleasure and   
recreation4 ,thus1 through much         
discouragement1 the years passed by2 and

 thus time went on1 until ,i  attained  
the age of manhood1 when1 defective     
sight compelled me to  give up the trade
 ,i had been acquiring for over seven   
years4    ,beyond this trade1 my ability
 to earn a living was small4 ,my efforts
  at self-education had been guided by  
no definite aims in life4 ,i had  read1 
studied and thought1 more to gratify a  
desire for knowledge  than to gain      
information with the end of applying it 
to any  particular use4 ,the consequence
 was1 that on reaching manhood1 ,i      
entered the world at a great            
disadvantage4 ,my trade1 to learn which 
,i had spent so many years1 could not be
 followed1 except at the risk  of losing
 my sight1 which had failed for the     
three preceding years  with such        
rapidity that ,i was now compelled to   
use glasses of strong  magnifying power4
 ,i had but slight knowledge of figures1
 and was  not1 therefore1 competent1 to 
take the situation of a clerk4 ,at this 
point in my life1 ,i suffered from great

 discouragement of mind4  ,through the  
kind offices of a friend1 a place was   
procured for me in  a counting room1 at 
a very small salary1 where but light    
service was  required1 and where ,i     
found but few opportunities for         
acquiring a  knowledge of business4     
,here ,i remained for over three years1 
almost  as much shut out from contact   
with the business world as when an      
apprentice1 and with plenty of time on  
my hands for reading and  writing1 which
 ,i improved4    ,the necessity for a   
larger income caused me to leave this   
place1 and  accept of one in which a    
higher ability was required4 ,in #ahcc  
,i went  to the ,west as agent for a    
,banking ,company2 but the institution  
failed and ,i returned to ,baltimore1   
out of employment4 ,during all  this    
time1 ,i was devoting my leisure moments
 to writing1 not that ,i  looked forward
 to authorship as a trade--nothing could
 have been  more foreign to my          
thoughts2--,i continued to write1 as ,i 

had begun1  prompted by an impulse that 
,i felt little inclination to resist4   
,at this point in my life1 ,i was       
induced1 in association with a  friend  
who was as fond of writing as myself1 to
 assume the editorial  charge of a      
literary paper4 ,and here began1 in     
earnest1 my literary  labors1 that have 
since continued with only brief periods 
of  intermission4    ,as an author1 ,i  
have never striven for mere reputation2 
have never  sought to make a name4      
,circumstances1 over which ,i had little
  control1 guided my feet1 and ,i walked
 onward in the path that opened  before 
me1 not doubting but that ,i was in the 
right way4 ,if other  employment had    
offered2 if ,i had received a good      
business education1  and been able1     
through that means1 to have advanced    
myself in the  world1 ,i would1 like    
thousands of others who had an early    
fondness  for literary pursuits1 soon   
have laid aside my pen and given to     
trade the best energies of my mind4 ,but

 ,providence guided my feet  into other 
paths than these4 ,they were rough and  
thorny at times1  and ,i often fainted  
by the way2 yet renewed strength ever   
came when  ,i felt the weakest4 ,if my  
earnest labor has not been so well      
rewarded in a money-sense as it might   
have been had ,i possessed a  business  
education at the time of my entrance    
upon life1 my reward  in another sense  
has been great4 ,though ,i have not been
 able to  accumulate wealth1 ,i have    
gained what wealth alone cannot give1 a 
wide-spread acknowledgment that in my   
work ,i have done good to my  fellow    
men4 ,this acknowledgment comes back    
upon me from all  directions1 and ,i    
will not deny that it affords me a deep 
interior  satisfaction4 ,could it be    
otherwise8 ,and with this heart-warming 
satisfaction1 there arises ever in my   
mind a new impulse1 prompting  to still 
more earnest efforts in the cause of    
humanity4    ,my choice of temperance   
themes has not arisen from any          

experience in  my own person of the     
evils of intemperance1 but from having  
been an  eye and ear witness to some of 
the first results of  ,washingtonianism1
 and seeing1 in the cause1 one worthy   
the best  efforts of my pen4 ,the       
temperance cause ,i recognized as a good
  cause1 and ,i gave it the benefit of  
whatever talent ,i possessed4 ,and  ,i  
have the pleasant assurance1 from very  
many who have had better  opportunities 
to know than myself1 that my labor has  
not been in  vain4 ,thus much ,i have   
ventured to write of myself4 ,beyond    
this1 let  my works speak for me4 ,i can
 say no more4    ,philadelphia1 ,may1   
#ahej4    ,t4 ,s4 ,a4                   
,,contents4            ,,the ,,factory  
,,girl4  ,,the ,,two ,,pictures4        
,,brandy ,,as ,a ,,preventive4  ,,the   
,,temperance ,,pledge4  ,,time1 ,,faith1
 ,,energy4  ,,flushed ,,with ,,wine4    
,,swearing ,,off4  ,,the ,,failing      
,,hope4  ,,taking ,,toll4  ,,thou ,,art 
,,the ,,man4  ,,the ,,touching          

,,reproof4  ,,the ,,temperance ,,song4  
,,the ,,distiller',s ,,dream4  ,,the    
,,ruined ,,family4  ,,the ,,rumsellers  
,,dream4  ,,how ,,to ,,cure ,a ,,toper4 
,,the ,,broken ,,pledge4  ,,the         
,,wanderer',s ,,return4  ,,jim          
,,braddock',s ,,pledge4  ,,wine ,,on    
,,the ,,wedding ,,night4  ,,the         
,,eleventh ,,commandment4  ,,the ,,iron 
,,will4  ,a ,,cure ,,for ,,low          
,,spirits4  ,,three ,,hundred ,a ,,year4
  ,i',,ll ,,see ,,about ,,it4  ,,the    
,,fiery ,,trial4  ,,the ,,sisters4      
,,the ,,maiden',s ,,error4              
,,the ,,factory ,,girl4                 
,,there was something wrong about the   
affairs of old ,mr4 ,bacon4 ,his  farm1 
once the best tilled and most productive
 in the neighbourhood1  began to show   
evidences of neglect and unfruitfulness2
 and that he  was going behindhand in   
the world1 was too apparent in the fact1
  that1 within two years he had sold    
twenty acres of good meadow1 and1       
moreover1 was under the necessity of    

borrowing three hundred dollars  on a   
mortgage of his landed property4 ,and   
yet1 ,mr4 ,bacon had not  laid aside his
 habits of industry4 ,he was up1 as of  
old1 with the  dawn1 and turned not his 
feet homeward from the field until the  
sun  had taken his parting glance from  
the distant hill-tops4    ,a            
kind-hearted1 cheerful-minded man was   
old ,mr4 ,bacon1 well liked by  all his 
neighbours1 and loved by his own        
household4 ,his two oldest  children    
died ere reaching the age of manhood2   
three remained4 ,mary  ,bacon1 the      
eldest of those who survived1 now in her
 nineteenth year1  had been from        
earliest childhood her father's         
favourite2 and1 as she  advanced towards
 womanhood1 she had grown more and more 
into his  heart4 ,in his eyes she was   
very beautiful2 and his eyes1 though    
partial1 did not deceive him very       
greatly1 for ,mary's face was fair  to  
look upon4    ,we have said that ,mr4   
,bacon was a kind-hearted               

cheerful-minded man4  ,and so he was2   
kind-hearted and cheerful1 even though  
clouds were  beginning to darken above  
him1 and a sigh from the coming tempest 
was in the air4 ,yet not so uniformly   
cheerful as of old1 though  never moody 
nor perverse in his tempers4 ,of the    
change that was in  progress1 the change
 from prosperity to adversity1 he did   
not seem  to be painfully conscious4    
,yes1 there was something wrong about   
the affairs of old ,mr4 ,bacon4 ,a      
habit indulged through many years1 had  
acquired a dangerous  influence over    
him1 and was gradually destroying his   
rational  ability to act well in the    
ordinary concerns of life4 ,as a young  
man1 ,mr4 ,bacon drank temperately1 and 
he drank temperately in  the prime of   
life2 and now1 at sixty1 he continued to
 drink  temperately1 that is1 in his own
 estimation4 ,there were many1  however1
 who had reason to think differently4   
,but ,mr4 ,bacon was no  bar-room       
lounger2 in fact1 he rarely1 if ever1   

went to a public  house2 it was in his  
own home and among his household        
treasures1  that he placed to his lips  
the cup of confusion4    ,the various   
temperance reforms had all found warm   
advocates among  his friends and        
neighbours2 but ,mr4 ,bacon stood aloof4
 ,he would have  nothing to do in these 
matters4    ,let them join temperance   
societies who feel themselves in danger1
  was his good natured answer to all    
argument or persuasion addressed  to him
 on the subject4    ,he did not oppose  
nor ridicule the movement4 ,he thought  
it a good  thing2 only1 he had in it no 
personal interest4    ,and so ,mr4      
,bacon went on drinking temperately     
until habit1 from  claiming a moderate  
indulgence1 began to make1 so it seemed 
to his  friends1 rather unreasonable    
demands4 ,besides this habit of         
drinking1 ,mr4 ,bacon had another habit1
 that of industry2 and1 what  was       
unusual1 the former did not abate the   
latter1 though it must be  owned that it

 sadly interfered with its efficiency4  
,he was up1 as we  have said1 with the  
dawn1 and all the day he was busy at    
work2 but1  somehow or other1 his land  
did not produce as liberally as in      
former  times1 and there was slowly     
creeping over every thing around him an 
aspect of decay4 ,moreover1 he did not  
manage1 as well as formerly1  the       
selling part of his business4 ,in fact1 
his shrewdness of mind  was gone4       
,alcohol had confused his brain4        
,gradually he was  retrograding2 and1   
while more than half conscious of the   
ruin that  was in advance of him1 he was
 not fully enough awake to feel         
seriously alarmed1 nor to begin         
anxiously to seek for the cause of      
impending evil4 ,and so it went on until
 ,mr4 ,bacon1 suddenly found  himself in
 the midst of real trouble4 ,the value  
of his farm1 which1  after parting with 
the twenty acres of meadow land1        
contained but  twenty-five acres1 had   
been yearly diminishing in consequence  

of bad  culture1 and defective          
management of his stock had reduced that
  until it was of little consequence4   
,the holder of the mortgage was a man   
named ,dyer1 who kept a tavern  in the  
village that lay a mile distant from the
 little white  farm-house of ,mr4       
,bacon4 ,when ,dyer commenced his       
liquor-selling  trade1 for that was his 
principal business1 he had only a few   
hundred dollars2 now he was worth       
thousands1 and was about the only  man  
in the neighbourhood who had money to   
lend4 ,his loans were  always made on   
bond and mortgage1 and1 it was a little 
remarkable1  that he was never known to 
let a sober1 industrious farmer or      
store-keeper have a single dollar4 ,but1
 a drinking man1 who was  gradually     
wasting his substance1 rarely applied to
 him in vain2 for  he was the cunning   
spider watching for the silly fly4 ,more
 than one  worn-out and run-down farm   
had already come into his hands1 through
  the foreclosure of mortgages1 at a    

time of business depression1 when  his  
helpless victims could find no          
sympathizing friends able to save  them 
from ruin4    ,one day1 in mid-winter1  
as ,mr4 ,bacon was cutting wood at his  
rather  poorly furnished wood pile1 the 
tavern-keeper rode up4 ,there was       
something in his countenance that sent a
 creeping sense of fear to  the heart of
 the farmer4    ,good morning1 ,mr4     
,dyer1 said he4    ,good morning1       
returned the tavern-keeper1 formally4   
,his usual  smile was absent from his   
face4    ,sharp day1 this4    ,yes1     
rather keen4    ,won't you walk in and  
take something8    ,no1 thank you4      
,h-h-e-em6    ,there was a pause4       
,mr4 ,bacon4    ,the farmer's eye sunk  
beneath the cold steady look of ,dyer4  
,mr4 ,bacon1 ,i guess ,i shall have to  
call on you for them three  hundred     
dollars1 said the tavern-keeper1 in a   
firm voice4    ,can't pay that mortgage 
now1 ,mr4 ,dyer1 returned ,bacon1 with a
  troubled expression2 no use to think  

of it4    ,rather a cool way to treat a 
man after borrowing his money4 ,i told  
you when ,i lent it that ,i might want  
it at almost any time4    ,oh6 no1 ,mr4 
,dyer4 ,it was understood1 distinctly1  
that from four to  six months' notice   
would be given1 replied ,mr4 ,bacon1    
positively4    ,preposterous6 ejaculated
 the tavern-keeper4 ,never thought of   
such  a thing4 ,six months notice1      
indeed6    ,that was the agreement1 said
 ,mr4 ,bacon1 firmly4    ,is it in the  
bond8    ,no1 it was verbal1 between us4
    ,dyer shook his head1 as he         
answered1--    ,no1 sir4 ,i never make  
agreements of that kind2 the money was  
to be  paid on demand1 and ,i have      
ridden over this morning to make the    
demand4    ,it is midwinter1 ,mr4 ,dyer1
 was replied in a husky voice4    ,well8
    ,you know that a small farmer1 like 
me1 cannot be in possession1 at  this   
season1 of the large sum you demand4    
,that is your affair1 ,mr4 ,bacon4 ,i   
want my money now1 and must have  it4   

,there was a tone of menace in the way  
this was said that ,mr4 ,bacon  fully   
understood4    ,i haven't thirty        
dollars1 much less three hundred1 in my 
possession1 said he4    ,borrow it1     
then4    ,impossible6 money has not been
 so scarce for years4 ,every one is     
complaining4    ,you'd better make the  
effort1 ,mr4 ,bacon1 ,i shall be sorry  
to put  you to any trouble1 but my money
 will have to be forthcoming4    ,you   
will not enter up the mortgage8 said the
 farmer4    ,it will certainly come to  
that1 unless you can pay it4    ,that is
 what ,i call oppression6 returned ,mr4 
,bacon1 in momentary  indignation1 for  
the utterance of which he was as quickly
 repentant4    ,good morning1 said      
,dyer1 suddenly turning his horse's     
head1 and  riding off at a brisk trot4  
,for nearly five minutes1 old ,mr4      
,bacon stood with his axe resting on    
the ground1 lost in painful thought4    
,then he went slowly into the  house1   
and sitting down before the fire1 let   

his head sink upon his  breast1 and     
there mused on the trouble that was     
closing around him4  ,but there came no 
ray of light1 piercing the thick        
darkness that had  fallen so suddenly4  
,nothing was then said to his family on 
the subject1 but it was  apparent to all
 that something was wrong1 for the lips 
that gave  utterance to so many pleasant
 words1 and parted so often in cheerful 
smiles1 were still silent4    ,are you  
not well1 to-day8 asked ,mrs4 ,bacon1 as
 the family gathered  around the        
dinner-table1 and she remarked her      
husband's unusually  sober face4    ,not
 very well1 he replied4    ,what ails   
you1 father8 said ,mary1 with tender    
concern in her  voice1 and her eyes were
 turned upon him with affectionate      
earnestness4    ,nothing of much        
consequence1 child1 was answered        
evasively4 ,i  shall be better after    
dinner4    ,and as ,mr4 ,bacon spoke he 
poured out a larger glass of brandy than
  usual--he always had brandy on the    

table at dinner time--and drank  it off4
 ,this soon took away the keen edge of  
suffering from his  feelings1 and he was
 able to affect a measure of            
cheerfulness4 ,but  he did not deceive  
the eyes of ,mrs4 ,bacon and ,mary4     
,i wonder what ails father6 said ,mary1 
as soon as she was alone  with her      
mother4    ,i don't know1 answered ,mrs4
 ,bacon1 thoughtfully1 he seems         
troubled about something4    ,i saw that
 ,mr4 ,dyer1 who keeps tavern over in   
,brookville1 talking  with father at the
 wood-pile this morning4    ,you did6   
,mrs4 ,bacon spoke with a new           
manifestation of interest4    ,yes2 and 
,i thought1 as ,i looked at him out of  
the window1 that he  appeared to be     
angry about something4    ,mrs4 ,bacon  
did not reply to this remark4 ,soon     
after1 on meeting her  husband1 she said
 to him1    ,what did ,mr4 ,dyer want   
this morning8    ,something that he will
 not get1 replied ,mr4 ,bacon4    ,the  
money he loaned you8    ,yes4    ,it's  

impossible to pay it back now1 in the   
dead of winter1 said  ,mrs4 ,bacon1 in a
 troubled tone of voice1 he ought to    
know that4    ,and he does know it4     
,what did you tell him8    ,that to lift
 the mortgage now was out of the        
question4    ,won't he be troublesome8  
,you remember how he acted towards poor 
old  ,mr4 ,peabody4    ,i know he's a   
hard-hearted1 selfish man4 ,i don't     
believe that there  is a spark of       
humanity about him4 ,but he'll scarcely 
go to  extremities with me4 ,i don't    
fear that4    ,did he threaten8    ,yes4
 ,but ,i hardly think that he was in    
earnest4    ,how far this last remark of
 old ,mr4 ,bacon was correct1 the       
following  brief conversation will show4
 ,it took place between ,dyer and a     
miserable pettyfogging lawyer1 in       
,brookville1 named ,grant4    ,i've got 
a mortgage on old ,bacon's farm that ,i 
wish entered up1  said the              
tavern-keeper1 on calling at the        
lawyer's office4    ,can't he pay it    

off8 inquired ,grant4    ,of course not4
 ,he's being running down for the last  
six or seven  years1 and is now on his  
last legs4    ,and so you mean to trip  
him up before he falls of himself4 ,the 
lawyer spoke in an unfeeling tone and   
with a sinister smile4    ,if you please
 to say so1 returned ,dyer4 ,i've wanted
 that farm of  his for some time past4  
,when ,i took the mortgage on it my     
object was  not a simple investment at  
legal interest2 you know that ,i can do 
better with money than six per cent a   
year4    ,i should think you could1     
responded the lawyer1 with a chuckle4   
,when ,i loaned ,bacon three hundred    
dollars1 of course ,i never  expected to
 get the sum back again4 ,i understood1 
perfectly well1  that sooner or later   
the mortgage would have to be entered   
up4    ,and the farm becomes yours for  
half its real value4    ,exactly4       
,are you not striking to soon8 suggested
 the lawyer4    ,no4    ,some friend may
 loan him the amount4    ,dyer shook his

 head4    ,it's a tight time in         
,brookville4    ,i know4    ,and still  
better for my purpose1 said ,dyer1 in a 
low1 meaning1  voice2 drunkards have few
 friends2 none1 in fact1 willing to risk
  their money on them4 ,put the screws  
to ,bacon1 and his farm will drop  into 
my hands like a ripe cherry4    ,you can
 hardly call ,bacon a drunkard4 ,you    
never see him staggering  about1 nor    
lounging in bar-rooms4    ,do you       
remember his farm seven years ago8      
,perfectly well4    ,look at it now4    
,there's a great difference1 certainly4 
,isn't there6 ,what's the reason of     
this8    ,intemperance1 ,i suppose4     
,drunkenness6 said the tavern-keeper4   
,that is the right word4 ,he  don't     
spend much in bar-rooms1 but look over  
his store bill and  you'll find rum a   
large item4    ,poor ,bacon6 ,he's a    
good sort of a man1 remarked the lawyer4
 ,i  can't help feeling sorry for him4  
,he's his own worst enemy4    ,i want   
you to push this matter through in the  

quickest possible  time1 said ,dyer1 in 
a sharp1 firm voice4    ,very well4 ,it 
shall be done4 ,i know my business4     
,and ,i know mine1 returned the         
tavern-keeper4    ,on the next day1 ,mr4
 ,bacon was formally notified that      
proceedings  had been instituted for the
 satisfaction of the mortgage4 ,this was
  bringing the threatened evil before   
his eyes in the most direct  aspect4 ,in
 considerable alarm and perturbation1 he
 called over to  see ,dyer4    ,you     
cannot mean to press this matter on to  
the utmost extremity1  said he1 on      
meeting the tavern-keeper1 the hard     
aspect of whose  features gave him      
little room for hope4    ,i certainly   
mean to get my three hundred dollars1   
was replied4    ,can you not wait until 
after next harvest8    ,i have already  
told you that ,i want my money now1 said
 ,dyer1 with  affected anger4 ,if you   
can pay me1 well2 if not1 ,i will get my
 own  by aid of the ,sheriff4    ,that  
is a hard saying1 ,mr4 ,dyer1 returned  

the farmer1 in a subdued  voice4        
,nevertheless1 it is a true one1 friend 
,bacon1 true as gospel4    ,i haven't   
the money1 nor can ,i borrow it1 ,mr4   
,dyer4    ,your misfortune1 not mine4   
,though ,i must say1 it is a little     
strange4    ,what is strange8    ,that a
 man who has lived in this community as 
long as you have1  can't find a friend  
willing to loan him three hundred       
dollars to  save his farm from the      
,sheriff4 ,there's something wrong4     
,yes1 there was something wrong1 and    
poor old ,mr4 ,bacon felt it now  more  
deeply than ever4 ,another feeble effort
 at remonstrance was  made1 when ,mr4   
,dyer coldly referred him to ,grant the 
lawyer1 who had  now entire control of  
the business4 ,but he did not go to him4
 ,he  felt that to do so would be       
utterly useless4    ,regular proceedings
 were entered upon for the settlement of
 the  mortgage1 and hurried to an issue 
as speedily as possible4 ,it was  all in
 vain that ,mr4 ,bacon sought to borrow 

three hundred dollars1  or to find some 
person willing to take the mortgage on  
his farm1 and  let him continue to pay  
the interest4 ,it was a season when few 
had  money to spare1 and those who could
 have advanced the sum required1        
hesitated about investing it where there
 was little hope of getting  the amount 
back again except by execution and sale4
 ,for1 ,mr4 ,bacon1  in consequence of  
his intemperance1 was steadily running  
behindhand2  and all his neighbours knew
 it4    ,the effect of this trouble on  
the mind of ,mr4 ,bacon was to cause him
  to drink harder than before4 ,his     
cheerful temper gave place to a  silent 
moodiness1 when in partial states of    
sobriety1 which where  now of rare      
occurrence1 and he lost all interest in 
things around  him4 ,a greater part of  
his time was spent in wandering         
restlessly  about his house or farm1 but
 he put his hand to scarcely any work4  
,deeply distressed were ,mrs4 ,bacon and
 ,mary4 ,each of them had called1  at   

different times on ,mr4 ,dyer1 in the   
hope of moving him by  persuasion to    
turn from his purpose4    ,but1 only in 
one way would he agree to an amicable   
settlement1 and  that was1 by taking the
 farm for the mortgage and three hundred
  dollars cash2 by which means he would 
come into possession of  property worth 
from twelve to fifteen hundred dollars4 
,this offer he  repeated to ,mary1 who  
was the last to call upon him in the    
hope of  turning him from his purpose4  
,no6 ,mr4 ,dyer1 said the young girl    
firmly1 even while tears were in  her   
eyes4 ,my father will not let the place 
go at a third of its  real value4    ,he
 over-estimates its worth1 replied      
,dyer1 with some impatience1  and he'll 
find this out when it comes under the   
hammer4    ,you will not1 ,i am sure you
 will not1 sacrifice my father's little 
place1--the home of his children1 said  
,mary1 in an appealing voice4    ,i     
shall certainly let things take their   
course1 replied the  tavern-keeper4     

,tell your father1 from me1 that he has 
nothing to  hope for from any change in 
my purpose1 and that he need make no    
more efforts to influence me4 ,i will   
buy the place1 as ,i said1 for  six     
hundred dollars1 its full value1 or ,i  
will sell it for my  claim4    ,and     
saying this1 the man left1 abruptly1 the
 room in which his  interview with ,mary
 was held1 and she1 hopeless of making  
any  impression on his feelings1 arose  
and retired from the house1  taking1    
with a sad heart1 her way homeward4     
,never before had ,mary1 a              
gentle-hearted1 quiet1 retiring girl1   
been forced into such rough  contact    
with the world at any point4 ,of this   
act of intercession for  her father1    
,mr4 ,bacon knew nothing4 ,had she      
dropped 7sic7 a a word  of her purpose  
in his hearing1 he would have uttered a 
positive  interdiction4 ,he loved ,mary 
as the apple of his eye1 and she loved  
him with a tender1 self-devoted         
affection4 ,to him1 she was a choice    

and beautiful flower1 and even though   
his mind had become1 in a  certain      
degree1 degraded and debased by         
intemperance1 there was in  it a quick  
instinct of protection when any thing   
approached his  child4    ,slowly and   
thoughtfully1 with her eyes bent upon   
the ground1 did  ,mary ,bacon pursue her
 way homeward2 and she was not aware of 
the  approach of footsteps behind her1  
until a man stood by her side and       
pronounced her name4    ,mr4 ,green6    
said she1 in momentary surprise1 pausing
 as she looked  up4    ,mr4 ,green was a
 farmer in easy circumstances1 whose    
elegant and  highly cultivated place was
 only a short distance from her father's
  residence4 ,he was1 probably1 the     
richest man in the neighbourhood of     
,brookville2 though1 exceedingly close  
in all money matters4 ,mr4  ,bacon would
 have called upon him for aid in his    
extremity1 but for  two reasons4 ,one   
was1 ,mr4 ,green's known indisposition  
to lend money1  and the other was the   

fact that he had several times talked to
 him  about his bad drinking habits2 at 
which liberty he had taken  offence1 and
 retorted rather sharply for one of his 
mild temper4    ,the colour mounted     
quickly to ,mary's face1 as she paused  
and lifted  her eyes to the countenance 
of ,mr4 ,green4 ,the fact was1 she had  
been  thinking about him1 and1 just at  
the moment he came to her side1 she  had
 fully made up her mind to call upon him
 before going home4    ,well ,mary1 said
 he1 kindly1 and he took her hand4      
,mary's lips quivered1 but she could not
 utter a word4    ,mr4 ,green moved on1 
still holding her hand1 and she moved by
 his  side4    ,i'm sorry to hear1 said 
,mr4 ,green1 that your father is in     
trouble4 ,i learned it only an hour ago4
    ,that is just what ,i was coming to 
see you about1 replied ,mary1  with a   
boldness of speech that surprised even  
herself4    ,indeed6 ,then you were     
coming to see me1 said ,mr4 ,green1 in a
  voice that was rather encouraging than

 otherwise4    ,yes1 sir4 ,but father   
knows nothing of my purpose4    ,oh6    
,well1 ,mary1 what is it you wish to say
 to me8    ,the young girl's bosom was  
heaving violently4 ,some moments passed 
ere she felt calm enough to proceed4    
,then she said--    ,mr4 ,dyer has a    
mortgage on father's place for three    
hundred  dollars1 and is going to sell  
it4    ,mr4 ,dyer is a hard man1 and    
your father should not have placed      
himself in his power1 remarked ,mr4     
,green4    ,unhappily1 he is in his     
power4    ,so it seems4 ,well1 what do  
you wish me to do in the case8    ,to   
lend me three hundred dollars1 said     
,mary1 promptly4 ,thus  encouraged to   
speak1 she did not hesitate a moment4   
,lend you three hundred dollars6        
returned ,mr4 ,green1 rather  surprised 
at the directness of her request4 ,for  
what use8    ,to pay off this mortgage1 
of course1 replied ,mary4    ,but1 who  
will pay me back my money8 inquired ,mr4
 ,green4    ,i will1 said ,mary1        

confidently4 ,you6 ,pray where do you   
expect to  get so much money from8    ,i
 expect to earn it1 was firmly answered4
    ,mr4 ,green paused1 and turning     
towards ,mary1 looked earnestly into    
her young face that was lit up with a   
beautiful enthusiasm4    ,earn it1 did  
you say8    ,yes1 sir1 ,i will earn and 
pay it back to you1 if it takes a       
lifetime to do it in4    ,how will you  
earn it1 ,mary8    ,mary let her eyes   
fall to the ground1 and stood for a     
moment or two4  ,then looking up1 she   
said--    ,i will go to ,lowell4    ,to 
,lowell8    ,yes1 sir4    ,and work in a
 factory8    ,yes1 sir4    ,mr4 ,green  
moved on again1 but in silence1 and     
,mary walked with an  anxious heart by  
his side4 ,for the distance of several  
hundred yards  they passed along and not
 a word was spoken4    ,to ,lowell8 at  
length dropped from the lips of ,mr4    
,green1 in a tone  half interrogative1  
half in surprise4 ,mary did not respond1
 and the  silence continued until they  

came to a point in the road where their 
two ways diverged4    ,have you thought 
well of this1 ,mary8 said ,mr4 ,green1  
as he paused  here1 and laid his hand   
upon a gate that opened into a part of  
his  farm4    ,why should ,i think about
 it1 ,mr4 ,green8 replied ,mary4 ,it is 
no  time to think1 but to act4 ,hundreds
 of girls go into factories1 and  it    
will be to me no hardship1 but a        
pleasure1 if thereby ,i can help  my    
father in this great extremity4    ,is  
he aware of your purpose8    ,oh1 no    
sir6 no6    ,he would never listen to   
such a thing4    ,not for a moment4     
,then will you be right in doing what he
 must disapprove8    ,it is done for his
 sake4 ,love for him is my prompter1 and
 that will  bear me up even against his 
displeasure4    ,but he may prevent your
 going1 ,mary4    ,not if you will do as
 ,i wish4    ,speak on4    ,lend me     
three hundred dollars on my promise to  
you that ,i will  immediately go to     
,lowell1 enter a factory1 and remain at 

work until  the whole sum is paid back  
again from my earnings4    ,well6    ,i 
will then take the money and pay off the
 mortgage4 ,this will  release father   
from his debt to ,mr4 ,dyer1 and bring  
me in debt to  you4    ,i see4          
,father is an honest and an honourable  
man4    ,he is1 ,mary1 said ,mr4 ,green4
 ,his voice slightly trembled1 for he   
was touched by the words of the gentle  
girl4    ,he will not be able to pay you
 the debt in my stead4    ,no4    ,and1 
therefore1 deeply reluctant as he may be
 to let me go1 he  cannot say nay4      
,walk along with me to my house1 said   
,mr4 ,green1 as he pushed open  the gate
 at which he stood1 ,i must think about 
this a little more4    ,the result was  
according to ,mary's wishes4 ,mr4 ,green
 was a true  friend of ,mr4 ,bacon's1   
and he saw1 or believed that he saw1 in 
his  daughter's proposition1 the means  
of his reformation4 ,he1 therefore1     
returned into the village1 and going to 
the office of ,grant1  satisfied the    

mortgage on ,mr4 ,bacon's property1 and 
brought all the  papers relating thereto
 away and placed them in ,mary's hands4 
,now1 said he1 on doing this1 ,i want   
your written promise to pay  me the     
three hundred dollars in the way        
proposed4 ,i will draw up the  paper1   
and you must sign it4    ,the paper was 
accordingly drawn up and signed4 ,it    
stipulated that  ,mary was to start for 
,lowell within three weeks1 and that she
 was to  have two years for the full    
payment of the debt4    ,my brave girl6 
said ,mr4 ,green1 as he parted with     
,mary4 ,no one  will be prouder of you  
than ,i1 if you accomplish the work to  
which  you are about devoting yourself4 
,happy would ,i be1 had ,i a daughter   
with your true heart and noble courage4 
,mary's heart was too full to thank him4
 ,but her sweet young face was  beaming 
with gratitude1 as she turned away and  
hurried homeward4    ,mr4 ,bacon was    
walking uneasily1 backwards and forwards
 in the old  porch1 when ,mary entered  

the little garden gate4 ,she advanced   
towards him with a bright face1 holding 
out as she did so1 a small  package of  
papers4    ,good news1 father6 she      
exclaimed4 ,good news6    ,how8 ,what1  
child8 eagerly asked the old man1 his   
mind becoming  suddenly bewildered4     
,the mortgage is paid1 and here is the  
release6 said ,mary1 still  holding out 
the package of papers4    ,paid6 ,paid1 
,mary6 ,who paid it8 returned ,mr4      
,bacon1 with the air of  a man awaking  
from a dream4    ,i have paid it1 father
 dear6 answered ,mary1 in a trembling   
voice2  and she kissed the old man's    
cheek1 and then laid her face down upon 
his breast4    ,you1 ,mary8 ,where did  
you get money8    ,i borrowed it1       
murmured the happy girl4    ,mary6      
,mary6 what does this mean8 said the old
 man1 pushing back  her face and gazing 
into it earnestly4 ,borrowed the money6 
,why1 who  would lend you three hundred 
dollars8 ,say1 child6    ,i borrowed it 
of ,mr4 ,green1 replied ,mary1 and as   

she said this1  she glided past her     
father and entering into the house1     
hurried away  to her mother4 ,but ere   
she had time to inform her of what she  
had  done1 the father joined them1 eager
 for some further explanations4  ,when1 
at last1 he comprehended the whole      
matter1 he was1 for a time  like a man  
stricken down by a heavy blow4          
,never1 said he1 in the most solemn     
manner1 will ,i consent to  this4 ,mr4  
,green must take back his money4 ,let   
the farm go6 ,it shall  not be saved at 
this price4    ,but he soon comprehended
 that it was too late to recall the act 
of  his daughter4 ,the money had already
 passed into the hands of ,dyer1  and   
the mortgage been cancelled4 ,still1 he 
was fixed in his purpose  that ,mary    
should not leave home to spend two long 
years of incessant  toil in a factory1  
and immediately called on ,mr4 ,green in
 order to  make with him some different 
arrangement for the payment of the      
loan4 ,but1 to his surprise and grief1  

he found that ,mr4 ,green was           
unyielding in his determination to keep 
,mary to her contract4    ,surely6      
surely6 ,mr4 ,green1 urged the          
distressed father1 you will  not hold my
 dear child to this pledge1 made under  
circumstances of  so trying a nature8   
,you will not punish--,i say punish--a  
gentle  girl like her for loving her    
father too well4    ,if there is any    
hardship in the case1 replied ,mr4      
,green1 calmly1  you are at fault1 and  
not me1 ,mr4 ,bacon4    ,why do you say 
that8 inquired the old man4    ,for the 
necessity which drove your child to this
 act of  self-sacrifice1 you are        
responsible4    ,oh sir6 is this a time 
to wound me with words like these8 ,why 
do  you turn a seeming act of kindness  
into the sharpest cruelty8    ,i speak  
to you but the words of truth and       
soberness1 ,mr4 ,bacon4  ,these1 no man 
should shrink from hearing4 ,seven years
 ago1 your farm  was the most productive
 in the neighborhood1 and you in easy   

circumstances4 ,what has produced the   
sad change now visible to all  eyes8    
,what has taken from you the ability to 
manage your affairs as  prosperously as 
before8 ,what has made it necessary for 
your child to  leave her father's       
sheltering roof and bury herself for two
 long  years in a factory1 in order to  
save you from total ruin8 ,go home1     
,mr4 ,bacon1 and answer these questions 
to your own heart1 and may the  pain you
 now suffer lead you to act more wisely 
in the future4    ,my daughter shall not
 go6 exclaimed the old man1             
passionately4    ,i hold her written    
pledge to repair to ,lowell at the      
expiration of  three weeks1 and to repay
 the loan ,i made her in two years4     
,will you  compel her to violate her    
contract8    ,i will execute another    
mortgage on my farm and pay you back the
  loan4    ,act like a wise man1 said   
,mr4 ,green4 ,let your daughter carry   
out  her noble purpose1 and thus relieve
 you from embarrassment4    ,no1 no1    

,mr4 ,green6 ,i cannot think of this4   
,oh1 sir6 pity me6 ,do not  force my    
child away6 ,do not lay so heavy a      
burden on one so young4  ,think of her  
as your own daughter1 and do to me as   
you would  yourself wish to be done by4 
,but ,mr4 ,green was deaf to all these  
appeals4 ,he was a man of great         
firmness of purpose1 and not easily     
turned to the right nor to the  left4   
,during the next three weeks1 ,mr4      
,bacon tried every expedient in his     
power1 short of a total sacrifice of his
 little property1 to raise  the money1  
but in vain4 ,except for a circumstance 
new in his life1  he would1 in his      
desperation1 have accepted ,dyer's offer
 of six  hundred dollars for his farm1  
and thus prevented ,mary's departure    
for ,lowell--that circumstance was his  
perfect sobriety4 ,not since  the day   
when ,mr4 ,green charged upon him the   
responsibility of his  child's          
banishment from her father's house1 had 
he tasted a drop of  strong drink4 ,his 

mind was therefore clear1 and he was    
restrained by  reason from acts of      
rashness1 by which his condition would  
be  rendered far worse than it was      
already4    ,bitter indeed were the     
sufferings of ,mr4 ,bacon1 during the   
quick  passage of the three weeks--at   
the expiration of which time ,mary was  
to leave home1 in compliance with her   
contract--and the more bitter1  because 
his mind was unobscured by drink4 ,at   
last1 the moment of  separation came4   
,it was a clear cold morning towards the
 latter end  of ,march1 when ,mary left1
 for the last time1 her little chamber1 
and  came down stairs dressed for her   
journey4 ,ever1 in the presence of  her 
father and mother1 during the brief     
season of preparation1 had  she         
maintained a cheerful and confident     
exterior2 but1 in her heart1  there was 
a painful shrinking back from the trial 
upon which she was  about entering4 ,on 
going by the door of ,mary's chamber1 a 
few  minutes before she came down1 ,mrs4

 ,bacon saw her daughter kneeling  at   
her bedside1 with her face deeply buried
 among the clothes4 ,not  till that     
moment did she fully comprehend the     
trial through which  her child was      
passing4    ,the stage was at the door1 
and ,mary's trunk strapped up in the    
boot  before she came down4 ,in the     
porch stood her father and mother1 and  
her younger brother and sister1 waiting 
her appearance4    ,good bye1 father1   
said the excellent girl1 in a cheerful  
voice1 as  she reached out her hand4    
,mr4 ,bacon caught it eagerly1 and      
essayed to speak some tender and        
encouraging words4 ,but though his lips 
moved1 there was no sound  upon the air4
    ,god bless you6 was at length       
uttered in a sobbing voice4 ,a fervent  
kiss was then pressed upon her lips1 and
 the old man turned away and  staggered 
rather than walked back into the house4 
,more calmly the mother parted with her 
child4 ,it was a great trial  for ,mrs4 
,bacon1 but she now fully comprehended  

the great use to flow  from ,mary's     
self-devotion1 and1 therefore1 with her 
last kiss1  breathed a word of          
encouragement4    ,it is for your       
father4 ,let that sustain you to the    
end4 ,a few  moments more1 and the stage
 rolled away1 bearing with it the very  
sunlight from the dwelling of ,mr4      
,bacon4 ,poor old man6 ,restlessly  did 
he wander about for days after ,mary's  
departure1 unable to apply  himself1    
except for a little while at a time1 to 
any work2 but his  inquietude did not   
drive him back to the cup he had        
abandoned4 ,no1  he saw in it too       
clearly the cause of his present deep   
distress1 to  look upon and feel its    
allurement4 ,what had banished from her 
pleasant home that beloved child1 and   
sent her forth among strangers  to toil 
from early morning until the going down 
of the sun8 ,could he  love the cause of
 this great evil8 ,no6 ,there was yet   
enough virtue  in his heart to save him4
 ,love for his child was stronger than  

his  depraved love of strong drink4 ,a  
few more ineffectual efforts were  made 
to turn ,mr4 ,green from his resolution 
to hold ,mary to her  contract1 and then
 the humbled father resigned himself to 
the  necessity he could not overcome1   
and with a clearer mind and a newly     
awakened purpose1 applied himself to the
 culture of his farm1 which1  in a few  
months1 had a more thrifty appearance   
than it had presented  for years4    ,in
 the mean time1 ,mary had entered one of
 the mills at ,lowell1 and  was doing   
her work there with a brave and cheerful
 spirit4 ,some  painful trials1 to one  
like her1 attended her arrival in the   
city  and entrance upon the duties      
assumed4 ,but daily the trials grew     
less1 and she toiled on in the          
fulfilment of her contract with ,mr4    
,green1 happy under the ever present    
consciousness that she had saved  her   
father's property1 and kept their       
homestead as the gathering  place of the
 family4 ,at the end of three months1   

she came back and  spent a week4 ,how   
her young heart bounded with joy at the 
great  change apparent in every thing   
about the house and farm1 but1 most  of 
all1 at the change in her father4 ,he   
was not so light of word and  smilingly 
cheerful as in former times1 but he was 
sober1 perfectly  sober2 and she felt   
that the kiss with which he welcomed her
 brief  return1 was purer than it had   
ever been4    ,on the very day ,mary    
came back1 she called over to see ,mr4  
,green1  and paid him thirty-seven      
dollars on account of the loan1 for     
which  he gave her a receipt4 ,then he  
had many questions to ask about her     
situation at ,lowell1 and how she bore  
her separation from home1 to  all of    
which she gave cheerful answers1 and1 in
 the end1 repeated  her thanks for the  
opportunity he had given her to be of   
such great  service to her father4      
,mr4 ,green had a son who1 during his   
term at college1 exhibited  talents of  
so decided a character that his father1 

after some  deliberation1 concluded to  
place him under the care of an eminent  
lawyer in ,boston4 ,in this position he 
had now been for two years1  and was    
about applying for admission to the bar4
 ,as children1 ,henry  ,green and ,mary 
,bacon had been to the same school      
together1 and1 as  children1 they were  
much attached to each other4 ,their     
intercourse1  as each grew older1 was   
suspended by the absence of ,henry at   
college1 and by other circumstances that
 removed the two families  from intimate
 contact1 and they had ceased to think  
of each other  except when some         
remembrance of the past brought up their
 images4    ,after paying ,mr4 ,green   
the amount of money which she had saved 
from  her earnings during the first     
three months of her factory life1 ,mary 
left his house1 and was walking along   
the carriage way leading to  the public 
road1 when she saw a young man enter the
 gate and  approach her4    ,although it
 was three years since she had met      

,henry ,green1 she knew  him at a       
glance1 but he did not recognize her1   
although struck with  something familiar
 in her face as he bowed to her in      
passing4    ,who can that be8 said he to
 himself1 as he walked thoughtfully     
along4 ,i have seen her before4 ,can    
that be ,mary ,bacon8 ,if so1 how  much 
she has improved6    ,on meeting his    
father1 the young man asked if he was   
right in his  conjecture about the young
 person he had just passed1 and was     
answered in the affirmative4    ,she was
 only a slender girl when ,i saw her    
last4 ,now1 she is a  handsome young    
woman1 said ,henry4    ,yes1 ,mary has  
grown up rapidly1 replied ,mr4 ,green1  
evincing no  particular interest in the 
subject of his remark4    ,how is her   
father doing now8 asked ,henry4         
,better than he did a short time ago1   
was replied    ,i'm glad to hear that4  
,does he drink as much as ever8    ,no4 
,he has given up that bad habit4        
,indeed6 ,then he must be doing better4 

,he ran himself down very low1 said ,mr4
 ,green1 and was about  losing every    
thing1 when ,mary1 like a brave1        
right-minded girl1  stepped forward and 
saved him4    ,mary6 ,how did she do    
that1 father8    ,dyer had a mortgage of
 three hundred dollars on his farm1 and 
was  going to sell him out in           
mid-winter1 when nobody who cared to    
befriend him had money to spare4 ,on the
 very day ,i heard about his  trouble1  
,mary called on me and asked the loan of
 a sum sufficient to  lift the mortgage4
    ,but how could she pay you back that
 sum8 asked the young man in  surprise4 
,i loaned her the amount she asked1     
replied ,mr4 ,green1 and she has  just  
paid me the first promised instalment of
 thirty-seven dollars4    ,how did she  
get the money8    ,she earned it with   
her own hands4    ,where8    ,in        
,lowell4    ,you surprise me1 said      
,henry4 ,and so1 to save her father from
  ruin1 she has devoted her young life  
to toil in a factory8    ,yes2 and the  

effect of this self-devotion has been   
all that ,i hoped  it would be4 ,it has 
reformed her father4 ,it has saved him  
in a  double sense4    ,noble girl6     
exclaimed the young man1 with           
enthusiasm4    ,yes1 you may well say   
that1 ,henry1 replied ,mr4 ,green4 ,in  
the  heart of that humble factory girl  
is a truly noble and womanly  principle1
 that elevates her1 in my estimation1   
far above any thing  that rank1 wealth1 
or social position alone can possibly   
give4    ,but father1 said ,henry1 is it
 right to subject her to so severe a    
trial8 ,it will take a long1 long time1 
for her to earn three hundred  dollars4 
,does not virtue like hers--    ,i know 
what you would say1 interrupted ,mr4    
,green4 ,true ,i could  cancel the      
obligation and derive great pleasure    
from doing so1 but  it is the conclusion
 of my better judgment1 all things      
considered1  that she be permitted to   
fill up the entire measure of her       
contract4  ,the trial will fully prove  

her1 and bring to view the genuine gold 
of her character4 ,moreover1 it is best 
for her father that she  should seem to 
be a sufferer through his intemperance4 
,i say seem1  for1 really1 ,mary        
experiences more pleasure than pain from
 what she  is doing4 ,the trial is not  
so great as it appears4 ,her reward is  
with her daily1 and it is a rich reward4
    ,henry asked no further question1   
but he felt more than a passing         
interest in what he had heard4 ,in the  
course of a week1 ,mary  returned to    
,lowell and he went back to ,boston4    
,three months afterwards1 ,mary again   
came home to visit her parents1  and    
again called upon ,mr4 ,green to pay    
over to him what she had been  able to  
save from her earnings4 ,it so happened 
that ,henry ,green was  on a visit from 
,boston1 and that he met her1 as before1
 as she was  retiring from the house of 
his father4 ,this time he spoke to her  
and  renewed their old acquaintance1    
even going so far as to walk a  portion 

of the way home with her4 ,at the end of
 another three  months1 they met again4 
,brief though this meeting was1 it left 
upon  the mind of each the other's image
 more strongly impressed than it  had   
ever been4 ,in the circle where ,henry  
,green moved in ,boston1 he  met many   
educated1 refined1 and elegant young    
women1 some of whom  had attracted him  
strongly2 but1 in the humble ,mary      
,bacon1 whose  station in life was that 
of a toiling factory girl1 he saw a     
moral  beauty whose light threw all the 
allurements presented by these          
completely into shadow4    ,six months  
went by4 ,henry ,green had been admitted
 to the bar1 and  was now a practising  
attorney in ,boston4 ,it was in the     
pleasant  month of ,june and he had come
 home to spend a few weeks with his     
family4 ,one morning1 a day or two after
 his return1 as he sat  conversing with 
his father1 the form of some one        
darkened the door4    ,ah ,mary6 said   
the elder ,mr4 ,green rising and taking 

the hand of  ,mary ,bacon1 which he     
shook warmly4 ,my son1 ,henry1 he added1
  presenting the blushing girl to his   
son1 who1 in turn1 took her hand  and   
expressed the pleasure he felt at       
meeting her4 ,knowing the  business upon
 which ,mary had called1 ,henry1 not    
wishing to be  present at its           
transaction1 soon retired4 ,as he did   
so1 ,mary drew  out her purse and took  
therefrom a small roll of bank bills1   
saying1  as she handed it to ,mr4       
,green1    ,i have come to make you     
another payment4    ,with a grave1      
business-like air1 ,mr4 ,green took the 
money and1 after  counting it over1 went
 to his secretary and wrote out a       
receipt4    ,let me see1 said he1       
thoughtfully1 as he came back with the  
receipt in his hand4 ,how much does this
 make8 ,one1 two1 three1  four1 five    
quarterly payments4 ,one hundred and    
eighty-seven dollars  and a half4       
,you'll soon be through1 ,mary4 ,there  
is nothing like  patience1 perseverance1

 and industry4 ,how is your father this 
morning8    ,very well1 sir4    ,i think
 his health has improved of late4       
,very much4    ,and so has every thing  
around him4 ,i was looking at his farm a
 few  days ago1 and never saw crops in a
 finer condition4 ,and how is your      
health1 ,mary4    ,pretty good1 was     
replied1 though not with much heartiness
 of  manner4    ,mr4 ,green now observed
 her more closely1 and saw that her     
cheeks  were thinner and paler than at  
her last visit4 ,he did not remark on   
it1 however1 and1 after a few words more
 of conversation1 ,mary arose  and      
withdrew4    ,it was1 perhaps1 an hour  
afterwards1 that ,henry said to his     
father1    ,mary ,bacon doesn't look as 
well as when ,i last saw her4    ,so it 
struck me1 returned ,mr4 ,green4    ,i'm
 afraid she has taken upon her more than
 she has the strength to  accomplish4   
,she is certainly paler and thinner than
 she was1 and is  far from looking as   
cheerful and happy as when ,i saw her   

six months  ago4    ,mr4 ,green did not 
reply to this1 but his countenance      
assumed a  thoughtful expression4       
,mary is a good daughter1 he at length  
said1 as if speaking to  himself4       
,there is not one in a thousand like    
her1 replied ,henry1 with a  warmth of  
manner that caused ,mr4 ,green to lift  
his eyes to his son's  face4    ,i fully
 agree with you in that1 he answered4   
,then1 father1 said ,henry1 why hold her
 any longer to her  contract1 thus far  
so honorably fulfilled4 ,the trial has  
proved her4  ,you see the pure gold of  
her character4    ,i have long seen it1 
returned ,mr4 ,green4    ,her father is 
thoroughly reformed4    ,so ,i have     
reason to believe4'    ,then act from   
your own heart's generous impulses1     
father1 and  forgive the balance of the 
debt4    ,are you certain that she will 
accept what you ask me to give8 ,will   
her own sense of justice permit her to  
stop until the whole claim is           
satisfied8 asked ,mr4 ,green4    ,i     

cannot answer for that father1 returned 
,henry4 ,but1 let me beg  of you to at  
least make the generous offer of a      
release4    ,mr4 ,green went to his     
secretary1 and1 taking a small piece of 
paper  from a drawer1 held it up1 and   
said--    ,this1 ,henry1 is her         
acknowledgment of the debt to me4 ,if ,i
 write  upon it 'satisfied1' will you   
take it to her and say1 that ,i hold    
the obligation no farther4    ,gladly6  
was the instant reply of ,henry4 ,you   
could not ask me to  do a thing from    
which ,i would derive greater pleasure4 
,mr4 ,green took up his pen and wrote   
across the face of the paper1 in  large 
letters1 satisfied1 and then1 handing it
 to his son1 said--    ,take it to her1 
,henry1 and say to her1 that if ,i had  
given way to  my feelings1 ,i would have
 done this a year ago4 ,and now1 let me 
speak a word for your ear4 ,never again1
 in this life1 may a young  woman cross 
your path1 whose character is so deeply 
grounded in  virtue1 who is so pure1 so 

unselfish1 so devoted in her love1 so   
strong in her good purposes4 ,her       
position is humble1 but1 in a           
life-companion1 we want personal        
excellences1 not extraneous social      
adjuncts4 ,you have my full consent to  
win1 if you can1 this sweet  flower1    
blooming by the way-side4 ,a proud day  
will it be for me1  when ,i can call her
 my daughter4 ,i have long loved her as 
such4    ,more welcome words than these 
,mr4 ,green could not have spoken to his
  son4 ,they were like a response to his
 own feelings4 ,he did not1  however1   
make any answer1 but took the contract  
in silence and  quickly left the room4  
,the reader can easily anticipate what  
followed4 ,mary did not go back  to     
,lowell4 ,a year afterwards she was     
introduced to a select circle  of       
friends in ,boston as the wife of ,henry
 ,green1 and she is now the  warmly     
esteemed friend and companion of some of
 the most  intelligent1 refined1        
right-thinking1 and right-feeling people

 in  that city4 ,her husband has seen no
 reason to repent of his choice4    ,as 
for old ,mr4 ,bacon1 his farm has       
continued to improve in  appearance and 
value ever since his daughter paid off  
the mortgage2  and as he1 once for all1 
banished liquor from his house1 he is in
 no  danger of having his little        
property burdened with a new            
encumbrance4 ,his cheerfulness has      
returned1 and he bears as of old1  the  
reputation of being the best tempered1  
best hearted man in the  neighborhood4  
,,two ,,pictures4            ,two       
beautiful children1 a boy and a girl1   
the oldest but six years  of age1 came  
in from school one evening1 later than  
usual by half an  hour4 ,both their eyes
 were red with weeping1 and their cheeks
 wet  with tears4 ,their father1 ,mr4   
,warren1 who had come home from his     
business earlier than usual1 had been   
waiting some time for their  return1 and
 wondering why they stayed so late4     
,they were his only  children1 and he   

loved them most tenderly4 ,they had1 a  
few weeks  before1 been entered at a    
school kept by a lady in the            
neighborhood--not so much for what they 
would learn1 as to give  occupation to  
their active minds4    ,why1 ,anna6     
,willy6 exclaimed ,mr4 ,warren1 as the  
children came in1  what's the matter8   
,why have you stayed so late8    ,anna  
lifted her tearful eyes to her father's 
face1 and her lip  curled and quivered4 
,but she could not answer his question4 
,mr4 ,warren took the grieving child in 
his arms1 and as he drew her  to his    
bosom1 said to ,willy1 who was the      
oldest--    ,what has made you so late1 
dear8    ,miss ,roberts kept us in1     
sobbed ,willy4    ,kept you in6 returned
 ,mr4 ,warren1 in surprise4 ,how came   
that8    ,because we laughed1 answered  
the child1 still sobbing and weeping4   
,what made you laugh8    ,one of the    
boys made funny faces4    ,and did you  
laugh too1 dear8 asked the father of    
,anna4    ,yes1 papa4 ,but ,i couldn't  

help it4 ,and ,miss ,roberts scolded so1
 and  said she was going to whip us4    
,and was that all you did8    ,yes1     
indeed1 papa1 said ,willy4    ,i'll see 
,miss ,roberts about it1 fell angrily   
from the lips of ,mr4  ,warren4 ,it's   
the last time you appear in her school4 
,a cruel-minded  woman6    ,and then the
 father soothed his grieving little ones
 with  affectionate words and caresses4 
,dear little angels6 said ,mr4 ,warren  
to his wife1 shortly  afterwards1 that  
any one could have the heart to punish  
them for a  sudden outburst of joyous   
feelings6 ,and ,anna in particular1 a   
mere  babe as she is1 ,i can't get over 
it4 ,to think of her being kept in  for 
a long half hour1 under punishment1     
after all the other children  had gone  
home4 ,it was cruel4 ,miss ,roberts     
shall hear from me on the  subject4     
,i don't know1 dear1 that ,i would say  
any thing about it1 remarked  the       
mother1 who was less excited about the  
matter1 ,i don't think  she meant to be 

severe4 ,she1 doubtless1 forgot that    
they were so  very young4    ,she'd no  
business to forget it4 ,i've no idea of 
my children being  used after this      
fashion4 ,the boy that made them laugh  
should have  been kept in1 if any       
punishment had to be inflicted4 ,but    
it's the  way with cruel-minded people4 
,the weakest are always chosen as       
objects of their dislike4    ,i am sure 
you take this little matter too much to 
heart1 urged the  mother4 ,miss ,roberts
 must have order in her school1 and even
 the  youngest must conform to this     
order4 ,i do not think the punishment   
so severe4 ,she had to do something to  
make them remember their  fault1 and    
restrain their feelings in future2 and  
she could hardly  have done less4 ,it is
 not too young for them to learn        
obedience in  any position where they   
are introduced4    ,but the over fond   
and tender father could see no reason   
for the  punishment his little ones had 
received2 and would not consent to  let 

them go again to the school of ,miss    
,roberts4 ,to him they were  earth's    
most precious things4 ,they were tender 
flowers2 and he was  troubled if ever   
the winds blew roughly upon them4       
,seven years have passed4 ,let us visit 
the home of ,mr4 ,warren and  look at   
him among his children4 ,no2 we will not
 enter this pleasant  house--he moved   
away long ago4 ,can this be the home of 
,mr4 ,warren6  ,yes4 ,small1 poor1 and  
comfortless as it is6 ,ah6 there have   
been sad  changes4    ,let us enter4    
,can that be ,warren8 ,that wretched    
looking  creature--with swollen1        
disfigured face and soiled garments--who
  sits1 half stupid1 near the window8 ,a
 little flaxen-haired child is  playing 
on the floor4 ,it is not ,anna4 ,no2    
seven years have changed  her from the  
fairylike little creature she was when  
her father  became outraged at her      
punishment in ,miss ,roberts' school6   
,poor  ,anna6 ,that was light as the    
thistle down to what she has since      

received from the hands of her father4  
,the child on the floor is  beautiful1  
even in her tattered clothes4 ,she has  
been playing for  some time4 ,now her   
father calls to her in a rough1         
grumbling voice4    ,kate6 ,you1 ,kate1 
,i say6    ,little ,kate1 not five years
 old1 leaves her play and goes up to    
where her parent is sitting4    ,go and 
get me a drink of water1 said he in a   
harsh tone of  authority4    ,kate takes
 a tin cup from a table and goes to the 
hydrant in the  yard4 ,so pleased is she
 in seeing the water run1 that she      
forgets  her errand4 ,three or four     
times she fills the cup1 and then pours 
forth its contents1 dipping her tiny    
feet in the stream that is  made4 ,in   
the midst of her sport1 she hears an    
angry call1 and  remembering the errand 
upon which she has been sent1 hurriedly 
fills  her cup again and bears it to her
 father4 ,she is frightened as she      
comes in and sees his face2 this        
confuses her2 her foot catches in       

something as she approaches1 and she    
falls over1 spilling the cup of  water  
on his clothes4 ,angrily he catches her 
up1 and1 cruel in his  passion1 strikes 
her three or four heavy blows4    ,now  
take that cup and get me some water6 he 
cries1 in a loud  voice1 and if you are 
not here with it in a minute1 ,i'll beat
 the  life half out of you6 ,i'll teach 
you to mind when your spoken to1 ,i     
will6 ,there6 ,off with you6    ,little 
,kate1 smarting from pain1 and trembling
 with fear1 lifts the  cup and hurries  
away to perform her errand4 ,she drops  
it twice from  her unsteady hands ere   
she is able to convey it1 filled with   
water1  to her parent1 who takes it with
 such a threatening look from his  eyes1
 that the child shrinks away from him1  
and goes from the room  in fear4    ,an 
hour passes1 and the light of day begins
 to fade4    ,evening comes slowly on1  
and at length the darkness closes in4   
,but  twice since morning has ,warren   
been from the house1 and then it was  to

 get something to drink4 ,the door at   
length opens quietly1 and a1  little    
girl enters4 ,her face is thin and      
drooping1 and wears a look  of patient  
suffering4    ,you're late1 ,anna1 says 
the mother1 kindly4    ,yes1 ma'am4 ,we 
had to stay later for our money4 ,mr4   
,davis was away  from the store1 and ,i 
was afraid ,i would have to come home   
without  it4 ,here it is4    ,mrs4      
,warren took the money4    ,only a      
dollar6 ,there was disappointment in her
 tones as she said  this4    ,yes1      
ma'am1 that is all1 replied ,anna1 in a 
troubled voice4 ,i  spoiled some work1  
and ,mr4 ,davis said ,i should pay for  
it1 and so he  took half a dollar from  
my wages4    ,spoiled your work6 spoke  
up the father1 who had been listening4  
,that's more of your abominable         
carelessness6    ,indeed1 father2 ,i    
couldn't help it1 said ,anna1 one of the
  girls--    ,hush up1 will you6 ,i want
 none of your lying excuses4 ,i know    
you6  ,it was done on purpose1 ,i have  

not the least doubt4    ,anna caught her
 breath1 like one suddenly deprived of  
air4 ,tears  rushed to her eyes and     
commenced falling over her cheeks1 while
 her  bosom rose and fell convulsively4 
,come1 now6 ,none of that6 said the     
cruel father sternly4 ,stop your  crying
 instantly1 or ,i will give you         
something to cry for6 ,a pretty  state  
of things1 indeed1 when every word must 
be answered by a fit  of crying6    ,the
 poor child choked down her feelings as 
best she could1 turning  as she did so  
from her father2 that he might not see  
the still  remaining traces of her grief
 which it was impossible at once to     
hide4    ,not a single dollar had the   
idle1 drunken father earned during the  
week1 that he had not expended in       
self-indulgence2 and yet1 in his        
brutality1 he could roughly chide this  
little girl1 yet too young  for the     
taskmaster1 because she had lost half a 
dollar of her week's  earnings through  
an accident1 the very nature of which he

 would not  hear explained4 ,so grieved 
was the poor child at this unkindness1  
that when supper was on the table she   
shrunk away from the room4    ,come1    
,anna1 to your supper1 called the       
mother4    ,i don't wish any thing to   
eat1 replied the child1 in a faint      
voice4    ,oh1 yes2 come and get        
something4    ,let her alone6 growls the
 father4 ,i never humor sulky children4 
,she doesn't deserve any supper4    ,the
 mother sighs4 ,while the husband eats  
greedily1 consuming1  himself1 more than
 half that is on the table1 she takes   
but a few  mouthfuls1 and swallows them 
with difficulty4    ,after supper1      
,willy1 who is just thirteen1 and who   
has already been  bound out as an       
apprentice to a trade1 comes home4 ,he  
has a tale of  suffering to tell4 ,for  
some fault his master has beaten him    
until  the large purple welts lie in    
meshes across his back from his         
shoulders to his hips4    ,how comes all
 this8 asks ,mr4 ,warren4 ,there is not 

the smallest  sign of sympathy in his   
voice4    ,willy relates the cause1 and 
tells it truly4 ,he was something to    
blame1 but his fault needed not the     
correction of stripes even  lightly     
applied4    ,served you right6 said the 
father1 when the story was ended4 ,no   
business to have acted so4 ,do as you   
are told1 and mind your work1  and      
you'll escape flogging4 ,otherwise1 ,i  
don't care how often you  get it4       
,you've been spoiled at home1 and it'll 
do you good to toe  the mark4 ,did your 
master know you were coming home        
to-night8    ,no1 sir1 replied the boy1 
with trembling lips1 and a choking      
voice4    ,then what did you come for8  
,to get pitied8 ,do right and you'll    
need  no pity4    ,oh1 ,james1 don't    
speak so to the child6 said ,mrs4       
,warren1 unable  to keep silence4       
,this was answered by an angry look4    
,you must go back to your master1 boy1  
said the father1 after a  pause4 ,when  
you wish to come home1 ask his consent4 

,he doesn't object to my coming home1   
said ,willy1 his voice still  quivering4
    ,go back1 ,i tell you6 ,take your   
hat1 there1 and go back4 ,don't come    
here any more with your tales6    ,the  
boy glanced towards his mother1 and read
 pity and sympathy in  her countenance1 
but she did not countermand the order2  
for she knew  that if she did so1 a     
scene of violence would follow4    ,ask 
to come home in the morning1 said she to
 her boy1 as she held  his hand tightly 
in hers at the door4 ,he gave her a look
 of tender  thankfulness1 and then went 
forth into the darkness1 feeling so sad 
and wretched that he could not repress  
his tears4    ,seven years4 ,and was    
only this time required to effect such a
  change6 ,ah6 rum is a demon6 ,how     
quickly does it transform the tender    
husband and parent into a cruel beast6  
,look upon these two pictures1  ye who  
tarry long at the wine6 ,look at them1  
but do not say they are  overdrawn6     
,they have in them only the sober hues  

and subdued colors  of truth4           
,,brandy ,,as ,a ,,preventive4          
,,the cholera had made its appearance in
 ,new ,york1 and many deaths  were      
occurring daily4 ,among those who weakly
 permitted themselves to  feel an alarm 
amounting almost to terror1 was a ,mr4  
,hobart1 who1  from the moment the      
disease manifested itself1 became       
infested with  the idea that he would be
 one of its victims4    ,doctor1 said he
 to his family physician1 meeting him   
one day in  the street1 is there nothing
 which a man can take that will act as  
a preventive to cholera8    ,i'll tell  
you what ,i do1 replied the doctor4     
,well1 what is it8    ,i take a glass of
 good brandy twice a day4 ,one in the   
morning and  the other after dinner4    
,indeed6 ,and do you think brandy useful
 in preventing the disease8    ,i think 
it a protection1 said the doctor4 ,it   
keeps the system  slightly stimulated2  
and is1 besides1 a good astringent4     
,a very simple agent1 remarked ,mr4     

,hobart4    ,yes1 the most simple that  
we can adopt4 ,and what is better1 the  
use  of it leaves no after bad          
consequences1 as is too often the case  
with medicines1 which act upon the      
system as poisons4    ,sometimes very   
bad consequences arise from the use of  
brandy1  remarked ,mr4 ,hobart4 ,i have 
seen them in my time4    ,drunkenness1  
you mean4    ,yes4    ,people who are   
likely to make beasts of themselves had 
better let  it alone1 said the doctor1  
contemptuously4 ,if they should take the
  cholera and die1 it will be no great  
loss to the world4    ,and you really   
think a little good brandy1 taken daily1
 fortifies  the system against the      
cholera8    ,seriously ,i do1 replied   
the doctor4 ,i have adopted this course 
from the first1 and have not been       
troubled with a symptom of the  disease4
    ,i feel very nervous on the subject4
 ,from the first ,i have been  impressed
 with the idea that ,i would get the    
disease and die4    ,that is a weakness1

 ,mr4 ,hobart4    ,i know it is1 still  
,i cannot help it4 ,and you would advise
 me to  take a little good brandy8      
,yes1 every day4    ,i am a ,son of     
,temperance4    ,no matter2 you can take
 it as medicine under my prescription4  
,i  know a dozen ,sons of ,temperance   
who have used brandy every day since    
the disease appeared in ,new ,york4 ,it 
will be no violation of your  contract4 
,life is of too much value to be put in 
jeopardy on a mere  idea4    ,i agree   
with you there4 ,i'd drink any thing if 
,i thought it would  give me an immunity
 against this dreadful disease4         
,you'll be safer with the brandy than   
without it4    ,very well4 ,if you think
 so1 ,i will use it4    ,on parting with
 the doctor1 ,mr4 ,hobart went to a     
liquor store and  ordered half a gallon 
of brandy sent home4 ,he did not feel   
altogether right in doing so1 for it    
must be understood1 that1 in  years gone
 by1 ,mr4 ,hobart had fallen into the   
evil habit of  intemperance1 which clung

 to him until he run through a handsome 
estate and beggared his family4 ,in this
 low condition he was found  by the     
,sons of ,temperance1 who induced him to
 abandon a course whose  end was death  
and destruction1 and to come into their 
,order4 ,from  that time all was        
changed4 ,sobriety and industry were    
returned to  him in many of the good    
things of this world which he had lost1 
and  he was still in the upward movement
 at the time when the fatal  pestilence 
appeared4    ,on going home at dinner   
time1 ,hobart's wife said to him1 with a
  serious face--    ,a demijohn1 with   
some kind of liquor in it1 was sent here
 to-day4    ,oh1 yes1 he replied1 it is 
brandy that ,doctor ,l--ordered me to   
take as a cholera preventive4           
,brandy6 ejaculated ,mrs4 ,hobart1 with 
an expression of painful  surprise in   
her voice and on her countenance1 that  
rather annoyed  her husband4    ,yes4   
,he says that he takes it every day as a
 preventive1 and  directed me to do the 

same4    ,i wouldn't touch it if ,i were
 you4 ,indeed ,i wouldn't1 said ,mrs4   
,hobart1 earnestly4    ,why wouldn't    
you8    ,you will violate your contract 
with the ,sons of ,temperance4    ,not  
at all4 ,brandy may be used as a        
medicine under the prescription  of a   
physician4 ,i wouldn't have thought of  
touching it had not  ,doctor ,l--ordered
 me to do so4    ,you are not sick1     
,edward4    ,but there is death in the  
very air ,i breathe4 ,at any moment ,i  
am  liable to be struck down by an arrow
 sent from an unseen bow1 unless  a     
shield be interposed4 ,such a shield has
 been placed in my hands4  ,shall ,i not
 use it8    ,mrs4 ,hobart knew her      
husband well enough to be satisfied that
  remonstrance and argument would be of 
no avail1 now that his mind  was m de up
 to use the brandy2 and yet so          
distressed did she feel1  that she      
couldn't help saying1 with tears in her 
eyes--    ,eaward17sic7 let me beg of   
you not to touch it4    ,would you      

rather see me in my coffin8 replied ,mr4
 ,hobart1 with  some bitterness4 ,death 
may seem a light thing to you1 but it is
 not  so to me4    ,you are not sick1   
still urged the wife4    ,but ,i am     
liable1 as ,i said just now1 to take the
 disease every  moment4    ,you will be 
more liable1 with your system stimulated
 and disturbed  by brandy4 ,let well    
enough alone4 ,be thankful for the      
health you  have1 and do not invite     
disease4    ,the doctor ought to know4  
,he understands the matter better than  
you  or ,i4 ,he recommends brandy as a  
preventive4 ,he takes it himself4       
,because he likes it1 no doubt4    ,it  
is silly for you to talk in that way1   
replied the husband1 with  much         
impatience4 ,he isn't rendered more     
liable to the disease by  taking a      
little pure brandy1 for he says that it 
keeps him perfectly  well4    ,a glass  
of brandy every day may have been his   
usual custom1 urged  ,mrs4 ,hobart4 ,in 
that case1 in its continuance1 no change

 was  produced4 ,but your system has    
been untouched by the fiery liquid for  
nearly five years1 and its sudden       
introduction must create  disturbance4  
,it is reasonable4    ,the doctor ought 
to know best1 was replied to this4 ,he  
has  prescribed it1 and ,i must take it4
 ,life is too serious a matter to  be   
trifled with4 ',an ounce of preventive  
is worth a pound of cure1'  you know4   
,i am in equal danger with yourself1    
said ,mrs4 ,hobart2 and so are  the     
children4    ,undoubtedly4 ,and ,i wish 
you all to use a little brandy4    ,not 
a drop of the poison shall pass either  
my lips or those of the  children1      
replied ,mrs4 ,hobart1 with emphasis4   
,as you please1 said the husband1       
coldly1 and turned away4    ,edward6    
,mrs4 ,hobart laid her hand upon his    
arm4 ,edward6 ,let me  beg of you not to
 follow this advice4    ,why will you   
act so foolishly8 ,has not the doctor   
ordered the  brandy8 ,i look to him as  
the earthly agent for the preservation  

of  my health and the saving of my life4
 ,if ,i do not regard his advice1  in   
what am ,i to trust8    ,remember the   
past1 ,edward1 said the wife1 solemnly4 
,i do remember it4 ,but ,i fear no      
danger4    ,mrs4 ,hobart turned away    
sadly1 and went up to her chamber to    
give  vent to her feelings alone in     
tears4 ,firm to his purpose of using    
the preventive recommended by the       
doctor1 ,mr4 ,hobart1 after dinner1     
took a draught of brandy and water4     
,nearly five years1 as his wife         
remarked1 had elapsed since a drop of   
the burning fluid had passed  his lips4 
,the taste was not particularly         
agreeable4 ,indeed1 his  stomach rather 
revolted as the flavor reached his      
palate4    ,it's vile stuff at best1 he 
remarked to himself1 making a wry  face4
 ,fit only for medicine4 ,not much      
danger of my ever loving it  again4 ,i  
wish ,anna was not so foolish4 ,a       
flattering opinion she has  of her      
husband6    ,the sober countenance of   

his wife troubled ,mr4 ,hobart1 as he   
left  home for his place of business    
earlier by half an hour than usual4     
,neither in mind nor body were his      
sensations as pleasant as on the  day   
before4 ,the brandy did something more  
than produce an agreeable  warmth in his
 stomach4 ,a burning sensation soon     
followed its  introduction1 accompanied 
by a feeling of uneasiness that he did  
not  like4 ,in the course of half an    
hour1 this unnatural heat was felt in   
every part of his body1 but more        
particularly about his head and  face2  
and it was accompanied by a certain     
confusion of mind that  prevented his   
usual close application to business     
during the  afternoon4    ,towards      
evening1 these disagreeable consequences
 of the glass of  cholera-preventive he 
had taken in a great measure subsided2  
but  there followed a dryness of the    
palate1 and a desire for some drink     
more pleasant to the taste than water4  
,in his store was a large  pitcher of   

ice-water2 but1 though thirsty1 he felt 
no inclination to  taste the pure       
beverage2 but1 instead1 went out and    
obtained a glass  of soda water4 ,this  
only made the matter worse4 ,the half   
gill of  syrup with which the water was 
sweetened1 created1 in a little  while1 
a more uneasy feeling4 ,still1 there was
 no inclination for  the water that     
stood just at hand1 and which he had    
daily found so  refreshing during the   
hot weather4 ,in fact1 when he thought  
of it1  it was with a sense of          
repulsion4    ,in this state1 the idea  
of a cool glass of brandy punch1 or a   
mint  julep1 came up in his mind1 and he
 felt the draught1 in imagination1  at  
his lips4    ,a little brandy twice a   
day2 so the doctor said4 ,this was      
uttered  half aloud4    ,just at the    
moment a slight pain crossed his        
stomach4 ,it was the  first sensation of
 the kind he had experienced since the  
epidemic he  so much dreaded had        
appeared in the city2 and it caused a   

slight  shudder to go through his frame1
 for he was nervous in his fear of      
cholera4    ,a little mint with the     
brandy would make it better still4 ,i   
don't  like this feeling4 ,i'll try a   
glass of brandy and mint4 ,thus spoke   
,mr4 ,hobart to himself4    ,putting on 
his hat1 he went forth for the purpose  
of getting some  brandy and mint4 ,as he
 stepped into the street the pain was   
felt  again1 and more distinctly4 ,the  
effect was to cause a slight            
perspiration to manifest itself on the  
face and forehead of ,mr4  ,hobart1 and 
to make1 in his mind1 the necessity for 
the brandy and  mint more imperative4   
,he did not just like to be seen going  
boldly  in at the door of a refectory or
 drinking-house in a public place1  for 
he was a ,son of ,temperance1 and any   
one who knew this and  happened to see  
him going in1 could not1 at the same    
time1 know that  he was acting under his
 physician's advice4 ,so he went off    
several  blocks from the neighborhood in

 which his store was located1 and  after
 winding his way along a narrow1        
unfrequented street1 came to  the back  
entrance of a tavern1 where he went in1 
as he desired1  unobserved4    ,years   
before1 ,hobart had often stood at the  
bar where he now found  himself4 ,old1  
familiar objects and associations       
brought back old  feelings1 and he was  
affected by an inward glow of pleasure4 
,what6 you here8 said a man who stood at
 the bar1 with a glass in  his hand4 ,he
 was also a member of the ,order4       
,and you here6 replied ,mr4 ,hobart4    
,it isn't for the love of it1 ,i can    
assure you1 remarked the man1  as he    
looked meaningly at his glass4 ,these   
are not ordinary times4    ,you are     
right there1 said ,hobart4 ,a little    
brandy sustains and  fortifies the      
system4 ,that all admit4    ,my         
physician has ordered it for me4 ,he    
takes a glass or two every  day himself1
 and tells me that1 so far1 he has not  
been troubled  with the first symptom4  

,indeed4 ,that is testimony to the      
point4    ,so ,i think4    ,who is your 
physician8    ,dr4 ,l--4    ,he stands  
high4 ,i would at any time trust my life
 in his hands4    ,i am willing to do   
so4 ,then turning to the bar-keeper1    
,mr4 ,hobart  said--,i'll take a glass  
of brandy and water1 and you may add    
some  mint4    ,perhaps you'll have a   
mint julep8 suggested the barkeeper1    
winking  aside to a man who stood near1 
listening to what passed between the    
two members of the ,order4    ,yes--,i  
don't care--yes4 ,make it a julep1      
returned ,hobart4 ,it's  the brandy and 
mint ,i want4 ,i've had a disagreeable  
sensation1 he  added1 speaking to the   
friend he had met1 and drawing his hand 
across his stomach as he spoke1 that ,i 
don't altogether like4 ,here  it is     
again6    ,a little brandy will help it4
    ,i hope so4    ,when the mint julep 
was ready1 ,hobart took it in his hand  
and  retired to a table in the corner of
 the room1 and the man he had met  went 

with him4    ,ain't you afraid to tamper
 with liquor8 asked this person1 a      
little seriously1 as he observed the    
relish with which ,hobart sipped  the   
brandy4 ,some thoughts had occurred to  
himself that were not very  pleasant4   
,oh1 no4 ,not in the least1 replied ,mr4
 ,hobart4 ,i only take it as a          
medicine1 under my physician's order2   
and ,i can assure you that the  taste is
 quite as disagreeable as rhubarb would 
be4 ,i believe the  old fondness has    
altogether died out4    ,i'm afraid it  
never dies out1 said the man1 whose eyes
 told him  plainly enough1 that it had  
not died out in the case of the         
individual before him1 notwithstanding  
his averment on the subject4    ,i feel 
much better now1 said ,mr4 ,hobart1     
after he had nearly  exhausted his      
glass4 ,i had such a cold sensation in  
my stomach1  accompanied by a very      
disagreeable pain4 ,but both are now    
gone4 ,this  brandy and mint have acted 
like a charm4 ,dr4 ,l--understands the  

matter clearly4 ,it is fortunate that ,i
 saw him this morning4 ,i would  not    
have dared to touch brandy1 unless under
 medical advice2 and1  but for the      
timely use of it1 ,i might have been    
dangerously ill with  this fatal        
epidemic4    ,after sitting a little    
while longer1 the two men retired       
through the  back entrance to escape    
observation4    ,how quickly these      
temperance men seize hold of any excuse 
to get a  glass of brandy1 said the     
bar-keeper to a customer1 as soon as    
,hobart had retired1 laughing in a half 
sneer as he spoke4 ,they come  creeping 
in through our back way1 and all of them
 have a pain6 ,ha6  ha6    ,i've taken a
 glass of brandy and water1 every day   
for the last five  years1 replied the   
man to whom this was addressed1 and ,i  
continue  it now4 ,but ,i can tell you  
what1 if ,i'd been an abstainer1 you    
wouldn't catch me pouring it into my    
stomach now4 ,not ,i6 ,all who do  so   
are more liable to the disease4    ,so  

,i think1 said the bar-tender4 ,but     
every one to his liking4 ,it  puts money
 in our till4 ,we've done a better      
business since the  cholera broke out1  
than we've done these three years4 ,if  
it were to  continue for a twelve month 
we would make a fortune4    ,this was   
concluded with a coarse laugh1 and then 
he went to attend  to a new customer for
 drink4    ,for all ,mr4 ,hobart had    
expressed himself so warmly in favor of 
brandy1 and had avowed his freedom from 
the old appetite1 he did not  feel      
altogether right about the matter4      
,there was a certain pressure  upon his 
feelings that he could not well throw   
off4 ,when he went  home in the evening1
 he perceived a shadow on the brow of   
his wife2  and the expression of her    
eyes1 when she looked at him1 annoyed   
and  troubled him4    ,after supper1 the
 uneasiness he had felt during the      
afternoon1  returned1 and worried his   
mind considerably4 ,the fact was1 the   
brandy had already disturbed the well   

balanced action of the lower  viscera4  
,the mucous membrane of the whole 7sic7 
alementry canal had  been stimulated    
beyond health1 and its secretions were  
increased and  slightly vitiated4 ,this 
was the cause of the uneasiness he felt1
 and  the slight pains which had alarmed
 him4 ,by ten o'clock his feelings  had 
become so disagreeable1 that he felt    
constrained to meet them  with another  
mouthful1 of brandy4 ,thus1 in less than
 ten hours1  ,mr4 ,hobart had wronged   
his stomach by pouring into it three    
glasses  of brandy2 entirely disturbing 
its healthy action4    ,the morning     
found ,mr4 ,hobart far from feeling     
well4 ,his skin was dry  and feverish   
and his mouth parched4 ,there was an    
uneasy sensation of  pain in his head4  
,immediately upon rising he took a      
strong glass of  brandy4 ,that1 to use  
his own words1 brought him up1 and made 
him  feel a hundred per cent better4    
,during the forenoon1 however1 a  slight
 diarrhoea manifested itself4 ,a thrill 

of alarm was the  consequence4    ,i    
must check this6 said he1 anxiously4    
,and1 in order to do so1  another and   
stronger glass of brandy was taken4     
,in the afternoon1 the diarrhoea        
appeared again4 ,it was still slight1   
and unaccompanied by pain4 ,but1 it was 
a symptom not to be  disregarded4 ,so   
brandy was applied as before4 ,in the   
evening1 it  showed itself again4    ,i 
wish you would give me a little of that 
brandy1 said he to his  wife4 ,i'm      
afraid of this1 it must be stopped4     
,hadn't you better see the doctor8    ,i
 don't think it necessary4 ,the brandy  
will answer every purpose4    ,i have no
 faith in brandy1 said ,mrs4 ,hobart4   
,poor woman6 she had  cause for her want
 of faith6    ,i have then1 replied her 
husband4 ,it's the doctor's             
recommendation4 ,and he ought to know4  
,you were perfectly well before you     
commenced acting on his advice4    ,i   
was well1 apparently4 ,but1 it is plain 
that the seeds of disease  were in me4  

,there is no telling how much worse ,i  
would have been4    ,nor how much       
better4 ,for my part ,i charge it all on
 the brandy4    ,that's a silly         
prejudice1 said ,mr4 ,hobart1 with a    
good deal of  impatience4 ,every one    
knows that brandy is a remedy in        
diseases of  this kind2 not a producing 
cause4    ,mrs4 ,hobart was silent4 ,but
 she did not get the brandy4 ,that was  
more than she could do4 ,so her husband 
got it himself4 ,but1 in order  to make 
the medicinal purpose more apparent1 he 
poured the liquor  into a deep plate1   
added some sugar1 and set it on fire4   
,you will not object to burnt brandy at 
least1 said he4 ,that you  know to be   
good4    ,mrs4 ,hobart did not reply4   
,she felt that it would be useless4     
,only a  disturbance of harmony could   
arise1 and that would produce greater   
unhappiness4 ,the brandy1 after having  
parted with its more volatile           
qualities1 was introduced into ,mr4     
,hobart's stomach1 and fretted  that    

delicate organ for more than an hour4   
,i thought the burnt brandy would be    
effective1 said ,mr4 ,hobart on  the    
next morning4 ,and it has proved so4 ,in
 order not to lose this  good effect1 he
 fortified himself before going out with
 some of the  same article1 unburnt4    
,but1 alas6 ,by ten o'clock the         
diarrhoea showed  itself again1 and in a
 more decided form4    ,oh dear6 said he
 in increased alarm4 ,this won't do4 ,i 
must see the  doctor4 ,and off he       
started for ,doctor ,l--'s office4 ,but1
 on the  way he could not resist the    
temptation to stop at a tavern for      
another glass of brandy1 notwithstanding
 he began to entertain a  suspicion as  
to the true cause of the disturbance4   
,the doctor  happened to be in4 ,i think
 ,i'd better have a little medicine1    
doctor1 said he1 on seeing his medical  
adviser4 ,a stitch in time1  you know4  
,ain't you well8    ,no1 and ,mr4       
,hobart gave his symptoms4    ,an opium 
pill will do all that is required1 said 

the doctor4    ,shall ,i continue the   
brandy8 asked the patient4    ,have you 
taken brandy every day since ,i saw you8
 inquired the  doctor4    ,yes2 twice1  
and sometimes three times4    ,ah6 ,the 
doctor looked thoughtful4    ,shall ,i  
continue to do so8    ,perhaps you had  
better omit it for the present4 ,you're 
not in the  habit of drinking any thing8
    ,no4 ,i haven't tasted brandy before
 for five years4    ,indeed6 ,yes1 now1 
,i remember you said so4 ,you'd better  
omit it  until we see the effect of the 
opium4 ,sudden changes are not always   
good in times like these4    ,i don't   
think the brandy has hurt me1 said ,mr4 
,hobart4    ,perhaps not4 ,still1 as a  
matter of prudence1 ,i would avoid it4  
,let  the opium have a full chance1 and 
all will be right again4    ,an opium   
pill was swallowed1 and ,mr4 ,hobart    
went back to his place  of business4 ,it
 had the intended effect4 ,that is1 it  
cured one  disease by producing         
another--suspended action took the place

 of  over-action4 ,he was1 therefore1   
far from being in a state of health1  or
 free from danger in a cholera          
atmosphere4 ,there was one part of  the 
doctor's order that ,mr4 ,hobart did not
 comply with4 ,the free use  of brandy  
for a few days rekindled the old        
appetite1 and made his  desire for      
liquor so intense1 that he had not1 or1 
if he possessed  it1 did not exercise   
the power of resistance4    ,sad beyond 
expression was the heart of ,mrs4       
,hobart1 when evening  came1 and her    
husband returned home so much under the 
influence of  drink as to show it       
plainly4 ,she said nothing to him1 then1
 for that  she knew would be of no      
avail4 ,but next morning1 as he was     
rising1  she said to him earnestly and  
almost tearfully4    ,edward1 let me beg
 of you to reflect before you go further
 in the  way you have entered4 ,you may 
not be aware of it1 but last night you  
showed so plainly that you had been     
drinking that ,i was distressed  beyond 

measure4 ,you know as well as ,i do1    
where this will end1 if  continued4     
,stop1 then1 at once1 while you have the
 power to stop4 ,as  to preventing      
disease1 it is plain that the use of    
brandy has not  done so in your case2   
but1 rather1 acted as a predisposing    
cause4  ,you were perfectly well before 
you touched it2 you have not been  well 
since4 ,look at this fact1 and1 as a    
wise man1 regard its  indications4      
,truth was so strong in the words of his
 wife1 that ,mr4 ,hobart did  not       
attempt to gainsay them4    ,i believe  
you are right1 he replied with a good   
deal of depression  apparent in his     
manner4 ,i wish the doctor had kept his 
brandy  advice to himself4 ,it has done 
me no good4    ,it has done you harm1   
said his wife4    ,perhaps it has4 ,ah1 
me6 ,i wish the cholera would subside4  
,i think your fear is too great1        
returned ,mrs4 ,hobart4 ,go on in  your 
usual way2 keep your mind calm2 be as   
careful in regard to  diet1 and you need

 fear no danger4    ,i wish ,i'd let the
 brandy alone6 sighed ,mr4 ,hobart1 who 
felt as he  spoke1 the desire for       
another draught4    ,so do ,i4 ,doctor  
,l--must have been mad when he advised  
it4    ,so ,i now think4 ,i heard       
yesterday of two or three members of our
  ,order who have been sick1 and every  
one of them used a little brandy  as a  
preventive4    ,it is bad--bad4 ,common 
sense teaches this4 ,no great change of 
habit  is good in a tainted atmosphere4 
,but you see this now1 happily1 and  all
 will yet be well ,i trust4    ,yes2 ,i 
hope so4 ,i shall touch no more of this 
brandy preventive4 ,to  that my mind is 
fully made up4    ,mrs4 ,hobart felt    
hopeful when she parted with her        
husband4 ,but she  knew nothing of the  
real conflict going on in his mind      
between  reason and awakened            
appetite--else had she trembled and     
grown faint  in spirit4 ,this conflict  
went on for some hours1 when1 alas6     
appetite conquered4    ,at dinner time  

,mrs4 ,hobart saw at a glance how it    
was4 ,the whole  manner of her husband  
had changed4 ,his state of depression   
was gone1  and he exhibited an unnatural
 exhilaration of spirits4 ,she needed   
not the sickening odor of his breath to 
tell the fatal secret that  he had been 
unable to control himself4    ,it was   
worse at night4 ,he came home so much   
beside himself that he  could with      
difficulty walk erectly4 ,half conscious
 of his condition1  he did not attempt  
to join the family1 but went up stairs  
and groped  his way to bed4 ,mrs4       
,hobart did not follow him to his       
chamber4  ,heartsick1 she retired to    
another room1 and there wept bitterly   
for  more than an hour4 ,she was        
hopeless4 ,up from the melancholy past  
arose images of degradation and         
suffering too dreadful to  contemplate4 
,she felt that she had not strength to  
suffer again as  she had suffered       
through many1 many years4 ,from this    
state she was  aroused by groans from   

the room where her husband lay4 ,alarmed
 by  the sounds1 she instantly went to  
him4    ,what is the matter8 she asked1 
anxiously4    ,oh6 oh6 ,i am in so much 
pain6 was groaned half inarticulately4  
,in pain1 where8    ,oh6 oh6 was        
repeated1 in a tone of suffering2 and   
then he  commenced vomiting4    ,mrs4   
,hobart placed her hand upon his        
forehead and found it cold and  clammy4 
,other and more painful symptoms        
followed4 ,before the doctor1  who was  
immediately summoned1 arrived1 his whole
 system had become  prostrate1 and was  
fast sinking into a state of collapse4  
,it was a  decided case of cholera4     
,has he been eating any thing improper8 
asked ,doctor ,l--1 after  administering
 such remedies1 and ordering such       
treatment as he  deemed the case        
required4    ,has he eaten no green     
fruit8    ,none4    ,nothing1 to my     
knowledge1 replied ,mrs4 ,hobart4 ,we   
have been very  careful in regard to    
food4    ,nor unripe vegetables8        

,mrs4 ,hobart shook her head4    ,nor   
fish8    ,nothing of the kind4    ,that 
is strange4 ,he was well a few days ago4
    ,yes1 perfectly1 until he began to  
take a little brandy every day as  a    
preventive4    ,ah6 ,the doctor looked  
thoughtful4 ,but it couldn't have been  
that4  ,i take a little pure brandy     
every day1 and find it good4 ,i         
recommend  it to all my patients4       
,mrs4 ,hobart sighed4 ,then she         
asked--,do you think him dangerous8     
,i hope not4 ,the attack is sudden and  
severe4 ,but much worse cases  recover4 
,i will call round again before bed     
time4    ,the doctor went away feeling  
far from comfortable4 ,only a few hours 
before he1 had left a man sick with     
cholera beyond recovery1 who  had1 to   
his certain knowledge1 adopted the      
brandy-drinking-preventive-system but a 
week before2 and that at his            
recommendation4 ,and here was another   
case4    ,at eleven o'clock ,dr4        
,l--called to see ,mr4 ,hobart again1   

and found  him rapidly sinking4 ,not a  
single symptom had been reached by his  
treatment4 ,the poor man was in great   
pain4 ,every muscle in his body  seemed 
affected by cramps and spasms4 ,his     
mind1 however1 was  perfectly clear4 ,as
 the doctor sat feeling his pulse1      
,hobart said to  him--    ,doctor ,l--1 
it is too late6    ,oh1 no4 ,it is never
 too late1 replied the doctor4 ,don't   
think of  death2 think of life1 and that
 will help to sustain you4 ,you are     
not1 by any means1 at the last point4   
,hundreds1 worse than you now  are1 come
 safely through4 ,i don't intend to let 
you slip through my  hands4    ,doctor1 
said the sick man1 speaking in a solemn 
voice1 ,i feel  that ,i am beyond the   
reach of medicine4 ,i shall die4 ,what  
,i now say  ,i do not mean as a         
reproach4 ,i speak it only as a truth   
right for  you to know4 ,do you see my  
poor wife8    ,the doctor turned his    
eyes upon ,mrs4 ,hobart1 who stood      
weeping by  the bedside4    ,when she is

 left a widow1 and my children orphans1 
continued the  patient1 remember that   
you have made them such6    ,me6 ,why do
 you say that1 ,mr4 ,hobart8 ,the doctor
 looked startled4    ,because it is the 
truth4 ,i was a well man1 when you1 as  
my medical  adviser1 recommended me to  
drink brandy as a protection against    
disease4 ,i was in fear of the          
infection1 and followed your            
prescription4 ,from the moment ,i took  
the first draught my body lost  its     
healthy equilibrium2 and not only my    
body1 but my mind4 ,i was a  reformed   
man1 and the taste inflamed the old     
appetite4 ,from that  time until now ,i 
have not been really sober4    ,the     
doctor was distressed and confounded by 
this declaration4 ,he had  feared that  
such was the case2 but now it was       
charged unequivocally4    ,i am pained  
at all this1 he replied1 ,in sinning ,i 
sinned  ignorantly4    ,but1 ere he     
could finish his reply1 the sick man    
became suddenly  worse1 and sunk into a 

state of insensibility4    ,if it be in 
human power to save his life1 murmured  
the doctor--,i  will save it4           
,through the whole night he remained at 
the bed-side1 giving1 with  his own     
hands1 all the remedies1 and applying   
every curative means  within reach4     
,but1 when the day broke1 there was     
little1 if any  change for the better4  
,he then went home1 but returned in a   
couple  of hours4    ,how is your       
husband8 he asked of the pale-faced wife
 as he  entered4 ,she did not reply1 and
 they went up to the chamber  together4 
,a deep silence reigned in the room as  
they entered4    ,is he asleep8         
whispered the doctor4    ,see6 ,the wife
 threw back the sheet4    ,o6 was the   
only sound that escaped the doctor's    
lips4 ,it was a  prolonged sound1 and   
uttered in a tone of exquisite distress4
 ,the  white and ghastly face of death  
was before him4    ,it is your work6    
murmured the unhappy woman1 half beside 
herself  in her affliction4    ,madam6  

do not say that6 ejaculated the         
physician4 ,do not say  that6    ,it is 
the truth6 ,did he not charge it upon   
you with his dying  breath8    ,i did   
all for the best1 madam6 all for the    
best6 ,it was an error in  his case4    
,but ,i meant him no harm4    ,you put  
poison to his lips1 and destroyed him4  
,you have made his  wife a widow and his
 children orphans6    ,madam6--,the     
doctor knit his brows and spoke in a    
stern voice4 ,but1  ere he had uttered a
 word more1 the stricken-hearted woman  
gave a  wild scream and fell upon the   
floor4 ,nature had been tried beyond    
the point of endurance1 and reason was  
saved at the expense of  physical       
prostration4    ,a few weeks later1 and 
,doctor ,l--1 in driving past the former
  residence of ,mr4 ,hobart1 saw        
furniture cars at the door4 ,the family 
were removing4 ,death had taken the     
husband and father1 and the poor  widow 
was going forth with her little ones    
from the old and pleasant  home1 to     

gather them around her in a smaller and 
poorer place4 ,his  feelings at the     
moment none need envy4    ,how many1    
like ,mr4 ,hobart1 have died through the
 insane prescription  of brandy as a    
preventive to cholera6 and how many more
 have fallen  back into old habits1 and 
become hopeless drunkards6 ,brandy is   
not  good for health at any time2 how   
much less so1 when the very air we      
breathe is filled with a subtle poison1 
awaiting the least  disturbance in the  
human economy to affect it with disease4
              ,,the ,,temperance        
,,pledge4            ,i ,,want a quarter
 of a dollar1 ,jane4    ,this was       
addressed by a miserable creature1      
bloated and disfigured  by intemperance1
 to a woman1 whose thin1 pale face1 and 
heart-broken  look1 told but too plainly
 that she was the drunkard's wife4      
,not a quarter of a dollar1 ,john8      
,surely you will not waste a  quarter of
 a dollar of my hard earnings1 when you 
know that ,i can  scarcely get food and 

decent clothes for the children8    ,as 
the wife said this1 she looked up into  
her husband's face with a  sad appealing
 expression4    ,i must have a quarter1 
,jane1 said the man firmly4    ,o1      
,john6 remember our little ones4 ,the   
cold-weather will soon be  here1 and ,i 
have not yet been able to get them      
shoes4 ,if you will  not earn any thing 
yourself1 do not waste the little my    
hard labor  can procure4 ,will not a    
sixpence do8 ,surely that is enough for 
you  to spend for--    ,nothing will do 
but a quarter1 ,jane1 and that ,i must  
have1 if ,i  steal it6 was the prompt   
and somewhat earnest reply4    ,mrs4    
,jarvis laid aside her work mechanically
 and1 rising1 went to a  drawer1 and    
from a cup containing a single dollar in
 small pieces1  her little all1 took out
 a quarter of a dollar1 and turning to  
her  husband1 said1 as she handed it to 
him--    ,remember1 that you are taking 
the bread out of your children's        
mouths6    ,not so bad as that1 ,i hope1

 ,jane1 said the drunkard1 as he        
clutched the money eagerly2 something   
like a feeble smile flitting  across his
 disfigured and distorted countenance4  
,yes1 and worse6 was the response1 made 
in a sadder tone than that  in which the
 wife had at first spoken4    ,how      
worse1 ,jane8    ,john6 and the wife    
spoke with a sudden energy1 while her   
countenance lighted up with a strange   
gleam4 ,john1 ,i cannot bear  this much 
longer6 ,i feel myself sinking every    
day4 ,and you--you who  pledged         
yourself--    ,here the voice of the    
poor woman gave way1 and covering her   
face  with her hands1 she bent her head 
upon her bosom1 and sobbed and  wept    
hysterically4    ,the drunkard looked at
 her for a moment1 and then turning     
hurriedly1  passed from the room4 ,for  
some moments after the door had closed  
upon her husband1 did ,mrs4 ,jarvis     
stand1 sobbing and weeping4 ,then       
slowly returning to her chair near the  
window1 she resumed her1  work1 with an 

expression of countenance that was sad  
and hopeless4    ,in the mean time1 the 
poor wretch who had thus reduced his    
family to  a state of painful           
destitution1 after turning away from his
 door1  walked slowly along the street  
with his head bowed down1 as if  engaged
 in1 to him1 altogether a new           
employment1 that of  self-communion4    
,all at once a hand was laid familiarly 
upon his  shoulders1 and a well-known   
voice said--    ,come1 ,john1 let's have
 a drink4    ,jarvis looked up with a   
bewildered air1 and the first thing that
  caught his eye1 after it glanced away 
from the face of one of his  drinking   
cronies1 was a sign with bright gold    
letters1 bearing the  words1 ,,eagle    
,,coffee-,,house4 ,that sign was as     
familiar to him as the  face of one of  
his children4 ,at the same moment that  
his eyes rested  upon this1 creating an 
involuntary impulse to move towards the 
tavern-door1 his old crony caught hold  
of his coat-collar and gave  him a pull 

in the same direction4 ,but much to the 
surprise of the  latter1 ,jarvis        
resisted this attempt to give his steps 
a direction  that would lead him into   
his old1 accustomed haunt4    ,won't you
 drink this morning1 ,jarvis8 asked the 
other1 with a look  of surprise4        
,there was evidently a powerful struggle
 going on in the mind of the  drunkard4 
,this lasted only for a moment or two1  
when he said1  loudly1 and              
emphatically--    ,no6    ,and instantly
 broke from his old boon companion1 and 
hurried on his  way4    ,a loud laugh   
followed him1 but he heeded it not4 ,ten
 minutes' walk  brought him to the store
 of a respectable tradesman4    ,is ,mr4
 ,r--in8 he asked1 as he entered4       
,back at the desk1 was the answer of a  
clerk4    ,and ,jarvis walked back with 
a resolute air4    ,mr4 ,r--1 ,i want to
 sign the pledge6    ,you1 ,jarvis8 ,mr4
 ,r--said1 in tones of gratified        
surprise4    ,yes1 me1 ,mr4 ,r--4 ,it's 
almost a hopeless case2 but here goes to

  do my best4    ,are you fully sensible
 of what you are about doing1 ,jarvis8  
,i think ,i am1 ,mr4 ,r--4 ,i've drunk  
nothing since yesterday  morning1 and   
with the help of ,him above1 ,i am      
determined never to  drink another drop 
as long as ,i live6 ,so read me the     
pledge and let  me sign it4    ,mr4     
,r--turned at once to the constitution  
of the ,washington  ,temperance         
,society1 and read the pledge thereunto 
annexed3    ',we1 the undersigned1 do   
pledge ourselves to each other1 as      
gentlemen1 that we will not1 hereafter1 
drink any spiritous liquors1  wine1     
malt1 or cider1 unless in sickness1 and 
under the prescription  of a physician4'
    ,jarvis took the pen in his hand1   
that trembled so he4 could scarcely     
make a straight mark on paper1 and      
enrolled his name among the  hundreds of
 those1 who1 like him1 had resolved to  
be men once more4  ,this done1 he laid  
down the quarter of a dollar which he   
had  obtained from his wife1 the        

admission fee required of all who joined
  the society4 ,as he turned from the   
tradesman's store1 his step was  firmer 
and his head more erect1 than1 in a     
sober state1 he had  carried it for many
 a day4    ,from thence he proceeded to 
a hatter's-shop4    ,well1 ,jarvis1 was 
uttered in rather a cool1 repulsive     
tone1 as he  entered4    ,are you not in
 want of a journeyman1 ,mr4 ,warren8    
,i don't want you1 ,jarvis4    ,if you  
will give me work1 ,i'll never get drunk
 again1 ,mr4 ,warren4    ,you've said   
that too many times1 ,jarvis4 ,the last 
time you went off  when ,i was hurried  
with work1 and caused me to disappoint a
  customer1 ,i determined never to have 
any thing more to do with you4    ,but  
,i'll never disappoint you again1 urged 
the poor man earnestly4    ,it's no use 
for you to talk to me1 ,jarvis4 ,you and
 ,i are done with  each other4 ,i have  
made up my mind never again to have a   
man in my  shop who drinks rum4    ,but 
,i've joined the temperance society1    

,mr4 ,warren4    ,i don't care if you   
have3 in two weeks you'll be lying in   
the  gutter4    ,i'll never drink liquor
 again if ,i die6 said ,jarvis1         
solemnly4    ,look here1 you drunken    
vagabond6 returned the master hatter in 
angry tones1 coming from behind the     
counter1 and standing in front  of the  
individual he was addressing--if you are
 not out of this  shop in two minutes by
 the watch1 ,i'll kick you into the     
street6 ,so  there now--take your choice
 to go out1 or be kicked out4    ,jarvis
 turned sadly away without a reply1 and 
passed out of the door  through which he
 had entered with a heart full of hope1 
now pained1  and almost ready to recede 
from his earnest resolution and pledge  
to  become a sober man and a better     
husband and father4 ,he felt utterly    
discouraged4 ,as he walked slowly along 
the street1 the fumes of a  coffee-house
 which he was passing1 unconsciously1   
struck upon his  sense1 and immediately 
came an almost overpowering desire for  

his  accustomed potation4 ,he paused--  
,now that ,i try to reform1 they turn   
against me1 he sighed  bitterly4 ,it is 
no use2 ,i am gone past hope6    ,one   
step was taken towards the tavern-door1 
when it seemed as if a  strong hand held
 him back4    ,no--no6 he murmured1 ,i  
have taken the pledge1 and ,i will stand
 by  it1 if ,i die6 ,then moving        
resolutely onward1 he soon found himself
  near the door of another              
hatter's-shop4 ,hope again kindled up in
 his  bosom1 and he entered4    ,don't  
you want a hand1 ,mr4 ,mason8 he asked1 
in a hesitating tone4    ,not a drunken 
one1 ,jarvis1 was the repulsive answer4 
,but ,i've reformed1 ,mr4 ,mason4    ,so
 ,i should think from your looks4       
,but1 indeed1 ,mr4 ,mason ,i have quit  
drinking1 and taken the pledge4    ,to  
break it in three days4 ,perhaps three  
hours4    ,won't you give me work1 ,mr4 
,mason1 if ,i promise to be sober8      
,no6 ,for ,i would not give a copper for
 your promises4    ,poor ,jarvis1 turned

 away4 ,when he had placed his hand to  
the pledge1  he dreamed not of these    
repulses and difficulties4 ,he was a    
good  workman1 and he thought that any  
one of his old employers would be  glad 
to get him back again1 so soon as they  
learned of his having  signed the       
total-abstinence pledge4 ,but he had so 
often promised  amendment1 and so often 
broken his promise and disappointed     
them1  that they had lost all confidence
 in him2 at least1 the two to whom  he  
had1 thus far1 made application4        
,after leaving the shop of ,mr4 ,mason1 
,jarvis seemed altogether  irresolute4  
,he would walk on a few steps1 and then 
pause to commune  with his troubled and 
bewildered thoughts4    ,i will try     
,lankford1 said he1 at length1          
half-aloud2 he will give  me work1      
surely4    ,a brisk walk of some ten    
minutes brought him to the door of a    
small  hatter's-shop in a retired       
street4 ,behind the counter of this shop
  stood an old man1 busily employed in  

ironing a hat4 ,there was  something    
benevolent in his countenance and       
manner4 ,as ,jarvis  entered1 he looked 
up1 and a shade passed quickly over his 
face4    ,good morning1 ,mr4 ,lankford1 
said ,jarvis1 bowing1 with something    
like timidity and shame in his manner4  
,are you not afraid to come here1 ,john8
 replied the old man1  sternly4    ,i am
 ashamed to come1 but not afraid4 ,you  
will not harm me1 ,i  know4    ,don't   
trust to that1 ,john4 ,did you not      
steal1 ay1 that is the  word--did you   
not steal from me the last time ,i      
employed you8 ,the  old man was stern   
and energetic in his manner4    ,i was  
so wicked as to take a couple of skins1 
,mr4 ,lankford1 but ,i  did very wrong1 
and am willing to repay you for them1 if
 you will  give me work4 ,i was in      
liquor when ,i did it1 and1 when in     
liquor1 ,i  have no distinct            
consciousness of the evil of any action4
    ,give you work1 indeed6 ,o1 no6     
,john2 ,i cannot give you another       

chance to rob me4    ,but ,i will not   
get drunk any more4 ,and you know1 ,mr4 
,lankford1 that  while ,i was a sober   
man1 and worked for you1 ,i never       
wronged you out  of a sixpence worth4   
,won't get drunk any more6 ,ah6 ,john1  
,i have lived too long in4 the  world1  
and have seen too much1 to heed such    
promises4    ,but ,i am in earnest1 ,mr4
 ,lankford4 ,i signed the pledge this   
morning4    ,you6 in a tone of surprise4
    ,yes1 ,i signed it4    ,ah1 ,john1  
after a pause1 and shaking his head4    
incredulously1 ,i  cannot credit your   
word1 and ,i am sorry for it4    ,if ,i 
have signed the pledge1 and if ,i am    
really determined to be a  reformed man1
 will you give me work1 ,mr4 ,lankford6 
,the old man thought for a few moments1 
and then said1  half-sorrowfully--    ,i
 am afraid of you1 ,john4 ,you are such 
an old offender on the score  of        
drunkenness1 that ,i have no confidence 
in your power to keep the  pledge4      
,then what shall ,i do6 the poor wretch 

exclaimed1 in tones that  made the heart
 of the old man thrill--for nature and  
pathos were in  them4 ,now that ,i am   
trying in earnest to do better1 no one  
will  give me a word of encouragement1  
nor a helping hand4 ,heaven help        
me6--for ,i am forsaken of man4    ,mr4 
,lankford stood thoughtful and          
irresolute for some moments4 ,at        
length1 he said--    ,john1 if you will 
bring me a certificate from ,mr4 ,r--1  
that you  have signed the               
total-abstinence pledge1 ,i will give   
you another  trial4 ,but if you         
disappoint me again1 you and ,i are done
 for ever4    ,the countenance of       
,jarvis brightened up instantly4 ,he    
turned quickly  away1 without reply1 and
 hurried off to the store of ,mr4 ,r--1 
the  secretary of the society he had    
joined4 ,the certificate was1 of        
course1 obtained4    ,and you have      
joined1 sure enough1 ,john1 ,mr4        
,lankford said1 in a  changed tone1 as  
he glanced over the certificate4        

,indeed ,i have1 ,mr4 ,lankford4    ,and
 you seem in earnest4    ,if ,i was ever
 in earnest about any thing in my life1 
,i am in  earnest now4    ,keep to your 
pledge1 then1 ,john1 and all will be    
well4 ,while you  were a sober man1 ,i  
preferred you to any journeyman in my   
shop4 ,keep  sober1 and you shall never 
want a day's work while ,i am in        
business4    ,the poor man was now shown
 his place in the shop1 and once again  
he  resumed his work1 though under a far
 different impulse than had1 for  years1
 nerved him to action4    ,two hours    
brought his regular dinner-time1 when   
,jarvis1 who began to  feel the want of 
food1 returned home1 with new and       
strange feelings  about his heart4 ,one 
impulse was to tell his wife what he had
 done1  and what he was doing4 ,but then
 he remembered how often he had  mocked 
her new springing hopes--how often he   
had promised amendment1  and once even  
joined a temperance society1 only to    
relapse into a  lower and more degraded 

condition4    ,no1 no1 he said to       
himself1 after debating the question in 
his  mind1 as he walked towards home2 ,i
 will not tell her now4 ,i will  first  
present some fruit of my repentance4 ,i 
will give such an  assurance as will    
create confidence and hope4    ,mrs4    
,jarvis did not raise her eyes to the   
face of her husband1 as he  entered4    
,the sight of that once loved           
countenance1 distorted and  disfigured1 
ever made her heart sick when she looked
 upon it4 ,jarvis  seated himself       
quietly in a chair1 and held out his    
hands for his  youngest child1 not over 
two years old1 who had no consciousness 
of  his father's degradation4 ,in a     
moment the happy little creature was  on
 his knee4 ,but the other children      
showed no inclination to  approach4     
,the frugal meal passed in silence and  
restraint4 ,mrs4 ,jarvis felt  troubled 
and oppressed--for the prospect before  
her seemed to grow  more and more       
gloomy4 ,all the morning she had        

suffered from a steady  pain in her     
breast1 and from a lassitude that she   
could not  overcome4 ,her pale1 thin1   
care-worn face1 told a sad tale of      
suffering1 privation1 confinement1 and  
want of exercise4 ,what was to  become  
of her children she knew not4 ,under    
such feelings of  hopelessness1 to have 
one sitting by her side1 who could take 
much  of her burdens from her1 were he  
but to will it--who could call back  the
 light to her heart1 if only true to his
 promise1 made in earlier  and happier  
years--soured in some degree her        
feelings1 and obscured  her perceptions4
 ,she did not note that some change had 
passed upon  him2 a change that if      
marked1 would have caused her heart to  
leap in  her bosom4    ,as soon as      
,jarvis had risen from the table1 he    
took his hat1 and  kissing his youngest 
child1 the only one there who seemed to 
regard  him1 passed quickly from the    
house4 ,as the door closed after him1   
his wife heaved a long sigh1 and then   

rising1 mechanically1  proceeded to     
clear up the table4 ,of how many crushed
 affections and  disappointed hopes1 did
 that one deep1 tremulous sigh1 speak6  
,jarvis returned to his work1 and       
applied himself steadily during the     
whole afternoon4 ,whenever a desire for 
liquor returned upon him1 he  quenched  
it in a copious draught of water1 and   
thus kept himself as  free from         
temptation as possible4 ,at night he    
returned1 when the  same troubled and   
uneasy silence pervaded the little      
family at the  supper-table4 ,the meal  
was scanty1 for ,mrs4 ,jarvis's         
incessant labor  could procure but a    
poor supply of food4 ,after the children
 had been  put to bed1 ,mrs4 ,jarvis sat
 down1 as usual1 to spend the evening1  
tired as she was1 and much as her breast
 pained her1 in sewing4 ,a  deep sigh   
heaved involuntarily her bosom as she   
did so4 ,it caught  the ear of her      
husband1 and smote upon his heart4 ,he  
knew that her  health was feeble1 and   

that constant labor fatigued her        
excessively4    ,i wouldn't sew         
to-night1 ,jane1 he said4 ,you look     
tired4 ,rest for  one evening4    ,mrs  
,jarvis neither looked up nor replied4  
,there was something in the  tone of her
 husband's voice that stirred her       
feelings2--something  that softened her 
heart towards him4 ,but she dared not   
trust herself  to speak1 nor to let her 
eye meet his4 ,she did not wish to utter
 a  harsh nor repulsive word1 nor was   
she willing to speak kindly to  him1 for
 she did not feel kindly1--and kind     
words and affected  cheerfulness1 she   
had already found but encouraged him in 
his evil  ways4 ,and so she continued to
 ply her needle1 without appearing to   
regard his presence4 ,her husband did   
not make another effort to  induce her  
to suspend her labors2 for1 under       
existing circumstances1  he was         
particularly desirous of not provoking  
her to use towards him  the language of 
rebuke and censure4 ,after sitting      

silent1 for1  perhaps half an hour1 he  
rose from his chair1 and walked three or
  four times backwards and forwards     
across the room1 preparatory to  going  
out to seek a coffee-house1 and there   
spend his evening1 as  his wife         
supposed4 ,but much to her surprise1 he 
retired to their  chamber1 in the       
adjoining room4 ,while still under the  
expectation of  seeing him return1 his  
loud breathing caught her quick ear4 ,he
 was  asleep6    ,catching up the light1
 as she arose suddenly to her feet1 she 
passed1 with a hasty step1 into the     
chamber4 ,he had undressed  himself1 was
 in bed1 and sound asleep4 ,she held the
 candle close to  his face2 it was      
calmer than usual1 and somewhat paler4  
,as she bent  over him1 his breath came 
full in her face4 ,it was not loaded    
with  the disgusting fumes that had so  
often sickened her4 ,her heart beat     
quicker--the moisture dimmed her        
eye--her whole frame trembled4 ,then    
looking upwards1 she uttered a single   

prayer for her husband1 and1  gliding   
quietly from the room1 sat down by her  
little table and  again bent over her   
work4 ,now she remembered that he had   
said1 with  something unusual in his    
tones--,i would not sew to-night1 ,jane2
 you  look tired2 rest for one          
evening--and her heart was agitated with
 a  new hope2 but that hope1 like the   
dove from the ark1 found nothing  upon  
which to rest1 and trembled back again  
into a feeling of  despondency4    ,on  
the next morning1 the unsteady hand of  
,jarvis1 as he lifted his  saucer to his
 lips at the breakfast-table1 made his  
wife's heart  sink again in her bosom4  
,she had felt a hope1 almost            
unconsciously4  ,she remembered that at 
supper-time his hand was firm--now it   
was  unnerved4 ,this was conclusive to  
her mind1 that1 notwithstanding his     
appearance1 he had been drinking4 ,but  
few words passed during the  meal1 for  
neither felt much inclined to converse4 
,after breakfast1 ,jarvis returned to   

the shop and worked steadily  until     
dinner-time1 and then again until       
evening4 ,as on the night  before1 he   
did not go out1 but retired early to    
bed4 ,and this was  continued all the   
week4 ,but the whole was a mystery to   
his poor  wife1 who dared not even to   
hope for any real change for the better4
  ,on ,saturday1 towards night1 he laid 
by his work1 put on his coat and  hat1  
and went into the front shop4    ,so you
 have really worked a week1 a sober man1
 ,john8 ,mr4 ,lankford  said4           
,indeed1 ,i have4 ,since last ,sunday   
morning1 no kind of intoxicating  liquor
 has passed my lips4    ,how much have  
you earned this week1 ,john8    ,here is
 the foreman's account of my work1 sir4 
,it comes to twelve  dollars4    ,still 
a fast workman4 ,you will yet recover   
yourself1 and your  family will again be
 happy1 if you persevere4    ,o1 sir1   
they shall be happy6 ,i will persevere6 
,another pause ensued1 and then ,jarvis 
said1 while the color mounted  to his   

cheek--    ,if you are willing1 ,mr4    
,lankford1 ,i should like you to deduct 
only  one-half of what ,i owe you for   
those furs ,i took from you1 from this  
week's wages4 ,my family are in want of 
a good many things2 and ,i am           
particularly desirous of buying a barrel
 of flour to-night4    ,say nothing of  
that1 ,john4 ,let it be forgotten with  
your past  misdeeds4 ,here are your     
wages--twelve dollars--and if it gives  
you  as much pleasure to receive1 as it 
does me to pay them1 then you  feel no  
ordinary degree of satisfaction4    ,mr4
 ,jarvis received the large sum for him 
to possess1 and hurried  away to a      
grocery4 ,here he bought1 for six       
dollars1 a barrel of  flour1 and        
expended two dollars more of his wages  
in sugar1 coffee1  tea1 molasses1 c4    
,near to the store was the market-house4
 ,thence he  repaired1 and bought meat  
and various kinds of vegetables1 with   
butter1 c4 ,these he carried to the     
store1 and gave directions to  have all 

sent home to him4 ,he had now two       
dollars left out of the  twelve he had  
earned since ,monday morning1 and with  
these in his  pocket1 he returned home4 
,as he drew near the house1 his heart   
fluttered in anticipation of the        
delightful change that would pass  upon 
all beneath its humble roof4 ,he had    
never in his life1  experienced feelings
 of such real joy4    ,a few moments    
brought him to the door1 and he went in 
with the quick  step that had marked his
 entrance for several days4 ,it was not 
quite  dark1 and his wife sat sewing by 
the window4 ,she was finishing a  pair  
of pantaloons that had to go home that  
very evening1 and with  the money she   
was to get for them she expected to buy 
the ,sunday  dinner4 ,there was barely  
enough food in the house for supper2 and
  unless she received her pay for this  
piece of work1 she had no means  of     
getting the required sustenance for     
herself and children--or  rather1 for   
her husband1 herself and children4 ,the 

individual for  whom it was intended was
 not a prompt pay-master1 and usually   
grumbled whenever ,mrs4 ,jarvis asked   
him for money4 ,to add to the           
circumstances of concern and trouble of 
mind1 she felt almost ready  to give up1
 from the excessive pain in her breast1 
and the weakness  of her whole frame4   
,as her husband came in1 she turned upon
 him an  anxious and troubled           
countenance2 and then bent down over her
 work  and plied her needle hurriedly4  
,as the twilight fell dimly around1  she
 drew nearer and nearer to the window1  
and at last stood up1 and  leaned close 
up to the panes of glass1 so that her   
hand almost  touched them1 in order to  
catch the few feeble rays of light that 
were still visible4 ,but she could not  
finish the garment upon which  she      
wrought1 by the light of day4 ,a candle 
was now lit1 and she took  her place by 
the table1 not so much as glancing      
towards her husband1  who had seated    
himself in a chair1 with his youngest   

child on his  knee4 ,half an hour passed
 in silence1 and then ,mrs4 ,jarvis rose
 up1  having taken the last stitch in   
the garment she was making1 and  passed 
into the adjoining chamber4 ,in a few   
minutes she came out1  with her bonnet  
and shawl on1 and the pair of pantaloons
 that she  had just finished on her arm4
    ,where are you going1 ,jane8 her    
husband asked1 in a tone of  surprise1  
that seemed mingled with disappointment4
    ,i am going to carry home my work4  
,but ,i wouldn't go now1 ,jane4 ,wait   
until after supper4    ,no1 ,john4 ,i   
cannot wait until after supper4 ,the    
work will be  wanted4 ,it should have   
been home two hours ago4    ,and she    
glided from the room4    ,a walk of a   
few minutes brought her to the door of a
 tailor's-shop1  around the front of    
which hung sundry garments exposed for  
sale4  ,this shop she entered1 and      
presented the pair of pantaloons to a   
man  who stood behind the counter4 ,his 
face relaxed not a muscle as he  took   

them and made a careful examination of  
the work4    ,they'll do1 he at length  
said1 tossing them aside1 and resuming  
his employment of cutting out a garment4
    ,poor ,mrs4 ,jarvis paused1 dreading
 to utter her request4 ,but  necessity  
conquered the painful reluctance1 and   
she said--    ,can you pay me for this  
pair to-night1 ,mr4 ,willets8    ,no4   
,i've got more money to pay on ,monday  
than ,i know where to get1  and cannot  
let a cent go out4    ,but1 ,mr4        
,willets1 ,i--    ,i don't want to hear 
any of your reasons1 ,mrs4 ,jarvis4 ,you
 can't  have the money to-night4        
,mrs4 ,jarvis moved slowly away1 and had
 nearly reached the door1 when  a       
thought of her children caused her to   
pause4    ,i cannot go1 ,mr4 ,willets1  
without the money1 she said1 suddenly   
turning1 and speaking in an excited     
tone4    ,you will go1 ,i'm thinking1   
madam1 was the cool reply4    ,o1 sir1  
changing her tone1 pay me what you owe  
me2 ,i want it very  much4    ,o1 yes4  

,so you all say4 ,but ,i am used to such
 make-believes4 ,you  get no money out  
of me to-night1 madam4 ,that's a settled
 point4 ,i'm  angry now--so you had     
better go home at once2 if you don't1   
,i'll  never give you a stitch of work1 
so help--    ,mrs4 ,jarvis did not pause
 to hear the concluding words of the    
sentence4    ,what shall ,i do8 was the 
almost despairing question that she     
asked of herself1 as she hurried towards
 her home4 ,on entering the  house she  
made no remark1 for there was no one to 
whom she could  tell her troubles and   
disappointment1 with even the most      
feeble hope  of a word of comfort4      
,does ,mr4 ,jarvis live here8 asked a   
rough voice at the door4    ,yes1 sir1  
was the reply4    ,well1 here is a      
barrel of flour and some groceries for  
him4    ,there must be some mistake1    
sir4    ,is not this ,mr4 ,jarvis's8    
,yes4    ,and number #dj8    ,yes4      
,then this is the place1 for that was   
the direction given me4    ,yes1 this is

 the place--bring them in1 spoke up     
,jarvis1 in an  animated tone4    ,the  
drayman1 of course1 obeyed4 ,first he   
rolled in the barrel of  flour2 then    
came a number of packages1 evidently    
containing  groceries2 and1 finally1 one
 or two pieces of meat1 and sundry lots 
of vegetables4    ,how much is to pay8  
asked ,jarvis4    ,twenty-five cents1   
sir1 responded the drayman1 bowing4     
,the twenty-five cent piece was taken   
from his pocket with quite an  air1 and 
handed over4 ,then the drayman went out 
and that little  family were alone      
again4 ,during the passage of the scene 
just  described1 the wife stood looking 
on with a stupid and bewildered  air4   
,when the drayman had departed1 she     
turned to her husband1 and  said--      
',john1 where did these things come     
from8    ,i bought them1 ,jane4    ,you 
bought them8    ,yes1 ,i bought them4   
,and pray1 ,john1 what did you buy them 
with8    ,with the quarter of a dollar  
you gave me on ,monday4    ,john6    ,it

 is true1 ,jane4 ,with that quarter ,i  
went and joined the  ,washington        
,total-,abstinence ,society1 and then   
went to work at ,mr4  ,lankford's4 ,here
 is the result of one week's work1      
besides this  silver1 handing her all   
that remained1 after making the         
purchases4    ,o1 ,john1 ,john1 the wife
 exclaimed1 bursting into tears1 do not 
again mock my hopes4 ,i cannot bear much
 more4    ,in the strength of ,him1     
,jane1 who has promised to help us when 
we  call upon ,him1 ',i will not        
disappoint the hopes ,i now revive1'    
said  ,jarvis1 slowly and solemnly4     
,the almost heart-broken wife and mother
 leaned her head upon the  shoulder of  
her husband1 and clung to his side with 
a newly-revived  confidence1 that she   
felt would not be disappointed1 while   
the tears  poured from her eyes like    
rain4 ,but her true feelings we cannot  
attempt to describe--nor dare we venture
 to sketch further the scene  we have   
introduced4 ,the reader's imagination   

can do it more justice1  and to him we  
leave that pleasing task1 with only the 
remark1 that  ,mrs4 ,jarvis's           
newly-awakened joys and hopes have not  
again been  disappointed4               
,,time1 ,,faith1 ,,energy4            ,i
 ,,don',t see that ,i am so much better 
off1 said ,mr4 ,gordon1 a man  who had  
recently given up drinking4 ,i lost my  
situation on the very  day ,i signed the
 pledge1 and have had no regular        
employment since4    ,but you would have
 lost your situation if you hadn't      
signed the  pledge1 ,i presume1 said the
 individual to whom he was complaining4 
,yes4 ,i lost it because ,i got drunk   
and spoiled my job4 ,but to hear  some  
temperance people talk1 one who didn't  
know would be led to  believe that1 the 
very moment the pledge was signed1 gold 
could be  picked up in the streets4 ,i  
must confess that ,i haven't found it   
so4  ,money is scarcer with me than it  
ever was2 and though ,i don't spend  a  
cent for myself1 my family haven't a    

single comfort more than they  had      
before4    ,though there's no disputing 
the fact that they would have many less 
comforts if you hadn't signed the       
pledge8    ,no1 ,i suppose not4 ,but ,i 
cannot help feeling discouraged at the  
way  things go4 ,if ,i had the same     
wages ,i received before ,i signed the  
pledge1 ,i could be laying up money4    
,but1 as it is1 it requires the  utmost 
economy to keep from getting in debt4   
,still1 you do manage to keep even8     
,yes4    ,on about half your former     
income8    ,a little over half4 ,i used 
to get ten dollars a week4 ,now ,i      
manage1  by picking up odd jobs here and
 there1 to make about six4    ,then you 
are better off than you were before4    
,i hardly see how you can make that out4
    ,your family have enough to live    
upon--all they had before--and you  have
 a healthier body1 a calmer mind1 and a 
clearer conscience4  ,isn't here        
something gained8    ,i rather think    
there is1 replied ,gordon1 smiling4     

,and ,i rather think you are a good deal
 better off than you were  before4      
,isn't your wife happier8    ,o6 yes4   
,she's as cheerful as a lark all the    
day4    ,and doesn't murmur because of  
your light wages8    ,no1 indeed6 not   
she4 ,i believe if ,i didn't earn more  
than three  dollars a week1 and kept    
sober1 she would make it do1 somehow or 
other1 and keep a good heart4 ,it's     
wonderful how much she is  changed6     
,and yet you are no better off8 ,ain't  
you better off in having a  happy wife  
and a pleasant home1 what ,i am sure you
 hadn't before8    ,you are right in    
that4 ,i certainly had neither of them  
before4 ,oh6  yes4 ,i am much better off
 all around4 ,i only felt a little      
despondent1 because ,i can't get regular
 employment as ,i used to1 and  good    
wages2 for now1 if ,i had these1 ,i     
could do so well4    ,be patient1 friend
 ,gordon2 time will make all right4     
,there are  three words that every      
reformed man should write on the walls  

of his  chamber1 that he may see them   
every morning4 ,they are ',time1 ,faith1
  ,energy4' ,no matter how low he may   
have fallen2 no matter how  discouraging
 all things around him may appear2 let  
him have energy1  and faith in time1 and
 all will come out well at last4        
,gordon went home1 feeling in better    
heart than when he met the  temperance  
friend who had spoken to him these      
encouraging words4    ,henry ,gordon1   
when he married1 had just commenced     
business for  himself1 and went on for  
several years doing very well4 ,he laid 
by  enough money to purchase himself a  
snug little house1 and was in a  good   
way for accumulating a comfortable      
property1 when the habit of             
dram-drinking1 which he had indulged for
 years1 became an  over-mastering       
passion4 ,from that period he neglected 
his business1  which steadily declined4 
,in half the time it took to accumulate 
the  property he possessed1 all         
disappeared--his business was broken up1

  and he compelled to work at his trade 
as a journeyman to support his  family4 
,from a third to a half of the sum he   
earned weekly1 he spent  in gratifying  
the debasing appetite that had almost   
beggared his  family and reduced him to 
a state of degradation little above that
  of the brute4 ,the balance was given  
to his sad-hearted wife1 to get  food   
for the hungry1 half-clothed children4  
,nor was this all4 ,debts were          
contracted which ,gordon was unable to  
pay4 ,one or two of his creditors1 more 
exacting than the rest1  seized upon his
 furniture and sold it to satisfy their 
claims1  leaving to the distressed      
family only the few articles exempt by  
law4    ,things had reached this low    
condition1 when ,gordon came home from  
the shop1 one day1 some hours earlier   
than usual4 ,surprised at  seeing him1  
his wife said--    ,what's the matter1  
,henry8 ,are you sick8    ,no6 he       
replied1 sullenly1 ,i'm discharged4     
,discharged6 ,for what1 ,henry8    ,for 

spoiling a job4    ,how did that happen8
 ,mrs4 ,gordon spoke kindly1 although   
she felt  anxious and distressed4       
,how has all my trouble happened8 asked 
,gordon1 with unusual  bitterness of    
tone4 ,i took a glass too much1         
and--and--    ,it made you spoil your   
job1 said his wife1 her voice still     
kind4    ,yes4 ,curse the day ,i ever   
saw a drop of liquor6 ,it has been the  
cause of all my misfortunes4    ,why not
 abandon its use at once and for ever1  
,henry8    ,that is not so easily done4 
,hundreds have done it1 and are doing it
 daily1 and so may you4 ,only  make the 
resolution1 ,henry4 ,only determine to  
break these fetters1  and you are free4 
,let the time past1 wherein you have    
wrought folly1  and your family suffered
 more than words can express1 suffice4  
,only  will it1 and there will be a     
bright future for all of us4    ,tears  
came into the eyes of ,mrs4 ,gordon     
while she made this appeal1  although   
she strove hard to appear calm4 ,her    

husband felt a better  spirit awaking   
within him4 ,there was a brief struggle 
between  appetite and the good          
resolution that was forming in his mind1
 and  then the latter conquered4    ,i  
will be free6 he said1 turning towards  
the door through which he  had a little 
while before entered1 and hurriedly     
leaving the house4    ,the hour that    
passed from the time her husband went   
out until he  returned1 was one of most 
anxious suspense to ,mrs4 ,gordon4 ,her 
hand  trembled so that she could not    
hold her needle1 and was obliged to  lay
 aside the sewing upon which she was    
engaged1 and go about some  household   
employments4    ,mary1 ,i have signed   
the pledge1 if that will do any good1   
said  ,gordon1 opening the door and     
coming in upon his wife with his pledge 
in his hand4 ,there1 and he unrolled the
 paper and pointed to his  name2 there  
is my signature1 and here is the        
document4    ,he did not speak very     
cheerfully2 but his wife's face was lit 

up  with a sudden brightness1 followed  
by a gush of tears4    ,do any good6 she
 replied1 leaning her head upon his     
shoulder1 and  grasping one of his hands
 tightly in both of hers4 ,it will do   
all  good6    ,but ,i have no work1     
,mary4 ,i was discharged to-day1 and it 
is the  only shop in town4 ,what are we 
to do8    ,mr4 ,evenly will take you    
back1 now that you have signed the      
pledge4    ,perhaps he will6 ,gordon    
spoke more cheerfully4 ,i will go and   
see  him to-morrow4    ,mrs4 ,gordon    
prepared her husband a strong cup of    
coffee1 and baked  some nice hot cakes  
for his supper4 ,she combed her hair1   
and made  herself as tidy as possible4  
,the children1 too1 were much improved  
in their looks by a little attention1   
which their mother felt  encouraged to  
give4 ,there was an air of comfort about
 the  ill-furnished dwelling of ,henry  
,gordon that it had not known for a     
long time1 and he felt it4    ,on the   
next morning1 after breakfast1 ,gordon  

went back to the shop  from which he had
 been discharged only the day previous4 
,evenly1 the  owner of it1 was a rough1 
unfeeling man1 and had kept ,gordon on1 
month after month1 because he could not 
well do without him4 ,but1 on  the very 
day he discharged him1 a man from       
another town had applied  for work1 and 
the spoiled job was made an excuse for  
discharging a  journeyman1 whose habits 
of intoxication had always been         
offensive  to the master-workman4       
,when ,gordon entered the shop for the  
purpose of asking to be taken  back1 he 
met ,evenly near the door1 who said to  
him1 in a rough  manner--    ,and what  
do you want1 pray8    ,i want you to    
take me back again1 replied ,gordon4 ,i 
have signed  the pledge1 and intend     
leading a sober life hereafter4    ,the 
devil you have6    ,yes sir4 ,i signed  
it yesterday1 after you discharged me4  
,how long do you expect to keep it8     
asked ,evenly1 with a sneer4  ,long     
enough to reach the next grogshop8    ,i

 have taken the pledge for life1 ,i     
trust1 returned the workman1  seriously4
 ,he was hurt at the contemptuous manner
 of his old  employer1 but his dependent
 condition made him conceal his         
feelings4  ,you will have no more       
trouble with me4    ,no1 ,i am aware of 
that4 ,i will have no more trouble with 
you1 for ,i  never intend to let you    
come ten feet inside the front door of  
my  shop4    ,but ,i have reformed my   
bad habit1 ,mr4 ,evenly4 ,i will give   
you no  more trouble with my drinking1  
said the poor man1 alarmed at this      
language4    ,it's no use for you to    
talk to me1 ,gordon1 replied ,evenly1 in
 a  rough manner4 ,i've long wanted to  
get rid of you1 and ,i have  finally    
succeeded4 ,your place is filled4 ,so   
there is no more to say  on that        
subject4 ,good morning4    ,and the man 
turned on his heel and left ,gordon     
standing half  stupified at what he had 
heard4    ,rum's done the business for  
you at last1 my lark6 ,i told you it    

would come to this6 said an old fellow  
workman1 who heard what  passed between 
,gordon and the employer4 ,he spoke in a
 light1  insulting voice4    ,without   
replying1 the unhappy man left the shop1
 feeling more  wretched than he had ever
 felt in his life4    ,and thus ,i am   
met at my first effort to reform6 he    
murmured1  bitterly4    ,hallo1 ,gordon6
 ,where are you going8 cried a voice as 
these words  fell from his lips4    ,he 
looked up and found himself opposite to 
the door of one of his  old haunts4 ,it 
was the keeper of it who had called him4
    ,come6 ,walk in and let us see your 
pleasant face this morning4 ,where  were
 you last night8 ,my company all        
complained about your absence4  ,we were
 as dull as a funeral4    ,curse you and
 your company too6 ejaculated ,gordon   
between his  teeth1 and moved on1       
letting his eyes fall again to the      
pavement4    ,hey-day6 ,what's the      
matter8    ,but ,gordon did not stop to 
bandy words with one of the men who had 

helped to ruin him4    ,it's all over   
with us1 ,mary4 ,evenly's got a man in  
my place1 said  ,gordon1 as he entered  
his house and threw himself despairingly
 into  a chair4 ,but won't he give you  
work1 too8 asked ,mrs4 ,gordon1 in a    
husky voice4    ,no6 ,he insulted me1   
and said ,i should never come ten feet  
inside of  his shop4    ,did you tell   
him that you had signed the pledge8     
,yes4 ,but it was no use4 ,he did not   
seem to care for me any more  than he   
did for a dog4    ,the poor man's       
distress was so great that he covered   
his face with  his hands1 and sat       
swinging his body to and fro1 and       
uttering  half-suppressed moans4        
,what are we to do1 ,mary8 ,there is no 
other shop in town1 he said1  looking   
up1 after growing a little calm4        
,doesn't it seem hard1 just  as ,i am   
trying to do right8    ,don't despair1  
,henry4 ,let us trust in ,providence4   
,it is only a dark  moment2 yet1 dark as
 it is1 it is brighter to me than any   

period has  been for years4 ,a clear    
head and ready hands will not go long   
unemployed4 ,i do not despond1 dear     
husband1 neither should you4 ,keep  fast
 anchored to your pledge1 and we will   
outride the storm4    ,but we shall     
starve1 ,mary4 ,we cannot live upon air4
    ,no1 replied ,mrs4 ,gordon2 but we  
can live upon half what you have  been  
earning at your trade1 and quite as     
comfortably as we have been  living4    
,and it will be an extreme case1 ,i     
think1 if you can't get  employment at  
five dollars a week1 doing something or 
other4 ,don't  you8    ,it appears so4  
,certainly ,i ought to be able to earn  
five dollars a  week1 if it is at sawing
 wood4 ,i'll do that--,i'll do any      
thing4    ,then we needn't be alarmed4  
,i'll try and get some sewing at any    
rate1 to help out4 ,so brighten up1     
,henry4 ,all will be well4 ,it will     
take a little time to get things going  
right again2 but time and  industry will
 do all for us that we could ask4       

,thus encouraged1 ,gordon started out to
 see if he could find  something to do4 
,it was a new thing for him to go in    
search of work2  and rather hard1 he    
felt1 to be obliged almost to beg for   
it4 ,where  to go1 or to whom to apply1 
he did not know4 ,after wandering about 
for several hours1 and making several   
applications at out of the way  places  
with no success1 he turned his steps    
homeward1 feeling  utterly cast down4   
,in this state1 he was assailed by the  
temptation  to drown all his trouble in 
the cup of confusion1 and nearly drawn  
aside2 but a thought of his wife1 and   
the bright hope that had  sprung up in  
her heart in the midst of darkness1 held
 him back4    ,it's no use to try1      
,mary1 he said1 despondingly1 as he     
entered his  poorly-furnished abode1 and
 found his wife busy with her needle4 ,i
  can't get any work4    ,i have been   
more successful than you have1 ,henry1  
,mrs4 ,gordon  returned1 speaking       
cheerfully4 ,i went to see if ,mrs4     

,hewitt hadn't  some sewing to give out1
 and she gave me a dozen shirts to make4
 ,so  don't be discouraged4 ,you can    
afford to wait for work even for two  or
 three weeks1 if it doesn't come sooner4
 ,let us be thankful for  what we have  
to-day1 and trust in ,god for to-morrow4
 ,depend upon it1  we shall not want4   
,providence never forsakes the man who  
is trying  to do right4    ,thus ,mrs4  
,gordon strove to keep up the spirits of
 her husband4 ,after  dinner1 he went   
out again and called to see a well-known
 temperance  man4 ,after relating to him
 what he had done1 and how unhappily he 
was situated in regard to work1 the man 
said--    ,it won't do to be idle1      
,gordon2 that's clear4 ,an idle man is  
tempted ten times to another's once4    
,you will never be able to keep  the    
pledge unless you get something to do4  
,we must assist you in  this matter4    
,what can you do besides your trade8    
,i have little skill beyond my regular  
calling2 but then1 ,i have  health1     

strength1 and willingness2 and ,i think 
these might be made  useful in          
something4    ,so do ,i4 ,now to start  
with1 ,i'll tell you what ,i'll do4 ,if 
you will  come and open my store for me 
every morning1 make the fire and sweep  
out1 and come and stay an hour for me   
every day while ,i go to  dinner1 ,i    
will give you three dollars a week4 ,two
 hours a day is all  your time ,i shall 
want4    ,thank you from my heart6 ,of  
course ,i accept your offer4 ,so far so 
good1 said ,gordon1 brightening up4     
,very well4 ,you may begin with         
to-morrow morning4 ,no doubt you can    
make an equal sum by acting as a light  
porter for the various stores  about4 ,i
 can throw a little in your way2 and ,i 
will speak to my  neighbors to do the   
same4 ,there was not a happier home in  
the whole  town than was the home of    
,henry ,gordon that night1 poor as it   
was4    ,i knew it would all come out   
right1 said ,mrs4 ,gordon4 ,i knew a    
better day was coming4 ,we can live     

quite comfortably upon five or  six     
dollars a week1 and be happier than we  
have been for years4    ,when ,gordon   
thought of the past1 he did not wonder  
that tears fell  over the face of his   
wife1 even while her lips and eyes were 
bright  with smiles4 ,as the friend had 
supposed1 ,gordon was employed to do    
many errands by the storekeepers in the 
neighborhood4 ,some weeks he  made five 
dollars and sometimes six or seven4     
,this went on for a few  months1 when he
 began to feel discouraged4 ,the        
recollection of other  and brighter days
 returned frequently to his mind1 and he
 began  ardently to desire an improved  
external condition1 as well for his     
wife and children as for himself4 ,he   
wished to restore what had been  lost2  
but saw no immediate prospect of being  
able to do so4 ,six  dollars a week was 
the average of his earnings1 and it took
 all  this1 besides what little his wife
 earned1 to make things tolerably       
comfortable at home4    ,gordon was in a

 more desponding mood than usual1 when  
he indulged in  the complaint with which
 our story opens4 ,what was said to him 
changed the tone of his feelings1 and   
inspired him with a spirit of           
cheerfulness and hope4    ,time1 ,faith1
 ,energy6 he said to himself1 as he     
walked with a more  elastic step4 ,yes1 
these must bring out all right in the   
end4 ,i  will not be so weak as to      
despond4 ,all is much improved as it is4
 ,we  are happier and better4 ,time1    
,faith1 ,energy6 ,i will trust in these4
    ,when ,gordon opened the door of his
 humble abode1 he found a lad  waiting  
to see him1 who arose1 and presenting a 
small piece of  paper1 said--    ,mr4   
,blake wishes to know when you can      
settle this8    ,mr4 ,blake was a       
grocer1 to whom ten dollars had been    
owing for a  year4 ,he had dunned the   
poor drunkard for the money until he got
  tired of so profitless a business1 and
 gave up the account for lost4  ,by some
 means1 it had recently come to his ears

 that ,gordon had  signed the pledge4   
,some chance for me yet1 he said1 and   
immediately had the bill made  out anew1
 and sent in2 not thinking or caring    
whether it might not  be premature for  
him to do so1 and have the effect to    
discourage the  poor man and drive him  
back to his old habits4 ,what he wanted 
was  his money4 ,it was his due2 and he 
meant to have it if he could get  it4   
,tell ,mr4 ,blake that ,i will pay him  
as soon as possible4 ,at present  it is 
out of my power1 said ,gordon1 in answer
 to the demand4    ,the lad1 in the     
spirit of his master1 turned away with a
 sulky air1  and left the house4        
,poor ,gordon's feelings went down to   
zero in a moment4    ,it's hopeless1    
,mary6 ,i see it all as plain as day1 he
 said4 ,the  moment ,i get upon my feet1
 there will be a dozen to knock me down4
  ,while ,i was a drunkard1 no one      
thought of dunning me for money2 but    
now that ,i am trying to do right1 every
 one to whom ,i am indebted a  dollar   

will come pouncing down upon me4        
,it's a just debt1 ,henry1 you know1 and
 we ought to pay it4    ,i don't dispute
 that4 ,but we can't pay it now4        
,then ,blake can't get it now2 so there 
the matter will have to rest4  ,a little
 dunning won't kill us4 ,we have had    
harder trials than that  to bear4 ,so   
don't get discouraged so easily4    ,the
 words ,time1 ,faith1 ,energy6 came into
 the mind of ,gordon and  rebuked him4  
,there is sense in what you say1 ,mary1 
he replied4 ,i know ,i am too  easily   
discouraged4 ,we owe ,blake1 that is    
clear2 and ,i suppose he is  right in   
trying to get his money4 ,we can't pay  
him now2 and  therefore he can't get it 
now1 do what he will4 ,so we will be no 
worse for his dunning1 if he duns every 
day4 ,but ,i hate so to be  asked for   
money4    ,i'll tell you what might be  
done1 said ,mrs4 ,gordon4    ,well8     
inquired the husband4    ,mr4 ,blake has
 a large family1 and no doubt his wife  
gives out a  good deal of sewing4 ,i    

could work it out4    ,gordon thought a 
few moments1 and then said--    ,or1    
better than that2 perhaps ,blake would  
let me work it out in his  store4 ,i    
have a good deal of time on my hands    
unemployed4    ,yes1 that would be      
better1 replied ,mrs4 ,gordon2 for ,i   
have as  much sewing as ,i can do1 and  
get paid for it all4    ,this thought   
brightened the spirits of ,gordon4 ,as  
soon as he had  eaten his dinner he     
started for the store of ,mr4 ,blake4   
,i've come to talk to you about that    
bill of mine1 said ,mr4 ,gordon4        
,well1 what of it8 returned the grocer4 
,i wish to pay it1 but have  not the    
present ability4 ,i lost my situation on
 the very day ,i  signed the pledge1 and
 have had no regular employment since4  
,so far1  ,i have only been able to pick
 up five or six dollars a week1 and it  
takes all that to live upon4 ,but ,i    
have time to spare1 ,mr4 ,blake1 if  ,i 
have no money2 and if ,i can pay you in 
labor1 ,i will be glad to do  so4    ,i 

don't know that ,i could ask more than  
that1 replied the grocer4  ,if ,i did1  
,i would be unreasonable4 ,let me see3  
,i reckon ,i could  find a day's work   
for you about the store at least once a 
week1 for  which ,i would allow you a   
credit of one dollar and a quarter4 ,how
  would that do8    ,it would be exactly
 what ,i would like4 ,i can spare you a 
day  easily4 ,and it is much better to  
work out an old debt than to be  idle4  
,very well1 ,gordon4 ,come to-morrow and
 work for me1 and ,i will pass  a dollar
 and a quarter to your account4 ,i like 
this4 ,it shows you  are an honest man4 
,never fear but what you'll get along4  
,the approving words of the grocer      
encouraged ,gordon very much4 ,on  the  
next day he went as he had agreed and   
worked for ,mr4 ,blake4 ,when  he was   
about leaving the store at night1 ,blake
 called to him and  said--    ,here1    
,gordon2 stop a moment4 ,i want you to  
put up a pound of this  white crushed   
sugar2 and a quarter of young hyson tea4

    ,gordon did as he was directed4     
,blake took the two packages from the   
counter1 and handing them to ,gordon1   
said--    ,take them to your wife with  
my compliments1 and tell her that ,i    
wish her joy of an honest husband4      
,gordon took the unexpected favor1 and  
without speaking1 turned  hastily from  
the grocer and walked away4             
,behind that frowning ,providence       
,he hid a smiling face1    said ,mrs4   
,gordon1 with tearful eyes1 when her    
husband presented her  the sugar and    
tea1 and repeated what the grocer had   
said4    ,yes4 ,it was a blessing sent  
to us in disguise1 returned ,gordon4    
,how little do we know of the good or   
ill that lies in our immediate  future6 
,do not say ill1 dear husband--only     
seeming ill2 if we think right  and do  
right4 ,when ,god makes our future1 all 
is good2 the ill is of  our own         
procuring4    ,right1 ,mary4 ,i see that
 truth as clear as if a sunbeam shone   
upon  it4    ,time1 ,faith1 ,energy6    

murmured ,gordon to himself1 as he lay  
awake  that night1 thinking of the      
future4 ,before losing himself in sleep1
  he had made up his mind to go to      
another creditor for a small  amount1   
and see if he could not make a similar  
arrangement with him  to the one entered
 into with the grocer4 ,the man demurred
 a little1  and then said he would take 
time to think about it4 ,when ,gordon   
called again1 he declined the           
proposition1 and said he had sold his   
goods for money1 not for work4    ,but  
,i have no money1 replied ,gordon4      
,i'll wait awhile and see1 returned the 
man1 in a way and with a  significance  
that fretted the mind of ,gordon4       
,he'll wait until he sees me getting a  
little ahead1 and then pounce  down upon
 me like a hawk upon his prey4    ,over 
this idea the reformed man worried      
himself1 and went home to  his wife     
unhappy and dispirited4    ,i owe at    
least a hundred and fifty or two hundred
 dollars1 he  said2 and there is no hope

 of inducing all of those to whom money 
is due to wait until we can pay them    
with comfort to ourselves4 ,i  shall be 
tormented to death1 ,i see that plain   
enough4    ,don't you look at the dark  
side1 ,henry8 replied his wife to this4 
,i think you do4 ,you owe some eight or 
ten persons1 and one of them  has asked 
you for what was due4 ,you offered to   
work out the debt1  and he accepted your
 offer4 ,to another who has not asked   
you1 you go  and make the same offer1   
which he declines1 preferring to wait   
for  the money4 ,there is nothing so    
really discouraging in all this1 ,i am  
sure4 ,if he prefers waiting1 let him   
wait4 ,no doubt it will be the  same to 
us in the end4 ,as to our getting much  
ahead or many comforts  around us until 
our debts are settled off1 we might as  
well not  think of that4 ,we will feel  
better to pay what we owe as fast as we 
earn it2 and1 more than that1 it will   
put the temptation to distress  us in   
nobody's way4 ,if one man won't let you 

work out your debt1 why  another will4  
,i've no doubt that two-thirds of your  
creditors will  be glad to avail        
themselves of the offer4    ,thus       
re-assured1 ,gordon felt better4 ,on the
 next day he tried a  third party to    
whom he owed fifteen dollars4 ,this man 
happened to  keep a retail grocery and  
liquor store4 ,that is1 he had a bar at 
one  counter1 and sold groceries at the 
other4 ,two-thirds of the debt was  for 
liquor4 ,i want to wipe off that old    
score of mine1 if ,i can1  ,mr4 ,king1  
said ,gordon1 as he met the storekeeper 
at his own door4    ,that's clever1     
replied ,mr4 ,king4 ,walk in4 ,what will
 you take8  ,some brandy8    ,and ,mr4  
,king stepped behind the counter and    
laid his hand upon a  decanter4         
,nothing at all1 ,i thank you1 replied  
,gordon quickly4    ,why how's that8    
,have you sworn off8    ,yes4 ,i've     
joined the temperance society4    ,the  
storekeeper shrugged his shoulders4 ,i  
didn't expect that of  you1 ,gordon4 ,i 

thought you were too fond of a little   
creature  comfort4    ,i ruined myself  
and beggared my family by drink1 if that
 is what  you mean by creature comfort4 
,poor comfort it was for my wife and    
children1 to say nothing of my own case1
 which was1 ,heaven knows1  bad enough4 
,but ,i have come to talk to you about  
paying off that old  score4 ,now that   
,i've given up drinking1 ,i want to try 
and be honest  if ,i can4    ,that's    
right4 ,i like to see a man1 when he    
sets out to be decent1  go the whole    
figure4 ,have you got the money8    ,no4
 ,i wish ,i had4 ,i have no money and   
not half work2 but ,i have  time on my  
hands1 ,mr4 ,king4    ,time8 ,that is   
what some people call money4 ,you want  
to pay me in  time1 instead of money1 ,i
 presume8 ,rather rich1 that1 ,gordon6  
,but  time don't pass current1 like     
money1 in these diggins1 my friend4     
,there are a plenty who come here--and  
throw it away for nothing4 ,i  can get  
more than ,i want4    ,i have no wish to

 throw my time away1 nor to pass it upon
 you for  money1 ,mr4 ,king4 ,what ,i   
want is1 to render you some service--in 
other words1 to work for you1 if you can
 give me something to do4 ,i  have time 
on my hands unemployed1 and ,i wish to  
turn it to some good  account4    ,o1   
yes4 ,i understand now4 ,very well1     
,gordon2 ,i rather think ,i can  meet   
your views4 ,yesterday my barkeeper was 
sent to prison for  getting into a      
scrape while drunk1 and ,i want his     
place supplied  until he gets out4 ,come
 and tend bar for me a couple of weeks1 
and ,i  will give you a receipt in full 
of all demands4    ,gordon shook his    
head and looked grave4    ,what's the   
matter8 ,won't you do it8    ,no1 sir4  
,i can't do that4    ,why8    ,because  
,i have sworn neither to taste1 touch1  
nor handle the  accursed thing4 ,neither
 to drink it myself1 nor put it to the  
lips  of another4 ,no1 no1 ,mr4 ,king1  
,i can't do that4 ,but ,i will sell your
  groceries for you three days in the   

week1 for four weeks4 ,part of my  time 
is already regularly engaged4    ,go off
 about your business6 said the          
store-keeper1 his face red  with anger  
at the language of the reformed man1    
which he was pleased  to consider highly
 insulting4 ,i'll see to collecting that
 bill in a  different way from that4    
,by this time ,gordon was learning not  
to be frightened and  discouraged at    
every thing4 ,his wife had so often     
showed him its  folly1 that he felt     
ashamed to go to her again in a         
desponding mood1  and therefore cheered 
himself up before going home4    ,in    
other quarters he found rather better   
success4 ,not all of those  he owed were
 of the stamp of the two to whom        
application had last  been made4 ,in    
less than six months he had worked out  
nearly a  hundred dollars of what he    
owed1 and had regular employment that   
brought him in six dollars every week1  
besides earning1 by odd jobs  and light 
porterage1 from two to three dollars4   

,his wife rarely let  a week go without 
producing her one or two dollars by     
needle-work4  ,little comforts gradually
 crept in1 notwithstanding all their    
debts  were not yet paid off4 ,this was 
inevitable4    ,by the end of twelve    
months ,gordon found himself clear of   
debt1 and  in a good situation in a     
store at five hundred dollars a year4   
,so much for ',time1 ,faith1 ,energy1'  
he said to himself1 as he  walked       
backwards and forwards1 in his          
comfortable little home1 one  evening1  
thinking of the incidents of the year1  
and the results that  had followed4 ,i  
would not have believed it4 ,scarcely a 
twelvemonth  has passed1 and here am ,i1
 a sober man and out of debt4    ,though
 still very far from the advanced       
position in the world you  held a few   
years ago1 and to which you can never   
more attain1 said  a desponding voice   
within him4 ,a man never has but one    
chance for  attaining ease and          
competence in this life4 ,if he neglects

 that1 he  need not waste his time in   
any useless struggles4    ,time1 ,faith1
 ,energy6 spoke out another voice4 ,if  
one year has  done so much for you1 what
 will not five1 ten1 or twenty years do8
  ,redouble your energies1 have         
confidence in the future1 and time will 
make all right4    ,i will have faith in
 time2 ,i will have energy6 responded   
the man  in ,gordon1 speaking aloud4    
,from that time ,gordon and his wife    
lived with even stricter economy  than  
before1 in order to lay by a little     
money with which he  could1--at some    
future time1 re-commence his own        
business1 which was  profitable4 ,there 
was still only a single shop in town1   
and that was  the one owned by his old  
employer1 who had1 in fact1 built       
himself  up on his downfall1 when he    
took to drinking and neglecting his     
business4 ,on less than a thousand      
dollars ,gordon did not think of        
commencing business4 ,less than that he 
knew would make the effort a  doubtful  

one4 ,this amount he expected to save in
 about five years4    ,two years of this
 time had elapsed1 and ,gordon had four 
hundred  dollars invested and bearing   
interest4 ,he still held his situation  
at five hundred dollars per annum4 ,the 
only shop yet established in  the town  
for doing the work for which he was     
qualified both as a  journeyman and     
master workman1 was that owned and still
 carried on  by his old employer1 who   
had made a good deal of money2 but who  
had1  of late1 fallen into habits of    
dissipation and neglected his  business4
    ,one evening1 while ,gordon was     
reading at home in his comfortable      
little sitting-room1 with his wife      
beside him engaged with her  needle1 and
 both feeling very contented1 there was 
a rap at the  door4 ,on opening it      
,gordon recognized ,mr4 ,evenly1 and    
politely  invited him to come in4 ,after
 being seated1 his old employer1 who    
showed too plainly the debasing signs of
 frequent intoxication1  said--         

,gordon what are you doing now8    ,the 
reformed man stated the nature of his   
occupation4    ,what salary do you      
receive8 asked ,evenly4    ,five hundred
 dollars a year4    ,do you like your   
present employment8    ,yes1 very well4 
,it is lighter than my old business1 and
 much  cleaner4    ,would you be willing
 to come to work for me again8 further  
inquired ,evenly4    ,i don't know that 
,i would4 ,my present situation is      
permanent1 my  employer a very pleasant 
man1 and my work easy4    ,three things 
that are very desirable1 certainly4 ,but
 ,i'll tell you  what ,i want1 and what 
,i will give you4 ,perhaps we can make a
  bargain4 ,there is no man in town who 
understands our business better  than   
you do4 ,that ,i am free to admit4      
,heretofore ,i have been my own         
manager2 but ,i am satisfied that it    
will be for my interest to have  a      
competent foreman in my establishment4  
,if ,i can find one to suit  me ,i will 
give him liberal wages4 ,you will do    

exactly2 and if you  will take charge of
 my shop1 ,i will make your wages       
fifteen dollars  a week4 ,what do you   
say to that8    ,i rather think1 replied
 ,gordon1 that ,i will accept your      
offer4  ,five dollars a week advance in 
wages for a poor man is a  consideration
 not lightly to be passed by4    ,it is 
not1 certainly1 remarked ,evenly4 ,then 
,i may consider it  settled that you    
will take charge of my shop4    ,yes4 ,i
 believe ,i needn't hesitate about the  
matter4    ,so the arrangement was made1
 and ,gordon went back to the shop as   
foreman1 from which he had been         
discharged as a journeyman three  years 
before4    ,firmly bent upon commencing 
the business for himself1 whenever he   
should feel himself able to do so1      
,gordon continued his frugal mode  of   
living for two years longer1 when the   
amount of his savings1  interest and all
 added1 was very nearly fifteen hundred 
dollars4 ,the  time had now come for him
 to take the step he had contemplated   

for  four years4 ,evenly received the   
announcement with undisguised           
astonishment4 ,after committing to such 
competent hands the entire              
manufacturing part of his business1 he  
had given himself up more and  more to  
dissipation4 ,had it not been for the   
active and energetic  manner in which   
the affairs of the shop were conducted  
by ,gordon1  every thing would have     
fallen into disorder4 ,but in a fair    
ratio  with the neglect of his principal
 was he efficient as his agent4    ,i   
can't let you go1 said ,evenly1 when    
,gordon informed him of his  intention  
to go into business for himself4 ,if    
fifteen dollars a  week doesn't satisfy 
you1 you shall have twenty4    ,it is   
not the wages1 replied ,gordon4 ,i wish 
to go into business  for myself4 ,from  
the first this has been my intention4   
,but you haven't the capital4    ,yes4  
,i have fifteen hundred dollars4    ,you
 have6    ,yes4 ,i have saved it in four
 years4 ,that will give me a fair start4

  ,i am not afraid for the rest4'       
,evenly felt well satisfied that if     
,gordon went into business for  himself1
 his own would be ruined1 and therefore1
 finding all efforts  to dissuade him   
from his purpose of no avail1 he offered
 to take him  in as a partner4 ,but to  
this came an unexpected objection4      
,gordon  was averse to such a           
connection4 ,being pressed to state the 
reason  why1 he frankly said--    ,my   
unwillingness to enter into business    
with you arises from the  fact that you 
are1 as ,i was four years ago1 a slave  
to strong drink4  ,you are not yourself 
one half of the time1 and hardly ever in
 a fit  condition to attend to business4
 ,pardon me for saying this4 ,but you   
asked for my reason1 and ,i have given  
it4    ,evenly1 at first1 was angry4    
,but reflection soon came1 and then he  
felt humiliated as he had never felt    
before4 ,there was no intention  on the 
part of ,gordon to insult him1 nor to   
triumph over him1 but  rather a feeling 

of sorrow2 and this ,evenly saw4    ,and
 this is your only objection8 he at     
length said4    ,i have none other1     
replied ,gordon4    ,if it did not exist
 you would meet my proposals8           
,undoubtedly4    ,then it shall no      
longer exist4 ,from this hour ,i will be
 as free  from the vice you have named  
as you are4    ,will you sign the       
pledge8    ,yes1 this very hour4    ,and
 he did so4    ,a year afterwards an old
 friend1 who had joined the temperance  
ranks  about the time ,gordon did1 and  
who had only got along moderately  well1
 passed the establishment of ,,evenly   
,,gordon1 and saw the  latter standing  
in the door4    ,are you in this        
concern8 he asked1 in some surprise4    
,yes4    ,and making money fast8    ,we 
are doing very well4    ,gordon1 ,i     
don't understand this altogether4 ,i    
tried to recover  myself1 but soon got  
discouraged1 and have ever since plodded
 along  in a poor way ,i live1 it is    
true2 but you are doing much better than

  that4 ,what is your secret8    ,it    
lies in three words1 replied ,gordon4   
,name them4    ,time1 ,faith1 ,energy6  
,the man looked startled for a moment1  
and then walked away wiser  than when he
 asked the question4 ,whether he will   
profit by the  answer we cannot tell4   
,others may1 if they will4              
,,flushed ,,with ,,wine4                
,,wasn',t that ,ernestine ,lee that we  
passed this moment8 asked ,harvey       
,lane1 a young ,m4,d41 of his friend    
,james ,everett1 in a tone of  surprise4
    ,yes1 ,i believe it was--,everett   
returned1 rather coldly4    ,you believe
 it was6 ,surely1 ,james1 nothing has   
occurred to destroy  the intimacy that  
has for some time existed between you4  
,you saw that we did not speak4    ,i   
did4    ,and1 probably1 shall never be  
on terms of friendship again4    ,what  
you say pains me very much1 ,james4 ,of 
course there is a reason  for so great a
 change4 ,may ,i ask what it is8    ,it 
is1 no doubt1 a good deal my own fault4 

,but still1 ,i cannot help  thinking    
that she has taken offence too suddenly1
 where no offence  was intended4 ,you   
know that ,i have been long paying      
attentions to  her8    ,yes4    ,if ,i  
remember rightly1 ,i told you last week1
 that my intentions  towards her were of
 a serious character4 ,in a word1 that  
,i had fully  made up my mind to ask her
 hand in marriage4    ,o1 yes1--,i      
remember it very well4 ,and that is the 
reason why ,i felt  so much surprised at
 seeing you pass each other1 without    
speaking4    ,well1 a few evenings ago1 
,i called1 as usual1 intending1 if a    
good  opportunity offered1 to make known
 my true feelings towards her4          
,unfortunately1 ,i had dined out that   
day with some young friends4 ,we  sat   
late at table1 and when ,i left1 ,i was 
a little flushed with  wine4 ,it was a  
very little1 for you know that ,i can   
drink pretty  freely without its being  
seen4 ,but1 somehow1 or other1 ,i was   
more  elated than is usual with me on   

such occasions1 and when ,i called on   
,ernestine1 felt as free and easy as if 
everything was settled1 and  we were to 
be married in a week4 ,for a time1 we   
chatted together  very pleasantly2 then 
,i asked her to play and sing for me4   
,she went  to the piano1 at my request1 
and played and sung two or three very   
sweet airs4 ,i don't know which it was  
that elated my feelings so  much--the   
wine1 or the delightful music4 ,certain 
it is1 that at the  conclusion of a     
piece1 ,i was in such rapture1 that ,i  
threw my arms  around her neck1 drew    
back her head1 and kissed her with      
emphatic  earnestness4    ,why1 ,james6 
,you may well be surprised at the       
commission of so rude and  ungentlemanly
 an act4 ,but1 as ,i have said1 ,i was  
flushed with wine4    ,how did          
,ernestine act8    ,she was1 of course1 
deeply indignant at the unwarrantable   
liberty4  ,springing from the           
piano-stool1 her face crimsoned over1   
she drew  herself up with a dignified   

air1 and ordered me instantly to leave  
her presence4 ,i attempted to make an   
apology1 but she would not hear  a word4
 ,i have since written to her1 but my   
letter has been returned  unopened4     
,really1 that is unfortunate1 the friend
 of ,everett said1 with  concern4       
,ernestine is a girl whom any man might 
be proud to gain as  a wife4 ,and1      
besides her personal qualifications1 a  
handsome fortune  will go with her hand4
    ,i know all that too well1 ,harvey4 
,fool that ,i have been1 to mar  such   
prospects as were mine6 ,but she must   
have known that ,i was not  myself--and 
ought to have charged the fault upon the
 wine1 and not  upon me4    ,such a     
discrimination is not usually made4     
,i know that it is not4 ,and for not    
making it in my case1 ,i  certainly     
cannot help blaming ,ernestine a little4
 ,she must have  known1 that1 had ,i not
 been flushed with wine1 ,i never would 
have  taken the liberty with her that ,i
 did4 ,as it is1 however1 ,i am not     

only pained at the consequences of my   
foolishness1 but deeply  mortified at my
 conduct4    ,is there no hope of a     
reconciliation8    ,i do not think there
 is any4 ,if she had accepted my written
 apology  for the act1 there would have 
been some hope4 ,but the fact of her    
returning my letter unopened1 is        
conclusive as to the permanency of  the 
breach4 ,i can now make no further      
advances4    ,truly1 it is mortifying6  
the friend remarked4 ,then1 after a     
pause1  he added1 with emphasis--       
,what fools this wine does make of us1  
sometimes6    ,doesn't it8 ,another such
 a circumstance as this1 would almost   
drive  me to join a temperance society4 
,o1 no1 hardly that1 ,james4    ,well1  
perhaps not4 ,but1 at least1 to eschew  
wine for ever4    ,wine is good enough  
in its place2 but1 like fire1 is rather 
a bad  master4 ,like you1 ,i have       
injured my prospects in life by an      
over-indulgence in the pleasures of the 
cup4    ,you8    ,yes4    ,when did that

 happen8    ,since ,i last saw you4     
,indeed6 ,i am sorry to hear you say so4
 ,but how was it8--tell me4    ,you     
know1 that as a young physician1 ,i     
shall have to struggle on in  this city 
for years before ,i can rise to any     
degree of distinction1  unless aided by 
some fortunate circumstance1 that shall 
be as a  stepping-stone upon which to   
elevate me1 and enable me to gain the   
public eye4 ,i am conscious that ,i have
 mastered thoroughly the  principles of 
my profession--and that1 in regard to   
surgery1  particularly1 ,i possess a    
skill not surpassed by many who have    
handled the knife for years4 ,of this   
fact1 my surgical teacher1 who  is my   
warm friend1 is fully aware4 ,at every  
important case that he  has1 ,i am      
desired to be present1 and assist in the
 operation1 and  once or twice1 where   
there were no friends of the patient to 
object1  ,i have been permitted to      
perform the operation myself1 and always
  with success4 ,in this department of  

my profession1 ,i feel great  confidence
 in myself--and it is that part of it1  
in which ,i take the  most interest4    
,and in which1 ,i doubt not1 you will   
one day be distinguished4    ,i trust   
so2 and yet1 things look dark enough    
just now4 ,but to go  on4 ,a few days   
ago1 ,i dined with some friends4 ,after 
dinner1 the  bottle was circulated      
pretty freely1 and ,i drank as freely as
 the  rest1 but was not aware of having 
taken enough to produce upon me  any    
visible effects4 ,it was about an hour  
after the table had been  cleared for   
the wine1 that an unusually loud ringing
 of the  door-bell attracted our        
attention4 ,in a few moments after1 ,i  
heard a  voice asking1 in hurried tones1
 for ,doctor ,lane4 ,going down at once 
to the hall1 ,i found old ,mr4 ,camper  
there1 the rich merchant1 in a  state of
 great agitation4    ',doctor1' said he1
 grasping my arm1--'a most terrible     
accident has  happened to my            
daughter6--thrown from a carriage6--,my 

physician  cannot be found1 and as ,i   
have often heard your skill warmly      
alluded  to by him1 ,i desire your      
instant attendance4 ,my carriage is at  
the  door--,come along with me1         
quickly4'    ,catching up my hat1 ,i    
attended him at once1 and during our    
rapid  drive to his princely residence1 
learned that his only daughter had  been
 thrown from a carriage1 and dreadfully 
injured2 but in what  way1 could not    
ascertain4 ,unaccountably to myself1 ,i 
found my mind  all in confusion1--and1  
strange1 unprofessional omission6 forgot
 to  request that ,i be driven first to 
my office for my case of  instruments4  
,we had not proceeded half the distance 
to ,mr4 ,camper's  residence1 before ,i 
noticed that the old man became silent1 
and that  his eye was fixed upon me with
 a steady1 scrutinizing gaze4 ,this     
added to the confusion of mind which ,i 
felt4 ,at length the carriage  stopped1 
and ,i accompanied ,mr4 ,camper to his  
daughter's chamber1  hurriedly1 and in  

silence4 ,as ,i paused by the bed upon  
which she  lay1 ,i again noticed that he
 was regarding me with a steady         
searching look1 and an expression of    
face that ,i did not like1 and  could   
not understand4    ,i proceeded1        
however1 at once1 to examine the        
condition of my  patient1 who lay in a  
kind of stupor4 ,there was a deep gash  
on the  side of her face1 from which the
 blood had issued profusely4 ,by the    
aid of warm-water1 ,i soon cleared the  
wound from a mass of  coagulated blood  
that had collected around it1 and was   
glad to find  that it was not a serious 
one4 ,i then proceeded to examine if    
there  were any fractures4 ,all this    
time my hands were unsteady1 my face    
burned1 and my mind was confused4 ,i was
 conscious that ,i had taken  too much  
wine4    ',there is no apparent injury  
here1' ,i at length said1 after         
examining the arms and chest4 ',she is  
probably only stunned by the            
concussion4'    ',but she could not     

stand on her feet when first lifted     
after the  fall1 and fainted immediately
 upon attempting to sustain her own     
weight1' ,mr4 ,camper replied4    ,i    
then made further examination1 and found
 sad indications of her  fall1 in a     
fractured patella4 ,the knee was1       
however1 so swollen1  that ,i could not 
ascertain the nature1 nor extent of the 
fracture4    ',what do you find the     
matter there1 doctor8' ,mr4 ,camper     
asked1  after ,i had finished my        
examination4    ',a very serious injury1
 sir1 ,i am sorry to say1' was my reply4
    ',of what nature8' was his somewhat 
stern inquiry4    ',her knee-pan is     
fractured1 sir2 but so much swollen1    
that ,i  cannot1 now1 fully ascertain   
the extent of the injury4'    ,henry6   
cried the old man in a quick1 eager tone
 to an attendant1  go again for doctor  
,l--2 and if he is not in1 go for doctor
  ,r--2 and if you cannot find him1 call
 on doctor ,t--1 and ask him  to come   
instantly4    ,the attendant hurriedly  

departed1 when ,mr4 ,camper turned      
slowly  towards me1 with a mingled      
expression of anger1 pain1 and contempt1
  upon his face1 and said1 in a stern   
voice1    ',go home young man6 and quit 
drinking wine1 or quit the profession6  
,you are in no fit state to undertake a 
case like this4'    ,it came upon me    
like a peal of thunder from an unclouded
 summer  sky4 ,it was the knell of      
newly-awakened hopes--the darkening of  
newly-opening prospects4 ,silently ,i   
turned away under the cutting  rebuke1  
and left the house4    ,really1 that was
 most unfortunate6 his friend ,everett  
remarked1  with earnest sympathy4       
,could anything have been more          
unfortunate1 or more mortifying4 ,her   
case was one that ,i fully understood2  
and could have treated  successfully4   
,it would have brought me into contact  
with the family  for six months1 or     
more1 and the eclat which ,i should have
 derived  from the case1 would have     
given me a prominence as a young        

surgeon1  that ,i am afraid the fact of 
my losing the case under such           
mortifying circumstances1 will prevent  
me ever attaining in this  city4        
,really1 ,harvey1 ,i do feel exceedingly
 pained at what you have told  me4      
,confound this wine6 ,i believe it does 
more harm than good4    ,too free an    
indulgence of it does1 no doubt4 ,our   
error has lain in  this4 ,we must be    
more prudent in future4    ,suppose we  
swear off for ever from touching it4    
,no1 ,i will not do that4 ,wine is good 
in its place1 and ,i shall  continue to 
use it1 but more moderately4 ,a         
physician never knows the  moment he may
 be called upon1 and should1 therefore1 
always be in a  state to exercise a     
clear head and a steady hand4           
,certainly1 we have both of us had      
lessons not soon to be  forgotten1 was  
the reply2 and then the two young men   
separated4    ,two weeks from the day   
this conversation took place1 doctor    
,lane and  his friend ,james ,everett   

met at a supper-party1 where all kinds  
of  liquors were introduced1 and every  
kind of inducement held out for  the    
company to drink freely4 ,both of the   
young men soon forgot their  resolutions
 to be guarded in respect to the use of 
wine4 ,as the  first few glasses began  
to take effect1 in an elevation of      
spirits1  each felt a kind of pride in  
the thought that he could bear as much  
as any one there1 and not show signs of 
intoxication4    ,by eleven o'clock1    
there was not one at the table who was  
not drunk  enough to be foolish4 ,the   
rational and intelligent conversation   
that  had been introduced early in the  
evening1 had long since given place  to 
the obscene jest--the vulgar story--or  
the bacchanalian song4  ,gayest of the  
gay were our young men1 who had already1
 one would  think1 received sufficient  
lessons of prudence and temperance4     
,take care1 ,james6 cried ,lane1 across 
the table to his friend  ,everett1      
familiarly1 late in the evening4 ,you   

are pouring the wine  on the table1     
instead of in your glass4    ,you are   
beginning to see double1 was ,everett's 
reply1 lifting his  head with a slight  
drunken air1 and throwing a half-angry  
glance  upon his friend4    ,that is    
more than you can do1 was the retort1   
with a meaning toss  of the head4    ,i 
don't understand you1 ,everett said1    
pausing with the decanter  still in his 
hand1 and eyeing his friend1 steadily4  
,don't you1 indeed6 ,you see yourself in
 a state of blessed  singleness--ha6 ,do
 you take8    ,look here1 ,james1--you  
are my friend4 ,but there are things    
that ,i  will not allow even a friend to
 utter4 ,so take care now6    ,ha6 ha6  
,there comes the raw4 ,do ,i rub too    
hard1 my boy8    ,you 're drunk1 and a  
fool into the bargain6 was the angry    
retort  of ,everett4    ,not so drunk as
 you were when you hugged and kissed    
,ernestine ,lee6  ,how do you like--8   
,lane could not finish the sentence1    
before the decanter which  ,everett had 

held in his hand glanced past his head  
with fearful  velocity1 and was dashed  
into fragments against the wall behind  
him4  ,the instant interference of      
friends prevented any further acts of   
violence4    ,it was about ten o'clock  
on the next morning that young doctor   
,lane  sat in his office1 musing on the 
events of the previous night1 of  which 
he had only a confused recollection1    
when a young man entered1  and presented
 a note4 ,on opening it1 he found it to 
be a challenge  from ,everett4    ,leave
 me your card1 and ,i will refer my     
friend to you1 was his  reply1 with a   
cold bow1 as he finished reading the    
note4 ,the card  was left1 and the      
stranger1 with a frigid bow in return1  
departed4    ,fool1 fool that ,i have   
been6 ejaculated ,lane1 rising to his   
feet1  and pacing the floor of his      
office backwards and forwards with      
hurried steps4 ,this was continued for  
nearly half an hour1 during  which time 
his countenance wore a painful and      

gloomy expression4 ,at  last1 pausing1  
and seating himself at a table1 he      
murmured1 as he  lifted a pen1    ,it is
 too late now for vain regrets4    ,he  
then wrote a note with a hurried air1   
and dispatched it by an  attendant4     
,this done1 he again commenced pacing   
the floor of his  office1 but now with  
slower steps1 and a face expressive of  
sad  determination4 ,in about twenty    
minutes a young man entered1 saying1  as
 he did so--    ,i'm here at a word1    
,harvey--and now what is this important 
business  which ,i can do for you1 and  
for which you are going to be so        
everlastingly obliged8    ,that will    
tell you1 ,lane briefly said1 handing   
him the challenge  he had received4     
,the young man's face turned pale as he 
read the note4    ,bless me1 ,harvey6 he
 ejaculated1 as he threw the paper upon 
the  table4 ,this is a serious matter1  
truly6 ,why how have you managed to     
offend ,everett8 ,i always thought that 
you were friends of the  warmest kind4  

,so we have been1 until now4 ,and at    
this moment1 ,i have not an  unkind     
thought towards him1 notwithstanding he 
threw a bottle of  wine at my head last 
night1 which1 had it taken effect1 would
 have1  doubtless1 killed me instantly4 
,how in the world did that happen1      
doctor8    ,we were both flushed with   
wine1 at the time4 ,i said something    
that  ,i ought not to have              
said--something which had ,i been       
myself1 ,i would  have cut off my right 
hand before ,i would have uttered--and  
it  roused him into instant passion4    
,and not satisfied with throwing the    
bottle of wine at your head1 he  now    
sends you a challenge8    ,yes4 ,and ,i 
must accept it1 notwithstanding ,i have 
no angry feelings  against him2 and1 but
 for the hasty step he has now taken1   
would  have most willingly asked his    
pardon4    ,that1 of course1 is out of  
the question now1 the friend replied4   
,but ,i will see his second2 and        
endeavour1 through him1 to bring  about 

a reconciliation1 if ,i can do so1      
honourably1 to yourself4    ,as to that1
 replied ,lane1 ,i have nothing to say4 
,if he insists  upon a meeting1 ,i will 
give him the satisfaction he seeks4     
,it was about half an hour after1 that  
the friend of ,lane called upon  the    
friend of ,everett4 ,they were old      
acquaintances4    ,you represent        
,everett1 ,i believe1 in this unpleasant
 affair between  him and doctor ,lane1  
the latter said4    ,i do1 was the grave
 reply4    ,surely we can prevent a     
meeting6 the friend of ,lane said1 with 
eagerness4    ,i do not see how1 was the
 reply4    ,they were flushed with wine 
when the provocation occurred1 and this 
ought to prevent a fatal meeting4 ,if   
,lane insulted ,everett1 it was  because
 he was not himself4 ,had he been       
perfectly sober1 he would  never have   
uttered an offensive word4    ,perhaps  
not4 ,but with that ,i have nothing to  
do4 ,he has insulted my  friend1 and    
that friend asks a meeting4 ,he can do  

no less than grant  it--or prove himself
 a coward4    ,i really cannot see the  
necessity that this should follow1 urged
  the other4 ,it seems to me1 that it is
 in our power to prevent any  hostile   
meeting4    ,how8    ,by representing to
 the principals in this unhappy affair1 
the  madness of seeking each other's    
lives4 ,you can learn from ,everett     
what kind of an apology1 if any1 will   
satisfy him1 and then ,i can  ascertain 
whether such an apology will be made4   
,you can do what you please in that way1
 the friend of ,everett  replied4 ,but  
,i am not disposed to transcend my      
office4 ,besides1 ,i  know that1 as far 
as ,everett is concerned1 no apology    
will be  accepted4 ,the insult was      
outrageous1 involving a breach of       
confidence1 and referring to a subject  
of the most painful1  mortifying1 and   
delicate nature4    ,i am really sorry  
to hear that both you and your friend   
are  determined to push this matter to  
an issue1 for ,i had hoped that an      

adjustment of the difficulty would be   
easy4    ,no adjustment can possibly    
take place4 ,doctor ,lane must fight1 or
  be posted as a coward1 and a          
scoundrel4    ,he holds himself ready to
 give ,mr4 ,everett all the satisfaction
 he  requires1 was the half-indignant   
reply4    ,then1 of course1 you are     
prepared to name the weapons2 and the   
time  and place of meeting8    ,i am    
not4 ,for so confident did ,i feel that 
it would only be  necessary to see you  
to have all difficulties put in a train 
for  adjustment1 that ,i did not confer 
upon the subject of the  preliminaries  
of the meeting4 ,but ,i will see you    
again1 in the  course of an hour1 when  
,i shall be ready to name them4    ,if  
you please4 ,and then the seconds       
parted4    ,i am afraid this meeting    
will take place in spite of all that ,i 
can  do1 the friend of doctor ,lane     
said1 on returning after his  interview 
with ,everett's second4 ,the provocation
 which you gave  last night is felt to  

be so great1 that no apology can atone  
for  it4    ,my blood probably          
will1--and he can have that6 was the    
gloomy  reply4    ,a troubled silence   
ensued1 which was at last broken by the 
question1    ,have you decided1 doctor1 
upon the weapons to be used8            
,pistols1 ,i suppose1 was the answer4   
,have you practised much8    ,me6 ,no4  
,i don't know that ,i ever fired a      
pistol in my life4    ,but ,everett is  
said to be a good shot4    ,so much the 
worse for me4 ,that is all4    ,you have
 the liberty of choosing some other     
weapon4 ,one with which  you are        
familiar4    ,i am familiar with no kind
 of deadly weapons4    ,then you will   
stand a poor chance1 my friend2 unless  
you name the  day of meeting next week1 
and practise a good deal in the         
meantime4    ,i shall do no such thing4 
,do you suppose1 that if ,i fight with  
,everett1 ,i shall try to kill him8 ,no4
 ,i would not hurt a hair of his  head4 
,i am no murderer6    ,then you go out  

under the existence of a fatal          
inequality4    ,i cannot help that4 ,it 
is my misfortune4 ,i did not send the   
challenge4    ,that is no reason why you
 should not make an effort to preserve  
your own life4    ,if we both fire at   
once1 and both of our balls take effect1
 the  fact that my ball strikes him will
 not benefit me any4 ,and suppose  he   
should be killed1 and ,i survive1 do you
 think ,i could ever know a  single     
hour's happiness8 ,no--no--,i choose the
 least of two evils4 ,i  must fight4    
,but ,i will not kill4    ,in this you  
are determined8    ,i certainly am4 ,i  
have weighed the matter well1 and come  
to a  positive decision4    ,you choose 
pistols1 then8    ,yes4 ,let the weapons
 be pistols4    ,when shall the meeting 
take place8    ,let it be to-morrow     
morning1 at sunrise4 ,the quicker it is 
over1  the better4    ,this determined  
upon1 the friend went again to the      
second of  ,everett1 and completed all  
necessary arrangements for the duel4    

,it was midnight1 and young doctor ,lane
 sat alone in his chamber1  beside a    
table1 upon which were ink and paper4   
,he had1 evidently1  made several       
attempts to write2 and each time failed 
from some cause  to accomplish his task4
 ,several sheets of paper had been      
written  upon1 and thrown aside4 ,each  
of these bore the following words3--    
,my ,dear ,parents3--,when these lines  
are read by you1 the hand  that penned  
them will be cold and nerveless--       
,thus far the unhappy young man could   
go1 but no farther4 ,imagination        
pictured too vividly the heart-stricken 
father who had so often  looked down    
upon him when a boy with pride and      
pleasure1 and the  tender1 but now      
agonized mother1 as that appalling      
announcement met  their eyes4    ,again1
 for the fifth time1 he took up his pen1
 murmuring in a low  tone1 yet with a   
resolute air1    ,it must be done6      
,he had again written the words3--      
,my ,dear ,parents--    ,when his ear   

caught the sound of steps1 strangely    
familiar to his  ear1 ascending the     
stairs1 and approaching his chamber4 ,he
 paused1  and listened with a heart     
almost stilled in its pulsations4 ,in a 
brief space1 the door of his room       
opened1 and a grey-haired1 feeble  old  
man came slowly in4    ,my father6      
exclaimed ,harvey1 starting to his feet 
in  astonishment--scarcely1 for the     
moment1 being able to realize  whether  
it were indeed his father1 or1 only an  
apparition4    ,thank heaven6 that ,i   
have found my son alive-- ejaculated the
 old  man1 uncovering his head1 and     
lifting his eyes upward4 ,o1 ,harvey1   
my child6 he then said1 with an earnest 
pathos1 that touched the  young man's   
heart--how could you so far forget us as
 to think even  for a single moment of  
the dreadful act you are preparing to   
commit8    ,i had hoped to be spared    
this severest trial of all1 the young   
man  said1 rising and grasping the hand 
of his father1 while the tears  sprang  

to his eyes4 ,what officious friend has 
taken the pains to  disturb both your   
peace and mine--dragging you thus away  
from your  home1 in the vain effort to  
prevent an act that must take place4    
,speak not so rashly1 my son6 ,it       
cannot1 it must not1 it shall not  take 
place6    ,i have no power to prevent   
it1 father4    ,you are a free agent4   
,not to do a deed of dishonour1--or1    
rather1 ,i am not free to suffer        
dishonour4    ,there is no honour in    
wantonly risking or taking life1        
,harvey4    ,i insulted a friend1 in the
 grossest manner4    ,that was          
dishonourable4 ,but why did you insult  
him8    ,i was flushed with wine4       
,the old man shook his head1 sadly4     
,i know it was wrong1 father4 ,but it   
can't be helped now4 ,well1 as ,i  said2
 ,i insulted him1 and he has demanded   
satisfaction4 ,can ,i do  less than give
 it to him8    ,if you insulted him1 you
 can apologize4 ,and1 from what ,i know 
of  ,james ,everett1 he will at once    

forgive4    ,i cannot do that now1      
father4 ,he threw a bottle of wine at my
 head1  and then precipitately          
challenged me4 ,i owe at least something
 to  myself4    ,and something1 ,i      
should think1 to your mother1 if not to 
me1  replied the old man1 bitterly4     
,how1 think you she will receive the    
news of your death1 if the combat should
 terminate fatally for you8  ,or1 how1  
if your hands should become stained with
 the blood of your  friend8    ,talk not
 thus1 father6 ,talk not thus6          
ejaculated the young man1  rising up    
quickly1 and beginning to pace the floor
 of his chamber  with hurried steps4 ,is
 not my situation dreadful enough viewed
 in  any light8 ,then why seek to       
agonize my heart with what ,i would     
gladly forget8 ,i am already racked with
 tortures that can scarcely  be         
endured--why seek to run my cup of      
misery over8    ,i seek but to save you1
 my child1 the father replied1 in a     
voice  that suddenly became low and     

tremulous4    ,it is a vain effort4     
,there is but one course for me1 and    
that is to  go on1 and meet whatever    
consequences ensue4 ,the result may not 
be  so bad as feared4    ,harvey6 old   
,mr4 ,lane said1 in a voice that had    
somewhat regained  its steadiness of    
tone4 ,this meeting must not take place4
 ,if you  persist in going out tomorrow 
morning1 ,i must take measures to       
prevent it4    ,and thus dishonour your 
son4    ,all dishonour that will        
appertain to you1 ,harvey1 appertains to
 you  now4 ,you insulted your friend4   
,neither your death nor his can atone   
for that offence4 ,if reparation be     
truly made1 it will come in some  other 
form4    ,it is vain to urge that matter
 with me1 was the reply to this4 ,i     
must give ,james ,everett the           
satisfaction he requires to-morrow      
morning4 ,and now1 father1 if ,i should 
fall1 which heaven forbid for  others'  
sakes more than my own1 and the young   
man's voice quivered1  break the matter 

to my mother as gently as possible--tell
 her1 that  my last thoughts were of    
her1 and my last prayer that she might  
be  given strength from above to bear   
this heavy affliction4    ,it was a     
damp1 drizzly morning1 just at break of 
day1 when ,harvey  ,lane1 accompanied by
 his friend1 and a young physician1     
entered a  close carriage1 and started  
for the duelling-ground1 which had been 
selected1 some four miles from the city4
 ,two neat mahogany cases  were taken   
along1 one containing a pair of duelling
 pistols1 and the  other a set of       
surgical instruments4 ,as these were    
handed in1 the  eye of ,lane rested upon
 them for a moment4 ,they conjured up in
 his  mind no very pleasant thoughts4   
,he was very pale1 and silent4 ,nor  did
 his companions seem in much better     
condition1 or much better  spirits4 ,a  
rapid drive of nearly three quarters of 
an hour brought  them upon the ground4  
,the other party had not yet arrived1   
but came  up in a few minutes           

afterwards4 ,then commenced the formal  
preparations4 ,the ground was measured  
off--ten paces4 ,the seconds  prepared  
the deadly weapons which were to heal   
the honour that had  been so dreadfully 
wounded1 and arranged all the minor     
provisions of  the duel4    ,during all 
this time1 neither of the young men     
looked towards each  other1 but each    
paced rapidly over a little space of    
ground1  backwards and forwards1 with   
agitated steps--though evidently with   
an effort to seem composed4    ,ready1  
said ,lane's second1 at length1 close to
 his ear4    ,the young man started1 and
 his cheek blanched to a pale hue4 ,he  
had  been thinking of his father and    
mother4 ,with almost the vividness of   
reality had he seen them before him1 and
 heard their earnest2  tearful pleadings
 with him to forbear for their sakes1 if
 not for  his own4 ,but he took the     
deadly weapon in his hand mechanically1 
and  moved to the position that had been
 assigned him4 ,the arrangement  was1   

that the seconds should give the        
words--one--two--three--in  slow        
succession1 and that the parties should 
fire as soon after  three was uttered1  
as they chose4    ,their positions      
taken1 the young men's eyes met for the 
first  time--and for the first time they
 looked again upon each other's  faces4 
,the word one had been given1 at which  
each raised his  pistol1--two was       
uttered--and then another individual was
  suddenly1 and unexpectedly added to   
the party1 who threw himself in  front  
of ,harvey ,lane1 in range of both the  
deadly weapons4 ,turning1  then1 towards
 ,everett1 he said1 lifting his hat1 and
 letting his  thin grey hairs fall about
 his forehead--    ,we cannot spare our 
son1 yet1 ,james6 ,we are growing old1  
and he is  our only child4 ,if he were  
taken thus away from us1 we should not  
be  able to bear it4 ,for our sakes1    
then1 ,james1 if he has injured you1    
forgive him4    ,already had the face of
 his old and long-tried friend1 as he   

met its  familiar expression1 softened  
in some degree the feelings of          
,everett1 and modified the angry        
vindictiveness which he still  continued
 to cherish4 ,the apparition of the     
father1 and his  unexpected appeal1     
completely conquered him1 and he threw1 
with a  sudden effort1 his pistol away  
some twenty yards4    ,i am satisfied6  
he said1 in a low tone1 advancing1 and  
taking the  old man's hand4 ,you have   
conquered the vindictive pride of a     
foolish heart4    ,i know that ,i       
grossly insulted you1 ,james--,harvey   
,lane said1  coming quickly forward1 and
 offering his hand4 ,but would ,i1 could
 ,i  have done it1 if ,i had been       
myself8    ,no1 ,harvey1 you could not6 
,and ,i was mad and blind that ,i would 
not  see this--,everett replied1        
grasping the hand of his friend4 ,we    
were both flushed with wine1 and that   
made both of us fools4  ,surely1        
,harvey1 we have had warning enough1 of 
the evil of drinking4  ,within the last 

two weeks1 it has seriously marred our  
prospects in  life1 and now it has      
brought us out here with the deliberate 
intent  of taking each other's lives4   
,from this hour1 ,i solemnly declare1   
that ,i will never again touch1  taste1 
or handle the accursed thing6 ,lane     
said1 with strong  emphasis4    ,in that
 resolution ,i join you1 replied        
,everett1 with a like  earnest manner4  
,and let this resolution be the sealing 
bond of our  perpetual friendship4      
,amen6 ejaculated ,harvey ,lane1        
solemnly1--and1 ,amen6 responded  the   
old man1 fervently1 lifting his eyes to 
,heaven4              ,,swearing ,,off4 
,,john1 said a sweet-faced girl1 laying 
her hand familiarly upon the  shoulder  
of a young man who was seated1 near a   
window in deep  abstraction of mind4    
,there was something sad in her         
voice1--and her  countenance1 though1   
lovely1 wore an expression of pain4     
,what do you want1 sister8 the young man
 replied1 without lifting  his eyes from

 the floor4    ,you are not happy1      
brother4    ,to this1 there was no      
reply1 and an embarrassing pause of some
  moments ensued4    ,may ,i speak a    
word with you1 brother8--the young girl 
at length  said1 with a tone and manner 
that showed her to be compelling        
herself to the performance of a painful 
and repugnant task4    ,on what subject1
 ,alice8 the brother asked1 looking up  
with a  doubting expression4    ,this   
question brought the colour to ,alice's 
cheeks1 and the moisture  to her eyes4  
,you know what ,i would say1 ,john1 she 
at length made out to utter1  in a voice
 that slightly trembled4    ,how should 
,i know1 sister8    ,you were not       
yourself last night1 ,john4    ,alice6  
,forgive me1 brother1 for what ,i now   
say1 the maiden rejoined4 ,it  is a     
painful trial1 indeed2 and were it not  
that ,i loved you so  well--were it not 
that1 besides you1 there is no one else 
in the  wide world to whom ,i can look  
up1 ,i might shrink from a sister's     

duty4 ,but ,i feel that it would be     
wrong for me not to whisper in  your ear
 one warning word--wrong not to try a   
sister's power over  you4    ,i will    
forgive you this time1 on one condition1
 the brother said1  in a tone of rebuke1
 and with a grave expression of         
countenance4    ,what is that8 asked    
,alice4    ,on condition that you never 
again1 directly or indirectly1 allude   
to this subject4 ,it is not in your     
province to do so4 ,a sister  should not
 look out for her brother's faults4     
,a sudden gush of tears followed this   
cold1 half-angry repulse2 and  then the 
maiden turned slowly away and left the  
room4    ,john ,barclay's anger towards 
his only sister1 who had no one1 as she 
had feelingly said1 in the wide world to
 look up to and love1 but  him1 subsided
 the moment he saw how deeply his rebuke
 had wounded  her4 ,but he could not    
speak to her1 nor recall his words--for 
the  subject she had introduced was one 
so painful and mortifying1 that  he     

could not bear an allusion to it4       
,from long indulgence1 the habit of     
drinking had become confirmed in  the   
young man to such a degree that he had  
almost ceased to resist  an inclination 
that was gaining a dangerous power over 
him4 ,and yet  there was in his mind an 
abiding resolution one day to break away
  from this habit4 ,he did not intend to
 become a drunkard4 ,oh1 no6 ,the       
condition of a drunkard was too low and 
degrading4 ,he could never  sink to     
that6 ,after awhile1 he intended to     
swear off1 as he called  it1 and be done
 with the seductive poison altogether2  
but he had not  yet been able to bring  
so good a resolution into present       
activity4  ,this being his state of     
mind--conscious of danger1 and yet      
unwilling  to fly from that danger1 he  
could not bear any allusion to the      
subject4    ,half an hour1 passed in    
troubled thought1 elapsed after this    
brief  interview between the brother and
 sister1 when the young man left  the   

house and took his way1 scarcely        
reflecting upon where he was  going1 to 
one of his accustomed places of         
resort--a fashionable  drinking house1  
where every device that ingenuity could 
invent1 was  displayed to attract       
custom4 ,splendid mirrors and pictures  
hung  against the walls1 affecting the  
mind with pleasing thoughts--and        
tempting to self-indulgence4 ,there were
 lounges1 where one might  recline at   
ease1 while he sipped the delicious     
compounds the richly  furnished bar     
afforded1 never once dreaming that a    
serpent lay  concealed in the cup that  
he held to his lips--a serpent that one 
day would sting him1 perhaps unto death6
    ,regular as clock-work1--said an old
 man1 a friend of ,barclay's  father1   
who had been dead several years1 meeting
 the young man as he  was about to enter
 the attractive establishment just      
alluded to4    ,how8 asked ,barclay in a
 tone of enquiry4    ,six times a day1  
,john1 is too often for you to be seen  

going into  the same                    
drinking-house1--said the old man1 with 
plain-spoken  honesty4    ,you must not 
talk to me in that way1 ,mr4 ,gray1 the 
other rejoined  sternly4    ,my respect 
and regard for the father1 will ever    
cause me to speak  plainly to the son   
when ,i think him in danger1 was ,mr4   
,gray's calm  reply4    ,in danger of   
what1 ,mr4 ,gray8    ,in danger         
of--shall ,i utter the word in speaking 
o' the son of my  old friend1 ,mr4      
,barclay8 ,yes2 in danger               
of--drunkenness6    ,mr4 ,gray1 ,i      
cannot permit any one to speak to me    
thus4    ,be not offended at me1 ,john4 
,i utter but the truth4    ,i will not  
stand to be insulted by any one6 was the
 young man's  angry reply1 as he turned 
suddenly away from his aged friend1 and 
entered the drinking-house4 ,he did not 
go up at once to the bar1 as  had been  
his habit1 but threw himself down upon  
one of the lounges1  took up a          
newspaper1 and commenced2 or rather1    

appeared to commence  reading1 though he
 did not1 in fact1 see a letter4        
,what will you have1 ,mr4 ,barclay8     
asked an officious attendant1  coming   
up1 a few moments after he had entered4 
,nothing just now1 was the reply1 made  
in a low tone1 while his  eyes were not 
lifted from the newspaper4 ,no very     
pleasant  reflections were those that   
passed through his mind as he sat there4
  ,at last he rose up quickly1 as if a  
resolution1 had been suddenly  formed1  
and left the place where clustered so   
many temptations1 with  a hurried step4 
,i want you to administer an oath1 he   
said1 entering the office of  an        
,alderman1 a few minutes after4    ,very
 well1 sir4 ,i am ready1 replied the    
,alderman4 ,what is its  nature8    ,i  
will give you the form4    ,well8    ,i1
 ,john ,barclay1 do solemnly swear1 that
 for six months from this  hour1 ,i will
 not taste a drop of any kind of liquor 
that  intoxicates4    ,i wouldn't take  
that oath1 young man1 the ,alderman     

said4    ,why not8    ,you had better go
 and join a temperance society4 ,signing
 the pledge  will be of as much avail4  
,no--,i will not sign a pledge never to 
drink again4 ,i'm not going to  make a  
mere slave of myself4 ,i'll swear off   
for six months4    ,why not swear off   
perpetually1 then8    ,because1 as ,i   
said1 ,i am not going to make a slave of
 myself4 ,six  months of                
total-abstinence will give me a control 
over myself that ,i  do not now possess4
    ,i very much fear1 sir1 urged the   
,alderman1 notwithstanding he  perceived
 that the young man was growing         
impatient--and you must  pardon my      
freedom in saying so1 that you will find
 yourself in  error4 ,if you are already
 so much the slave of drink as to feel  
yourself compelled to have recourse to  
the solemnities of an oath to  break    
away from its bewitching power1 depend  
upon it1 that no  temporary expedient of
 this kind will be of any avail4 ,you   
will1 no  doubt1 keep your oath         

religiously1 but when its influence is  
withdrawn1 you will find the strength of
 an unsupported resolution  as weak as  
ever4    ,i do not believe the position 
you take to be a true one1 argued  young
 ,barclay--,all ,i want is to get rid of
 present temptation1 and  to be freed   
from present associations4 ,six months  
will place me  beyond the reach of      
these1 and then ,i shall be able to do  
right from  an internal principle1 and  
not from mere external restraint4    ,i 
see the view you take1 and would not    
urge a word against it1 did  ,i not know
 so many instances of individuals who   
have vainly opposed  their resolutions  
against the power of habit4 ,when once  
an appetite  for intoxicating drinks has
 been formed1 there is only one way of  
safety--that of taking a perpetual      
pledge of total-abstinence4 ,that1  and 
that alone is the wall of sure          
protection4 ,without it1 you are        
exposed to temptations on every hand4   
,the manly and determined  effort to be 

free will not always avail4 ,in some    
weak and  unsuspecting moment1 the      
tempter will steal quietly in1 and all  
will  be again lost4    ,it is useless1 
sir1 to argue the point with me1        
,barclay replied to  this4 ,i will not  
now take the pledge--that is settled4 ,i
 will take  an oath of abstinence for   
six months4 ,if ,i can keep to it that  
long1  ,i can keep from drinking always4
    ,seeing that further argument would 
be useless1 the ,alderman said no  more1
 but proceeded to administer the oath4  
,the young man then paid  the required  
fee and turned from the office in       
silence4    ,when ,alice left the room  
in tears1 stung by the cutting rebuke of
  her brother1 she retired to her       
chamber with an oppressed and aching    
heart4 ,she loved him tenderly4 ,they   
were1 sister and brother1 alone  in the 
world1 and1 therefore1 her affections   
clung the closer to  him4 ,the struggle 
had been a hard one in bringing herself 
to perform  the duty which had called   

down upon her the anger of one for whom 
she would almost have given her life2   
and1 therefore1 the result was  doubly  
painful1 more particularly1 as it had   
effected nothing1  apparently1 towards a
 change in his habits4    ,but perhaps  
it will cause him to reflect4--,if so1  
,i will cheerfully  bear his anger1 was 
the consoling thought that passed       
through her  mind1 after the passage of 
an hour1 spent under the influence of   
most painful feelings4    ,o1 if he will
 only be more on his guard1 she went on1
 in  thought--if he will only give up   
that habit1 how glad ,i should be6      
,just then she heard him enter1 and     
marked the sound of his footsteps  as he
 ascended to his own room1 with a       
fluttering heart4 ,in the  course of    
fifteen or twenty minutes1 he went down 
again1 and she  listened to observe if  
he were going out4 ,but he entered the  
parlours1 and then all was1 again1      
quiet4    ,for some time ,alice debated 
with herself whether she should go down 

to him or not1 and make the effort to   
dispel the anger that she had  aroused  
against her2 but she could not make up  
her mind how to act1  for she could not 
tell in what mood she might find him4   
,one repulse  was as much1 she felt1 as 
she could bear4 ,at last1 however1 her  
feelings became so wrought up1 that she 
determined to go down and  seek to be   
reconciled4 ,her brother's anger was    
more than she could  bear4    ,when she 
entered the parlours1 with her usual    
quiet step1 she found  him seated near  
the window1 reading4 ,he lifted his head
 as she came  in1 and she saw at a      
glance that all his angry feelings were 
gone4  ,how lightly did her heart bound 
as she sprang forward6    ,will you     
forgive me1 brother8 she said1 laying   
her hand upon his  shoulder as she stood
 by his side1 and bent her face down    
until her  fair cheek almost touched his
 own4    ,rather let me say1 will you   
forgive me1 sister8 was his reply1 as   
he kissed her affectionately--for the   

unkind repulse ,i gave you1  when to say
 what you did must have caused you a    
most painful  sacrifice of feeling8     
,painful indeed it was1 brother4 ,but it
 is past now and all  forgiven4         
,since then1 ,alice1 he said1 after a   
pause1 ,i have taken a solemn  oath1    
administered by an ,alderman1 not to    
touch any kind of  intoxicating drink   
for six months4    ,o1 ,i am so glad1   
,john6 the sister said1 a joyful smile  
lighting up  her beautiful young face4  
,but why did you say six months8 ,why   
not  for life8    ,because1 ,alice1 ,i  
do not wish to bind myself down to a    
kind of  perpetual slavery4 ,i wish to  
be free1 and act right in freedom from  
a true principle of right4 ,six months  
of entire abstinence from all  kinds of 
liquor will destroy that appetite for it
 which has caused  me1 of late1 to seek 
it far too often4 ,and then ,i will1 as 
a free  man1 remain free4    ,i shall   
now be so happy again1 ,john6 ,alice    
said1 fully satisfied  with her         

brother's reason4    ,so you have not   
been happy then of late8    ,o1 no1     
brother4 ,far from it4    ,and has the  
fact of my using wine so freely been the
 cause of your  unhappiness8    ,solely4
    ,its effects upon me have not been  
so visible as often to attract  your    
attention1 ,alice8    ,o1 yes1 they     
have4 ,scarcely a day has gone by for   
three or four  months past1 that ,i     
could not see that your mind was        
obscured1 and  often your actions       
sensibly affected4    ,i did not dream  
that it was so1 ,alice4'    ,are you not
 sensible1 that at ,mr4 ,weston's1 last 
night you were by  no means yourself8   
,yes1 ,alice1 ,i am sensible of that1   
and deeply has it mortified me4  ,i was 
suffering acutely from the recollection 
of the exposure which  ,i made of myself
 on that occasion1 especially before    
,helen1 when you  alluded to the        
subject4 ,that was the reason that ,i   
could not bear  your allusion to it4    
,but tell me1 ,alice1 did you perceive  

that my  situation attracted ,helen's   
attention particularly8    ,yes4 ,she   
noticed1 evidently1 that you were not as
 you ought to have  been4    ,how did it
 affect her1 ,alice8 asked the young    
man4    ,she seemed much pained1 and1 ,i
 thought1 mortified4    ,mortified8     
,yes4    ,a pause of some moments       
ensued1 when ,barclay asked1 in a tone  
of  interest1    ,do you think it has   
prejudiced her against me8    ,it has   
evidently pained her very much1 but ,i  
do not think that it  has created in her
 mind any prejudice against you4        
,from what do you infer this1 ,alice8   
,from the fact1 that1 while we were     
alone in her chamber1 on my  going up   
stairs to put on my bonnet and shawl1   
she said to me1 and  her eyes were moist
 as well as my own1 ',alice1 you ought  
to speak to  your brother1 and caution  
him against this free indulgence in     
wine2  it may grow on him1 unawares4 ,if
 he were as near to me as he is to  you1
 ,i should not feel that my conscience  

was clear unless ,i warned  him of his  
danger4'    ,did she say that1 sister8  
,yes1 those were her very words4    ,and
 you did warn me1 faithfully4    ,yes4  
,but the task is one ,i pray that ,i may
 never again have to  perform4    ,amen1
 was the fervent response4    ,how do   
you like ,helen8 the young man asked1 in
 a livelier tone1  after a silence of   
nearly a minute4    ,i have always been 
attached to her1 ,john4 ,you know that  
we have  been together since we were    
little girls1 until now we seem almost  
like sisters4    ,and a sister1 truly1  
,i hope she may one day become1 the     
brother  said1 with a meaning smile4    
,most affectionately will ,i receive her
 as such1 was the reply of  ,alice4     
,than ,helen ,weston1 there is no one   
whom ,i had rather see the  wife of my  
dear brother4    ,as she said this1 she 
drew her arm around his neck1 and kissed
 him  affectionately4    ,it shall not  
be my fault1 then1 ,alice1 if she do not
 become your  sister-- was the brother's

 response4    ,rigidly true to his      
pledge1 ,john ,barclay soon gained the  
honourable  estimation in the social    
circle through which he moved1 that he  
had  held1 before wine1 the mocker1 had 
seduced him from the ways of true       
sobriety1 and caused even his best      
friends to regard him with  changed     
feelings4 ,possessing a competence1     
which a father's patient  industry had  
accumulated1 he had not1 hitherto1      
thought of entering  upon any business4 
,now1 however1 he began to see the      
propriety of  doing so1 and as he had   
plenty of capital1 he proposed to a     
young  man of industrious habits and    
thorough knowledge of business to  enter
 into a co-partnership with him4 ,this  
offer was accepted1 and  the two young  
men commenced the world with the fairest
 prospects4    ,three months from the   
day on which ,john ,barclay had         
mentioned to his  sister that he        
entertained a regard for ,helen ,weston1
 he made  proposals of marriage to that 

young lady1 which were accepted4    ,but
 how in regard to his pledge8 ,i hear   
some one ask4    ,o1 as to that1 it was 
kept1 rigidly4 ,nothing that could      
intoxicate  was allowed to touch his    
lips4 ,of course1 he was at first       
frequently  asked to drink by his       
associates1 but his reply to all        
importunities  was--    ,no--,i have    
sworn off for six months4    ,so you    
have said for the last six months1      
remarked young man1  named ,watson1 one 
day1 on his refusing for the twentieth  
time to  drink with him4    ,not for six
 months1 ,watson4 ,it is only three     
months this very day  since ,i swore    
off4    ,well1 it seems to me like six  
months1 anyhow4 ,but do you think that  
you feel any better for all this        
total-abstinence8    ,o as to that1 ,i  
don't know that ,i feel such a wonderful
 difference  in body2 but in mind ,i    
certainly do feel a great deal better4  
,how so8    ,while ,i drank1 ,i was     
conscious that ,i was beginning to be   

too fond  of drinking1 and was too often
 painfully conscious that ,i had taken  
too much4 ,now1 ,i am1 of course1       
relieved from all such unpleasant       
feelings4    ,well1 that's something1 at
 least4 ,but ,i never saw you out of the
  way4    ,do you know the reason2      
,watson8    ,no4    ,i'll tell you4 ,you
 were always too far gone yourself1 when
 we drank  freely together1 to perceive 
my condition4    ,so you say4    ,it's  
true4    ,well1 have it as you like4    
,but1 see here1 ,john1 what are you     
going  to do when your six months are   
out8    ,i'm going to be a sober man1 as
 ,i am now4    ,you never were a        
drunkard4    ,i was precious near being 
one1 then4    ,nonsense6 ,that's all    
some old woman's notion of yours4       
,well1 be that as it may1 ,i certainly  
intend continuing to be as  sober a man 
as ,i have been for the last three      
months4    ,won't you drink a drop after
 your time is up8    ,that'll be just as
 ,i choose4 ,i will drink or let it     

alone1 as ,i  like4 ,i shall then be    
free to drink moderately1 or not at all1
 as  seems agreeable to me4    ,that is 
a little more sensible than your        
perpetual  total-abstinence1 teetotal1  
cold-water system4 ,who would be such a 
miserable slave8 ,i would rather die    
drunk in the gutter1 than throw  away my
 liberty4    ,i believe ,i have said as 
much myself4    ,don't you feel a desire
 to have a good glass of wine1 or a     
julep1  now and then8    ,no1 not the   
slightest4 ,i've sworn off for six      
months1 and that ends  the matter4 ,of  
course1 ,i have no more desire for a    
glass of liquor  than ,i have to fly to 
the moon1--one is a moral1 and the other
 a  physical impossibility2 and1        
therefore1 are dismissed from my        
thoughts4    ,what do you mean by a     
moral impossibility8    ,i have taken an
 oath not to drink for six months1 and  
the violation  of that oath is1 for one 
of my views and feelings1 a moral       
impossibility4    ,exactly4 ,there are  

three months yet to run1 you say4 ,after
 that1 ,i  hope to have the pleasure of 
taking a glass of wine with you in      
honour of your restoration to a state of
 freedom4    ,you shall have that       
pleasure1 ,watson1 if it will really be 
one--  was ,barclay's reply1 as the two 
young men parted4    ,time wore on1 and 
,john ,barclay1 besides continuing      
perfectly sober1  gave constant         
attention to business4 ,so complete a   
change in him  gave confidence to the   
parents and friends of ,helen ,weston1  
who made  no opposition to his wish for 
an early marriage4 ,it was fixed to     
take place on the evening of the very   
day upon which his temporary  pledge was
 to expire4    ,to the expiration of    
this pledge1 ,barclay had never ceased1 
from the  moment it was taken1 to look  
forward with a lively interest4 ,not    
that he felt a desire to drink4 ,but he 
suffered himself to be  worried with the
 idea that he was no longer a free man4 
,the nearer  the day came that was to   

terminate the period for which he had   
bound  himself to abstinence1 the more  
did his mind dwell upon it1 and the     
more did he desire its approach4 ,it    
was1 likewise1 to be his  wedding-day1  
and for that reason1 also1 did he look  
eagerly forward4  ,but it is doubtful   
whether the consummation of his         
marriage1 or the  expiration of his     
pledge1 occupied most of his thoughts4  
,the day so  long looked for came at    
last4    ,the day that was to make      
,barclay a free man1 and happy in the   
possession of one of the sweetest girls 
for a wife he had ever seen4    ,i shall
 not see you again1 until to-night1     
,john1 his sister said  to him1 as he   
was about leaving the house1 after      
dinner1 laying her  hand as she spoke   
upon his arm1 and looking into his face 
with a  quiet smile resting upon her own
 lovely features4--,i have promised     
,helen to go over and spend the         
afternoon with her4    ,very well1 sis'4
    ,of course we shall see you pretty  

early1--an arch smile playing  about her
 lips as she made the remark4    ,o1    
yes1 ,i shall be there in time1 was the 
brother's smiling reply1  as he kissed  
the cheek of ,alice1 and then turned    
away and left the  house4 ,he first     
proceeded to his store1 where he went   
through1  hurriedly1 some business that 
required his attention1 occupying       
something like an hour4 ,then he went   
out1 and walked rapidly up one  of the  
principal streets of the city1 and down 
another1 as if on  some urgent errand4  
,without stopping anywhere1 he had      
nearly  returned to his own store1 when 
he was stopped by a friend1 who         
accosted him with--    ,hallo1 ,john6   
,where are you going in such a hurry8   
,i am on my way to the store4    ,any   
life and death in the case8             
,no4--,only ,i'm to be married to-night1
 as you are aware2 and1  consequently1  
am hardly able to tell whether ,i am on 
my head or my  heels4    ,true enough6  
,and besides1 you are a free man today1 

are you not8    ,yes1 ,watson1 thank    
,heaven6 that trammel will be off in    
half an  hour4    ,you must be fond of  
trammels1 ,john1 seeing that you are    
going to  put another on so soon after  
getting rid of this-- the friend said1  
laughing heartily at his jest4    ,that 
will be a lighter1 and far pleasanter   
bondage ,i trust1 ,watson1  than the one
 from which ,i am about escaping4 ,it   
will be an easy yoke  compared to the   
galling one under which ,i have toiled  
for the last  six months4 ,still1 ,i do 
not regret having bound myself as ,i    
did4 ,it  was necessary to give me that 
self-control which ,i had well-nigh     
lost4 ,now ,i shall be able to act like 
a rational man1 and be  temperate from  
principle1 and not from a mere external 
restraint  that made me little better   
than a machine4    ,your time will be   
up1 you say1 in half an hour8    ,yes-- 
looking at his watch--in ten minutes4   
,it is later than ,i  thought4    ,come1
 then1 let us go over to ,r--'s--it is  

full ten minutes' walk  from here--and  
take a drink to freedom and principle4  
,i am ready to join you1 of course1 was 
,barclay's prompt reply1 as  he drew his
 arm within that of his friend1 and the 
two turned their  steps towards the     
drinking establishment that had been    
named by the  latter4    ,a room1 a     
bottle of sherry1 and some cigars1 said 
,watson1 as they  entered the           
drinking-house1 and went up to the bar4 
,in a few minutes after1 they were      
alone1 with wine and glasses  before    
them4    ,here's to freedom and         
principle6 said ,watson1 lifting his    
glass1  after having filled his own and 
,barclay's4    ,and here's to the same  
high moral 7sic7 atributes which should 
ever  be man's distinguishing           
characteristics1 responded ,barclay1    
lifting  his own glass1 and touching    
with it the brim of that held in the    
hand of his friend4 ,both then emptied  
their glasses at a draught4    ,really1 
that is delicious6 ,barclay said1       

smacking his lips1 as the  rich flavour 
of the wine lingered on his palate with 
a sensation of  exquisite delight4      
,it's a pretty fair article1 was the    
indifferent reply of  ,watson--though ,i
 have tasted better in my time4 ,long   
abstinence has  made its flavour        
peculiarly pleasant4 ,here1 let me fill 
your glass  again4    ,without          
hesitating1 ,barclay presented his      
glass1 which was again  filled to the   
brim4 ,in the next moment it was empty4 
,so eager was he  to get it to his lips1
 that he even spilled a portion of the  
wine in  lifting it hurriedly4 ,suddenly
 his old1 and as he had thought1        
extinguished desires1 came back upon    
him1 roused into vigorous  activity1    
like a giant awakening refreshed by a   
long repose4 ,so keen  was his appetite 
for wine1 and stimulating drinks1 thus  
suddenly  restored1 that he could no    
more have withstood its influence than  
he  could have borne up against the     
current of a mighty river4    ,help     

yourself1 said his friend1 ere another  
minute had elapsed1 as  ,barclay took up
 the bottle to fill his glass for the   
third time4  ,long-abstinence has no    
doubt made you keen4    ,it certainly   
has1 or else this is the finest article 
of wine that  has ever passed my lips4  
',it's not the best quality by a good   
deal2 still it is pretty fair4  ,but    
won't you try a mint-julep1 or a punch1 
by way of variety8    ,no objection1 was
 the brief response4    ,which will you 
choose8    ,i'll take a julep4    ,two  
juleps1 said ,watson to the waiter who  
entered immediately  afterwards4    ,the
 juleps were soon ready1 each furnished 
with a long straw4    ,delicious6 was   
,barclay's low1 and delighted           
ejaculation1 as he  bent to the table1  
and imbibed through the straw a portion 
of the  liquid4    ,our friend          
,r--understands his business1 was       
,watson's brief  reply4    ,a silence of
 some moments ensued1 during which a    
painful  consciousness of danger rushed 

through the mind of ,barclay4 ,but with 
an effort he dismissed it4 ,he did not  
intend to drink beyond the  bounds of   
moderation1 and why should he permit his
 mind to be  disturbed by idle fears8   
99 99 99 99 99    ,it is time that      
brother was here1 ,alice said to ,helen 
,weston1 as  the two maidens sat alone1 
near a window in ,helen's chamber1 the  
evening twilight falling gently and with
 a soothing influence4    ,yes4 ,i      
expected him earlier1 was the reply1 in 
a low tone1 while  ,helen's bosom heaved
 with a new1 and exquisitely pleasurable
  emotion4 ,what can keep him8    ,he is
 lingering at his toilet1 perhaps1      
,alice said1 with a smile4    ,all was  
silent again for many minutes1 each     
gentle and innocent  heart2 busy with   
images of delight4    ,it's strange that
 he does not come1 ,alice1 or sister1 as
 ,i must  call you1 ,helen remarked1 in 
a graver tone1 as the shadowy twilight  
deepened until everything wore a veil of
 indistinctness4    ,there6 ,that must  

be him6 ,alice said4 ,hark6 ,that is    
certainly his  voice6 ,yes--,and he is  
coming right up to your room1 as ,i     
live1 as  boldly as if the house        
belonged to him4    ,while ,alice was   
yet speaking1 the door of the chamber in
 which they  sat was swung open with a  
rude hand1 and her brother entered4 ,his
  face was flushed1 and his whole person
 in disorder4    ,why1 brother6 what has
 kept--1 but the sister could utter no  
more4  ,her tongue was paralyzed1 and   
she stood1 statue-like1 gazing upon  him
 with a look of horror4 ,he was         
intoxicated6 ,it was his  wedding-night1
 a portion of the company below1 and the
 gentle1  affectionate maiden who was to
 become his bride1 all attired and      
waiting1 and he had come intoxicated6   
,poor ,helen's bewildered senses could  
not at first fully comprehend  the      
scene4 ,when she did realize the        
terrible truth1 the shock was  more than
 she could bear4    ,over the whole     
scene of pain1 disorder1 and confusion1 

that  transpired on that evening1 we    
must draw a veil4 ,any reader of even   
ordinary imagination can realize enough 
of the exquisite distress  which it must
 have brought to many hearts1 without   
the aid of  distinct pictures4 ,and     
those who cannot realize it1 will be    
spared  the pain of its contemplation4  
,one week from that night1 at about nine
 o'clock in the evening1 as  old ,mr4   
,gray was passing along one of the      
principal streets of the  city where the
 occurrences we are relating took place1
 a young man  staggered against him1 and
 then fell at full length upon the      
pavement1 from whence he rolled into the
 gutter1 swollen by a smart  shower that
 had just fallen4 ,too drunk to help    
himself1 he must have  been drowned even
 in that insignificant stream1 had there
 not been  help at hand4    ,mr4 ,gray  
came at once to his relief1 and assisted
 him to rise and  get upon the pavement4
 ,but now he was unable to stand4       
,either hurt  by the fall1 or unnerved  

by the liquor he had taken1 he was no   
longer able to keep his feet4 ,while    
,mr4 ,gray stood holding him up1        
undetermined how to act1 another young  
man1 not quite so drunk as  the one he  
had in charge1 came whooping along like 
an ,indian4    ,hallo6 ,is this you1    
,john1 holding up old ,mr4 ,gray8 or is 
it old ,mr4  ,gray holding you up6      
hiccup4 ,blast me6 ,if ,i can tell which
 of you  is drunk1 or which sober4 ,let 
me see8 hic-hic-cup4 ,was it the ,whale 
that swallowed ,jonah1 or ,jonah the    
,whale8 ,is it old ,mr4                 
,gray--hic-cup--that is drunk1 or ,john 
,barclay8    ,john ,barclay6 ejaculated 
the old man1 in a tone of surprise and  
grief4 ,surely this wretched young man  
is not ,john ,barclay6    ,if he is not 
,john ,barclay1 then ,i am              
not--hic-cup--not ,tom ,watson4  ,he's a
 bird1 though6 aint he1 old             
gentleman8--hic-cup--,look here1  ,i'll 
give you five dollars1--hic-cup--if     
you'll stop  these1--hic--these         

confounded hic-hic-hic-cups--,there     
now--,there's a  chance for             
you6--hic--blast 'em6 ,he swore off for 
six months1 ha6  ha6 ha6 ,and it's      
just1--hic--just a week to-night since  
the six  months were up4 ,hurrah for    
freedom and principle6                  
,hur--hic--hurrah6    ,thomas ,watson6--
    ,don't come your preaching touch    
over me1 mister1 if you please4 ,i'm    
free ,tom                               
,watson1--hic-hic-hic-cup--,i'm--hic--,i
'm a regular  team--whoop6 ,john1 there1
 you see1 would drink to freedom and    
principle1--hic-cup--on the--hic--day   
his pledge was up4 ,but the old  fellow 
was--hic--too strong--hic-cup--for him4 
,he's been drunk as a  fool ever        
since--hic-cup6--    ,just at that      
moment a cab came by which was stopped  
by the old man4  ,young ,barclay was    
gotten into it and driven to ,mr4       
,gray's dwelling4    ,when brought to   
the light1 he presented a sad spectacle1
 indeed4 ,his  face was swollen1 and    

every feature distorted4 ,his coat was  
torn1  and all of his clothing wet and  
covered with mud4 ,too far gone to be   
able to help himself1 ,mr4 ,gray had him
 removed to a chamber1 his wet  garments
 taken off1 and replaced by dry         
under-clothing4 ,then he was  put into a
 bed and left for the night4 ,when the  
morning broke1  ,barclay was perfectly  
sober1 but with a mind altogether       
bewildered4  ,the room in which he found
 himself1 and the furniture1 were all   
strange4 ,he got up2 and looked from the
 window2 the houses opposite  were      
unfamiliar4    ,where am ,i8 ,what is   
the meaning of all this8 he said1       
half-aloud1  as he turned to look for   
his clothes4 ,but no garments of any    
kind1  not even his hat and boots1 were 
visible4    ,strange6 he murmured1      
getting into bed again1 and clasping his
  hands tightly upon his aching and     
bewildered head4 ,he had lain1  thus1   
for some minutes1 trying to collect his 
scattered senses1 when  the door of his 

chamber was opened by a servant1 who    
brought him in  a full suit of his own  
clothes2 not1 however1 those he         
remembered to  have worn the day        
previous4    ,as soon as the servant had
 withdrawn1 the young man1 who had felt 
altogether disinclined to speak to him1 
hurriedly arose1 and dressed  himself4  
,on attempting to go out1 he was        
surprised1 and somewhat  angered1 to    
find that the door of the room had been 
locked4    ,ringing the bell with a     
quick jerk1 he awaited1 impatiently1 an 
answer to his summons1 for the space of 
about a minute1 when he  pulled the cord
 again with a stronger hand4 ,only a few
 moments more  elapsed1 when the key was
 turned in the door1 and ,mr4 ,gray     
entered4    ,mr4 ,gray6 ,is it possible6
 ,barclay ejaculated1 as the old man    
stepped into the room1 and closed the   
door after him4    ,i can hardly believe
 it possible1 ,john1 his father's friend
 said1  as he turned towards him a sad1 
yet unreproving countenance4    ,but    

what is the meaning of all this1 ,mr4   
,gray8 ,where am ,i8 ,and how  came ,i  
here8    ,sit down1 ,john1 and be calm4 
,you are in my house4 ,last night ,i    
took  you from the gutter1 too much     
intoxicated to help yourself4 ,you      
would have drowned there1 in three      
inches of water1 had not a  friendly    
hand been near to save you4             
,dreadful6 ejaculated the young man1    
striking his hand hard against  his     
forehead1 while an expression of shame  
and agonizing remorse  passed over his  
face4    ,it is1 indeed1 dreadful to    
think of1 my young friend6 ,mr4 ,gray   
remarked1 in a sympathizing tone4 ,how  
wretched you must be6    ,wretched8     
,alas6 sit1 you cannot imagine the      
horror of this dreadful  moment4 ,surely
 ,i have been mad for the past few days6
 ,and enough has  occurred to drive me  
mad4    ,so ,i should think1 ,john4 ,but
 that is past now1 and the future is    
still yours1 and its bright page still  
unsullied by a single act of  folly4    

,but the past6 ,the dreadful past6 ,that
 can never be recalled--never  be atoned
 for1 ,barclay replied1 his countenance 
bearing the  strongest expression of    
anguish and remorse4 ,to think of all ,i
 have  lost ,to think how cruelly ,i    
have mocked the fondest hopes1 and      
crushed the purest affections--perhaps  
broken a loving heart by my  folly4 ,o1 
sir6 ,it will drive me mad6    ,as the  
young man said this1 he arose to his    
feet1 and commenced  pacing the room to 
and fro with agitated steps4 ,now       
striking his  hands against his         
forehead1 and now wringing them         
violently4    ,since that accursed hour1
 he resumed1 after a few minutes thus   
spent1 when ,i madly tempted myself1    
under the belief that ,i had  gained the
 mastery over a depraved appetite by an 
abstinence from  all kinds of liquor for
 six months1 ,i have but a dim          
recollection of  events4 ,i do1 indeed1 
remember1 with tolerable distinctness1  
that ,i  went to claim the hand of      

,helen ,weston1 according to            
appointment4  ,but from the moment ,i   
entered the house1 all is to me         
confusion1 or  a dead blank4 ,tell me1  
then1 ,mr4 ,gray1--and the young man's  
voice  grew calmer1--the effect of my   
miserable conduct upon her whom ,i      
loved purely and tenderly4 ,let me know 
all4 ,i ask no disguise4    ,the effect1
 ,john1 has been painful1 indeed4 ,since
 that dreadful  night1 she has remained 
in a state of partial delirium4 ,but her
  physician told me1 yesterday1 that all
 of her symptoms had become  more       
favourable4    ,and how is her father1  
and friends8    ,deeply incensed1 of    
course1 at your conduct4    ,and my     
sister8 ,how is ,alice8    ,she keeps up
 with an effort4 ,but oh1 how wretched  
and  broken-hearted she looks6 ,is it   
not dreadful1 ,john1 to think1 how1  by 
a single act of folly1 you have         
lacerated the hearts that loved  you    
most1 and imposed upon them burdens of  
anguish1 almost too heavy  to be borne8 

,it is dreadful6 dreadful6 ,o1 that ,i  
had died1 before ,i became an  accursed 
instrument of evil to those ,i love4    
,but what can ,i do1 ,mr4  ,gray1 to    
atone1 in some degree1 for the misery ,i
 have wrought8    ,you can do much1     
,john1 if you will4    ,if ,i will1 ,mr4
 ,gray8    ,yes1 ,john1 if you will4    
,there is nothing that ,i am not ready  
to do1 ,mr4 ,gray--even the  cutting off
 of my right hand1 could it be of any   
avail4    ,you swore off1 as ,i believe 
you called it1 for six months1 did you  
not8    ,yes4    ,had you any desire to 
drink1 during that time8    ,none4      
,sign a pledge of perpetual             
total-abstinence1 and you are safe from 
all future temptations4 ,time will      
doubtless heal the present painful      
wounds4    ,and make a slave of myself1 
,mr4 ,gray4 ,surely ,i ought to have    
power  enough over myself to abstain    
from all intoxicating drinks1 without   
binding myself down by a written        
contract4    ,that is true2 but1        

unfortunately1 you have not that control
 over  yourself4 ,your only safety1     
then1 lies in the pledge4 ,take that1   
and  you throw between yourself and     
danger an insurmountable barrier4 ,you  
talk about freedom2 and yet are a slave 
to the most debasing  appetite4 ,get    
free from the influence of that eager1  
insatiable  desire1 and you are free1   
indeed4 ,the perpetual total-abstinence 
pledge will be your declaration of      
independence4 ,when that is taken1  you4
 will be free1 indeed4 ,and until it is 
taken1 rest assured1 that  none of your 
friends will again have confidence in   
you4 ,for their  sakes1--for your       
sister's sake1 that peace may once more 
be restored  to her troubled heart--for 
the sake of her1 from whose lip you     
dashed the cup of joy1 sign the pledge4 
,i will sign it1 ,mr4 ,gray4 ,but name  
not her whom ,i have so deeply  wronged4
 ,i can never see ,helen ,weston again4 
,time heals many a wound1 and closes    
many a breach my young friend4    ,it   

can never heal that wound1 nor close    
that breach1 was the sad  response4 ,but
 give me a pen and ink1 and some paper2 
and let me  write a pledge4 ,i believe  
it is necessary for me to sign one4     
,the materials for writing were brought 
as desired1 and ,barclay wrote  and     
subscribed a pledge of perpetual        
abstinence from all that could          
intoxicate4    ,that danger is past1 he 
said1 with a lighter tone1 as he arose  
from the table at which he had been     
writing4 ,i can never pass  another such
 a week as that which has just elapsed4 
,now come down and take a good warm     
breakfast with me1 ,mr4 ,gray  said1 in 
a cheerful voice4    ,excuse me if you  
please1 ,barclay replied4 ,i cannot meet
 your  family this morning1 after what  
has occurred4 ,besides1 ,i must see my  
sister as quickly as possible1 and      
relieve1 as far as lies in my  power1   
her suffering heart4    ,go then1 ,john 
,barclay1 the old man said4 ,i will not1
 for ,alice's  sake1 urge you to linger 

a moment4    ,it was still early when   
,mr4 ,barclay entered his own home4 ,he 
found  ,alice sitting in the parlour so 
pale1 haggard1 and wretched1 that  her  
features hardly seemed like those of his
 own sister4 ,she looked  up into his   
face as he came in with a sad1 doubting 
expression1  while her lips trembled4   
,one glance1 however1 told her heart    
that a  change had taken place1 and she 
sprang quickly towards him4    ,alice1  
my own dear sister6 he said1 as her head
 sank upon his  breast4 ,the struggle is
 over4 ,i am free once more1 and free   
for  ever4 ,i have just signed a pledge 
of total-abstinence from all that  can  
intoxicate--a pledge that will remain   
perpetually in force4    ,and may our   
,father in ,heaven help you to keep it1 
,john1 the maiden  murmured1 in a low1  
fervent tone4    ,i will die before it  
shall be violated1 was the stern        
response4    ,one year from that time1  
another bridal party assembled at the   
residence of ,mr4 ,weston4 ,helen long  

since recovered from the shock  she had 
received1 had again consented to be led 
to the altar1 by  ,john ,barclay1 whose 
life had been1 since he signed the      
pledge1 of  the most unexceptionable    
character4 ,indeed1 almost his only     
fault in  former times had been a       
fondness for drinking1 and gay company4 
,not  much of boisterous mirth          
characterized the bridal party1 for none
  felt like giving way to an exuberance 
of feeling1--but there was1             
notwithstanding few could draw a veil   
entirely over the past1 a  rational     
conviction that true and permanent      
happiness must1 and  would crown that   
marriage union4 ,and thus far1 it has   
followed it1  and must continue to      
follow it1 for ,john ,barclay is a man  
of  high-toned principle1 and would as  
soon think of committing a  highway     
robbery1 as violating his pledge4       
,,the ,,failing ,,hope4                 
,,shall ,i read to you1 ma8 said ,emma  
,martin1 a little girl1 eleven  years of

 age1 coming up to the side of her      
mother1 who sat in a  musing attitude by
 the centre-table1 upon which the       
servant had just  placed a light4       
,mrs4 ,martin did not seem to hear the  
voice of her child2 for she  moved not1 
nor was there any change in the fixed1  
dreamy expression  of her face4    ,ma1 
repeated the child1 after waiting for a 
few moments1 laying1  at the same time1 
her head gently upon her mother's       
shoulder4    ,what1 dear8 ,mrs4 ,martin 
asked1 in a tender voice1 rousing       
herself  up4    ,shall ,i read to you1  
ma8 repeated the child4    ,no--yes1    
dear1 you may read for me--the mother   
said1 and her tones  were low1 with     
something mournful in their expression4 
,what shall ,i read1 ma8    ,get the    
,bible1 dear1 and read to me from that  
good book1 replied  ,mrs4 ,martin4    ,i
 love to read in the ,bible1 ,emma said1
 as she brought to the  centre-table    
that sacred volume1 and commenced       
turning over its  pages4 ,she then read 

chapter after chapter1 while the mother 
listened in deep attention1 often       
lifting her heart upwards1 and          
breathing a silent prayer4 ,at last     
,emma grew tired with reading1 and      
closed the book4    ,it is time for you 
to go to bed1 dear1 ,mrs4 ,martin       
observed1 as  the little girl showed    
signs of weariness4    ,kiss me1 ma1 the
 child said1 lifting her innocent face  
to that of  her mother1 and receiving   
the token of love she asked4 ,then1     
breathing her gentle1    ,good-night6   
the affectionate girl glided off1 and   
retired to her  chamber4    ,dear child6
 ,mrs4 ,martin murmured1 as ,emma left  
the room4 ,my heart  trembles when ,i   
think of you1 and look into the dark and
 doubtful  future6    ,she then leaned  
her head upon her hand1 and sat in deep1
 and  evidently painful abstraction of  
mind4 ,thus she remained for a long     
time1 until aroused by the clock which  
struck the hour of ten4    ,with a deep 
sigh she arose1 and commenced pacing the

 room backwards  and forwards1 pausing  
every now and then to listen to the     
sound of  approaching footsteps1 and    
moving on again as the sound went by4   
,thus she continued to walk until nigh  
eleven o'clock1 when some one  drew     
near1 paused at the street door1 and    
then opening it1 came  along the passage
 with a firm and steady step4    ,mrs4  
,martin stopped1 trembling in spite of  
herself1 before the  parlour door1 which
 a moment after was swung open4 ,one    
glance at the  face of the individual   
who entered1 convinced her that her     
solicitude had been unnecessary4    ,oh1
 ,james6 she said1 the tears gushing    
from her eyes1 in spite of  a strong    
effort to compose herself1--,i am so    
glad that you have  come6    ,why are   
you so agitated1 ,emma8 her husband     
said1 in some surprise1  looking        
inquiringly into ,mrs4 ,martin's face4  
,you staid out so late--and--you know ,i
 am foolish sometimes6 she  replied1    
leaning her head down upon his shoulder1

 and continuing to  weep4    ,a change  
instantly passed upon ,mr4 ,martin's    
countenance1 and he  stood still1 for   
some time1 his face wearing a grave     
thoughtful  expression1 while his wife  
remained with her head leaning upon him4
  ,at last he drew his arm tenderly     
around her1 and said--    ,emma1 ,i am a
 sober man4    ,do not1 dear ,james6    
speak of that4 ,i am so happy now6      
,yes1 ,emma1 ,i will speak of it now4   
,and as he said so1 he gently  seated   
her upon the sofa1 and took his place   
beside her4    ,emma--he resumed1       
looking her steadily in the face4 ,i    
have  resolved never again to touch the 
accursed cup that has so well-nigh      
destroyed our peace for ever4    ,oh1   
,james6 ,what a mountain you have taken 
from my heart6 ,mrs4  ,martin replied1  
the whole expression of her face        
changing as  suddenly as a landscape    
upon which the sun shines from beneath  
an  obscuring cloud4 ,i have had nothing
 to trouble me but that--yet  that one  

trouble has seemed more than ,i could   
possibly bear4    ,you shall have no    
more trouble1 ,emma4 ,i have been for   
some months  under a strange delusion1  
it has seemed4 ,but ,i am now fully     
awake1  and see the dangerous precipice 
upon which ,i have been standing4  ,this
 night1 ,i have solemnly resolved that  
,i would drink no more  spirituous      
liquors4 ,nothing stronger than wine    
shall again pass my  lips4    ,i cannot 
tell you how my heart is relieved1 the  
wife said4 ,the  whole of this evening  
,i have been painfully oppressed with   
fear and  dark forebodings4 ,our dear   
little girl is now at that age1 when her
  future prospects interest me all the  
while4 ,i think of them night  and day4 
,shall they all be marred8 ,i have asked
 myself often and  often4 ,but ,i could 
give my heart no certain answer4 ,i need
 not tell  you why4    ,give yourself no
 more anxiety on this point1 ,emma1 her 
husband  replied4 ,i will be a free man 
again4 ,i will be to you and my dear    

child all that ,i have ever been4       
,may our ,heavenly ,father aid you to   
keep that resolution1 was the  silent   
prayer that went up from the heart of   
,mrs4 ,martin4    ,the failing hope of4 
her bosom revived under this assurance4 
,she  felt again as in the early years  
of their wedded life1 when hope and     
confidence1 and tender affection were   
all in the bloom and vigour of  their   
first developement4 ,the light came back
 to her eye1 and the  smile to her lip4 
,it was about four months afterwards1   
that ,mr4 ,martin was invited to  make  
one of a small party1 given to a        
literary man1 as visiter from  a        
neighbouring city4    ,i shall not be   
home to dinner1 ,emma1 he said1 on      
leaving in the  morning4    ,why not1   
,james8 she asked4    ,i am going to    
dine at four1 with a select party of    
gentlemen4    ,mrs4 ,martin did not     
reply1 but a cloud passed over her face1
 in  spite of an effort not to seem     
concerned4    ,don't be uneasy1 ,emma1  

her husband said1 noting this change4 ,i
  shall touch nothing but wine4 ,i know 
my weakness1 and shall be on my  guard4 
,do be watchful over yourself1 for my   
sake1 and for the sake of our  own dear 
child1 ,mrs4 ,martin replied1 laying her
 arm tenderly upon  his shoulder4       
,have no fear1 ,emma1 he said1 and      
kissing the yet fair and  beautiful     
cheek of his wife1 ,mr4 ,martin left the
 house4    ,how long1 how very long did 
the day seem to ,mrs4 ,martin6 ,the     
usual  hour for his return came and     
went1 the dinner hardly tasted2 and     
then his wife counted the hours as they 
passed lingeringly away1  until the dim1
 grey twilight fell with a saddening    
influence around  her4    ,he will be   
home soon1 now1 she thought4 ,but the   
minutes glided  into hours1 and still he
 did not come4 ,the tea-table stood in  
the  floor until nearly nine o'clock1   
before ,mrs4 ,martin sat down with      
little ,emma4 ,but no food passed the   
mother's lips4 ,she could not  eat4     

,there was a strange fear about her     
heart--a dread of coming  evil1 that    
chilled her feelings1 and threw a dark  
cloud over her  spirits4    ,in the     
meantime1 ,martin had gone to the       
dinner-party1 firm in his  resolution   
not to touch a drop of ardent spirits4  
,but the taste of  wine had inflamed his
 appetite1 and he drank more and more   
freely1  until he ceased to feel the    
power of his resolution1 and again put  
brandy to his lips1 and drank with the  
eagerness of a worn and  thirsty        
traveller at a cooling brook4 ,it was   
nine o'clock when the  company arose1 or
 rather attempted to arise from the     
table4 ,not all  of them could          
accomplish that feat4 ,three1 ,martin   
among the rest1  were carried off to    
bed1 in a state of helpless             
intoxication4    ,hour after hour passed
 away1 the anxiety of ,mrs4 ,martin     
increasing  every moment1 until the     
clock struck twelve4    ,why does he    
stay so late8 she said1 rising and      

pacing the room  backwards and forwards4
 ,this she continued to do1 pausing     
every now  and then to listen1 for      
nearly an hour4 ,then she went to the   
door  and looked long and anxiously in  
the direction from which she  expected  
her husband to come4 ,but his well-known
 form met not her  eager eyes1 that     
peered so intently into the darkness and
 gloom of  the night4 ,with another     
long-drawn sigh1 she closed the door1   
and  re-entered the silent and lonely   
room4 ,that silence was broken by  the  
loud and clear ringing of the clock4    
,the hour was one6 ,mrs4  ,martin's     
feelings now became too much excited for
 her to control  them4 ,she sank into a 
chair1 and wept in silent anguish of    
spirit4  ,for nearly a quarter of an    
hour her tears continued to flow1 and   
then a deep calm succeeded--a kind of   
mental stupor1 that remained  until she 
was startled again into distinct        
consciousness by the  sound of the clock
 striking two4    ,all hope now faded   

from her bosom4 ,up to this time she had
  entertained a feeble expectation that 
her husband might be kept away  from    
some other cause than the one she so    
dreaded2 but now that prop  became only 
as a broken reed1 to pierce her with a  
keener anguish4    ,it is all over6 she 
murmured bitterly1 as she again arose1  
and  commenced1 walking to and fro with 
slow and measured steps4    ,it was     
fully three o'clock before that lonely1 
and almost  heart-broken wife and mother
 retired to her chamber4 ,how cruelly   
had  the hope which had grown bright and
 buoyant in the last few months1        
gaining more strength and confidence    
every day1 been again crushed  to the   
earth6    ,for an hour longer did ,mrs4 
,martin sit1 listening in her chamber1  
everything around her so hushed into    
oppressive silence1 that the  troubled  
beating of her own heart1 was distinctly
 audible4 ,but she  waited and listened 
in vain4 ,the sound of passing footsteps
 that now  came only at long1 very long 

intervals1 served but to arouse a       
momentary gleam in her mind1 to fade    
away again1 and leave it in  deeper     
darkness4    ,without disrobing1 she now
 laid herself down1 still listening1    
with  an anxiety that grew more and more
 intense every moment4 ,at last1        
over-wearied nature could bear up no    
longer1 and she sunk into a  troubled   
sleep4 ,when she awoke from this1 it was
 daylight4 ,oh1 how  weary and worn and 
wretched she felt6 ,the consciousness of
 why she  thus lay1 with her clothes    
unremoved1 the sad remembrance of her   
hours of waiting and watching through   
nearly the whole night1 all  came up    
before her with painful distinctness4   
,who but she who has  suffered1 can     
imagine her feelings at that bitter     
moment8    ,on descending to the        
parlour1 she found her husband lying in 
a  half-stupid condition on the sofa1   
the close air of the room  impregnated  
with his breath--the sickening1         
disgusting breath of a  drunken man6    

,bruised1 crushed1 paralyzed affection  
had now to lift  itself up--the wife    
just ready to sink to the earth1        
powerless1  under the weight of an      
overburdening affliction1 had now to    
nerve  herself under the impulse of     
duty4    ,james6 ,james6 she said1 in a 
voice of assumed calmness--laying her   
hand upon him and endeavouring to arouse
 him to consciousness4 ,but  it was a   
long time before she could get him so   
fully awake as to  make him understand  
that it was necessary for him to go up  
stairs  and retire to bed4 ,at length   
she succeeded in getting him into his   
chamber before the servants had come    
down2 and then into bed4 ,once  there1  
he fell off again into a profound sleep4
    ,is pa sick8 asked little ,emma1    
coming into her mother's chamber1  about
 an hour after1 and seeing her father in
 bed4    ,yes1 dear1 your father is     
quite unwell6 ,mrs4 ,martin said1 in a  
calm voice4    ,what ails him1 ma8      
pursued the child4    ,he is not very   

well1 dear2 but will be better soon1 the
 mother  said1 evasively4    ,the little
 girl looked into her mother's face for 
a few moments  unsatisfied with the     
answer1 and unwilling to ask another    
question4  ,she felt that something was 
wrong1 more than the simple illness of  
her father4    ,it was near the middle  
of the day when ,mr4 ,martin became     
fully awake  and conscious of his       
condition4 ,if he had sought            
forgetfulness of  the past night's      
debauch and degradation1 the sad1       
reproving face of  his wife1 pale and   
languid from anxiety and watching1 would
 too  quickly have restored the memory  
of his fall4    ,the very bitterness of 
his self-condemnation--the very keenness
 of  wounded pride irritated his        
feelings1 and made him feel gloomy and  
sullen4 ,he felt deeply for his         
suffering wife--he wished most  ardently
 to speak to her a word of comfort1 but 
his pride kept him  silent4 ,at the     
dinner hour1 he eat a few mouthfuls in  

silence1 and  then withdrew from the    
table and left the house to attend to   
his  ordinary business4 ,on his way to  
his office1 he passed a hotel where  he 
had been in the habit of drinking4 ,he  
felt so wretched--so much  in want of   
something to buoy up his depressed      
feelings1 that he  entered1 and calling 
for some wine1 drank two or three       
glasses4  ,this1 in a few minutes1 had  
the desired effect1 and he repaired to  
his office feeling like a new man4      
,during the afternoon1 he drank wine    
frequently2 and when he returned  home  
in the evening1 was a good deal under   
its influence2 so much  so1 that all the
 reserve he had felt in the morning was 
gone4 ,he  spoke pleasantly and freely  
with his wife--talked of future schemes 
of pleasure and success4 ,but1 alas6 his
 pleasant words fell upon her  heart    
like sunshine upon ice4 ,it was too     
painfully evident that he  had again    
been drinking--and drinking to the      
extent of making him  altogether        

unconscious of his true position4 ,she  
would rather a  thousand times have seen
 him overwhelmed by remorse4 ,then there
  would have been something for her hope
 to have leaned upon4    ,day after day 
did ,mr4 ,martin continue to resort to  
the wine-cup4  ,every morning he felt so
 wretched that existence seemed a burden
 to  him1 until his keen perceptions    
were blunted by wine4 ,then the         
appetite for something stronger would be
 stimulated1 and draught  after draught 
of brandy would follow1 until when night
 came1 he  would return home to agonize 
the heart of his wife with a new pang1  
keener than any that had gone before4   
,such a course of conduct could not be  
pursued without its becoming  apparent  
to all in the house4 ,mrs4 ,martin had1 
therefore1 added to  the cup of sorrow1 
the mortification and pain of having the
  servants1 and her child daily         
conscious of his degradation4 ,poor     
little ,emma would shrink away          
instinctively from her father when he   

would return home in the evening and    
endeavour to lavish upon her  his       
caresses4 ,sometimes ,mr4 ,martin would 
get irritated at this4    ,what are you 
sidling off in that way for1 ,emma8 he  
said1  half-angrily1 one evening1 when  
he was more than usually under the      
influence of liquor1 as ,emma shrunk    
away from him on his coming in4    ,the 
little girl paused and looked           
frightened--glancing first at her       
mother1 and then again1 timidly1 at her 
father4    ,come along here1 ,i say1    
repeated the father1 seating himself1   
and  holding out his hands4    ,go1     
dear1 ,mrs4 ,martin said4    ,i reckon  
she can come without you telling her to1
 madam6 her  husband responded1 angrily4
 ,come along1 ,i tell you6 he added in a
  loud1 excited tone1 his face growing  
red with passion4    ,there now6 ,why   
didn't you come when ,i first spoke4 to 
you1 ha8 he  said1 drawing the child    
towards him with a quick jerk1 so soon  
as  she came within reach of his        

extended hand4 ,say4 ,why didn't you    
come ,tell me6 ,aint ,i your father8    
,yes1 sir1 was the timid reply4    ,and 
havn't ,i taught you that you must obey 
me8    ,yes1 sir4    ,then why didn't   
you come1 just now1 when ,i called you8 
,to this interrogation the little girl  
made no reply1 but looked  exceedingly  
frightened4    ,did you hear what ,i    
said8 pursued the father1 in a louder   
voice4    ,yes1 sir4    ,then answer me1
 this instant6 ,why didn't you come when
 ,i called  you8    ,because1 ,i--,i--,i
 was afraid1 was the timid1 hesitating  
reply4    ,something seemed to whisper  
to the father's mind a consciousness1   
that his appearance and conduct while   
under the influence of liquor1  might be
 such as not only to frighten1 but      
estrange his child's  affection from    
him2 and he seemed touched by the       
thought1 for his  manner changed1 though
 he was still to a degree irrational4   
,go away1 then1 ,emma6 ,take her away1  
mother1 he said1 in a tone  which       

indicated that his feelings were        
touched4 ,she don't love her  father any
 more1 and don't care anything more     
about him1 pushing at  the same time the
 child away from him4    ,poor little   
,emma burst into tears1 and shrinking to
 the side of her  mother1 buried her    
face in the folds of her dress1 sobbing 
as if her  heart were breaking4    ,mrs4
 ,martin took her little girl by the    
hand and led her from the  room1 up to  
the chamber1 and kissing her1 told her  
to remain there  until the servant      
brought her some supper1 when she could 
go to bed4    ,i don't want any supper1 
ma6 she said1 still sobbing4    ,don't  
cry1 dear1 ,mrs4 ,martin said1          
soothingly4    ,indeed1 ma1 ,i do love  
father1 the child said--looking up      
earnestly  into her mother's face1 the  
tears still streaming over her cheeks4  
,won't you tell him so8    ,yes1 ,emma1 
,i will tell him1 the mother replied4   
,and won't you ask him to come up and   
kiss me after ,i'm in bed8    ,yes1     

dear4    ,and will he come8    ,oh1 yes2
 he will come and kiss you4    ,martin  
remained with her little girl until her 
feelings were quieted  down1 and then   
she descended with reluctant steps to   
the parlour4  ,there was that in the    
scene which had just passed1 that       
sobered1 to  a great extent1 the        
half-intoxicated husband and father1 and
 caused  him to feel humbled and pained 
at his conduct2 which it was too        
apparent was breaking the heart of his  
wife1 and estranging the  affection of  
his child4    ,when ,mrs4 ,martin       
re-entered the parlour1 she found him   
sitting near  a table1 with his head    
resting upon his hand1 and his whole    
manner  indicating a state of painful   
self-consciousness4 ,with the           
instinctive perception of a woman1 she  
saw the truth2 and going at  once up to 
him1 she laid her hand upon him1 and    
said3    ,james--,emma wants you to come
 up and kiss her after she gets into    
bed4 ,she says that she does love you1  

and she wished me to tell you  so4      
,mr4 ,martin did not reply4 ,there was  
something calm1 gentle1 and             
affectionate1 in the manner and tones of
 his wife--something that  melted him   
completely down4 ,a choking sob         
followed2 when he arose  hastily1 and   
retired to his chamber4 ,mrs4 ,martin   
did not follow him  thither4 ,she saw   
that his own reflections were doing more
 for him  than anything that she could  
do or say2 and1 therefore1 she deemed   
it the part of wisdom to let his own    
reflections be his companion1  and do   
their own work4    ,when ,mr4 ,martin   
entered his chamber1 he seated himself  
near the bed1  and leaned his head down 
upon it4 ,he was becoming more and more 
sobered every moment--more and more     
distinctly conscious of the true  nature
 of the ground he occupied4 ,still his  
mind was a good deal  confused1 for the 
physical action of the stimulus he had  
taken  through the day1 had not yet     
subsided2 although there was a strong   

mental counteracting cause in operation1
 which was gradually  subduing the      
effect of his potations4 ,as he sat     
thus1 leaning his  head upon his hand1  
and half-reclining upon the bed1 a deep 
sigh1 or  half-suppressed sob1 caught   
his ear4 ,it came from the adjoining    
chamber4 ,he remembered his child in an 
instant4 ,his only child--whom  he most 
fondly loved4 ,he remembered1 too1 her  
conduct1 but a short  time before1 and  
saw1 with painful distinctness1 that he 
was  estranging from himself1 and       
bringing sorrow upon one whose gentle   
nature had affected even his heart with 
feelings of peculiar  tenderness4    ,my
 dear child6 he murmured1 as he arose to
 his feet1 and went  quietly into her   
room4 ,she had already retired to bed1  
and lay with  her head almost buried    
beneath the clothes1 as if shrinking    
away  with a sensation akin to fear4    
,but she heard him enter1 and  instantly
 rose up1 saying1 as she saw him        
approach her bed--    ,o1 pa1 indeed ,i 

do love you6    ,and ,i love you1 my    
child1 ,mr4 ,martin responded1 bending  
over her  and kissing her forehead1     
cheeks1 and lips1 with an earnest       
fondness4    ,and don't you love ma1    
too8 inquired ,emma4    ,certainly ,i   
do1 my dear6 ,why do you ask me8        
,because ,i see her crying so           
often--almost every day4 ,and she seems 
so troubled just before you come home1  
every evening4 ,she didn't use  to be   
so4 ,a good while ago1 she used to be   
always talking about when  pa would be  
home2 and used to dress me up every     
afternoon to see  you4 ,but now she     
never says anything about your coming   
home at  night4 ,don't you know how we  
used to walk out and meet you           
sometimes8 ,we never do it now6    ,this
 innocent appeal was like an arrow      
piercing him with the most  acute pain4 
,he could not find words in which to    
fame a reply4 ,simply  kissing her      
again1 and bidding her a tender         
good-night1 he turned  away and left her

 chamber1 feeling more wretched than he 
had ever  felt in his life4    ,it was  
about twelve years since the wife of    
,mr4 ,martin had united  her hopes and  
affections with his4 ,at that time he   
was esteemed by  all--a strictly        
temperate man1 although he would drink  
with a  friend1 or at a convivial party1
 whenever circumstances led him to  do  
so4 ,from this kind of indulgence the   
appetite for liquor was  formed4 ,two   
years after his marriage1 ,martin had   
become so fond of  drinking1 that he    
took from two to three glasses every    
day1  regularly4 ,brandy at dinner-time 
was indispensable4 ,the meal would  have
 seemed to him wanting in a principal   
article without it4 ,it was  not until  
about five years after their marriage   
that ,mrs4 ,martin was  aroused to a    
distinct consciousness of danger4 ,her  
husband came home  so much intoxicated  
as to be scarcely able to get up into   
his  chamber4 ,then she remembered1 but 
too vividly1 the slow1 but sure         

progress he had been making towards     
intemperance1 during the past  two or   
three years1 and her heart sunk         
trembling in her bosom with a  new and  
awful fear4 ,it seemed as if she had    
suddenly awakened from a  delusive dream
 of happiness and security1 to find     
herself standing  at the brink of a     
fearful precipice4    ,what can ,i do8  
,what shall ,i do8 were questions       
repeated over and  over again2 but1     
alas6 she could find no answer upon     
which her  troubled heart could repose  
with confidence4 ,how could she approach
  her husband upon such a subject8 ,she 
felt that she could not allude  to it4  
,month after month1 and year after year1
 she watched with an anguish  of spirit 
that paled her cheek1 and stole away the
 brightness from  her eye1 the slow1 but
 sure progress of the destroyer4 ,alas6 
how did  hope fail--fail--fail1 until it
 lived in her bosom but a faint1        
feeble1 flickering ray4 ,at last she    
ventured to remonstrate1 and met  with  

anger and repulse4 ,when this subsided1 
and her husband began to  reflect more  
deeply upon his course1 he was humbled  
in spirit1 and  sought to heal the wound
 his conduct and his words had made4    
,then  came promises of amendment1 and  
,mrs4 ,martin fondly hoped all would  be
 well again4 ,the light again came back 
to her heart4 ,but it did  not long     
remain4 ,martin still permitted himself 
to indulge in wine1  which soon excited 
the desire for stronger stimulants1 and 
he again  indulged1 and again fell4     
,ten times had he thus fallen1 each time
 repenting1 and each time  restoring a  
degree of confidence to the heart of his
 wife1 by  promises of future           
abstinence4 ,gradually did hope continue
 to grow  weaker and weaker1 at each    
relapse1 until it had nearly failed4    
,there is no hope1 she said to herself1 
mournfully1 as she sat in  deep thought1
 on the evening in which occurred the   
scene we have  just described4 ,he has  
tried so often1 and fallen again at     

every  effort4 ,there is no hope--no    
hope6    ,it was an hour after ,mr4     
,martin had retired to his chamber1 that
 his  wife went up softly1 and first    
went into ,emma's room4 ,the child was  
asleep1 and there was on her innocent   
face a quiet smile1 as if  pleasant     
images were resting upon her mind4 ,a   
soft kiss was  imprinted on her fair    
forehead1 and then ,mrs4 ,martin went   
into her  own chamber4 ,she found that  
her husband had retired to bed and was  
asleep4    ,but few hours of refreshing 
slumber visited the eyelids of the      
almost despairing wife4 ,towards        
morning1 however1 she sank away into  a 
deep sleep4 ,when she awoke from this1  
it was an hour after  daylight4 ,her    
husband was up and dressed1 and sat     
beside the bed1  looking into her face  
with an expression of subdued1 but calm 
and  tender affection4    ,emma1 he     
said1 taking her hand1 as soon as she   
was fairly  awakened1 can you again have
 confidence in me1 or has hope failed   

altogether8    ,mrs4 ,martin did not    
reply1 but looked at her husband        
steadily and  inquiringly4    ,i        
understand you1 he said1 you have       
almost1 if not altogether  ceased to    
hope4 ,i do not wonder at it4 ,if ,i had
 not so often mocked  your generous     
confidence1 ,i would again assure you   
that all will be  well4 ,i see that what
 ,i say does not make the warm blood    
bound to  your face1 as once it did4 ,i 
will not use idle words to convince     
you4 ,but one thing ,i will say4 ,i have
 been1 for sometime past1  conscious1   
that it was dangerous for me to touch   
wine1 or ale1 or  anything that         
stimulates1 as they do4 ,they only      
revive an appetite  for stronger drinks1
 while they take away a measure of      
self-control4  ,i have1 therefore1 most 
solemnly promised myself1 that ,i will  
never  again touch or taste any         
spirituous liquors1 wine1 malt1 or      
cider4  ,nor will ,i again attend any   
convivial parties1 where these things   

are used4 ,hereafter1 ,i shall act upon 
the total-abstinence  principle--for    
only in total-abstinence1 is there      
safety for one  like me4    ,there was  
something so solemn and earnest in the  
manner of her  husband1 that ,mrs4      
,martin's drooping spirits began to     
revive4 ,again  did her eye brighten1   
and her cheek kindle4 ,then came a gush 
of  tears attesting the power of a new  
impulse4 ,the failing hope was  renewed6
    ,and day after day1 week after week1
 and month after month1 did that  hope  
strengthen and gain confidence4 ,years  
have passed1 since that                 
total-abstinence resolution was taken1  
and not once during the time  has       
,martin been tempted to violate it4     
,yet1 is he vividly conscious1  that    
only in total-abstinence from everything
 that can intoxicate  is there safety   
for him4              ,,taking ,,toll4  
,,mr4 ,,smith kept a drug shop in the   
little village of ,q--1 which was       
situated a few miles from ,lancaster4   

,it was his custom to visit the  latter 
place every week or two1 in order to    
purchase such articles  as were needed  
from time to time in his business4 ,one 
day1 he drove  off towards ,lancaster1  
in his wagon1 in which1 among other     
things1  was a gallon demijohn4 ,on     
reaching the town1 he called first at a 
grocer's with the inquiry1    ,have you 
any common wine8    ,how common8 asked  
the grocer4    ,about a dollar a gallon4
 ,i want it for antimonial wine4        
,yes2 ,i have some just fit for that1   
and not much else1 which ,i will  sell  
at a dollar4    ,very well4 ,give me a  
gallon1 said ,mr4 ,smith4 ,the demijohn 
was  brought in from the wagon and      
filled4 ,and then ,mr4 ,smith drove off 
to attend to other business4 ,among the 
things to be done on that  day1 was to  
see a man who lived half a mile from    
,lancaster4 ,before  going out on this  
errand1 ,mr4 ,smith stopped at the house
 of his  particular friend1 ,mr4 ,jones4
 ,mr4 ,jones happened not to be in1 but 

,mrs4 ,jones was a pleasant woman1 and  
he chatted with her for ten  minutes1 or
 so4 ,as he stepped into his wagon1 it  
struck him that the  gallon demijohn was
 a little in his way1 and so1 lifting it
 out1 he  said to ,mrs4 ,jones1    ,i   
wish you would take care of this until  
,i come back4    ,o6 certainly1 replied 
,mrs4 ,jones1 with the greatest         
pleasure4    ,and so the demijohn was   
left in the lady's care4    ,some time  
afterwards ,mr4 ,jones came in1 and     
among the first things  that attracted  
his attention1 was the strange demijohn4
    ,what is this8 was his natural      
inquiry4    ,something that ,mr4 ,smith 
left4    ,mr4 ,smith from ,q--8    ,yes4
    ,i wonder what he has here8 said    
,mr4 ,jones1 taking hold of the         
demijohn4 ,it feels heavy4    ,the cork 
was unhesitatingly removed1 and the     
mouth of the vessel  brought in contact 
with the smelling organ of ,mr4 ,jones4 
,wine1 as ,i live6 fell from his lips4  
,bring me a glass4    ,o6 no1 ,mr4      

,jones4 ,i wouldn't touch his wine1 said
 ,mrs4 ,jones4    ,bring me a glass4 ,do
 you think ,i'm going to let a gallon of
 wine  pass my way without exacting     
toll8 ,no--no6 ,bring me a glass4       
,the glass1 a half-pint tumbler1 was    
produced1 and nearly filled with  the   
execrable stuff--as guiltless of grape  
juice as a dyer's  vat--which was poured
 down the throat of ,mr4 ,jones4        
,pretty fair wine1 that2 only a little  
rough1 said ,mr4 ,jones1  smacking his  
lips4    ,it's a shame6 remarked ,mrs4  
,jones1 warmly1 for you to do so4    ,i 
only took toll1 said the husband1       
laughing4 ,no harm in that1  ,i'm sure4 
,rather heavy toll1 it strikes me1      
replied ,mrs4 ,jones4    ,meantime1 ,mr4
 ,smith1 having completed most of his   
business for that  day1 stopped at a    
store where he wished two or three      
articles put  up4 ,while these were in  
preparation he said to the keeper of the
  store1    ,i wish you would let your  
lad ,tom step over for me to ,mr4       

,jones's4  ,i left a demijohn of common 
wine there1 which ,i bought for the     
purpose of making it into antimonial    
wine4    ,o6 certainly1 replied the     
store-keeper4 ,here1 ,tom6 and he called
  for his boy4    ,tom came1 and the    
store-keeper said to him1    ,run over  
to ,mr4 ,jones's and get a jug of       
antimonial wine which ,mr4  ,smith left 
there4 ,go quickly1 for ,mr4 ,smith is  
in a hurry4    ,yes1 sir1 replied the   
lad1 and away he ran4    ,after ,mr4    
,jones had disposed of his half a pint  
of wine1 he thought  his stomach had    
rather a curious sensation1 which is not
 much to be  wondered at1 considering   
the stuff with which he had burdened it4
    ,i wonder if that really is wine8   
said he1 turning from the window  at    
which he had seated himself1 and taking 
up tie demijohn again4  ,the cork was   
removed1 and his nose applied to the    
mouth of the huge  bottle4    ,yes1 it's
 wine2 but ,i'll vow it's not much to   
brag of4 ,and the  cork was once more   

replaced4    ,just then came a knock at 
the door4 ,mrs4 ,jones opened it1 and   
the  store-keeper's lad appeared4       
,mr4 ,smith says1 please let me have the
 jug of antimonial wine he  left here4  
,antimonial wine6 exclaimed ,mr4 ,jones1
 his chin falling1 and a  paleness      
instantly overspread his face4    ,yes1 
sir1 said the lad4    ,antimonial wine6 
fell again1 but huskily1 from the       
quivering lips  of ,mr4 ,jones4 ,send   
for the doctor1 ,kitty1 quick6 ,oh6 ,how
 sick ,i  feel6 ,send for the doctor1 or
 ,i'll be a dead man in half an hour6   
,antimonial wine6 ,dreadful6 exclaimed  
,mrs4 ,jones1 now as pale and           
frightened as her husband4 ,do you feel 
sick8    ,o6 yes4 ,as sick as death6    
,and the appearance of ,mr4 ,jones by no
  means belied his words4 ,send for the 
doctor instantly1 or it may be  too     
late4    ,mrs4 ,jones ran first in one  
direction and then in another1 and      
finally1 after telling the boy to run   
for the doctor1 called ,jane1  her      

single domestic1 and started her on the 
same errand4    ,off sprung ,jane at a  
speed outstripping that of ,john        
,gilpin4  ,fortunately1 the doctor was  
in his office1 and he came with all the 
rapidity a proper regard to the dignity 
of his profession would  permit1 armed  
with a stomach pump and a dozen         
antidotes4 ,on arriving  at the house of
 ,mr4 ,jones he found the sufferer lying
 upon a bed1  ghastly pale1 and retching
 terribly4    ,o6 doctor6 ,i'm afraid   
it's all over with me6 gasped the       
patient4    ,how did it happen8 what    
have you taken8 inquired the doctor1    
eagerly4    ,i took1 by mistake1 nearly 
a pint of antimonial wine4    ,then it  
must be removed instantly1 said the     
doctor2 and down the  sick man's throat 
went one end of a long1 flexible1 ,india
 rubber  tube1 and pump6 pump6 pump6    
went the doctor's hand at the other end4
  ,the result was very palpable4 ,about 
a pint of reddish fluid1  strongly      
smelling of wine1 came up1 after which  

the instrument was  withdrawn4          
,there1 said the doctor1 ,i guess that  
will do4 ,now let me give you  an       
antidote4 ,and a nauseous dose of       
something or other was mixed up  and    
poured down1 to take the place of what  
had just been removed4    ,do you feel  
any better now8 inquired the doctor1 as 
he sat holding  the pulse of the sick   
man1 and scanning1 with a professional  
eye1  his pale face1 that was covered   
with a clammy perspiration4    ,a       
little1 was the faint reply4 ,do you    
think all danger is past8    ,yes1 ,i   
think so4 ,the antidote ,i have given   
you will neutralize the  effect of the  
drug1 as far as it has passed into the  
system4    ,i feel as weak as a rag1    
said the patient4 ,i am sure ,i could   
not  bear my own weight4 ,what a        
powerful effect it had6    ,don't think 
of it1 returned the doctor4 ,compose    
yourself4 ,there  is now no danger to be
 apprehended whatever4    ,the wild     
flight of ,jane through the street1 and 

the hurried  movements of the doctor1   
did not fail to attract attention4      
,inquiry  followed1 and it soon became  
noised about that ,mr4 ,jones had taken 
poison4    ,mr4 ,smith was just stepping
 into his wagon1 when a man came up and 
said to him1    ,have you heard the     
news8    ,what news8    ,mr4 ,jones has 
taken poison6    ,what8    ,poison6     
,who6 ,mr4 ,jones8    ,yes4 ,and they   
say he cannot live4    ,dreadful6 ,i    
must see him4 ,and without waiting for  
further  information1 ,mr4 ,smith spoke 
to his horse and rode off at a gallop   
for the residence of his friend4 ,mrs4  
,jones met him at the door1  looking    
very anxious4    ,how is he8 inquired   
,mr4 ,smith1 in a serious voice4    ,a  
little better1 ,i thank you4 ,the doctor
 has taken it all out of  his stomach4  
,will you walk up8    ,mr4 ,smith       
ascended to the chamber where lay ,mr4  
,jones1 looking as  white as a sheet4   
,the doctor was still by his side4      
,ah6 my friend1 said the sick man1 in a 

feeble voice1 as ,mr4 ,smith  took his  
hand1 that antimonial wine of yours has 
nearly been the  death of me4    ,what  
antimonial wine8 inquired ,mr4 ,smith1  
not understanding his  friend4    ,the  
wine you left here in the gallon        
demijohn4    ,that wasn't antimonial    
wine6    ,it was not8 fell from the lips
 of both ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,jones4    ,why1
 no6 ,it was only wine that ,i had      
bought for the purpose of  making       
antimonial wine4    ,mr4 ,jones rose up 
in bed4    ,not antimonial wine8    ,no6
    ,why the boy said it was4    ,then  
he didn't know any thing about it4 ,it  
was nothing but some  common wine which 
,i had bought4    ,mr4 ,jones took a    
long breath4 ,the doctor arose from the 
bedside1 and  ,mr4 ,jones exclaimed1    
,well1 ,i never6    ,then came a grave  
silence1 in which one looked at the     
other1  doubtingly4    ,good-day2 said  
the doctor1 and went down stairs4    ,so
 you have been drinking my wine1 it     
seems1 laughed ,mr4 ,smith1 as  soon as 

the man with the stomach pump had       
retired4    ,i only took a little toll1 
said ,mr4 ,jones1 back into whose pale  
face the color was beginning to come1   
and through whose almost  paralyzed     
nerves was again flowing from the brain 
a healthy  influence4 ,but don't say any
 thing about it6 ,don't for the world6  
,i won't1 on one condition1 said ,mr4   
,smith1 whose words were  scarcely      
coherent1 so strongly was he convulsed  
with laughter4    ,what is that8    ,you
 must become a teetotaller4    ,can't do
 that1 replied ,mr4 ,jones4    ,give me 
a day or two to make up my mind4        
,very well4 ,and now1 good bye2 the sun 
is nearly down1 and it will  be night   
before ,i get home4    ,and ,mr4 ,smith 
shook hands with ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,jones  
and hurriedly  retired1 trying1 but in  
vain1 to leave the house in a grave and 
dignified manner4 ,long before ,mr4     
,jones had made up his mind to join  the
 teetotallers1 the story of his taking  
toll was all over the  town1 and for the

 next two or three months he had his own
 time of  it4 ,after that1 it became an 
old story4              ,,thou ,,art    
,,the ,,man6            ,,how can you   
reconcile it to your conscience to      
continue in your  present business1 ,mr4
 ,muddler8 asked a venerable clergyman  
of a  tavern-keeper1 as the two walked  
home from the funeral of a young  man   
who had died suddenly4    ,i find no    
difficulty on that score1 replied the   
tavern-keeper1 in  a confident tone3 ,my
 business is as necessary to the public 
as that  of any other man4    ,that     
branch of it1 which regards the comfort 
and accommodation of  travellers1 ,i    
will grant to be necessary4 ,but there  
is another  portion of it which1 you    
must pardon me for saying1 is not only  
uncalled for by the real wants of the   
community1 but highly  detrimental to   
health and good morals4    ,and pray1   
,mr4 ,mildman1 to what portion of my    
business do you  allude8    ,i allude to
 that part of it which embraces the sale

 of intoxicating  drinks4    ,indeed6   
the very best part of my business4 ,but1
 certainly1 you do  not pretend to say  
that ,i am to be held accountable for   
the  unavoidable excesses which         
sometimes grow out of the use of liquors
  as a beverage8    ,i certainly must   
say1 that1 in my opinions a very large  
share of  the responsibility rests upon 
your shoulders4 ,you not only make it a 
business to sell liquors1 but you use   
every device in your power to  induce   
men to come and drink them4 ,you invent 
new compounds with new  and attractive  
names1 in order to induce the           
indifferent or the  lovers of variety1  
to frequent your bar-room4 ,in this way1
 you too  often draw the weak into an   
excess of self-indulgence1 that ends1   
alas6 in drunkenness and final ruin of  
body and soul4 ,you are not  only       
responsible for all this1 ,mr4 ,muddler1
 but you bear the weight  of a fearful  
responsibility6    ,i cannot see the    
subject in that light1 ,mr4 ,mildman1   

the  tavern-keeper said1 rather gravely4
 ,mine is an honest and  honourable     
calling1 and it is my duty to my family 
and to society1  to follow it with      
diligence and a spirit of enterprise4   
,may ,i ask you a plain question1 ,mr4  
,muddler8    ,oh yes1 certainly6 as many
 as you please4    ,can that calling be 
an honest and honourable one which takes
  sustenance from the community1 and    
gives back nothing in return8    ,i do  
not know that ,i understand the nature  
of your question1 ,mr4  ,mildman4       
,consider then society as a man in a    
larger form1 as it really is4  ,in this 
great body1 as in the lesser body of    
man1 there are various  functions of use
 and a reciprocity between the whole4   
,each function  receives a portion of   
life from the others1 and gives back its
 own  proper share for the good of the  
whole4 ,the hand does not act for       
itself alone--receiving strength and    
selfishly appropriating it  without     
returning its quota of good to the      

general system4 ,and so of  the heart1  
and lungs1 and every other organ in the 
whole body4  ,reverse the order--and how
 soon is the entire system diseased6    
,now1  does that member of the great    
body of the people act honestly and     
honourably1 who regularly receives his  
portion of good from the  general social
 system1 and gives nothing back in      
return8    ,to this the landlord made no
 reply1 and ,mr4 ,mildman continued--   
,but there is still a stronger view to  
be taken4 ,suppose a member of  the     
human body is diseased--a limb1 for     
instance1 in a partial state  of        
mortification4 ,here there is a         
reception of life from the whole  system
 into that limb1 and a constant giving  
back of disease that  gradually pervades
 the entire body2 and1 unless that body 
possesses  extraordinary vital energy1  
in the end destroys it4 ,in like manner1
  if in the larger body there be one    
member who takes his share of  life from
 the whole1 and gives back nothing but a

 poisonous  principle1 whose effect is  
disease and death1 surely he cannot be  
called a good member--nor honest1 nor   
honourable4    ,and pray1 ,mr4 ,mildman1
 asked the tavern-keeper1 with warmth1  
where will you find1 in society1 such an
 individual as you  describe8    ,the   
minister paused at this question1 and   
looked his companion  steadily in the   
face4 ,then raising his long1 thin      
finger to give  force to his remark1 he 
said with deep emphasis--    ,thou art  
the man6    ,me1 ,mr4 ,mildman6 me6     
exclaimed the tavern-keeper1 in surprise
 and  displeasure4 ,you surely cannot be
 in earnest4    ,i utter but a solemn   
truth1 ,mr4 ,muddler3 such is your      
position in  society6 ,you receive food1
 and clothing1 and comforts and luxuries
  of various kinds for yourself and     
family from the social body1 and  what  
do you give back for all these8 ,a      
poison to steal away the  health and    
happiness of that social body4 ,you are 
far worse than a  perfectly dead        

member--you exist upon the great body as
 a moral  gangrene4 ,reflect calmly upon
 this subject4 ,go home1 and in the     
silence of your own chamber1 enter into 
unimpassioned and solemn  communion with
 your heart4 ,be honest with yourself4  
,exclude the bias  of selfish feelings  
and selfish interests1 and honestly     
define to  yourself your true position4'
    ,but1 ,mr4 ,mildman--    ,the two   
men had paused nearly in front of ,mr4  
,muddler's splendid  establishment1 and 
were standing there when the            
tavern-keeper  commenced a reply to the 
minister's last remarks4 ,he had uttered
 but  the first word or two1 when he was
 interrupted by a pale1  thinly-dressed 
female1 who held a little girl by the   
hand4 ,she came  up before him and      
looked him steadily in the face for a   
moment or  two4    ,mr4 ,muddler1 ,i    
believe1 she said4    ,yes1 madam1 that 
is my name1 was his reply4    ,i have   
come1 ,mr4 ,muddler1 the woman then     
said1 with an effort to  smile and      

affect a polite air1 to thank you for a 
present ,i  received last night4        
,thank me1 madam6 ,there certainly must 
be some mistake4 ,i never made  you a   
present4 ,indeed1 ,i have not the       
pleasure of your  acquaintance4    ,you 
said your name was ,muddler1 ,i believe8
    ,yes1 madam1 as ,i told you before1 
that is my name4    ,then you are the   
man4 ,you made my little girl1 here a   
present also1  and we have both come    
with our thanks4    ,you deal in        
riddles1 madam1 ,speak out plainly4     
,as ,i said before1 the woman replied1  
with bitter irony in her  tones1 ,i have
 come with my little girl to thank you  
for the present  we received last       
night2--a present of wretchedness and   
abuse4    ,i am still as far from       
understanding you as ever1 the          
tavern-keeper said--,i never abused you1
 madam4 ,i do not even know  you4       
,but you know my husband1 sir6 ,you have
 enticed him to your bar1 and  for his  
money have given him a poison that has  

changed him from one  of the best and   
kindest of men1 into a demon4 ,to you1  
then1 ,i owe  all the wretchedness ,i   
have suffered1 and the brutal treatment 
,i  shared with my helpless children    
last night4 ,it is for this that ,i     
have come to thank you4    ,surely1     
madam1 you must be beside yourself4 ,i  
have nothing to do  with your husband4  
,nothing to do with him6 the woman      
exclaimed1 in an excited tone4  ,would  
to heaven that it were so6 ,before you  
opened your accursed  gin palace1 he was
 a sober man1 and the best and kindest  
of  husbands--but1 enticed by you1 your 
advertisement and display of  fancy     
drinks1 he was tempted within the       
charmed circle of your  bar-room4 ,from 
that moment began his downfall2 and now 
he is lost to  self-control--lost to    
feeling--lost to humanity6    ,as the   
woman said this1 she burst into tears1  
and then turned and  walked slowly away4
    ,to that painful illustration of the
 truth of what ,i have said1 the        

minister remarked1 as the two stood once
 more alone1 ,i have nothing  to add4   
,may the lesson sink deep into your     
heart4 ,between you and  that woman's   
husband existed a regular business      
transaction4 ,did it  result in a mutual
 benefit8 ,answer that question to your 
own  conscience4    ,how the            
tavern-keeper answered it1 we know not4 
,but if he received  no benefit from the
 double lesson1 we trust that others    
may2 and in  the hope that the practical
 truth we have endeavoured briefly to   
illustrate1 will fall somewhere upon    
good ground1 we cast it forth  for the  
benefit of our fellow-men4              
,,the ,,touching ,,reproof4             
,,here1 ,jane1 said a father to his     
little girl not over eleven years  of   
age1 go over to the shop and buy me a   
pint of brandy4    ,at the same time he 
handed her a quarter of a dollar4 ,the  
child took  the money and the bottle1   
and as she did so1 looked her father in 
the face with an earnest1 sad           

expression4 ,but he did not seem to     
observe it1 although he perceived it1   
and felt it2 for he understood  its     
meaning4 ,the little girl lingered1 as  
if reluctant1 from some  reason1 to go  
on her errand4    ,did you hear what ,i 
said8 the father asked1 angrily1 and    
with a  frowning brow1 as he observed   
this4    ,jane glided from the room and 
went over to the shop1 hiding1 as she   
passed through the street1 the bottle   
under her apron4 ,there she  obtained   
the liquor1 and returned with it in a   
few minutes4 ,as she  reached the bottle
 to her father1 she looked at him again 
with the  same sad1 earnest look1 which 
he observed4 ,it annoyed and angered    
him4    ,what do you mean by looking at 
me in that way8 ,ha6 he said1 in a      
loud1 angry tone4    ,jane shrunk away1 
and passed into the next room1 where her
 mother  lay sick4 ,she had been sick   
for some time1 and as they were poor1   
and her husband given to drink1 she had 
sorrow and privation added  to her      

bodily sufferings4 ,as her little girl  
came in1 she went up to  the side of her
 bed1 and1 bending over it1 leaned her  
head upon her  hand4 ,she did not make  
any remark1 nor did her mother speak to 
her1  until she observed the tears      
trickling through her fingers4    ,what 
is the matter1 my dear8 she then asked1 
tenderly4    ,the little girl raised her
 head1 endeavouring to dry up her tears 
as  she did so4    ,i feel so bad1      
mother1 she replied4    ,and why do you 
feel bad1 my child8    ,oh1 ,i always   
feel so bad when father sends me over to
 the shop for  brandy2 and ,i had to go 
just now4 ,i wanted to ask him to buy   
you  some nice grapes and oranges with  
the quarter of a dollar--they  would    
taste so good to you--but he seemed to  
know what ,i was going  to say1 and     
looked at me so cross that ,i was afraid
 to speak4 ,i wish  he would not drink  
any more brandy4 ,it makes him cross2   
and then how  many nice things he might 
buy for you with the money it takes for 

liquor4    ,the poor mother had no words
 of comfort to offer her little girl1   
older in thought than in years2 for no  
comfort did she herself feel  in view of
 the circumstances that troubled her    
child4 ,she only  said--aying her hand  
upon the child's head--    ,try and not 
think about it1 my dear2 it only        
troubles you1 and your  trouble cannot  
make it any better4    ,but ,jane could 
not help thinking about it1 try as hard 
as she would4  ,she went to a ,sabbath  
school1 in which a ,temperance society  
had been  formed1 and every ,sabbath she
 heard the subject of intemperance      
discussed1 and its dreadful consequences
 detailed4 ,but more than all  this1 she
 had the daily experience of a          
drunkard's child4 ,in this  experience1 
how much of heart-touching misery was   
involved6--how  much of privation--how  
much of the anguish of a bruised spirit4
 ,who  can know the weight that lies1   
like a heavy burden1 upon the heart  of 
a drunkard's child6 ,none but the       

child--for language is powerless  to    
convey it4    ,on the next morning1 the 
father of little ,jane went away to his 
work1 and she was left alone with her   
mother and her younger sister4  ,they   
were very poor1 and could not afford to 
employ any one to do  the house-work1   
and so1 young as she was1 while her     
mother was sick1  ,jane had everything  
to do3--the cooking1 and cleaning1 and  
even the  washing and ironing--a hard   
task1 indeed1 for her little hands4 ,but
  she never murmured--never seemed to   
think that she was overburdened2  ,how  
cheerfully would all have been done1 if 
her father's smiles had  only fallen    
like sunshine upon her heart6 ,but that 
face1 into which  her eyes looked so    
often and so anxiously1 was ever hid in 
clouds--clouds arising from the         
consciousness that he was abusing  his  
family while seeking his own base       
gratification1 and from  perceiving the 
evidences of his evil works stamped on  
all things  around him4    ,as ,jane    

passed frequently through her mother's  
room during the  morning1 pausing almost
 every time to ask if she wanted        
anything2  she saw1 too plainly1 that   
she was not as well as on the day       
before--that she had a high fever1      
indicated to her by her hot skin  and   
constant request for cool water4    ,i  
wish ,i had an orange1 the poor woman   
said1 as ,jane came up to  her bed-side1
 for the twentieth time1 it would taste 
so good to  me4    ,she had been        
thinking about an orange all the        
morning2 and  notwithstanding her effort
 to drive the thought from her mind1 the
  form of an orange would ever picture  
itself before her1 and its  grateful    
flavour ever seem about to thrill upon  
her taste4 ,at last  she uttered her    
wish--not so much with the hope of      
having it  gratified1 as from an        
involuntary impulse to speak out her    
desire4    ,there was not a single cent 
in the house1 for the father rarely     
trusted his wife with money--he could   

not confide in her judicious            
expenditure of it6    ,let me go and buy
 you an orange1 mother1 ,jane said2 they
 have  oranges at the shop4    ,i have  
no change1 my dear2 and if ,i had1 ,i   
should not think it  right to spend four
 or five cents for an orange1 when we   
have so  little4 ,get me a cool drink of
 water2 that will do now4    ,jane      
brought the poor sufferer a glass of    
cool water1 and she drank  it off       
eagerly4 ,then she lay back upon her    
pillow with a sigh1 and  her little girl
 went out to attend to the household    
duties that  devolved upon her4 ,but all
 the while ,jane thought of the orange1 
and  of how she should get it for her   
mother4    ,when her father came home to
 dinner1 he looked crosser than he did  
in the morning4 ,he sat down to the     
table and eat his dinner in moody       
silence1 and then arose to depart1      
without so much as asking after  his    
sick wife1 or going into her chamber4   
,as he moved towards the  door1 his hat 

already on his head1 ,jane went up to   
him1 and looking  timidly in his face1  
said1 with a hesitating voice--         
,mother wants an orange so bad4 ,won't  
you give me some money to buy  her one8 
,no1 ,i will not6 ,your mother had      
better be thinking about something  else
 than wasting money for oranges6 was the
 angry reply1 as the  father passed out1
 and shut the door hard after him4      
,jane stood for a moment1 frightened at 
the angry vehemence of her  father1 and 
then burst into tears4 ,she said nothing
 to her mother of  what had passed1 but 
after the agitation of her mind had     
somewhat  subsided1 began to cast about 
in her thoughts for some plan by which  
she might obtain an orange4 ,at last it 
occurred to her1 that at the  shop where
 she got liquor for her father1 they    
bought rags and old  iron4    ,how much 
do you give a pound for rags8 she asked1
 in a minute or  two after the idea had 
occurred to her1 standing at the counter
 of  the shop4    ,three cents a pound1 

was the reply4    ,how much for old     
iron8    ,a cent a pound4    ,what's the
 price of them oranges8    ,four cents  
apiece4    ,with this information1 ,jane
 hurried back4 ,after she had cleared   
away  the dinner-table1 she went down   
into the cellar and looked up all  the  
old bits of iron that she could find4   
,then she searched the  yard1 and found 
some eight or ten rusty nails1 an old   
bolt1 and a  broken hinge4 ,these she   
laid away in a little nook in the       
cellar4  ,afterwards she gathered       
together all the old rags that she could
  find about the house1 and in the      
cellar1 and laid them with her old      
iron4 ,but she saw plainly enough that  
her iron would not weigh over  two      
pounds1 nor her rags over a quarter of a
 pound4 ,if time would  have permitted1 
she would have gone into the street to  
look for old  iron1 but this she could  
not do2 and disappointed at not being   
able  to get the orange for her mother1 
she went about her work during the      

afternoon with sad and desponding       
thoughts and feelings4    ,it was summer
 time1 and her father came home from his
 work before it  was dark4    ,go and   
get me a pint of brandy1 he said to     
,jane1 in a tone that  sounded harsh and
 angry to the child1 handing her at the 
same time a  quarter of a dollar4 ,since
 the day before he had taken a pint of  
brandy1 and none but the best would suit
 him4    ,she took the money and the    
bottle1 and went over to the shop4      
,wistfully she looked at the tempting   
oranges in the window1 as she  gave the 
money for the liquor1--and thought how  
glad her poor mother  would be to have  
one4    ,as she was hurrying back1 she  
saw a thick rusty iron ring lying in    
the street3 she picked it up1 and kept  
on her way4 ,it felt heavy1  and her    
heart bounded with the thought that now 
she could buy the  orange for her       
mother4 ,the piece of old iron was      
dropped in the  yard1 as she passed     
through4 ,after her father had taken a  

dram1 he  sat down to his supper4 ,while
 he was eating it1 ,jane went into the  
cellar and brought out into the yard her
 little treasure of scrap  iron4 ,as she
 passed backwards and forwards before   
the door facing  which her father sat1  
he observed her1 and felt a sudden      
curiosity  to know what she was doing4  
,he went softly to the window1 and as he
  did so1 he saw her gathering the iron1
 which she had placed in a  little pile1
 into her apron4 ,then she rose up      
quickly1 and passed  out of the         
yard-gate into the street4    ,the      
father went back to his supper1 but his 
appetite was gone4 ,there  was that in  
the act of his child1 simple as it was1 
that moved his  feelings1 in spite of   
himself4 ,all at once he thought of the 
orange  she had asked for her mother2   
and he felt a conviction that it was  to
 buy an orange that ,jane was now going 
to sell the iron she had  evidently been
 collecting since dinner-time4    ,how  
selfish and wicked ,i am6 he said to    

himself1 almost  involuntarily4    ,in a
 few minutes ,jane returned1 and with   
her hand under her apron1  passed       
through the room where he sat into her  
mother's chamber4 ,an  impulse1 almost  
irresistible1 caused him to follow her  
in a few  moments after4    ,it is so   
grateful6 he heard his wife say1 as he  
opened the door4    ,on entering her    
chamber1 he found her sitting up in bed 
eating the  orange1 while little ,jane  
stood by her looking into her face with 
an  air of subdued1 yet heartfelt       
gratification4 ,all this he saw at a    
glance1 yet did not seem to see1 for he 
pretended to be searching  for          
something1 which1 apparently obtained1  
he left the room and the  house1 with   
feelings of acute pain and              
self-upbraidings4    ,come1 let us go   
and see these cold-water men1 said a    
companion1  whom he met a few steps from
 his own door4 ,they are carrying all   
the world before them4    ,very well1   
come along4    ,and the two men bent    

their steps towards ,temperance ,hall4  
,when little ,jane's father turned from 
the door of that place1 his  name was   
signed to the pledge1 and his heart     
fixed to abide by it4  ,on his way home1
 he saw some grapes in a window1--he    
bought some of  them1 and a couple of   
oranges and lemons4 ,when he came home1 
he--went into his wife's chamber1 and   
opening the paper that  contained the   
first fruits of his sincere repentance1 
laid them  before her1 and said1 with   
tenderness1 while the moisture dimmed   
his  eyes--    ,i thought these would   
taste good to you1 ,mary1 and so ,i     
bought  them4    ,o1 ,william6 and the  
poor wife started1 and looked up into   
her  husband's face with an expression  
of surprise and trembling hope4         
,mary1--and he took her hand1           
tenderly--,i have signed the pledge     
to-night1 and ,i will keep it1 by the   
help of ,heaven6    ,the sick wife      
raised herself up quickly1 and bent over
 towards her  husband1 eagerly extending

 her hands4 ,then1 as he drew his arm   
around her1 she let her head fall upon  
his bosom1 with an emotion of  delight1 
such as had not moved over the surface  
of her stricken  heart for years4       
,the pledge taken was the               
total-abstinence pledge1 and it has     
never  been violated by him1 and what is
 better1 we are confident never  will4  
,how much of human hope and happiness is
 involved in that  simple pledge6       
,,the ,,temperance ,,song4              
,,dear father1 said ,mary ,edwards1     
don't go out this evening6 and  the     
young girl1 who had scarcely numbered   
fourteen years1 laid her  hand upon the 
arm of her parent4    ,but ,mr4 ,edwards
 shook her off impatiently1 muttering1  
as he did so1    ,can't ,i go where ,i  
please8    ,o6 yes1 father6 urged ,mary1
 drawing up to him again1               
notwithstanding her repulse4 ,but there 
is going to be a storm1 and  ,i wouldn't
 go out4    ,storm6 ,nonsense6 ,that's  
only your pretence4 ,but ,i'll be home  

soon--long before the rain1 if it comes 
at all4    ,and1 saying this1 ,mr4      
,edwards turned from his daughter and   
left the  house4 ,as soon as she was    
alone1 ,mary sat down and commenced     
weeping4 ,there had been sad changes    
since she was ten years old4 ,in  that  
time1 her father had fallen into habits 
of intemperance1 and  not only wasted   
his substance1 but abused his family2   
and1 sadder  still1 her mother had died 
broken-hearted1 leaving her alone in the
  world with a drunken father4    ,the  
young girl's trials1 under these painful
 circumstances1 were  great4 ,night     
after night her father would come home  
intoxicated1 and  it was so rare a thing
 for her to get a kind word from him1   
that a  tone of affection from his lips 
would move her instantly to tears4      
,daily the work of declension went on4  
,drunkenness led to idleness1  and      
gradually ,mr4 ,edwards and his child   
sunk lower and lower in the  scale of   
comfort4 ,the pleasant home where they  

had lived for years  was4 given up1 and 
in small1 poorly furnished rooms1 in a  
narrow  street1 they hid themselves from
 observation4 ,after this change1 ,mr4  
,edwards moved along his downward way1  
more rapidly2 earning less and  drinking
 more4    ,mary grew old fast4 ,under   
severe trials and afflictions1 her mind 
rapidly matured2 and her affection for  
her father1 grew stronger and  stronger1
 as she realized more and more fully the
 dreadful nature  and ultimate tendency 
of the infatuation by which he was led4 
,at last1 in the anguish of her concern1
 she ventured upon  remonstrance4 ,this 
brought only angry repulse1 adding      
bitterness to  her cup of sorrow4 ,the  
appearance of a storm1 on the evening to
  which we have alluded1 gave ,mary an  
excuse for urging her father not  to go 
out4 ,how her remonstrance was received 
has been seen4 ,while  the poor girl sat
 weeping1 the distant rolling of thunder
 indicated  the approach of the storm to
 which she had referred4 ,but she cared 

little for it now4 ,her father had gone 
out4 ,she had spoken of it  only with   
the hope that he might have been induced
 to remain with  her4 ,now that he was  
away1 the agitation within was too great
 to  leave any concern for the turbulent
 elements without4    ,on leaving his   
home1 ,mr4 ,edwards1 who had not taken  
any liquor for  three or four hours1 and
 whose appetite was sharp for the       
accustomed  stimulus1 walked quickly in 
the direction of a drinking-house where 
he usually spent his evenings4 ,on      
entering1 he found that there was  a    
little commotion in the bar-room4 ,a    
certain individual1 not over  friendly  
to landlords1 had intruded himself2 and1
 his character  being known1 the inmates
 were disposed to have a little sport   
with  him4    ,come now1 old fellow6    
said one1 just as ,edwards came         
in1--mount  this table and make us a    
first rate temperance speech4    ,do2   
and ,i'll treat you to the stiffest     
glass of whisky toddy the  landlord can 

mix1 added another4 ,or perhaps you'd   
like a mint  julep or gin cocktail      
better8 ,any thing you please4 ,make the
 speech  and call for the liquor4 ,i'll 
stand the treat4    ,what d'ye say1     
landlord8 ,shall he make the speech8    
said another1  who was eager for sport4 
,please yourselves1 replied the         
landlord1 and you'll please me4    ,very
 well4 ,now for the speech1 old fellow6 
,here6 mount this table4  ,and two or   
three of the most forward took hold of  
his arms4    ,i'm not just in the humor 
for making a speech1 said the temperance
  man1 but1 if it will please you as    
well1 ,i'll sing you a song4    ,give us
 a song then4 ,any thing to accommodate4
 ,but come1 let's  liquor first4    ,no6
 said the other firmly1 ,i must sing the
 song first1 if ,i sing  it at all4     
,don't you think your pipes will be     
clearer for a little drink of  some kind
 or other4    ,perhaps they would1 was  
replied4 ,so1 provided you have no      
objection1 ,i'll take a glass of cold   

water--if such a thing is known  in this
 place4    ,the glass of water was      
presented1 and then the man1 who was    
somewhat  advanced in years1 prepared to
 give the promised song4 ,all stood     
listening attentively1 ,edwards among   
the rest4 ,the voice of the old  man was
 low and tremulous1 yet every word was  
uttered distinctly1  and with a pathos  
which showed that the meaning was felt4 
,the  following well-known temperance   
song was the one that he sung2 and      
while his voice filled the bar-room     
every other sound was hushed4           
,where are the friends that to me were  
so dear1      ,long1 long ago--long1    
long ago8    ,where are the hopes that  
my heart used to cheer1      ,long1 long
 ago--long ago6    ,friends that ,i     
loved in the grave are laid low1        
,hopes that ,i cherished are fled from  
me now1    ,i am degraded1 for rum was  
my foe      ,long1 long ago--long ago6  
,sadly my wife bowed her beautiful head1
      ,long1 long ago--long1 long ago4  

,oh6 how ,i wept when ,i knew she was   
dead6      ,long1 long ago--long ago4   
,she was an angel6 my love and my guide6
    ,vainly to save me from ruin she    
tried2    ,poor1 broken-hearted6 'twas  
well that she died      ,long1 long     
ago--long ago4      ,let me look back on
 the days of my youth1      ,long1 long 
ago--long1 long ago1    ,i was no       
stranger to virtue and truth1           
,long1 long ago--long ago4    ,oh6 for  
the hopes that were pure as the day6    
,oh6 for the joys that were purer than  
they6    ,oh6 for the hours that ,i've  
squandered away      ,long1 long        
ago--long ago4    ,the silence that     
pervaded the room when the old man's    
voice died1 or  might rather be said1   
sobbed away1 was as the silence of      
death4 ,his  own heart was touched1 for 
he wiped his eyes1 from which tears had 
started4 ,pausing scarcely a moment1 he 
moved slowly from the room1  and left   
his audience to their own reflections4  
,there was not one of  them who was not 

more or less affected2 but the deepest  
impression  had been made on the heart  
of ,edwards4 ,the song seemed as if it  
had  been made for him4 ,the second     
verse1 particularly1 went thrilling to  
the very centre of his feelings4        
,sadly my wife bowed her beautiful head6
    ,how suddenly arose before him the  
sorrow-stricken form of the wife  of his
 youth at these words6 and when the old 
man's voice faltered  on the line--     
,poor1 broken-hearted6 'twas well that  
she died6    the anguish of his spirit  
was so great1 that he only kept himself 
from sobbing aloud by a strong effort at
 self-control4 ,ere the spell  was      
broken1 or a word uttered by any one1 he
 arose and left the  house4    ,for many
 minutes after her father's departure1  
,mary sat weeping  bitterly4 ,she felt  
hopeless and deserted4 ,tenderly did she
 love her  parent2 but this love was    
only a source of the keenest anguish1   
for  she saw him swiftly passing along  
the road to destruction without  the    

power to save him4    ,grief wastes     
itself by its own violence4 ,so it was  
in this instance4  ,the tears of ,mary  
were at length dried2 her sobs were     
hushed1 and  she was about rising from  
her chair1 when a blinding flash of     
lightning glared into the room1 followed
 instantly by a deafening  jar of       
thunder4    ,oh1 if father were home6   
she murmured1 clasping her hands        
together4    ,even while she stood in   
this attitude1 the door opened quietly1 
and  ,mr4 ,edwards entered4    ,i       
thought you would be afraid1 ,mary2 and 
so ,i came home1 said he  in a kind     
voice4    ,mary looked at him with      
surprise4 ,this was soon changed to joy 
as  she perceived that he was perfectly 
sober4    ,oh1 father6 she sobbed1      
unable to control her feelings1 and     
leaning her face against his breast as  
she spoke--if you would  never go away6 
,tenderly the father drew his arm around
 his weeping child1 and  kissed her pure
 forehead4    ,mary1 said he1 as calmly 

as he could speak1 for your mother's    
sake-- but he could not finish the      
sentence4 ,his voice quivered1  and     
became inarticulate4    ,solemnly1 in   
the silence of his own heart1 did the   
father1 as he  stood thus with his child
 in his arms1 repeat the vows he had    
already taken4 ,and he kept his vows4   
,wonderful is the power of music6 ,it is
 the heart's own language1 and  speaks  
to it in a voice of irresistible        
persuasion4 ,it is a good  gift from    
heaven1 and should ever be used in a    
good cause4              ,,the          
,,distiller',s ,,dream4                 
,,from the time ,mr4 ,andrew ,grim      
opened a low grogshop near the          
,washington ,market1 until1 as a wealthy
 distiller1 he counted himself  worth a 
hundred thousand dollars1 every thing   
had gone on smoothly2  and now he might 
be seen among the money-lords of the    
day1 as  self-complacent as any4 ,he had
 stock1 houses1 and lands3 and1 in his  
mind1 these made up life's greatest     

good4 ,and had he not obtained  them in 
honest trade8 ,were they not the reward 
of persevering  industry8 ,mr4 ,grim    
felt proud of the fact1 that he was the 
architect  of his own fortunes4 ,how    
many had started in life side by side   
with  him2 and yet scarcely one in ten  
of them had risen above the common      
level4    ,thoughts like these often    
occupied the mind of ,mr4 ,grim4 ,such  
were  his thoughts as he sat in his     
luxurious parlor1 one bleak ,december   
evening1 surrounded by every external   
comfort his heart could  desire1 when a 
child not over seven or eight years of  
age was  brought into the room by a     
servant1 who said1 as he entered--      
,here's a little girl that says she     
wants to see you4    ,mr4 ,grim1 turned1
 and looked for a moment or two at the  
visiter4 ,she  was the child of poor    
parents2 that was evident from her      
coarse and  meager garments4    ,do you 
wish to see me8 he inquired1 in a voice 
that was meant to  be repulsive4        

,yes1 sir1 timidly answered the child4  
,well1 what do you want8    ,my mother  
wants you4    ,your mother6 ,who's your 
mother8    ,mrs4 ,dyer4    ,the manner  
of ,mr4 ,grim changed instantly2 and he 
said--    ,indeed6 ,what does your      
mother want8    ,father is sick2 and    
mother says he will die4    ,what ails  
your father8    ,i don't know4 ,but he's
 been sick ever since yesterday2 and he 
screams out so1 and frightens us all4   
,where does your mother live8    ,the   
child gave the street and number4       
,mr4 ,grim walked about the room        
uneasily for some time4    ,didn't your 
mother say what she wanted with me8 he  
asked again1  pausing before the little 
girl1 whose eyes had been following all 
his movements4    ,no1 sir4 ,but she    
cried when she told me to go for you4   
,mr4 ,grim moved about the room again   
for some time4 ,then stopping  suddenly1
 he said--    ,go home and tell your    
mother ,i'll be there in a little while4
    ,the child retired from the room1   

and ,mr4 ,grim resumed his              
perambulations1 his eyes upon the floor1
 and a shadow resting on his            
countenance4 ,after the lapse of nearly 
half an hour he went into the  hall1 and
 drawing on a warm overcoat1 started    
forth in obedience to  what was         
evidently an unwelcome summons--for he  
muttered to himself  as he descended to 
the pavement--    ,i wish people would  
take care of what they get1 and learn to
 depend  on themselves4    ,mr4 ,grim   
took an omnibus and rode as far as      
,canal street4 ,down ,canal  street he  
walked to ,west ,broadway1 and along    
,west ,broadway for a  couple of blocks1
 when he stopped before an old brick    
house that  looked as if it had seen    
service for at least a hundred years1   
and  examined the number4    ,this is   
the place1 ,i suppose1 said he1         
fretfully4 ,and he stepped  back and    
looked up at the house4 ,then he        
approached the door1 and  searched for a
 bell or knocker2 but of neither of     

these appendages  could the dwelling    
boast4 ,first1 he rapped with his       
knuckles1 then  with his cane4 ,but no  
one responded to the summons4 ,he looked
 up and  saw lights in the window4 ,so  
he knocked again1 and louder4 ,after    
waiting several minutes1 and not being  
admitted1 ,mr4 ,grim tried the  door and
 found it unfastened2 but the passage   
into which he stepped  was dark as      
midnight4 ,after knocking on the floor  
loudly with his  cane1 a door opened    
above1 a gleam of light fell on an old  
stairway1  and a rough voice called out1
    ,who's there8    ,does ,mr4 ,dyer   
live here8    ,be sure he does6 was     
roughly answered4    ,will you be kind  
enough to show me his room8    ,you'll  
find it in the third story back1 said   
the voice1  impatiently4 ,the door was  
shut again1 and all was dark as before4 
,mr4 ,grim stood irresolute for a few   
moments1 and then commenced  groping his
 way up stairs1 slowly and cautiously4  
,just as he gained  the landing on the  

second flight1 a stifled scream was     
heard in one  of the rooms on the third 
floor1 followed by a sudden movement1 as
  if two persons were struggling in a   
murderous conflict4 ,he stopped  and    
listened1 while a chill went over him4  
,a long shuddering groan  followed1 and 
then all was still again4 ,mr4 ,grim was
 about  retreating1 when a door opened1 
and the child who had called for him    
came out with a candle in her hand4 ,the
 light fell upon his form and  the child
 saw him4    ,oh6 mother6 mother6 she   
cried1 ,mr4 ,grim is here6'             
,instantly the form of a woman was seen 
in the door4 ,her look was  wild and    
distressed1 and her hair1 which had     
become loosened from  the comb1 lay in  
heavy masses upon her shoulders4    ,for
 heaven's sake1 ,mary6 what is the      
matter8 exclaimed ,mr4 ,grim1  as he    
approached the woman4    ,the matter6   
,she looked sternly at the visiter4     
,come and see6 ,and  she pointed into   
the room4    ,a cry of unutterable      

distress broke upon the air1 and the    
woman  sprang back quickly into the     
room4 ,mr4 ,grim hurried after her4 ,by 
the feeble light of a single poor       
candle1 he saw a half-clothed man       
crouching fearfully in a corner of the  
room1 with his hands raised  in the     
attitude of defence4    ,keep off6 ,keep
 off1 ,i say6 he cried1 despairingly4   
,oh6 oh6 oh6  ,it's on me1 ,mary6 ,mary6
 ,oh6 ,lord1 help me6 help me6    ,and  
as these broken sentences fell from his 
lips1 he shrunk closer  and closer into 
the corner1 and then fell forward1      
writhing upon the  floor4 ,by this time1
 his wife was bending down over him1 and
 with  her assuring voice she soon      
succeeded in quieting him4    ,they've  
all gone now1 ,henry1 said she1 in a    
tone of cheerful  confidence1 assumed at
 what an effort6 ,i've driven them away4
 ,come6  lie down upon the bed4         
,they're under the bed1 replied the     
sufferer1 glancing fearfully  around4   
,yes1 yes6 ,there6 ,i see that blackest 

devil with the snake  in his hand4 ,he's
 grinning at me from behind the bed     
post4 ,now he's  going to throw his     
horrible snake at me6 ,there6           
oh-oh-oh-oh6    ,the fearful1 despairing
 scream that issued from the poor       
creature's  lips1 as he clung to his    
wife1 curdled the very blood in the     
veins  of ,mr4 ,grim1 who now           
comprehended the meaning of the scene4  
,dyer and  his wife were friends of     
other days4 ,with the latter he had     
grown up  from childhood1 and there were
 many reasons why he felt an interest   
in her4 ,her husband had learned        
drinking and idleness in his  bar-room1 
many years before2 and more than once   
during the time of  his declension1 had 
she called upon ,mr4 ,grim1 and         
earnestly besought  him to do something 
to save the one she loved best on earth 
from  impending ruin4 ,but1 he had      
entered the downward way1 and it seemed 
that nothing could stop his rapid       
progress4 ,now he met him1 after  the   

lapse of ten years1 and found him mad   
with the drunkard's  madness4    ,the   
scene was too painful for ,mr4 ,grim4   
,he could not bear it4 ,so1  hurriedly  
drawing his purse from his pocket1 he   
threw it upon the  floor1 and turning   
from the room made his way out of the   
house1  trembling in every nerve4 ,when 
he arrived at home1 the perspiration    
stood cold and clammy on every part of  
his body4 ,his mind was  greatly        
excited4 ,most vividly did he picture1  
in imagination1 the  horrible fiend1    
striking the poor drunken wretch with   
his serpent  spear1 or blasting him with
 his terrific countenance4 ,for an hour 
he  walked the floor of his chamber1 and
 then1 exhausted in body and  mind1     
threw himself on a bed1 and tried to    
find oblivion in sleep4  ,but1 though he
 wooed the gentle goddess1 she came not 
with her  soothing poppies4 ,too vivid  
was the impression of what he had seen1 
and too painful were the accompanying   
reflections1 to admit of sweet  repose4 

,at last1 however1 exhaustion came1 and 
he fell into that  half sleeping and    
waking state--in which the imagination  
remains  active1 so painful to endure4  
,in this state1 one picture presented   
by imagination was most vivid of all2 it
 was the picture of poor  ,dyer1        
shrinking from the fiend with the       
serpent1 which latter was  now as       
plainly visible to him as it had been to
 the unhappy  drunkard4 ,presently the  
fiend began to turn his eyes upon him   
with a  malignant expression2 then it   
glanced from him to the drunkard1 and   
pointing at the latter1 said ,grim heard
 the voice distinctly--    ,it is your  
work6    ,the distiller closed his eyes 
to hide from view the grinning  phantom4
 ,but it did not shut out the vision4   
,the fiend was before  him still2 and   
now it swung around its head a horrid   
serpent with  distended jaws1 and seemed
 about to dash it upon him4 ,he cowered 
and  groaned in fear4 ,as he still gazed
 upon the dreadful form1 it slowly      

changed into a female of stern yet      
beautiful aspect4 ,in one hand she  held
 a naked sword1 and in the other a      
balance4 ,her knew her1 and  trembled   
still more intensely4    ,i am          
,,justice1 said the figure4 ,you have   
been weighed in the  balance and found  
wanting4 ,the world is sustained by     
mutual  benefits4 ,no man can live      
wholly for himself4 ,each must serve the
  others4 ,what one man produces another
 enjoys4 ,you have enjoyed1 in          
abundance1 the good things produced by  
others2 but what has been  your return8 
,let me show you the work of your hands4
 ,look6    ,suddenly there was a murmur 
of voices2 the sound came nearer and    
nearer1 and a crowd of men and women    
came eagerly toward the  prostrate      
distiller--all eyes upon him1 and all   
countenances  expressive of anger1      
rebuke1 or despair4 ,one poor mother    
held  towards him her ragged1 starving  
child1 and cried--    ,your cursed trade
 has murdered his father4 ,give him back

 to us6    ,another marred and degraded 
wretch called1 with clenched hand--     
,where is my money1 my good name1 my    
all8 ,you have robbed me of  every      
thing6    ,by his side was a poor       
drunkard1 supporting the pale form of   
his  sick wife1 while their starving    
children stood weeping before them--    
,look at us8 said he4 ,it is your       
handy-work6    ,and there were dozens of
 others in the squalid crowd who called 
to  him with bitter execrations1 or     
pointed to their ruined homes and       
cried--    ,it is your work6 ,your work6
 ,rum--rum has cursed us6    ,yes1 this 
is your work1 said ,justice1 sternly4   
,for the good  things of life you       
received on all hands from your         
fellow-men1 you  gave them back a stream
 of fire to consume them4 ,wealth is the
  representative of use to society4 ,it 
comes1 or should come1 as a  reward for 
serving the common good4 ,so earned1 it 
is a blessing2 and  he who thus gains it
 has a right to its possession4 ,but1 in

 your  eager pursuit of gain you have   
cursed every man who brought you a      
blessing2 and now your ill-gotten wealth
 must be given up4 ,see6    ,and1 as she
 spoke1 she pointed to an immense bag of
 gold4    ,it is all there6 continued   
,justice4 ,your houses and lands1 your  
stocks and your merchandise1 have been  
converted into gold2 and ,i  now        
distribute it once more among the       
people1 to be gathered by  those more   
worthy to possess it than thou6    ,then
 a troop of fiends came rushing down    
through the air1 and1  seizing the bag1 
were bearing it off in triumph1 when the
 agonized  sleeper sprang towards his   
gold1 and in the effort threw off the   
terrible nightmare that was almost      
crushing out his life4    ,there was no 
sleep for him during the hours that     
intervened until  the daylight broke4   
,the images he had seen1 and the words  
he had  heard1 were before him all the  
time1 crushing his heart like the       
pressure of heavy footsteps4 ,as soon as

 the day had dawned he  started forth   
and sought the dwelling he had so       
hastily left on the  night before4 ,all 
was silent as he ascended the stairway4 
,the door  of the room where he had been
 stood partly open4 ,he listened a      
moment--all was silent4 ,he moved the   
door1 but nothing stirred  within4 ,then
 he entered4 ,his purse lay upon the    
floor where he had  thrown it2 that was 
the first object which met his sight4   
,the next  was the ghastly face of      
death6 ,the wretched drunkard had passed
 to  his account2 and his body lay upon 
the bed4 ,close beside was the  form of 
her who had been to ,mr4 ,grim1 in early
 years1 as a tender  sister4 ,she was in
 a profound sleep2 and on the floor lay 
the child1  also wrapped in deep        
forgetfulness of the misery with which  
she was  surrounded4--    ,and this is  
the work ,i have been doing6 sighed the 
distiller2  whose mind could not lose   
the vivid impression made by his dream4 
,a little while he contemplated the     

scene around him1 and then taking  up   
his purse he silently withdrew4 ,but ere
 returning home he made  known to a     
benevolent person the fact of the       
unhappy death which had  occurred1 and1 
placing money in his hand1 asked him to 
do all that  humanity required1 and to  
do it at his expense4    ,few men went  
about their daily business with a       
heavier heart than  ,mr4 ,andrew ,grim4 
,he felt that he was the possessor of   
ill-gotten  gain2 and felt1 besides1 a  
sense of insecurity4    ,wealth is the  
representative of use to society4 ,it   
comes1 or  should come1 as a reward for 
serving the common good1 he repeated  to
 himself1 in the words he had heard in  
his dream4 ,and how have ,i  served the 
common good8 ,what good have ,i         
performed that corresponds  to the      
blessings ,i have received and enjoy8   
,ah1 me6 ,i wish it were  otherwise4    
,with such thoughts1 how could the man  
be happy6 ,when night came  round again 
he feared to trust himself in the arms  

of sleep2 and  when exhausted nature    
yielded1 painful dreams haunted him     
until  morning4 ,weeks elapsed before   
the vivid impression he had received    
wore off1 and before he enjoyed any     
thing like a quiet slumber4 ,but1       
though he had a better sleep1 his waking
 thoughts ceased to be  peaceful and    
self-satisfying4 ,a year went by1 and   
then1 fretted  beyond endurance at his  
position of manufacturer of death and   
destruction1 both natural and spiritual1
 for his fellow men1 he  broke up his   
distillery1 and invested his money in a 
business that  could be followed with   
benefit to all4              ,,the      
,,ruined ,,family4    ,,part ,,first4   
,,how beautiful6 ejaculated ,mary       
,graham1 as she fixed her eyes  intently
 on the western sky1 rich with the      
many-coloured clouds of a  brilliant    
sunset in ,june4    ,beautiful indeed6  
responded her sister ,anna4    ,i could 
gaze on it for ever6 ,ellen1 a younger  
and more  enthusiastic sister remarked1 

with fervent admiration4 ,look1 ,ma6    
was ever anything more gorgeous than    
that pure white cloud1 fringed  with    
brilliant gold1 and relieved by the     
translucent and sparkling  sky beyond8  
,it is indeed very beautiful1 ,ellen1   
,mrs4 ,graham replied4 ,but there  was  
an abstraction in her manner1 that      
indicated1 too plainly1 that  something 
weighed upon her mind4    ,you don't    
seem to enjoy a rich sunset as much as  
you used to do1  ,ma1 ,anna said1 for   
she felt the tone and manner in which   
her mother  had expressed her admiration
 of the scene4    ,you only think so1   
perhaps1 ,mrs4 ,graham rejoined1        
endeavouring to  arouse herself1 and to 
feel interested in the brilliant        
exhibition  of nature to which her      
daughter had alluded4 ,the scene is1    
indeed1  very beautiful1 ,anna1 and     
reminds me strongly of some of          
,wordsworth's exquisite descriptions1 so
 full of power to awaken the  heart's   
deepest and purest emotions4 ,you all   

remember this3      ',calm is the       
evening air1 and loth to lose    ,day's 
grateful warmth1 though moist with      
falling dews    ,look for the stars1    
you'll say that there are none2    ,look
 up a second time1 and1 one by one1     
,you mark them twinkling out with       
silvery light1    ,and wonder how they  
could elude the sight4'    ,and this3   
',no sound is uttered1--but a deep      
,and solemn harmony pervades    ,the    
hollow vale from steep to steep1    ,and
 penetrates the glades4    ,far distant 
images draw nigh1    ,called forth by   
wondrous potency    ,of beamy radiance1 
that imbues    ,whate'er it strikes with
 gem-like hues6    ,in vision           
exquisitely clear1    ,herds range along
 the mountain-side2    ,and glistening  
antlers are descried2    ,and gilded    
flocks appear4    ,thine is the tranquil
 hour1 purpureal ,eve6    ,but long as  
god-like wish1 or hope divine1          
,informs my spirit1 ne'er can ,i believe
    ,that this magnificence is wholly   

thine6    ,from worlds not quickened by 
the sun    ,a portion of the gift is    
won4'    ,how calm and elevating to the 
heart1 like the hour he describes1      
,ellen said1 in a musing tone1 as she   
sat with her eyes fixed  intently on the
 slow-fading glories of the             
many-coloured clouds4    ,the influence 
of the tranquil hour gradually subdued  
them into  silence2 and as the twilight 
began to fall1 each sat in the          
enjoyment of a pure and refined         
pleasure1 consequent upon a true        
appreciation of the beautiful in nature1
 combined with highly  cultivated       
tastes1 and innocent and elevated       
thoughts4    ,there comes ,pa1 ,i       
believe1 ,anna remarked1 breaking the   
silence1 as  the hall door opened and   
then closed with a heavy jar2 and the   
well-known sound of her father's        
footsteps was heard along the  passage  
and on the stairs4    ,none of her      
children observed the hushed intensity  
with which ,mrs4  ,graham listened1 as  

their father ascended to the chamber4   
,but they  noticed that she became      
silent and more thoughtful than at      
first4 ,in  about ten minutes she arose 
and left the room4    ,something seems  
to trouble ,ma1 of late1 ,ellen         
observed1 as soon as  their mother had  
retired4    ,so ,i have thought4 ,she is
 certainly1 to all appearance1 less     
cheerful1 ,mary replied4    ,what can be
 the cause of it8    ,i hardly think    
there can be any very serious cause4 ,we
 are none of  us always in the same     
state of mind4    ,but ,i have noticed a
 change1 in ,ma1 for some months        
past--and  particularly in the last few 
weeks1 ,anna said4 ,she is not happy4   
,i remember1 now1 that ,i overheard her1
 about six weeks ago1 talking  to       
,alfred about something--the company he 
kept1 ,i believe--and that  he seemed   
angry1 and spoke to her1 ,i thought1    
unkindly4 ,since that  time she has not 
seemed so cheerful2 ,ellen said4        
,that may be the cause2 but still ,i    

hardly think that it is1 ,anna  replied4
 ,alfred's principal associates are     
,william ,gray and ,charles  ,williams2 
and they belong to our first families4  
,pa1 you know1 is  very intimate with   
both ,mr4 ,gray and ,mr4 ,williams4     
,it was to ,william ,gray and ,charles  
,williams1 ,i believe1 however1  that   
,ma particularly objected4    ,upon what
 ground8    ,upon the ground of their   
habits1 ,i think1 she said4    ,their   
habits8 ,what of their habits1 ,i       
wonder8    ,i do not know1 ,i am sure4  
,i only remember having heard ,ma object
 to  them on that account4    ,that is  
strange6 was the remark of ,anna4 ,i am 
sure that ,i have  never seen anything  
out of the way1 in either of them2 and1 
as to  ,william ,gray1 ,i have always   
esteemed him very highly4    ,so have   
,i1 ,mary said4 ,both of them are       
intelligent1 agreeable  young men2 and  
such1 as it seems to me1 are in every   
way fitted to  be companions for our    
brother4    ,but ,mrs4 ,graham had seen 

more of the world than her daughters1   
and  knew how to judge from appearances 
far better than they4 ,some recent      
circumstances1 likewise1 had quickened  
her perceptions of danger1  and made    
them doubly acute4 ,in the two young men
 alluded to1 now  about the ages of     
eighteen and twenty1 she had been pained
 to  observe strong indications of a    
growing want of strict moral            
restraints1 combined with a tendency    
towards dissipation2 and1 what  was     
still more painful1 an exhibition of    
like perversions in her  only son1 now  
on the verge of manhood1--that deeply   
responsible and  dangerous period1 when 
parental authority and control subside  
in a  degree1 and the individual1       
inexperienced yet self-confident1       
assumes the task of guiding himself4    
,when ,mrs4 ,graham left the room1 she  
proceeded slowly up to the  chamber into
 which her husband had gone1 where all  
had been silent  since his entrance4    
,she found him lying upon the bed1 and  

already in  a sound sleep4 ,the moment  
she bent over him1 she perceived the    
truth  to be that which her trembling   
and sinking heart so much dreaded4 ,he  
was intoxicated6    ,shrinking away from
 the bed-side1 she retired to a far     
corner of the  room1 where she seated   
herself by a table1 and burying her face
 in  her arms1 gave way to the most     
gloomy1 heart-aching thoughts and       
feelings4 ,tears brought her no relief  
from these2 for something of            
hopelessness in her sorrow1 gave no room
 for the blessing of tears4    ,mr4     
,graham was a merchant of high standing 
in ,philadelphia1 where1  for many      
years1 he had been engaged extensively  
in the ,east ,india  trade4 ,six        
beautiful ships floated for years upon  
the ocean1  returning at regular        
intervals1 freighted with the rich      
produce of  the ,east1 and filling his  
coffers1 until they overflowed1 with    
accumulating wealth4 ,but it was not    
wealth alone that gave to ,mr4  ,graham 

the elevated social position that he    
held4 ,his strong  intelligence1 and the
 high moral tone of his character1 gave 
him an  influence and an estimation far 
above what he derived from his great    
riches4 ,in the education of his        
children1 four in number1 he had  been  
governed by a wise regard to the effect 
which that education  would have upon   
them as members of society4 ,he early   
instilled into  their minds a desire to 
be useful to others1 and taught them the
  difference between an estimation of   
individuals1 founded upon their  wealth 
and position in society1 and an         
estimation derived from  intrinsic      
excellence of character4 ,the           
consequence of1 all this was1  to make  
him beloved by his family--purely and   
tenderly beloved1  because there was    
added to the natural affection for one  
in his  position1 the power of a deep   
respect for his character and           
principles4    ,at the time of his      
introduction to the reader1 ,mr4 ,graham

 was  forty-five years old4 ,alfred1 his
 oldest child1 was twenty-one2  ,mary1  
nineteen2 ,ellen1 eighteen2 and ,anna   
just entering her  sixteenth year4 ,up  
to this time1 or nearly to this time1 a 
happier  family circled no hearth in the
 city4 ,but now an evil wing was        
hovering over them1 the shadow from     
which had already been perceived  by the
 mother's heart1 as it fell coldly and  
darkly upon it1 causing  it to shrink   
and tremble with gloomy apprehensions4  
,from early  manhood up1 it had been the
 custom of ,mr4 ,graham to use wines and
  brandies as liberally as he desired1  
without1 the most remote  suspicion once
 crossing his mind that any danger to   
him could attend  the indulgence4 ,but  
to the eye of his wife1 whose suspicions
 had of  late been aroused1 and her     
perceptions rendered1 in consequence1   
doubly acute1 it had become apparent    
that the habit was gaining a  fatal     
predominance over him4 ,she noted1 with 
painful emotions1 that  as each evening 

returned1 there were to her eye too     
evident  indications that he had been   
indulging so freely in the use of       
liquors1 as to have his mind greatly    
obscured4 ,his disposition1 too1  was   
changing2 and he was becoming less      
cheerful in his family1 and  less       
interested in the pleasures and pursuits
 of his children4  ,alfred1 whom he had1
 up to this time1 regarded with an      
earnest and  careful solicitude1 was now
 almost entirely left to his own        
guidance1 at an age1 too1 when he needed
 more than ever the  direction of his   
father's matured experience4    ,all    
these exhibitions of a change so        
unlooked for1 and so terrible  for a    
wife and mother to contemplate1 might   
well depress the spirits  of ,mrs4      
,graham1 and fill her with deep and     
anxious solicitude4 ,for  some weeks    
previous to the evening on which our    
story opens1 ,mr4  ,graham had shown    
strong symptoms almost every            
day--symptoms  apparent1 however1 in the

 family1 only to the eye of his wife--of
  drunkenness4 ,towards the close of    
each day1 as the hour for his  return   
from business drew near her feelings    
would become oppressed  under the       
fearful apprehension that when he came  
home1 it would be  in a state of        
intoxication4 ,this she dreaded on many 
accounts4  ,particularly was she anxious
 to conceal the father's aberrations    
from his children4 ,she could not bear  
the thought that respect for  one now so
 deeply honoured by them1 should be     
diminished in their  bosoms4 ,she felt1 
too1 keenly1 the reproach that would    
rest upon his  name1 should the vice    
that was now entangling1 obtain full    
possession of him1 and entirely destroy 
his manly1 rational freedom  of action4 
,of consequences to herself and         
children1 resulting from  changed       
external circumstances1 she did not     
dream4 ,her husband's  wealth was       
immense2 and1 therefore1 even if he     
should so far abandon  himself as to    

have to relinquish business1 there would
 be enough1  and more than enough1 to   
sustain them in any position in society 
they might choose to occupy4    ,on the 
occasion to which we have already       
referred1 her heart was  throbbing with 
suspense as the hour drew nigh for his  
return1 when1  sooner than she expected 
him1 ,mr4 ,graham opened the hall-door1 
and  instead of entering the parlour1 as
 usual1 proceeded at once to his        
chamber4 ,the quick ear of his wife     
detected something wrong in the  sound  
of his footsteps--the cause she knew too
 well4 ,oh1 how deeply  wretched she    
felt1 though she strove all in her power
 to seem  unmoved while in the presence 
of her children6 ,anxious to know the   
worst1 she soon retired1 as has been    
seen1 from the parlours1 and  went up to
 the chamber above4 ,alas6 how sadly    
were her worst fears  realized6 ,the    
loved and honoured partner of many happy
 years1 the  father of her children1 lay
 before her1 slumbering1 heavily1 in the

  sleep of intoxication4 ,it seemed1 for
 a time1 as if she could not  bear up   
under the trial4 ,while seated1 far from
 the bed-side1  brooding in sad         
despondency over the evil that had      
fallen upon  them--an evil of such a    
character that it had never been        
feared--it  seemed to her that she could
 not endure it4 ,her thoughts grew      
bewildered1 and reason for a time seemed
 trembling4 ,then her mind  settled into
 a gloomy calmness that1 was even more  
terrible1 for it  had about it something
 approaching the hopelessness of        
despair4    ,thoughts of her children at
 last aroused her1 as the gathering     
night  darkened the chamber in which she
 sat1 and she endeavoured to rally      
herself1 and to assume a calmness that  
she was far from feeling4 ,a  reason    
would have to be given for the father's 
non-appearance at the  tea-table4 ,that 
could easily be done4 ,fatigue and a    
slight  indisposition had caused him to 
lie down3 and as he had fallen  asleep1 

it was thought best not to awaken him4  
,such a tale was  readily told1 and as  
readily received4 ,the hardest task was 
to  school her feelings into submission1
 and so control the expression  of her  
face1 and the tone of her voice1 as to  
cause none to suspect  that there was   
anything wrong4    ,to do this fully1   
however1 was impossible4 ,her manner was
 too  evidently changed2 and her face   
wore too dreamy and sad an  expression  
to deceive her daughters1 who inquired1 
with much  tenderness and solicitude1   
whether she was not well1 or whether    
anything troubled her4    ,i am only a  
little indisposed1 was her evasive reply
 to her  children's kind                
interrogatories4    ,can't ,i do        
something for you8 inquired ,ellen1 with
 an earnest  affection in her manner4   
,no1 dear1 was her mother's brief       
response2 and then followed a  silence1 
oppressive to all1 which remained       
unbroken until the tea  things were     
removed4    ,alfred is again away at    

tea-time1 ,mrs4 ,graham at length said1 
as  they all arose from the table4      
,he went out this afternoon with        
,charles ,williams1 ,mary replied4      
,did he8 the mother rejoined quickly1   
and with something of  displeasure in   
her tone4    ,yes4 ,charles called for  
him in his buggy about four o'clock1 and
  they rode out together4 ,i thought you
 knew it4    ,no4 ,i was lying down     
about that time4    ,you do not seem to 
like ,charles ,williams much4    ,i     
certainly do not1 ,anna1 as a companion 
for ,alfred4 ,he is too fond  of        
pleasure and sporting1 and ,i am very   
much afraid will lead your  brother     
astray4    ,i never saw anything wrong  
about him1 ,ma4    ,perhaps not4 ,but ,i
 have learned to be a much closer       
observer in  these matters than you1    
,mary4 ,i have seen too many young men  
at  ,alfred's age led away1 not to feel 
a deep and careful solicitude for  him4 
,as the subject seemed to give their    
mother pain1 her daughters did  not     

reply2 and then another1 and still more 
troubled silence  followed4    ,a chill 
being thrown thus over the feelings of  
all1 the family  separated at an early  
hour4 ,but ,mrs4 ,graham did not retire 
to bed4  ,she could not1 for she was    
strangely uneasy about her son4 ,it was 
about twelve o'clock when ,alfred came  
in4 ,his mother opened her door  as he  
passed it1 to speak to him--but her     
tongue refused to give  utterance to the
 words that trembled upon it4 ,he1 too1 
was  intoxicated6    ,brief were the    
hours given to sleep that night1 and    
troubled the  slumber that locked her   
senses in forgetfulness4 ,on the next   
morning1 the trembling hand of her      
husband1 as he lifted his cup to  his   
lips1 and the unrefreshed and jaded     
appearance of her son1 told  but too    
plainly their abuse of nature's best    
energies4 ,with her  husband1 ,mrs4     
,graham could not bring herself to speak
 upon the  subject4 ,but she felt that  
her duty as a mother was involved in    

regard to her son1 and therefore she    
early took occasion to draw him  aside1 
and remonstrate against the course of   
folly upon which he was  entering4      
,you were out late last night1 ,alfred1 
she said1 in a mild tone4    ,i was in  
at twelve1 ,ma4    ,but that was too    
late1 ,alfred4    ,i don't know1 ,ma4   
,other young men are out as late1 and   
even later1  every night1 the young man 
said1 in a respectful tone4 ,i rode out 
with ,charles ,williams in the          
afternoon1 and then went with him to a  
wine party at night4    ,i must tell you
 frankly1 ,alfred1 that ,i like neither 
your companion  in the afternoon1 nor   
your company in the evening4    ,you    
certainly do not object to ,charles     
,williams4 ,he stands as high  in       
society as ,i do4    ,his family is one 
of respectability and standing4 ,but his
 habits1 ,i  fear1 ,alfred1 are such as 
will1 ere long1 destroy all of his title
  to respectful estimation4    ,you     
judge harshly1 the young man said1      

colouring deeply4    ,i believe not1    
,alfred4 ,and what is more1 ,i am       
convinced that you  stand in imminent   
danger from your association with him4  
,how8 was the quick interrogatory4      
,through him1 for instance1 you were    
induced to go to a wine party  last     
night4    ,well8    ,and there induced  
to drink too much4    ,mother6    ,i saw
 you when you came in1 ,alfred4 ,you    
were in a sad condition4    ,for a few  
moments the young man looked his mother 
in the face1 while  an expression of    
grief and mortification passed over his 
own4    ,it is true1 he at length said1 
in a subdued tone1 that ,i did  drink to
 excess1 last evening4 ,but do not be   
alarmed on that  account4 ,i will be    
more guarded1 in future4 ,and let me now
 assure  you1 most earnestly1 that ,i am
 in no danger3 that ,i am not fond of   
wine4 ,i was led to drink too much1 last
 evening1 from being in a  company where
 wine was circulated as freely as water4
 ,i thought you  looked troubled1 this  

morning1 but did not dream that it was  
on my  account4 ,let me1 then1 urge you 
to banish from your mind all fears  in  
regard to me4    ,i cannot banish such  
fears1 my son1 so long as ,i know that  
you have  dangerous associates4 ,no one 
is led off1 no one is corrupted         
suddenly4    ,but ,i do not think that  
,i have dangerous associates4    ,i am  
sure you have1 ,alfred4 ,if they had not
 been such1 you would  not have been led
 astray1 last night4 ,go not into the   
way of  temptation4 ,shun the very      
beginnings of evil4 ,remember ,pope's   
warning declaration3--    ',vice1 to be 
hated1 needs but to be seen1' c4        
,indeed1 indeed1 ,ma1 you are far too   
serious about this matter4    ,no1 my   
son1 ,i cannot be6    ,well1 perhaps    
not4 ,but1 as ,i know the nature of my  
associations far  better than you       
possibly can1 you must pardon me for    
thinking that  they involve no danger4  
,i have arrived to years of discretion1 
and  certainly think that ,i am1 or at  

least ought to be1 able to judge  for my
 self4    ,there was that in the words  
and tone of the young man1 that made the
  mother feel conscious that it would be
 no use for her to urge the  matter     
further1 at that time4 ,she merely      
replied--    ,for your mother's sake1   
,alfred1 guard yourself more carefully1 
in  future4    ,it is wonderful1        
sometimes1 how rapidly a downward course
 is run4  ,the barrier1 against which   
the waters have been driven for years1  
is  rapidly washed away1 so soon as even
 the smallest breach is made4 ,a  breach
 had been made in ,mr4 ,graham's        
resolution to be only a sober  drinker  
of intoxicating liquors2 and the        
consequence was1 that he  had less power
 to resist the strong inclination to    
drink1 that had  become almost like a   
second nature to him4 ,a few weeks only 
elapsed1  before he came home so drunk  
as to expose himself in the street1 and 
before his children and servants1 in a  
most disgusting and degrading  manner4  

,terrible indeed was the shock to his   
children--especially to ,mary1  ,ellen  
and ,anna4 ,his sudden death could not  
have been a more fearful  affliction4   
,then1 they would have sorrowed in      
filial respect and  esteem1 made sacred 
by an event that would embalm the memory
 of  their father in the permanent      
regard of a whole community3 now1 he    
stood degraded in their eyes2 and they  
felt that he was degraded in  the eyes  
of all4 ,in his presence they           
experienced restraint1 and  they looked 
for his coming with a shrinking fear4   
,it was1 indeed1 an  awful              
affliction--such as few can realize in  
imagination2 and  especially for them1  
as they occupied a conspicuous position 
in  society1 and were conscious that all
 eyes were upon them1 and that  all     
tongues would be busy with the story of 
their father's  degradation4    ,it is  
wonderful1 we have said1 how rapidly a  
downward course is  sometimes run4 ,in  
the case of ,mr4 ,graham1 many          

circumstances  combined to hasten his   
ruin4 ,it was nearly a year after he had
 given  way to the regular indulgence of
 drink1 so far as to be kept almost     
constantly in a state of                
half-intoxication through the business  
hours of almost every day1 that he      
received news of the loss of a  vessel  
richly laden with teas from ,china4 ,at 
the proper time he  presented the       
requisite documents to his underwriters1
 and claimed  the loss1 amounting1 on   
ship and cargo1 to one hundred and      
twenty-five thousand dollars4 ,on       
account of alleged improper conduct  on 
the part of the captain1 united with    
informality in the papers1  the         
underwriters refused to pay the loss4 ,a
 suit at law was the  consequence1 in   
which the underwriters were sustained4  
,an appeal was  made1 but the same      
result followed-thus sweeping away1 at a
 single  blow1 property to the amount of
 over one hundred thousand dollars4     
,during the progress of the trial1 ,mr4 

,graham was much excited1 and  drank    
more freely than ever4 ,when the result 
was finally  ascertained1 he sank down  
into a kind of morose inactivity for    
some  months1 neglecting his large and  
important business1 and indulging1      
during the time1 more deeply than ever  
in his favourite potations4  ,it was in 
vain that his distressed family         
endeavoured to rouse him  into activity4
 ,all their efforts were met by an      
irritability and a  moroseness of temper
 so unlike what he had been used to     
exhibit  towards them1 that they gave up
 all idea of influencing him in         
despair4    ,a second heavy loss1 of    
nearly equal amount1 altogether         
consequent  upon this neglect of        
business1 seemed to awaken up the latent
  energies of his character1 and he     
returned to himself with something  of  
his former clear-sighted energy of      
character4 ,but his affairs had  already
 become1 to him1 strangely entangled4   
,the machinery of his  extensive        

operations had been interrupted2 and    
now1 in attempting to  make the wheels  
move on again1 it was too apparent that 
much of it  had become deranged1 and the
 parts no longer moved in harmonious    
action with the whole4 ,the more these  
difficulties pressed upon him1  the     
deeper did he drink1 as a kind of       
relief1 and1 in consequence1  the more  
unfit to extricate himself from his     
troubles did he become4  ,every         
struggle1 like the efforts of a large   
animal in a quagmire1  only tended to   
involve him deeper and deeper in        
inextricable  embarrassment4    ,this   
downward tendency continued for about   
three years1 when his  family was       
suddenly stunned by the shock of his    
failure4 ,it seemed  impossible for them
 to realize the truth--and1 indeed1     
almost  impossible for the whole        
community to realize it4 ,it was only   
three  or four years previous that his  
wealth was estimated1 and truly so1  at 
a million and a half4 ,he was known to  

have met with heavy losses1  but where  
so much could have gone1 puzzled every  
one4 ,it seems  almost incredible that  
any man could have run through such an  
estate  by mismanagement1 in so brief a 
period4 ,but such was really the  case4 
,accustomed to heavy operations1 he     
continued to engage in only  the most   
liberal transactions1 every loss in     
which was a matter of  serious moment4  
,and towards the last1 as his mind grew 
more and more  bewildered in consequence
 of is drinking deeper and deeper1 he   
scarcely got up a single voyage1 that   
did not result in loss2 until1  finally1
 he was driven to an utter abandonment  
of business--but not  until he had      
involved his whole estate in ruin4      
,the beautiful family mansion on        
,chestnut-street had to be given        
up--the carriage and elegant furniture  
sold under the hammer1 while  the family
 retired1 overwhelmed with distress1 to 
an humble dwelling  in an obscure part  
of the city4    ,seven years from the   

day on which ,mrs4 ,graham and her      
children were  thus thrown suddenly down
 from their elevation1 and driven into  
obscurity1 that lady sat alone1 near the
 window of a  meanly-furnished room in a
 house on the suburbs of the city1      
overlooking the ,schuylkill4 ,it was    
near the hour of sunset4  ,gradually the
 day declined1 and the dusky shadows of 
evening fell  gloomily around4 ,still   
,mrs4 ,graham sat leaning her head upon 
her  hand1 in deep abstraction of mind4 
,alas6 seven years had wrought a  sad   
change in her appearance1 and a sadder  
one in her feelings4 ,her  deeply-sunken
 eye1 and pale1 thin face1 told a tale  
of wretchedness  and suffering1 whose   
silent appeal made the very heart ache4 
,her  garments1 too1 were old and faded1
 and antiquated in style4    ,she sat   
thus for about half-an-hour1 when the   
door of the room was  opened slowly1 and
 a young woman entered1 carrying on her 
arm a  small basket4 ,she seemed1 at    
first sight1 not over twenty-three or   

four years of age2 but1 when observed   
more closely1 her hollow  cheek1 pale   
face1 and languid motions1 indicated the
 passage of  either many more years over
 her head1 or the painful inroads of    
disease and sorrow4 ,mrs4 ,graham looked
 up1 but did not speak1 as the  young   
woman entered1 and1 after placing her   
basket on a table1 laid  aside her      
bonnet and faded shawl4    ,how did you 
find ,ellen1 to-day8 she at length said4
    ,bad enough6 was the mournful reply4
 ,it makes my heart ache1 ,ma1  whenever
 ,i go to see her4    ,was her husband  
at home8    ,yes1 and as drunk and      
ill-natured as ever4    ,how is the     
babe1 ,mary8    ,not well4 ,dear little 
innocent creature6 it has seen the light
 of  this dreary world in an evil time4 
,ellen has scarcely any milk for  it2   
and ,i could not get it to feed1 try all
 ,i could4 ,it nestles in  her breast1  
and frets and cries almost incessantly1 
with pain and  hunger4 ,although it is  
now six weeks old1 yet ,ellen seems to  

have  gained scarcely any strength at   
all4 ,she has no appetite1 and creeps   
about with the utmost difficulty4 ,with 
three little children hanging  about    
her1 and the youngest that helpless     
babe1 her condition is  wretched indeed4
 ,it would be bad enough1 were her      
husband kind to  her4 ,but cross1       
drunken and idle1 scarcely furnishing   
his family  with food enough to sustain 
existence1 her life with him is one of  
painful trial and suffering4 ,indeed1 ,i
 wonder1 with her sensitive  disposition
 and delicate body1 how she can endure  
such a life for a  week4    ,a deep     
sigh1 or rather moan1 was the mother's  
only response4 ,her  daughter continued1
    ,bad as ,i myself feel with this    
constant cough1 pain in my side1 and    
weakness1 ,i must go over again         
to-morrow and stay with her4 ,she  ought
 not to be left alone4 ,the dear        
children1 too1 require a great  deal of 
attention that she cannot possibly give 
to them4    ,you had better bring little

 ,ellen home with you1 had you not1     
,mary8  ,i could attend to her much     
better than ,ellen can4    ,i was       
thinking of that myself1 ,ma4 ,but you  
seemed so poorly1 that ,i  did not feel 
like saying anything about it just now4 
,o yes4 ,bring her home with you        
to-morrow evening1 by all means4 ,it    
will take that much off of poor ,ellen's
 hands4    ,then ,i will do so1 ,ma2 at 
least if ,ellen is willing1 ,mary said1 
in  a lighter tone--the idea of even    
that relief being extended to her       
overburdened sister causing her mind to 
rise in a momentary  buoyancy4    ,anna 
is late to-night1 she remarked1 after a 
pause of a few  moments4    ,as she said
 this1 the door opened1 and the sister  
of whom she spoke  entered4    ,you are 
late to-night1 ,anna1 her mother said4  
,yes1 rather later than usual4 ,i had to
 take a few small articles  home for a  
lady1 after ,i left the store1 who lives
 in ,sixth near  ,spring ,garden4    ,in
 ,sixth near ,spring ,garden6    ,yes4  

,the lad who takes home goods had gone1 
and the lady was  particular about      
having them sent home this evening4     
,do you not feel very tired8    ,indeed 
,i do1 the poor girl said1 sinking into 
a chair4 ,i feel1  sometimes1 as if ,i  
must give up4 ,no one in our store is   
allowed to  sit down from morning till  
night4 ,the other girls don't appear to 
mind it much2 but before evening1 it    
seems as if ,i must drop to the  floor4 
,but ,i won't complain1 she added1      
endeavouring to rally  herself1 and put 
on a cheerful countenance4 ,how have you
 been  to-day1 ,ma8    ,if you won't    
complain1 ,i am sure that ,i have no    
right to1 ,anna4    ,you cannot be      
happy1 of course1 ,ma2 that ,i know too 
well4 ,none of  us1 ,i fear1 will ever  
be again happy in this world6 ,anna     
said1 in a  tone of despondency1 her    
spirits again sinking4    ,no one       
replied to this2 and a gloomy silence of
 many minutes  followed--a quiet almost 
as oppressive as the stillness that     

reigns  in the chamber of death4 ,then  
,mary commenced busying herself about   
the evening meal4    ,tea is ready1 ,ma 
and ,anna1 she at length said1 after    
their frugal  repast had been placed    
upon the table4    ,has not ,alfred     
returned yet8 ,anna asked4    ,no1 was  
the brief answer4    ,hadn't we better  
wait for him8    ,he knows that it is   
tea-time1 and ought to be here1 if he   
wants  any1 the mother said4 ,you are   
tired and hungry1 and we will not1  of  
course1 wait4    ,the little family1    
three in number1 gathered around the    
table1 but  no one eat with an appetite 
of the food that was placed before them4
  ,there were two vacant places at the  
board4 ,the husband and son--the  father
 and brother--where were they8    ,in   
regard to the former1 the presentation  
of a scene which occurred  a few weeks  
previous will explain all4 ,first1      
however1 a brief  review of the past    
seven years is necessary4 ,after ,mr4   
,graham's  failure in business1 he gave 

himself up to drink1 and sunk1 with his 
whole family1 down into want and        
obscurity with almost unprecedented     
rapidity4 ,he seemed at once to become  
strangely indifferent to his  wife and  
children--to lose all regard for their  
welfare4 ,in fact1 he  had become1 in a 
degree1 insane from the sudden reverses 
which had  overtaken him1 combined with 
the bewildering effects of strong       
drinks1 under whose influence he was    
constantly labouring4    ,thus left to  
struggle on against the pressure of     
absolute want1  suddenly and            
unexpectedly brought upon them1 and with
 no internal or  external resources upon
 which to fall promptly back1 ,mrs4     
,graham and  her daughters were for a   
time overwhelmed with despair4 ,alfred1 
to  whom they should have looked for    
aid1 advice1 and sustenance1 in  this   
hour of severe trial1 left almost       
entirely to himself1 as far  as his     
father had been concerned1 for some two 
years1 had sunk into  habits of         

dissipation from which even this        
terrible shock had not  the power to    
arouse him4 ,having made himself angry  
in his opposition  to1 and resistance   
of1 all his mother's admonitions1       
warnings1 and  persuasions1 he seemed to
 have lost all affection for her and his
  sisters4 ,so that a sense of their    
destitute and distressed condition  had 
no influence over him--at least1 not    
sufficient to arouse him  into active   
exertions for their support4 ,thus were 
they left utterly  dependent upon their 
own resources--and what was worse1 were 
burdened with the support of both father
 and brother4    ,the little that each  
had been able to save from the general  
wreck1  was1 as a means of sustenance1  
but small4 ,two or three gold watches   
and chains1 with various articles of    
7sic7 jewelery1 fancy  work-boxes1 and a
 number of trifles1 more valued than    
valuable1 made  up1 besides a remnant of
 household furniture1 the aggregate of  
their  little wealth4 ,of course1 the   

mother and daughters were driven1 at    
once1 to some expedient for keeping the 
family together4 ,a  boarding-house1    
that first resort of nearly all         
destitute females1  upon whom families  
are dependent1 especially of those who  
have  occupied an elevated position in  
society1 was opened1 as the only  means 
of support that presented itself4 ,the  
result of this  experiment1 continued   
for a year and a half1 was a debt of    
several  hundred dollars1 which was     
liquidated by the seizure of ,mrs4      
,graham's furniture4 ,but worse than    
this1 a specious young man1 one  of the 
boarders1 had won upon the affections of
 ,ellen1 and induced  her to marry him4 
,he1 too soon1 proved himself to have   
neither a  true affection for her1 nor  
to have sound moral principles4 ,he was1
  moreover1 idle1 and fond of gay       
company4    ,on the day that ,mrs4      
,graham broke up her boardinghouse1     
,markland1  her daughter's husband1 was 
discharged from his situation as clerk1 

on account of inefficiency4 ,for six    
months previous1 the time he had  been  
married1 he had paid no boarding1 thus  
adding himself as a dead  weight to the 
already overburdened family4 ,as he had 
no house to  which he could take ,ellen1
 he very naturally felt himself         
authorized  to share the house to which 
the distressed family of her mother     
retired1 seemingly regardless of how or 
by whom the food he daily  consumed was 
provided4    ,but ,mrs4 ,graham was soon
 reduced to such extremities1 that he   
was  driven off from her1 with his wife1
 and forced to obtain employment  by    
which to support himself and her4 ,as   
for the old man1 he had  managed1 in the
 wreck of affairs1 to retain a large    
proportion of  his wines1 and other     
choice liquors2 and these1 which no     
pressure of  want in his family could   
drive him to sell1 afforded the means of
  gratifying his inordinate love of     
drink4 ,his clothes gradually  became   
old and rusty--but this seemed to give  

him no concern4 ,he  wandered listlessly
 in his old business haunts1 or lounged 
about the  house in a state of half     
stupor1 drinking regularly all through  
the  day1 at frequent periods1 and going
 to bed1 usually1 at nights1 in a  state
 of stupefaction4    ,when the          
boarding-house was given up1 poor ,mrs4 
,graham1 whose health  and spirits had  
both rapidly declined in the past two   
years1 felt  utterly at a loss what to  
do4 ,but pressing necessities required  
immediate action4    ,anna1 child1 what 
are we to do1 she said1 rousing herself1
 one  evening1 while sitting alone with 
her daughters in gloomy  abstraction4   
,indeed1 ,ma1 ,i am as much at a loss as
 you are4 ,i have been thinking  and    
thinking about it1 until my min--has    
become beclouded and  bewildered4    ,i 
have been thinking1 too1 said ,mary1 and
 it strikes me that ,anna  and ,i might 
do something in the way of ornamental   
needlework4 ,both  of us1 you know1 are 
fond of it4    ,do you think that we can

 sell it1 after it is done8 ,anna asked1
  with a lively interest in her tone4   
,i certainly do4 ,we see plenty of such 
work in the shops2 and they  must buy   
it1 of course4    ,let us try1 then1    
,mary1 her sister said with animation4  
,a week spent in untiring industry1     
produced two elegantly wrought  capes1  
equal to the finest ,french embroidery4 
,and1 now1 where shall we sell them8    
,anna inquired1 in a tone of  concern4  
,mrs4--would1 no doubt1 buy them2 but   
,i1 for one1 cannot bear the  thought of
 going there4    ,nor ,i4 ,but1 driven  
by necessity1 ,i believe that ,i could  
brave to go  there1 or anywhere else1   
even though ,i have not been in         
,chestnut-street for nearly two years4  
,will you go1 then1 ,mary8 ,anna asked1 
in an earnest1 appealing  tone4    ,yes1
 ,anna1 as you seem so shrinkingly      
reluctant1 ,i will go4    ,and forthwith
 ,mary prepared herself2 and rolling up 
the two elegant  capes1 proceeded with  
them to the store of ,mrs4--1 in        

,chestnut-street4 ,it was crowded with  
customers when she entered1 and  so she 
shrunk away to the back part of the     
store1 until  ,mrs4--should be more at  
leisure1 and she could bargain with her 
without attracting attention4 ,she had  
stood there only a few  moments1--when  
her ear caught the sound of a familiar  
voice--that of  ,mary ,williams1 one of 
her former most intimate associates4    
,her first  impulse was to spring       
forward1 but a remembrance of her       
changed  condition instantly recurring  
to her1 she turned more away from the   
light1 so as to effectually conceal     
herself from the young lady's           
observation4 ,this she was enabled to   
do1 although ,mary ,williams came  once 
or twice so near as to brush her        
garments4 ,how oppressively did  her    
heart beat1 at such moments6 ,old       
thoughts and old feelings came  rushing 
back upon her1 and in the contrast they 
occasioned between  the past and the    
present1 she was almost overwhelmed with

  despondency4 ,customer after customer 
came in1 as one and another  retired1   
many of whose faces were familiar to    
,mary as old friends  and acquaintances4
 ,at last1 however1 after waiting nearly
 two hours1  she made out to get an     
interview with ,mrs4--4    ,well1 ,miss1
 what do you want8 asked that personage1
 as ,mary came  up before her where she 
still stood at the counter1 for she had 
observed her waiting in the store for   
some time4 ,mrs4--either did  not       
remember1 or cared not to remember1 her 
old customer1 who had  spent1 with her  
sisters1 many hundreds of dollars in her
 store1 in  times past4    ,i have a    
couple of fine wrought capes that ,i    
should like to sell1  ,mary said1 in a  
timid1 hesitating voice1 unrolling1 at  
the same  time1 the articles she named4 
,are they ,french8 asked ,mrs4--1       
without pausing in her employment  of   
rolling up some goods1 to take and      
examine the articles proffered  her4    
,no1 ma'am2 they are some of my own and 

sister's work4    ,they won't do1 then1 
,miss4 ,nothing in the way of fine      
collars and  capes will sell1 unless    
they are ,french4    ,mary felt chilled 
at heart as ,mrs4--said this1 and       
commenced  slowly rolling up her capes1 
faint with disappointment4 ,as she was  
about turning from the counter1         
,mrs4--said1 in rather an  indifferent  
tone1    ,suppose you let me look at    
them4    ,i am sure you will think them 
very beautiful1 ,mary replied1  quickly 
unrolling her little bundle4 ,they have 
been wrought with  great care4'    ,sure
 enough1 they are quite well done1      
,mrs4--said1 coldly1 as  she glanced her
 eyes over the capes4 ,almost equal in  
appearance to  the ,french4 ,but they   
are only domestic2 and domestic         
embroidered  work won't bring scarcely  
anything4 ,what do you ask for these8   
,we have set no price upon them2 but    
think that they are richly  worth five  
or six dollars apiece4    ,five or six  
dollars6 ejaculated ,mrs4--1 in well    

feigned  surprise1 handing back2        
suddenly1 the capes4 ,o6 no1            
,miss2--,american  goods don't bring    
arty such prices4    ,then what will you
 give for them1 ,madam8    ,if you feel 
like taking two dollars apiece for them1
 you can leave  them4 ,but ,i am not    
particular1 ,mrs4--said1 in a careless  
tone4    ,two dollars6 repeated ,mary1  
in surprise4 ,surely1 ,mrs4--1 they  are
 worth more than two dollars apiece6    
,i'm not at all anxious to give you even
 that for them1 said  ,mrs4--4 ,not at  
all2 for ,i am by no means sure that ,i 
shall ever  get my money back again4    
,you will have to take them1 then1 ,i   
suppose1 ,mary replied1 in a            
disappointed and desponding tone4       
,very well1 ,miss1 ,i will give you what
 ,i said4 ,and ,mrs4--took the  capes1  
and handed ,mary ,graham four dollars in
 payment4    ,if we should conclude to  
work any more1 may we calculate on      
getting  the same money for them8    ,i 
can't say positively1 ,miss2 but ,i     

think that you may calculate on  that   
price for as many as you will bring4    
,mary took the money1 and turned away4  
,it was only half an hour  after1 that  
,mrs4--sold one of them1 as ,french1 for
 twelve  dollars6    ,sadly1 indeed1    
were the sisters disappointed at this   
result4 ,but  nothing better offering   
that they could do1 they devoted        
themselves1  late and early1 to their   
needles1 the proceeds of which rarely   
went  over five dollars per week2 for   
two years they continued to labour      
thus4    ,at the end of that period1    
,anna sunk under her self-imposed task1 
and lay ill for many weeks4 ,especially 
forbidden by the physician1  on her     
recovery1 to enter again upon sedentary 
employments1 ,anna  cast earnestly about
 her for some other means whereby to    
earn  something for the common stock4   
,necessity1 during the past two  years1 
had driven her frequently into business 
parts of the city for  the purchase of  
materials such as they used4 ,her       

changed lot gave  her new eyes1 and her 
observations were necessarily made upon 
a new  class of facts4 ,she had seen    
shop-girls often enough before1 but she 
had never felt any sympathy with them1  
nor thought of gaining any  information 
about them4 ,they might receive one     
dollar a week1 or  twenty1 or work for  
nothing--it was all the same to her4    
,even if any  one had given her correct 
information on the subject1 she would   
have  forgotten it in ten minutes4 ,but 
now1 it was a matter of interest to     
know how much they could make--and she  
had obtained a knowledge of  the fact1  
that they earned from three to six and  
seven dollars a  week1 according to     
their capacities or the responsibility  
of their  stations4    ,when1 therefore1
 her shattered health precluded her from
 longer  plying her needle1 much as she 
shrank from the publicity and  exposure 
of the position1 she resolutely set     
about endeavouring to  obtain a         
situation as saleswoman in some retail  

dry-goods store4 ,one  of the girls in  
,mrs4--'s store1 who knew all about her 
family1 and  deeply commiserated her    
condition1 interested herself for her1  
and  succeeded in getting her a         
situation1 at four dollars a week1 in   
,second-street4 ,to enter upon the      
employment that now awaited her1  was   
indeed a severe trial2 but she went     
resolutely forward1 in the  way that    
duty called4    ,the sudden change from 
a sedentary life to one of activity1    
where  she had to be on her feet all    
day1 tried her feeble strength          
severely4 ,it was with difficulty that  
she could sometimes keep up at  all1 and
 she went home frequently at night in a 
burning fever4 ,but  she gradually      
acquired a kind of power of endurance1  
that kept her  up4 ,she did not seem to 
suffer less1 but had more strength1 as  
it  were1 to bear up1 and hold on with  
unflinching resolution4    ,thus she had
 gone on for two or three years1 at the 
time she was  again introduced1 with her

 mother and sister1 to the reader4      
,as for their father1 his whole stock of
 liquors had been exhausted  for nearly 
two years1 and1 during that time1 he had
 resorted to many  expedients to obtain 
the potations he so much loved4         
,finally1 he  became so lost to all     
sense of right or feeling1 that he would
 take  money1 or anything he could carry
 off from the house1 for the  purpose of
 obtaining liquor4 ,this system had     
stripped them of many  necessary        
articles1 as well as money1 and added   
very greatly to  their distress1 as well
 as embarrassments4    ,at last1        
everything that he could take had been  
taken1 and as  neither his wife nor     
daughters would give him any money1 his 
supply  of stimulus was cut off1 and he 
became almost mad with the  intolerable 
desire that was burning within him for  
the fiery poison  which had robbed him  
of rationality and freedom4    ,give me 
some money6 he said1 in an excited tone1
 to his wife1  coming in hurriedly from 

the street1 one day about this time4    
,his  face was dark and red1 as if there
 were a congestion of the blood in  the 
veins of the skin1 while his hands      
trembled1 and his whole frame  was      
strongly agitated4 ,those who had been  
familiar with that old  man1 years      
before1 would hardly have recognized him
 now1 in his old  worn and faded        
garments4    ,i have no money for you1  
his wife replied4 ,you have already     
stripped us of nearly everything4       
,buy me some brandy1 then4    ,no4 ,i   
cannot do that either4 ,brandy has      
cursed you and your family4  ,why do you
 not abandon it for ever8    ,i must    
have brandy1 or die6 ,give me something 
to drink1 in the name  of heaven6       
,the wild look that her husband threw   
upon her1 alarmed ,mrs4 ,graham1  and   
she hesitated no longer1 but handed him 
a small piece of money4  ,quick as      
thought1 he turned away and darted from 
the house4    ,it was1 perhaps1 after   
the lapse of about half an hour that he 

returned4 ,he opened the door1 when he  
did so1 quietly1 and stood  looking into
 the room for a few moments4 ,then he   
turned his head  quickly from the right 
to the left1 glancing fearfully behind  
him  once or twice4 ,in a moment or two 
afterwards he started forward1  with a  
strong expression of alarm upon his     
countenance1 and seated  himself close  
beside ,mrs4 ,graham1 evidently in the  
hope of receiving  her protection from  
some dreaded evil4    ,what is the      
matter8 quickly exclaimed ,mrs4 ,graham1
 starting up  with a frightened look4   
,it is really dreadful6 he said4 ,what  
can it all mean8    ,what is dreadful8  
asked his wife1 her heart throbbing with
 an  unknown terror4    ,there6 ,did you
 ever see such an awful sight8 ,ugh6 and
 he shrunk  behind her chair1 and       
covered his eyes with his hands4    ,i  
see nothing1 ,mr4 ,graham1 his wife     
said1 after a few moments of  hurried   
thought1 in which she began to          
comprehend the fact that her  husband's 

mind was wandering4    ,there is nothing
 here that will hurt you1 father1 ,mary 
added1  coming up to him1 as her own    
mind arrived at a conclusion similar to 
her mother's4    ,nothing to hurt me6   
suddenly screamed the old man1 springing
 to  his feet1 and throwing himself     
backwards half across the room2 and     
that horrible creature already twining  
himself about my neck1 and  strangling  
me6 ,take it off6 take it off6 he       
continued1 in a wild  cry of terror1    
making strong efforts to tear something 
away from his  throat4    ,take it off'6
 ,why don't you take it off6 ,don't you 
see that it is  choking me to death6    
,oh6 oh6 oh6 7uttered in a terrific     
scream47    ,panting1 screaming and     
struggling1 he continued in this state  
of  awful alarm1 vainly endeavouring to 
extricate himself from the toils  of an 
imaginary monster1 that was suffocating 
him1 until he sank  exhausted to the    
floor4    ,happily for his alarmed and  
distressed family1 two or three         

neighbours1 who had been startled by the
 old man's screams1--came  hurriedly in1
 and soon comprehended the nature of his
 aberration4 ,a  brief consultation     
among themselves determined them1       
understanding1  as they did perfectly1  
the condition of the family1 and his    
relation  to them1 to remove him at once
 to the ,alms-,house1 where he could get
  judicious medical treatment1 and be   
out of the sight and hearing of  his    
wife and children4    ,one of them      
briefly explained to ,mrs4 ,graham1 and 
,mary1 the nature  of his mental        
affection1 and the absolute necessity   
that there was  for his being placed    
where the most skilful and judicious    
management  of his case could be had4   
,after some time1 he gained their       
reluctant  consent to have him taken to 
the ,alms-,house4 ,a carriage was then  
obtained1 and he forced into it1 amid   
the tears and remonstrances of  the wife
 and daughter1 who had already repented 
of their  acquiescence in what their    

judgment had approved4 ,old affection   
had  rushed back upon their hearts1 and 
feelings became stronger than  reason4  
,it was about four o'clock in the       
afternoon when this occurred4 ,early  on
 the next morning1 ,mrs4 ,graham1 with  
,mary and ,anna1 went out to  see him4  
,their inquiries about his condition    
were vaguely answered1  and with seeming
 reluctance1 or as it appeared to them1 
with  indifference4 ,at length the      
matron of the institution asked them to 
go with her1 and they followed on1      
through halls and galleries1  until they
 came to a room1 the door of which she  
opened1 with a  silent indication for   
them to enter4    ,they entered alone4  
,everything was hushed1 and the silence 
that of  the chamber of death4 ,in the  
centre of the room lay the old man4 ,a  
single glance told the fearful tale4 ,he
 was dead6 ,dead in the  pauper's home6 
,seven years before1 a millionaire--now 
sleeping his  last sleep in the         
dead-room of an ,alms-,house1 and his   

beggared wife  and children weeping over
 him in heart-broken and hopeless       
sorrow4    ,from that time the energies 
of ,mary and ,anna seemed paralyzed2 and
  it was only with a strong effort that 
,mrs4 ,graham could rouse  herself from 
the stupor of mind and body that had    
settled upon her4    ,mrs4 ,graham and  
her two daughters had nearly finished   
their evening  meal1 at the close of the
 day alluded to some pages back1 when   
the  sound of rapidly hurrying footsteps
 was heard on the pavement4 ,in a       
moment after1 a heavy blow was given    
just at their door1 and some  one fell  
with a groan against it4 ,the weight of 
the body forced it  open1 and the son   
and brother rolled in upon the floor1   
with the  blood gushing from a ghastly  
wound in his forehead4 ,his assailant   
instantly fled4 ,bloated1 disfigured1 in
 coarse and worn clothing1  how         
different1 even when moving about1 was  
he from the genteel1  well-dressed young
 man of a few years back6 ,idleness and 

dissipation  had wrought as great a     
change upon him as it had upon his      
father1  while he was living4 ,now he   
presented a shocking and loathsome      
appearance4    ,the first impulse of    
,mary was to run for a physician1 while 
the  mother and ,anna attempted to      
stanch the flow of blood1 that had      
already formed a pool upon the floor4   
,assistance was speedily  obtained1 and 
the wound dressed2 but the young man    
remained  insensible4 ,as the physician 
turned from the door1 ,mrs4 ,graham sank
  fainting upon her bed4 ,over-tried    
nature could bear up no longer4         
,doctor1 what do you think of him8 asked
 the mother1 anxiously1  three days     
after1 as the physician came out of     
,alfred's room4 ,since  the injury he   
had received1 he had lain in a stupor1  
but with much  fever4    ,his case1     
,madam1 is an extremely critical one4 ,i
 have tried in vain  to control that    
fever4    ,do you think him very        
dangerous1 ,doctor8 ,mary asked1 in a   

husky  voice4    ,i certainly do4 ,and1 
to speak to you the honest truth1 have1 
myself1 no hope of his recovery4 ,i     
think it right that you should  know    
this4    ,no hope1 ,doctor6 ,mrs4       
,graham said1 laying her hand upon the  
physician's arm1 while her face grew    
deadly pale4 ,no hope6--,my only  son   
die thus6--,o6 ,doctor1 can you not save
 him8    ,i wish it were in my power1   
,madam4 ,but ,i will not flatter you    
with  false hopes4 ,it will be little   
less than a miracle should he  survive4 
,the mother and sisters turned away with
 an air of hopelessness from  the       
physician1 and he retired slowly1 and   
with oppressed feelings4    ,when they  
returned to the sick chamber1 a great   
change had already  taken place in      
,alfred4 ,the prediction of the         
physician1 it was  evident to each1 as  
all bent eagerly over him1 was about to 
be too  surely and too suddenly         
realized4 ,his face1 from being slightly
  flushed with fever1 had become sunken1

 and ghastly pale1 and his  respiration 
so feeble that it was almost            
imperceptible4    ,the last and saddest 
trial of this ruined family had come4   
,the son  and brother1 for whom now     
rushed back upon their hearts the tender
  and confiding affection of earlier    
years1 was lingering upon life's        
extremest verge4 ,it seemed that they   
could not give him up4 ,they  felt that1
 even though he were neglectful of them1
 they could not do  without him4 ,he was
 a son and brother2 and1 while he lived1
 there  was still hope of his           
restoration4 ,the strength of that hope1
  entertained by each in the silent     
chambers of affection1 was unknown      
before--its trial revealed its power    
over each crushed and sinking  heart4   
,but the passage of each moment brought 
plainer and more palpable  evidence of  
approaching dissolution4 ,for about ten 
minutes he had  lain so still1 that they
 were suddenly aroused by the fear that 
he  might be already dead ,softly did   

the mother lay her hand upon his        
forehead4 ,its cold and clammy touch    
sent an icy thrill to her heart  ,then  
she bent her ear to catch even the      
feeblest breath--but she  could         
distinguish none4    ,he is dead6 she   
murmured1 sinking down and burying her  
face in the  bed-clothes4    ,the cup of
 their sorrow was1 at last1 full--full  
and running over6              ,,the    
,,ruined ,,family    ,,part ,,second4   
,,stunned by this new affliction1 which 
seemed harder to bear than any  of the  
terrible ones that had gone before1     
,mrs4 ,graham sunk into a  state of half
 unconsciousness2 but ,anna still       
lingered over the  insensible body of   
her brother1 and though reason told her 
that the  spirit had taken its          
everlasting departure1 her heart still  
hoped  that it might not be so1--that a 
spark yet remained which would          
rekindle4    ,the pressure of her warm  
hand upon his cold1 damp forehead1      
mocked  her hopes4 ,his motionless chest

 told of the vanity of her fond         
anticipations of seeing his heart again 
quicken into living  activity4 ,and yet1
 she could not give him up4 ,she could  
not believe  that he was dead4 ,as she  
still hung over him1 it seemed to her   
that  there was a slight twitching of   
the muscles about the neck4 ,how        
suddenly did her heart bound and throb  
until its strong pulsations  pained her6
 ,eagerly did she bend down upon him1   
watching for some  more palpable sign of
 returning animation4 ,but nothing met  
either  her eye or her ear that         
strengthened the newly awakened hope4   
,after waiting1 vainly1 for some        
minutes1 until the feeble hope she  had 
entertained began to fail1 ,anna stepped
 quickly to the  mantelpiece1 and lifted
 from it a small looking-glass1 with    
which  she returned to the bedside4     
,holding this close to the face of her  
brother1 she watched the surface with an
 eager anxiety that almost  caused the  
beating of her heart to cease4 ,as a    

slight mist slowly  gathered upon the   
glass and obscured its surface1 ,anna   
cried out  with a voice that thrilled   
the bosoms of her mother and sister--   
,he lives6 he lives6 and gave way to a  
gush of tears4    ,this sudden          
exclamation1 of course1 brought ,mrs4   
,graham and ,mary to  the bedside1 who  
instantly comprehended the experiment   
which ,anna  had been making and        
understood the result4 ,the mother1 in  
turn1 with  trembling hands1 lifted the 
mirror1 and held it close to the face of
  her son4 ,in a moment or two1 its     
surface was obscured1 plainly           
indicating that respiration1 though     
almost imperceptible1 was still  going  
on1--that life still lingered in the    
feeble body before them4    ,gradually1 
now1 the flame that had well-nigh gone  
out1 kindled up  again1 but so slowly1  
that for many hours the mother and      
sisters  were in doubt whether it were  
really brightening or not4 ,the fever   
that had continued for several days1    

exhausting the energies of the  young   
man's system1 had let go its hold1      
because scarcely enough  vital energy   
remained for it to subsist upon4 ,in its
 subsidence1  life trembled on the verge
 of extinction4 ,but there was yet      
sufficient stamina for it to rally upon2
 and it did rally1 and  gradually1 but  
very slowly1 gained strength4    ,in an 
earnest spirit of thankfulness for this 
restoration of ,alfred1  did the mother 
and sisters look up to the ,giver of all
 good1 and  with tearful devotion pray  
that there might ensue a moral as well  
as  a physical restoration4 ,for years1 
they had not felt towards him the  deep 
and yearning tenderness that now warmed 
their bosoms4 ,they  longed to rescue   
him1 not for their sakes1 but for his   
own1 from the  horrible pit and the miry
 clay into which he had fallen4    ,o1  
if we could but save him1 sister6 ,anna 
said1 as she sat  conversing with ,mary1
 after all doubt of his recovery had    
been  removed4 ,if we could only do     

some4 thing to restore our brother to   
himself1 how glad ,i should be6    ,i   
would do anything in my power1 ,mary    
replied1 and sacrifice  everything that 
it was right to sacrifice1 if1 by so    
doing1 ,i could  help ,alfred to conquer
 his besetting evils4 ,i cannot tell you
 how ,i  feel about it4 ,it seems as if 
it would break my heart to have him     
return again into his old habits of     
life3 and yet1 what have we to  found a 
hope upon1 that he will not so return8  
,i feel just as you do about it1 ,mary1 
her sister said4 ,the same  yearning    
desire to save him1 and the same        
hopelessness as to the  means4    ,there
 is one way1 it seems to me1 in which we
 might influence him4    ,what is that1 
,mary8    ,let us manifest towards him1 
fully1 the real affection that we  feel2
 perhaps that may awaken a chord in this
 own bosom1 and thus  lead him1 for our 
sakes1 to enter upon a new course of    
life4    ,we can at least try1 ,mary4   
,it can do no harm1 and may result in   

good4    ,with the end of his           
reformation in view1 the two sisters1   
during his  convalescence1 attended him 
with the most assiduous and affectionate
  care4 ,the moment ,anna would come    
home from the store at night1 she  would
 repair with a smiling countenance to   
his bedside1 and although  usually so   
fatigued as to be compelled to rally her
 spirits with an  effort1 she would seem
 so interested and cheerful and active  
to  minister in some way to his         
pleasure1 that ,alfred began to look    
forward every day as the evening        
approached1 with a lively interest1  for
 her return4 ,this ,mary observed1 and  
it gave her hope4    ,three weeks soon  
passed away1 when ,alfred was so far    
recovered as to  be able to walk out4   
,do not walk far1 brother1 ,mary said1  
laying her hand gently upon  his arm1   
and looking him with affectionate       
earnestness in the face4  ,you are very 
weak1 and the fatigue might bring on a  
relapse4    ,i shall only walk a little 

way1 ,mary1 he replied1 as he opened the
  door and went out4    ,neither the    
mother nor sister could utter the fear  
that each felt1  lest ,alfred should    
meet with and fall in temptation before 
he  returned4 ,this fear grew stronger  
and stronger1 as the minutes began  to  
accumulate1 and lengthen to an hour4 ,a 
period of ten or fifteen  minutes was as
 long as they had any idea of his       
remaining away4  ,where could he be8    
,had he been taken sick2 or was he again
 yielding  to the seductions of a       
depraved and degrading appetite8 ,the   
suspense  became agonizing to their     
hearts1 as not only one1 but two1 and   
even  three hours passed1 bringing the  
dim twilight1 and yet he returned  not4 
,in the meantime1 the young man1 whose  
appearance the careful hand of  ,mary   
and her sister had been rendered far    
superior to what it had  been for years 
past1 went out from his mother's humble 
dwelling1 and  took his way slowly down 
one of the streets1 leading to the main 

portion of the city1 with many thoughts 
of a painful character  passing through 
his mind4 ,the few weeks that he had    
been confined to  the house1 and in     
constant association with his mother1   
and one or  both of his sisters1 who    
were at home1 had startled his mind into
  reflection4 ,he could not but contrast
 their constant and  affectionate       
devotion to him1 with his own shameful  
and criminal  neglect of them4 ,conceal 
her real feelings as she would1 it did  
not  escape his notice1 that when ,anna 
came home at night1 she was so  much    
exhausted as to be hardly able to sit   
up2 and as for ,mary1  often when she   
dreamed not that he was observing her1  
had he noticed  her air of languor and  
exhaustion1 and her half-stifled        
expression  of pain1--as she bent       
resolutely over her needle-work4 ,never 
before  had he felt so indignant towards
 ,ellen's husband for his neglect and   
abuse of her1 his once favourite sister2
 and1 indeed1 the favourite  of the     

whole family4    ,it was1 to his own    
mind1 a mystery how he ever could have  
sunk so  low1 and become so utterly     
regardless of his mother and sisters4   
,wretch6 wretch6 miserable wretch that  
,i am6 he would1 sometimes1  mentally   
exclaim1 turning his face to the wall as
 he lay reviewing1  involuntarily1 his  
past life4 ,uniformly it happened1 that 
following  such a crisis in his         
feelings1 would be some affectionate    
word or  kind attention from ,mary or   
his mother1 smiting upon his heart with 
emotions of the keenest remorse4    ,it 
was under the influence of such feelings
 that he went out on the  afternoon just
 alluded to4 ,still1 no settled plan of 
reformation had  been formed in his     
mind1 for the discouraging question     
would  constantly arise while pondering 
gloomily over his condition and the     
condition of the family4    ,what can ,i
 do8 ,to this1 he could find no         
satisfactory answer4  ,three or four    
years of debasing drunkenness1 had      

utterly separated  him from those who   
had it in their power to encourage and  
strengthen  his good desires1--and to   
put him in the way of providing for     
himself and his family1 by an           
industrious application to some kind  of
 business4    ,he had walked slowly on1 
in painful abstraction1 for about five  
minutes1 when a hand was laid on his    
arm1 and a familiar voice  said--    ,is
 this you1 ,graham6 ,where in the name  
of ,pluto have you been1 for  the last  
three weeks8 ,why1 how blue you look    
about the gills6 ,havn't  been sick1 ,i 
hope8    ,indeed ,i have1 ,harry1       
,alfred replied1 in a feeble voices4 ,it
 came  very near being all over with me4
    ,indeed6 ,well1 what was the matter8
    ,raising his hat1 and displaying a  
long and still angry-looking wound  on  
the side of his head1 from which the    
hair had been carefully cut  away1 he   
said--    ,do you see that8    ,i reckon
 ,i do4    ,well1 that came very near   
doing the business for me4    ,how did  

it happen8    ,i hardly know1 myself4 ,i
 was drunk1 ,i suppose1 and quarrelled  
with  some one1 or insulted some one in 
the street--and this was the            
consequence4    ,really1 ,graham1 you   
have made a narrow escape4    ,havn't   
,i8 ,it kept me in bed for nearly three 
weeks1 and now1 ,i can  just totter     
about4 ,this is the first time ,i have  
been outside of the  house since it     
happened4    ,you certainly do look weak
 and feeble enough1 replied his old     
friend and crony1 who added1 in a moment
 after1    ,but come6 take a drink with 
me at the tavern across here4 ,you stand
  in need of something4    ,no          
objection1 and thank you1 ,alfred       
rejoined1 at once moving over  towards a
 well-known1 low tavern1 quenching in   
imagination a morbid  thirst that seemed
 instantly created1 by a draught of     
sweetened  liquor4    ,what will you    
take8 asked his friend1 as the two came 
up to the  counter4    ,i'll take a mint
 sling1 ,alfred replied4    ,two mint   

slings1 said his companion1 giving his  
orders to the  bar-keeper4    ,hallo1   
,graham6 ,is this you8 exclaimed one or 
two loungers1 coming  forward1 and      
shaking him heartily by the hand4 ,we   
had just made up  our minds that you had
 joined the cold-water army4    ,indeed6
 suddenly ejaculated ,graham1 an instant
 consciousness of  what he was1 where he
 was1 and what he was about to do1      
flashing  over his mind4 ,i wish to     
heaven your conclusion had been true6   
,this sudden charge in his manner1 and  
his earnestly1 indeed solemnly          
expressed wish1 were received with a    
burst of laughter4    ,here ,dan1 said  
one1 to the bar-keeper1 havn't you a    
pledge for  him to sign4    ,o1 yes6    
,bring a pledge6 ,bring a pledge6 ,has  
no one a pledge8  rejoined another1 in a
 tone of ridicule4    ,yes1 here is one1
 said a man in a firm tone1 entering the
 shop at  the moment4 ,who wants to sign
 the pledge8    ,i do6 ,graham said1 in 
a calm voice4    ,then here it is1 the  

stranger replied1 drawing a sheet of    
paper  from his pocket1 and unrolling   
it4    ,give me a pen ,dan1 ,alfred     
said1 turning to the barkeeper4         
,indeed1 then1 and ,i won't1 retorted   
that individual1 ,i'm not  going to lend
 a stick to break my own head4    ,o1   
never mind1 young man1 ,i can supply pen
 and ink1 said the  stranger1 drawing   
forth a pocket inkstand4    ,alfred     
eagerly seized the pen that was offered 
to him1 and instantly  subscribed the   
total abstinence pledge4    ,another    
fool caught6 sneered one4    ,ha6 ha6   
ha6 ,what a ridiculous farce6 chimed in 
another4    ,he'll be rolling in the    
gutter before three days1 feeling       
upwards  for the ground1 added a third4 
,why1 ,i don't believe he can see       
through a ladder now2 the first  speaker
 said1 with his contemptuous sneer4     
,look here1 mister1 to  the stranger who
 had appeared so opportunely4 ,this is  
all gammon6  ,he's been fooling you4    
,come along1 my friend1 was all the     

stranger said1 drawing his arm  within  
that of the penitent young man1 as he   
did so1--this is no  place for you4     
,and the two walked slowly out1 amid the
 laughter1 sneers1 and open  ridicule of
 the brutal company4 ,once again in the 
open air1 ,alfred  breathed more freely4
    ,o1 sir1 he said1 grasping the hand 
of the individual who had  appeared so  
opportunely--you have saved me from my  
last temptation1  into which ,i was led 
so naturally1 that ,i had not an idea of
 danger4  ,if ,i had fallen then1 as ,i 
fear ,i should have fallen but for you1 
,i  must have gone down1 rapidly1 to    
irretrievable ruin4 ,how can ,i  express
 to you the grateful emotions that ,i   
now feel8    ,express them not to me1   
young man1 the stranger said1 in a      
solemn  voice2 but to him1 who in his   
merciful providence1 sent me just at    
the right moment to meet your last      
extremity4 ,look up to him1 and1        
whenever tempted1 let your conscious    
weakness repose in his  strength1 and no

 evil power can prevail against you4 ,be
 true to the  resolution of this        
hour--to your pledge--to those who have 
claims  upon you1 for such1 ,i know     
there must be1 and you shall yet fill   
that position of usefulness in society1 
which no one else but you  can occupy4  
,and now let me advise you to go home1  
and ponder well  this act1 and your     
future course4 ,no matter how dark all  
may now  seem1 light will spring up4 ,if
 you are anxious to walk in a right     
path1 and to minister to those who have 
claims upon you1 the way  will be made  
plain4 ,this encouragement ,i can give  
you with  confidence2 for twelve months 
ago1 ,i trembled on the brink of  ruin1 
as you have just been trembling4 ,i was 
once a slave to the  same wild          
infatuation that has held you in        
bondage4 ,hope1 then1 with  a vigorous  
hope1 and that hope will be a guarantee 
for your future  elevation6    ,and so  
saying1 the stranger shook the hand of  
,alfred heartily1 and1  turning1 walked 

hastily away4    ,the young man had     
proceeded only a few paces when he      
observed his  old friend and companion1 
,charles ,williams1 driving along       
towards  him4 ,no one had done so much  
towards corrupting his morals1 and      
enticing him away from virtue1 as that  
individual4 ,but he had  checked himself
 in his course of dissipation1 long     
before1 while  ,alfred had sunk rapidly 
downward4 ,years had passed since any   
intercourse had taken place between     
them1 for their condition in  life had  
long been as different as their habits4 
,charles had entered  into business with
 his father1 and was now active and     
enterprising1  increasing the income of 
the firm by his energy and industry4    
,his eye rested upon ,graham1 the moment
 he came near enough to  observe him4   
,there was something familiar about his 
gait and manner1  that attracted the    
young man's attention4 ,at first1 he did
 not  distinguish1 through the disguise 
that sickness and self-imposed  poverty 

had thrown over ,alfred1 his old        
companion4 ,but1 suddenly1 as  he was   
about passing1 he recognised him1 and   
instantly reined up his  horse4    ,it  
is only a few minutes since ,i was      
thinking about you1 ,alfred1  he said4  
,how are you8 ,but you do not look well4
 ,have you been  sick8    ,i have been  
very ill1 lately1 ,alfred ,graham       
replied1 in a mournful  tone2 former    
thoughts and feelings rushing back upon 
him in  consequence of this unexpected  
interview1 and quite subduing him4    ,i
 am really sorry to hear it1 the young  
man said1 sympathizingly4  ,what has    
been the matter8    ,a slow fever4 ,this
 is the first time ,i have been out for 
weeks4    ,a ride1 then1 will be of use 
to you4 ,get up1 and let me drive you   
out into the country4 ,the pure air will
 benefit you1 ,i am sure4    ,for a     
moment or two1 ,alfred stood irresolute4
 ,he could not believe  that he had     
heard aright4    ,come1 urged ,williams4
 ,we have often ridden before1 and let  

us  have one more ride1 if we should    
never go out again together4 ,i wish  to
 have some talk with you4    ,thus      
urged1 ,alfred1 with the assistance of  
,charles ,williams1 got up  into the    
light wagon1 in which the latter was    
riding1 and in a  moment after was      
dashing off with him behind a spirited  
horse4    ,it was on the morning of a   
day1 nearly a week previous to this     
time1  that ,mary ,williams1 or rather  
,mrs4 ,harwood1--for ,anna and ,mary    
,graham's old friend had become a       
married woman--entered the store of     
,mrs4--on ,chestnut-street1 for the     
purchase of some goods4    ,while one of
 the girls in attendance was waiting    
upon her1 she  observed a young woman1  
neatly1 but poorly clad1 whom she had   
often  seen there before1 come in1 and  
go back to the far end of the store4    
,in a little while1 ,mrs4--joined her1  
and received from her a small  package1 
handing her some money in return1 when  
the young woman  retired1 and walked    

quickly away4 ,this very operation ,mrs4
 ,harwood  had several times seen       
repeated before1 and each time she had  
felt  much interested in the timid and  
retiring stranger1 a glance at  whose   
face she had never been able to gain4   
,who is that young woman8 she asked of  
the individual in  attendance4    ,she's
 a poor girl1 that ,mrs4--buys fine work
 from1 out of mere  charity1 she says4  
,do you know her name8    ,i have heard 
it1 ma'am1 but forget it4    ,have you  
any very fine ,french worked capes1     
,mrs4--1 asked ,mrs4  ,harwood1 as the  
individual she addressed came up to that
 part of the  counter where she was     
standing1 still holding in her hand the 
small  package which had been received  
from the young woman4 ,this ,mrs4       
,harwood noticed4    ,o1 yes1 ma'am1    
some of the most beautiful in the city4 
,let me see them1 if you please4    ,a  
box was brought1 and its contents1      
consisting of a number of very  rich    
patterns of the article asked for1      

displayed4    ,what is the price of     
this8 asked ,mrs4 ,harwood1 lifting one1
 the  pattern of which pleased her      
fancy4    ,that is a little damaged1    
,mrs4--replied4 ,but here is one of the 
same pattern1 unrolling the small parcel
 she had still continued to  hold in her
 hand1 which has just been returned by a
 lady1 to whom ,i  sent it for          
examination1 this morning4    ,it is the
 same pattern1 but much more beautifully
 wrought1 ,mrs4  ,harwood said1 as she  
examined it carefully4 ,these are all   
,french1  you say8    ,of course1 ma'am4
 ,none but ,french goods come of such   
exquisite  fineness4    ,what do you ask
 for this8    ,it is worth fifteen      
dollars1 ma'am4 ,the pattern is a rich  
one1 and  the work unusually fine4      
,fifteen dollars6 ,that is a pretty high
 price1 is it not1 ,mrs4--8    ,o1 no1  
indeed1 ,mrs4 ,harwood6 ,it cost me very
 nearly fourteen  dollars--and a dollar 
is a small profit to make on such       
articles4    ,after hesitating for a    

moment or two1 ,mrs4 ,harwood said--    
,well1 ,i suppose ,i must give you that 
for it1 as it pleases me4'    ,and she  
took out her purse1 and paid the price  
that ,mrs4--had  asked4 ,she still stood
 musing by the side of the counter1 when
 the  young woman who had awakened her  
interest a short time before1           
re-entered1 and came up to ,mrs4--1 who 
was near her4    ,i have a favour to    
ask1 ,mrs4--1 she overheard her say1 in 
a half  tremulous1 and evidently        
reluctant tone4    ,well1 what is it8   
,mrs4--coldly asked4    ,i want six     
dollars more than ,i have got1 for a    
very particular  purpose4 ,won't you    
advance me the price of three capes1 and
 ,i will  bring you in one a week1 until
 ,i have made it up4    ,no1 miss1 was  
the prompt and decisive answer--,i never
 pay any one  for work not done4 ,pay   
beforehand1 and never pay1 are the two  
worst  kinds of pay6    ,all this was   
distinctly heard by ,mrs4 ,harwood1 and 
her very heart  ached1 as she saw the   

poor girl turn1 with a disappointed air1
 away1  and walk slowly out of the      
store4    ,that's just the way with     
these people1 ejaculated ,mrs4--1 in    
affected indignation1 meant to mislead  
,mrs4 ,harwood1 who1 she  feared1 had   
overheard what the young woman had said4
 ,they're always  trying in some way or 
other1 to get the advantage of you4     
,how so8 asked ,mrs4 ,harwood1 wishing  
to learn all she could about  the       
stranger who had interested her         
feelings4    ,why1 you see1 ,i pay that 
girl a good price for doing a certain   
kind  of work for me1 and the money is  
always ready for her1 the moment  her   
work is done4 ,but1 not satisfied with  
that1 she wanted me1 just  now1 to      
advance her the price of three weeks'   
work4 ,if ,i had been  foolish enough to
 have done it1 it would have been the   
last ,i ever  should have seen of either
 money1 work1 or seamstress4    ,perhaps
 not1 ,mrs4 ,harwood ventured to remark4
    ,you don't know these kind of people

 as well as ,i do1 ,mrs4 ,harwood4      
,i've been tricked too often in my time4
    ,of course not1 was the quiet reply4
 ,then after a pause1    ,what kind of  
sewing did she do for you1 ,mrs4--8     
,nothing very particular2 only a little 
fine work4 ,i employ her1  more out of  
charity1 than anything else4    ,do you 
know anything about her8    ,she's old  
,graham's daughter1 ,i believe4 ,i'm    
told he died in the  ,alms-house1 a few 
weeks ago4    ,what old ,graham8 ,mrs4  
,harwood asked1 in a quick voice4       
,why1 old ,graham1 the rich merchant    
that was1 a few years ago4 ,quite  a    
tumble-down their pride has had1 ,i     
reckon6 ,why1 ,i remember when  nothing 
in my store was good enough for them4   
,but they are glad  enough now to work  
for me at any price ,i choose to pay    
them4    ,for a few moments1 ,mrs4      
,harwood was so shocked that she could  
not  reply4 ,at length she asked--      
,which of the girls was it that ,i saw  
here1 just now8    ,that was ,mary4     

,do you know anything of ,anna8    ,yes4
 ,she stands in a store in              
,second-street4    ,and ,ellen8         
,married to a drunken1 worthless fellow1
 who abuses and half starves  her4 ,but 
that's the way2 pride must have a fall6 
,where do they live8 pursued ,mrs4      
,harwood4    ,indeed1 and that's more   
than ,i know1 ,mrs4--replied1 tossing   
her  head4    ,unable to gain any       
further information1 ,mrs4 ,harwood left
 the store1  well convinced that the    
richly-wrought cape1 for which she had  
paid  ,mrs4--fifteen dollars1 had been  
worked by the hands of ,mary  ,graham1  
for which she received but a mere       
pittance4    ,poor ,mary returned home  
disappointed and deeply troubled in     
mind4  ,she had about three dollars in  
money1 besides the two which  ,mrs4--had
 paid her4 ,if the six she had asked for
 had only been  advanced1 as she fondly 
hoped would be the case1 the aggregate  
sum1  eleven dollars1 added to three    
which ,anna had saved1 would have       

enabled them to purchase a coat and hat 
for their brother1 who would  be ready  
in a few days to go out4 ,they were     
anxious to do1 this1  under the hope1   
that by providing him with clothes of a 
more  respectable appearance than he had
 been used to wearing1 he would be  led 
to think more of himself1 seek better   
company1 and thus be  further removed   
from danger4 ,at her first interview    
with ,mrs4--1  ,mary's heart had failed 
her--and it was only after she had left 
the  store and walked some squares      
homeward1 that she could rally herself  
sufficiently to return and make her     
request4 ,it was refused1 as has  been  
seen4    ,did ,mrs4--grant your request8
 was almost the first question that     
,anna asked of her sister that evening1 
when she returned from the  store4      
,no1 ,anna1 ,i was positively refused1  
,mary replied1 the tears rising  and    
almost gushing over her cheeks4    ,then
 we will only have to do the best we can
 with what little we  have4 ,we shall   

not be able to get him a new coat2 but  
we can have  his old one done up1 with a
 new collar and buttons1--,i priced a   
pair  of pantaloons at one of the       
clothing-stores1 in ,market-street1 as  
,i  came up this evening1 and the man   
said three dollars and a half4  ,they   
looked pretty well4 ,there was a vest1  
too1 for a dollar4 ,i  heard one of the 
young men in the store say1 two or three
 days ago1  that he had sold his old    
hat1 which was a very good one1 to the  
hatter1 from whom he had bought a new   
one--or rather1 that the  hatter had    
taken the old one on account1 valued at 
a dollar4 ,i asked  him a question or   
two1 and learned that many hatters do   
this1 and  sell the old hats at the same
 that they have allowed for them4 ,one  
of these ,i will try to get1--even if a 
good deal worn2 it will look  far better
 than the one he has at present4    ,in 
that case1 then1 ,mary said1 brightening
 up1 we can still get  him fitted up    
respectably4 ,o1 how glad ,i shall be6  

,don't you think1  sister1 that we have 
good reason to hope for him8    ,i try  
to think so1 ,mary4 ,but my heart often 
trembles with fearful  apprehensions    
when ,i think of his going out among his
 old associates  again4 ,it will be     
little less than a miracle if he should 
not fall4    ,don't give way to         
desponding thoughts1 sister4 ,let us    
hope so  strongly for the best1 that our
 very hope shall compass its own        
fruition4 ,he cannot1 he must not1 go   
back6    ,anna did not reply4 ,her own  
feelings were inclined to droop and     
despond1 but she did not wish to have   
her sister's droop and despond          
likewise4 ,one reason for her saddened  
feelings arose from the fact1  that she 
had a painful consciousness that she    
should not long be  able to retain her  
present situation4 ,her health was      
sinking so  rapidly1 that it was only by
 the aid of strong resolutions1 which   
lifted her mind up and sustained her in 
spite of bodily weakness1  that she was 

at all enabled to get through with her  
duties4 ,this she  was conscious could  
not last long4    ,on the next morning1 
when she attempted to rise from her bed1
 she  became so faint and sick that she 
was compelled to lie down again4  ,the  
feeling of alarm that instantly thrilled
 through her bosom1 lest  she should no 
longer be able to minister to the wants 
of her mother1  and especially of her   
brother at this important crisis in his 
life1  acted as a stimulant to exhausted
 nature1 and endowed her with a  degree 
of artificial strength that enabled her 
to make another and  more successful    
effort to resume her wearying toil4     
,but so weak did she feel1 even after   
she had forced herself to take  a few   
mouthfuls of food at breakfast time1    
that she lingered for  nearly half an   
hour longer than her usual time of      
starting in order  to allow her system  
to get a little braced up1 so that she  
could  stand the long walk she had to   
take4    ,good by1 brother1 she said in 

a cheerful tone1 coming up to the  bed  
upon which ,alfred lay1 and stooping    
down and kissing him4 ,you  must try and
 sit up as much as you can to-day4      
,good by1 ,anna4 ,i wish you didn't have
 to go away and stay so long4    ,to    
this1 ,anna could not trust herself to  
reply4 ,she only pressed  tightly the   
hand she held in her own1 and then      
turned quickly away4    ,it was nearly  
three quarters of an hour later than the
 time the  different clerks were        
required to be at the store1 when ,anna 
came  in1 her side and head both paining
 her badly1 in consequence of  having   
walked too fast4    ,it's three quarters
 of an hour behind the time1 the        
storekeeper  said1 with a look and tone 
of displeasure1 as he drew out his      
watch4  ,i can't have such irregularity 
in my store1 ,miss ,graham4 ,this is    
the third time within a few days1 that  
you have come late4    ,a reply         
instantly rose to ,anna's tongue1 but   
she felt that it would  be useless--and 

would1 perhaps1 provoke remarks deeply  
wounding to  her feelings4 ,she paused1 
therefore1 only a moment1 with a bowed  
head1 to receive her rebuke1 and then   
passed quickly1 and with a  meek1       
subdued air1 to her station behind the  
counter4 ,there were  some of her       
fellow-clerks who felt for and pitied   
,anna--there were  others who           
experienced a pleasure in hearing her   
reproved4    ,all through that day1 with
 only the respite of some ten or fifteen
  minutes1 when she retired to eat alone
 the frugal repast of bread  and cold   
meat that she had brought with her for  
her dinner1 did ,anna  stand behind the 
shop-man's counter1 attending to his    
customers with  a cheerful air and often
 a smiling countenance4 ,she spoke to no
 one  of the pain in her breast1 back1  
and side2 and none of those around  her 
dreamed that1 from extreme lassitude1   
she could scarcely stand  beside the    
counter4    ,to her1 suffering as she   
did1 the hours passed slowly and heavily

  away4 ,it seemed as if evening would  
never come--as if she would have  to    
yield the struggle1 much as she strove  
to keep up for the sake of  those she   
loved4    ,but even to the weary1 the   
heavy laden1 and the prisoner1 the slow 
lingering hours at length pass on1 and  
the moment of respite comes4  ,the      
shadows of evening at last began to fall
 dimly around1 and ,anna  retired from  
her position of painful labour1 and took
 her way  homeward4 ,but not even the   
anticipation of speedily joining those  
she loved1 had power so to buoy up her  
spirits1 that her body could  rise above
 its depressed and weakened condition4  
,her weary steps  were slowly taken1 and
 it seemed to her that she should never 
be  able to reach home4 ,many1 very many
 depressing thoughts passed  through her
 mind as she proceeded slowly on her    
homeward way4 ,the  condition of her    
sister ,ellen troubled her exceedingly4 
,about  one-third of her own and ,mary's
 earnings were required to keep her  and

 her little ones from absolute          
suffering2 and ,mary1 like herself1  she
 too plainly perceived to be rapidly    
sinking under her burdens4    ,what is  
to be done when we fail1 heaven only    
knows6 she murmured1  as a vivid        
consciousness of approaching extremity  
arose in her mind4    ,as she said this1
 the idea of her brother presented      
itself1 with the  hope that he would now
 exert for them a sustaining and        
supporting  energy--that he would be to 
them at last a brother4 ,but this       
thought1 that made her heart leap in her
 bosom1 she put aside with  an audible--
    ,no1--no1--,do not rest on such a   
feeble hope6    ,at last her hand was   
upon the latch1 and she lifted it and   
entered4    ,i am glad to see you home  
again1 ,anna1 ,alfred said1 with an     
expression of real pleasure and         
affection2 as she came in4    ,and ,i am
 glad to see you sitting up and looking 
so well1 brother1  ,anna replied1 her   
gloomy thoughts at once vanishing4 ,how 

do you  feel now8    ,o1 ,i feel much   
better1 sister4 ,in a few days ,i hope  
,i shall be able  to go out4 ,but how   
are you8 ,it seems to me that you do not
 look  well4    ,i do feel very much    
fatigued1 ,alfred1 ,anna said1 while her
 tone1  in spite of her effort to make  
it appear cheerful1 became sad4 ,we  are
 not permitted in our store to sit down 
for a moment1 and ,i get  so tired by   
night that ,i can hardly keep up4       
,but surely1 ,anna1 you do not stand up 
all day long4    ,yes4 ,since ,i left   
this morning1 ,i have been standing     
every moment1  with the exception of the
 brief period ,i took to eat my dinner4 
,this simple statement smote upon the   
heart of the young man1 and  made him   
silent and thoughtful4 ,he felt that1   
but for his neglect of  duty--but for   
his abandonment of himself to sensual   
and besotting  pleasures1 this          
suffering1 this self-devotion need not  
be4    ,anna saw that what she had said 
was paining the mind of her brother1    

and she grieved that she had been       
betrayed into making any allusion  to   
herself4 ,to restore again the pleased  
expression to ,alfred's  countenance1   
she dexterously changed the subject to a
 more cheerful  one1 and was rewarded   
for her effort by seeing his eye again  
brighten and the smile again playing    
about his lips4    ,instead of sitting  
down after tea and assisting ,mary with 
her  embroidery1 as she usually did1    
,anna took a book and read aloud for    
the instruction and amusement of all2   
but most for the sake of  ,alfred-that  
he might feel with them a reciprocal    
pleasure1 and thus  be enabled to       
perceive that there was something       
substantial to fall  back upon1 if he   
would only consent to abandon the       
bewildering and  insane delights to     
which he had given himself up for years4
 ,the  effect she so much desired was   
produced upon the mind of her  brother4 
,he did1 indeed1 feel1 springing up     
within him1 a new-born  pleasure1--and  

wondered to himself how he could so long
 have strayed  away from such springs of
 delight1 to seek bitter waters in a    
tangled and gloomy wilderness4    ,when 
the tender good-night was at last said1 
and ,mary stretched her  wearied limbs  
in silent thoughtfulness beside her     
sister1 there was  a feeble hope        
glimmering in the dark and gloomy abyss 
of doubt and  despondency that had      
settled upon her mind--a hope that her  
brother  would go forth from his sick   
chamber a changed man4 ,on this hope1   
fancy conjured up scenes and images of  
delight1 upon which her mind  dwelt in  
pleased and dreamy abstraction1 until   
sleep stole upon her1  and locked up her
 senses4    ,when she awoke1 it was with
 the same sinking sensation that she had
  experienced on the morning previous1  
and1 indeed1 on every morning  for many 
months past4 ,the remembrance of the    
rebuke she had received  on the day     
before for being late at her place of   
business1 acted as  a kind of stimulant 

to arouse her to exertion1 so as to be  
able to  get off in time4 ,it was1      
however1 a few minutes past the hour    
when  she entered the store1 the owner  
of which looked at his watch1           
significantly1 as she did so4    ,this  
day passed1 as the previous one had1 in 
pain and extreme  weariness--and so did 
the next1 and the next1 the poor girl's 
strength failing her too perceptibly4   
,during this time1 ,alfred's  coat had  
been repaired1 a pair of pantaloons and 
a vest bought for  him1 and also a      
second-hand hat of very respectable     
appearance--all  ready so soon as he    
should be strong enough to venture out4 
,how  anxiously1 and yet in fear and    
trembling1 did the sisters look  forward
 to that period1 which was to strengthen
 their feeble hopes1  or scatter them to
 the winds6    ,i do really feel very   
ill1 ,anna said1 sinking back upon her  
pillow1 after making an attempt to rise1
 one morning some four or  five days    
after that on which ,mary has been      

represented as  endeavouring to get an  
advance from ,mrs4--4    ,what is the   
matter8 ,mary inquired kindly4    ,my   
head aches most violently--and grows    
confused so soon as ,i  attempt to rise4
    ,then ,i would lie still1 ,anna4    
,no1 ,i must be up1 and getting ready to
 go to the store4    ,i wouldn't go down
 to the store1 if ,i were you1 ,anna4   
,you had  better rest for a day4    ,i  
cannot afford to lose a day1 ,anna said1
 again rising in bed1 and  sitting      
upright1 until the swimming in her head1
 that commenced upon  the least motion1 
had subsided4 ,then she got out upon the
 floor1 and  stood for a few moments1   
while her head seemed reeling1 and she  
every instant about to sink down4 ,in a 
little while this dizziness  went off1  
but her head throbbed and ached with    
aggravated violence4    ,at breakfast1  
she forced herself to swallow a small   
portion of food1  although her stomach  
loathed it2 and then1 with trembling    
limbs and  a feeling of faintness1 she  

went out into the open air1 and took her
  way to the store4 ,the fresh breeze1  
as it fell coolingly on her  fevered    
forehead1 revived her in a degree2 but  
long ere she had  reached the store her 
limbs were sinking under her with       
excessive  fatigue4    ,late again1     
miss-- said her employer1 as she came   
in1 with a look  of stern reproof4    ,i
 have not been very well1 sir1 ,anna    
replied1 lifting her pale1  languid     
face1 and looking appealingly into the  
countenance of the  store-keeper4       
,then you should stay at home           
altogether1 ,miss1 was is cold          
response1 as he turned away1 leaving her
 to proceed to her  accustomed station  
at the counter4    ,the day happening to
 be one of unusual activity in business1
 ,anna  was kept so constantly busy1    
that she could not find a moment in     
which to relieve the fatigue she felt by
 even leaning on the  counter4 ,customer
 after customer came and went1 and box  
after box  was taken from1 and replaced 

again upon the shelves1 in what seemed  
to her an endless round4 ,sometimes her 
head ached so violently1 that  it was   
with difficulty she could see to attend 
correctly to her  business4 ,and        
sometimes she was compelled to steady   
herself by  holding to the counter to   
prevent sinking to the floor1 from a    
feeling of faintness1 suddenly passing  
over her4 ,thus she held  bravely on1   
under the feeble hope that her          
indisposition1 as she  tried mentally to
 term it1 would wear off4    ,it was    
about four o'clock in the afternoon that
 the fever which had  been very high all
 through the day1 began to subside4     
,this symptom  she noticed with an      
emotion of pleasure1 as indicating a    
healthy  reaction in her system4    ,it 
was but half an hour after1 that she    
sunk1 fainting1 to the  floor1 at her   
place beside the counter4 ,when the     
fever abated1  exhausted nature gave    
way4    ,for nearly an hour she remained
 insensible4 ,and it was nearly two     

hours before she had so far recovered as
 to be able to walk1 when  she was      
suffered to go away unattended4 ,it was 
seven o'clock1 when1  with a face almost
 as white as ashes1 and nearly sinking  
to the  ground with weakness1 she       
arrived at home1 and opening the door1  
slowly entered4    ,o1 ,anna6 ,what ails
 you8 exclaimed her mother4    ,i feel  
very sick1 the poor girl replied1       
sinking into a chair4  ,but where is    
,alfred8 she asked1 in a quicker tone1  
in which was a  strong expression of    
anxiety1 as she glanced her eye about   
the room1  in a vain search for him4    
,he has walked out1 ,mary said4    ,has 
he6 ejaculated ,anna4 ,how long has he  
been away8    ,it is now nearly four    
hours1' ,mary said1 endeavouring to     
conceal  the distress she felt1 in pity 
for her sister1 who was evidently  quite
 ill4    ,four hours6 exclaimed ,anna1  
her face blanching to still whiter  hue4
 ,four hours6 ,and do you not know where
 he is8    ,indeed we do not1 ,anna4 ,he

 went out to take a short walk1 and said
  he would not be gone more than ten or 
twenty minutes4    ,anna did not reply1 
but turned slowly away1 and entering her
  chamber1 threw herself exhausted upon 
her bed1 feeling so utterly  wretched1  
that she breathed an audible wish that  
she might die4 ,in  about ten minutes a 
carriage stopped at the door2 and in a  
moment  after1 amid the rattling of     
departing wheels1 ,alfred entered1      
looking better and happier than he had  
looked for a long1 long time4  ,a single
 glance told the mother and sister that 
all was right4    ,o1 brother6 ,how     
could you stay away so long8 ,mary said1
 springing  to his side1 and grasping   
tightly his arm4    ,i did not expect1  
when ,i walked out1 that it would be so 
long  before ,i returned1 ,mary1 he     
replied1 kissing her cheek              
affectionately4 ,but ,i met with an old1
 though long estranged  friend1 who     
seeing that ,i had been ill1 and needed 
fresh air1  insisted on taking me out   

into the country in his carriage4 ,i    
could  but consent4 ,i was1 however1 so 
weak1 as to be obliged to go to bed1    
when about three miles from the city1   
and lie there for a couple of  hours4   
,but ,i feel well1 very well now2 and   
have some good news to  tell you4 ,but  
where is ,anna8    ,she has just come   
in1 and gone up to her chamber4 ,i do   
not think  her at all well to-night1    
,mary said4    ,poor girl6 ,she is      
sacrificing herself for the good of     
others1  ,alfred remarked1 with         
tenderness and interest4    ,shall ,i   
call her down8 ,mary asked4    ,o1      
yes1--by all means4    ,mary went up and
 found her sister lying across the bed1 
with her  face buried in a pillow4      
,anna6 ,anna6 she said1 taking hold of  
her and shaking her gently4    ,anna    
immediately arose1 and looking wildly   
around her1 muttered  something that her
 sister could not comprehend4    ,anna1 
brother's come home4    ,but she did not
 seem to comprehend her meaning4    ,the

 glaring brightness of ,anna's eyes1 and
 her flushed cheeks1  convinced ,mary   
that all was not right4 ,stepping to the
 head of the  stairs1 she called to     
,alfred1 who instantly came up4    ,here
 is ,alfred1 ,anna1 she said1 as she    
re-entered the chamber1  accompanied by 
her brother4    ,for a moment or two1   
,anna looked upon him with a vacant     
stare1 and  then closing her eyes1 sunk 
back upon the bed1 murmuring    ,it is  
all over--all over4    ,what is all     
over1 ,anna8 her sister asked4    ,what 
is all over8 the sick girl responded1 in
 a sharp1 quick tone1  rising suddenly1 
and staring at ,mary with a fixed look4 
,why1 it's  all over with him6 ,havn't  
,i drained my heart's blood for him8    
,havn't  ,i stood all day at the counter
 for his sake1 when ,i felt that ,i was 
dying8 ,but it's all over now6 ,he is   
lost1 and ,i shall soon be out of  this 
troublesome world6    ,and then the poor
 half-conscious girl1 covered her face  
with her  hands and sobbed aloud4       

,don't do so1 dear sister6 ,alfred said1
 pressing up to the bedside1  and       
drawing his arm around her4 ,don't give 
way so6 ,you won't have  to stand at the
 counter any longer4 ,i am ,alfred--your
 brother--your  long lost1 but restored 
brother1 who will care for you and work 
for  you as you have so long cared for  
and worked for him4 ,take courage1  dear
 sister6 ,there are better and happier  
days for you4 ,do not give  up now1 at  
the very moment when relief is at hand4 
,anna looked her brother in the face for
 a few moments1 steadily1 as  her       
bewildered senses gradually returned1   
and she began to  comprehend truly what 
he said1 and that it was indeed her     
brother  who stood thus before her1 and 
thus appealed to her with  affectionate 
earnestness4    ,o1 ,alfred1 the almost 
heart-broken creature1 said--as she bent
  forward1 and leaned her head upon his 
bosom--,heaven be praised1 if  you are  
really and truly in earnest in what you 
say6    ,i am most solemnly in earnest1 

dear sister6 the young man said1  with  
fervency and emphasis4 ,since ,i saw you
 this morning1 ,i have  signed my name  
to the total abstinence pledge1 and ,i  
will die before  that pledge shall be   
broken6 ,and that is not all4 ,i met    
,charles  ,williams immediately after   
that act1 and have had a long interview 
with him4 ,he confessed to me that he   
had often felt that he was much  to     
blame for having first introduced me    
into dissipated company1 and  that he   
now desired to aid me in reforming and  
assisting my mother  and sisters1 if ,i 
would only try and abandon my past evil 
courses4 ,i  responded most gladly to   
his generous interest1 and he then told 
me1  that if ,i would enter his and his 
father's store as a clerk1 he  would    
make my salary at once a thousand       
dollars per annum4 ,of course  ,i       
assented to the arrangement with        
thankfulness4 ,dear mother6 ,dear       
sisters6 ,there is yet1 ,i trust1 a     
brighter day in store for you4    ,may  

our ,heavenly ,father cause these good  
resolutions to abide for  ever1 my son6 
,mrs4 ,graham1 who had followed her     
children up stairs1  said1 with tearful 
earnestness4    ,he will cause them to  
abide1 mother1 ,i know that he1 will1   
,alfred  replied4    ,just at that      
moment some one entered                 
below--immediately after quick  feet    
ascended the stairs1 and ,ellen bounded 
into the room4    ,o1 ,i have such good 
news to tell6 she exclaimed1 panting for
  breath as she entered4 ,my husband has
 joined the reformers6 ,i felt  so glad 
that ,i had to run over and let you     
know4 ,o1 aint it good  news1 indeed6   
,and the poor creature clapped her hands
 together in  an ecstacy of delight4    
,it is truly good news1 my child1 ,mrs4 
,graham said1 as she drew her  arm about
 the neck of ,ellen4 ,and we too have   
glad tidings4 ,alfred  has joined them  
also1 and has got a situation at a      
thousand dollars  a year4    ,ellen1 who
 had always loved her brother1 tenderly1

 notwithstanding  his vile habit of     
life1 turned quickly towards him1 and   
flinging her  arms about his neck1 said 
while the tears gushed from her eyes1   
,dear brother6 ,i have never wholly     
despaired of this hour4 ,truly1 my  cup 
of joy is full and running over6    ,it 
was about eleven o'clock on the next    
day1 as ,mary and her mother  sat       
conversing by the side of the bed upon  
which lay ,anna1 now too  ill to sit up1
 that a knock was heard below4 ,mrs4    
,graham went down  and opened the door1 
when an elegantly dressed lady entered1 
calling  her by name as she did so1 at  
the same time asking for ,anna and      
,mary4    ,she was shown up stairs by   
the mother1 who did not recognise her1  
although both voice and face seemed     
familiar4 ,on entering the  chamber1    
,mary turned to her and exclaimed--     
,mary ,williams6 ,is it possible6       
,and ,mary ,graham1 is it indeed        
possible that ,i see you                
thus6--7kissing her7 ,and ,anna--is that

 pale1 worn face1 the face of  my old   
friend and companion1 ,anna ,graham8    
,and she bent down over  the bed and    
kissed the lips and cheek of the sick   
girl1 tenderly1  while her eyes grew dim
 with tears4 ,how changed in a few short
  years6 she added1 as she took a       
proffered chair4 ,who could have        
dreamed1 seven years ago1 that we should
 ever meet thus6    ,in a short time1 as
 the first shock and surprise of meeting
 passed  off1 ,mary ,williams1 or rather
 ,mrs4 ,harwood1 entered into a serious 
conversation with ,mrs4 ,graham1 and her
 daughters1 in reference to  the past1  
the present1 and the future4 ,after     
learning all that she  could of their   
history since their father's failure1   
which was  detailed without disguise by 
,mary--,anna was too feeble to          
converse--,mrs4 ,harwood turned to ,mary
 and asked suddenly--    ,do you know   
this cape1 ,mary8 alluding to one she   
had on4    ,o1 yes--very well4    ,you  
worked it1 did you not8    ,yes4    ,for

 what price8    ,two dollars4    ,is it 
possible6 ,i bought it of ,mrs4--for    
,french1 and paid her for  it fifteen   
dollars4    ,fifteen dollars6 ejaculated
 ,mary1 in surprise4 ,how shamefully    
that woman has imposed upon me6 ,during 
the last two years1 ,i have  worked at  
least one hundred capes for her1 each of
 which brought me  in only two dollars4 
,no doubt she has regularly sold them   
for ,french  goods1 at from ten to      
fifteen dollars apiece4    ,no doubt of 
it4 ,i1 myself1 have bought several from
 her during that  time at high prices1  
all of which may have been worked by    
you4 ,i saw  you in her store a few days
 ago1 but did not recognise you1        
although  your appearance1 as it did    
several times here before1 attracted my 
attention4 ,i had my suspicions1 after  
,i had learned from ,mrs4--who  you     
were1 that you had wrought this cape1   
and from having overheard  you ask her  
for an advance of six dollars1 as the   
price of three  capes1 was pretty well  

satisfied that two dollars was all you  
received for it4 ,i at once determined  
to seek you out1 and try to  aid you in 
your severe struggle with the world4 ,it
 was only last  evening that ,i learned 
from my brother where you lived--and ,i 
also  learned1 what rejoiced my heart1  
that there was about occurring a        
favourable change in your circumstances4
 ,if1 however1 your health  should      
permit1 and your inclination prompt you 
to do so1 ,i will take  care that you   
get a much better price for any capes   
that you may  hereafter work4 ,they are 
richly worth ten and twelve dollars     
apiece1  and at that price1 ,i have no  
doubt but that ,i can get sales for     
many4    ,bless you1 ,mary6 ,bless you6 
,anna said1 smiling through gushing     
tears1 as she rose up in the bed1 and   
bent over towards her old  friend and   
companion4 ,your words have fallen upon 
my heart like a  healing balsam6        
,mrs4 ,harwood came forward1 and        
received the head of ,anna upon her     

bosom1 while she drew an arm round her  
waist1 and bent down and  pressed her   
with tenderness and affection4    ,a    
better day had truly dawned upon this   
ruined and deeply afflicted  family4    
,mrs4 ,harwood and her brother continued
 to be their steady  friends4 ,for a    
year ,alfred remained in his new        
situation as an  efficient clerk1 and at
 the end of that time had his salary    
advanced4 ,during that period1 ,mary1   
and ,anna1 whose health had  become     
measurably restored1 employed all their 
spare time in  embroidery1 which1 at the
 excellent prices which1 through the aid
 of  ,mrs4 ,harwood1 they were enabled  
to get for their really beautiful  work1
 brought in a handsome addition to their
 brother's earnings1  and this enabled  
them to live in independence1 comfort   
and  respectability4 ,as for ,ellen1 her
 husband had become truly a  reformed   
man1 and provided for her comfortably4  
,it is now nearly two years since this  
happy change took place1 and  there is  

every appearance that another and a     
still happier one is  about to occur in 
reference to ,anna4 ,charles ,williams  
is seen very  often1 of late1 riding out
 with her and attending her to public   
places4 ,the reader can easily guess the
 probable result4 ,if there2  is not a  
wedding-party soon1 then appearances1 in
 this case at  least1 are very          
deceptive4              ,,the           
,,rum-,,seller',s ,,dream4              
,,how much have you taken in to-day1    
,sandy8 asked a modern  rum-seller of   
his bar-tender1 after the doors and     
windows of his  attractive establishment
 were closed for the night4    ,only    
about a dollar1 ,mr4 ,graves4 ,i never  
saw such dull times in my  life4        
,only about a dollar6 ,too bad6 too bad6
 ,i shall be ruined at this  rate4    ,i
 really don't know what ails the people 
now4 ,but 'spose it's these  blamenation
 temperance folks that's doin' all the  
mischief4    ,we must get up something  
new1 ,sandy2--something to draw         

attention  to our house4    ,so ,i've   
been a thinkin'4 ,can't we get ,george  
,washington ,dixon to  walk a plank for 
us8 ,that would draw crowds1 you know2  
and then  every feller almost that we   
got in here would take a drink4    ,we  
can't get him1 ,sandy4 ,he's secured    
over at the--4 ,but1 any  how1 the      
people are getting up to that kind of   
humbuggery2 and ,i'm  afraid1 that1 like
 the ,indian's gun1 it would cost in the
 end more  than it came to4    ,couldn't
 we get a maremaid8    ,a mermaid8      
,yes1 a maremaid4 ,you know they had one
 in town t'other day4 ,it  would be a   
prime move1 if we could only do it4 ,we 
might fix her up  here1 just back of    
where ,i stand1 so that every feller who
 called to  see it would have to come up
 to the bar1 front-face4 ,there'd be no 
backing out then1 you know1 without     
ponying up for a drink4 ,no one  would  
be mean enough1 after seeing a real     
maremaid for nothing1 to  go away       
without shelling out a fip for a glass  

of liquor4    ,nonsense1 ,sandy6 ,where 
are we to get a mermaid8    ,where did  
they get that one from8    ,that was    
brought from ,japan2 and was a monkey's 
head and body sewed  on to a fish's     
tail1--so they say2    ,well1 can't we  
send to ,japan as well as any one8 ,and 
as to its  being a monkey's head on a   
fish's tail1 that's no concern4 ,it     
would  only make a better gull-trap4    
,and wait some two years before it      
arrived8 ,humph6 ,if that's the  only   
thing that will save me1 ,i shall go to 
the dogs in spite of  the--    ,don't   
swear1 ,mr4 ,graves4 ,it's a bad habit1 
though ,i am guilty of it  myself1--the 
bar-tender said1 with vulgar            
familiarity4 ,but1 why  need we wait two
 years for a maremaid8    ,did you ever 
study geography1 ,sandy8    ,jografy8   
,yes4    ,what's that8    ,why1 the     
maps1 at school4    ,i warn't never to  
school4    ,then you don't know how far 
,japan is from here8    ,not exactly4   
,but 'spose it's some twenty or thirty  

miles4    ,twenty or thirty miles6 ,it's
 t'other side of the world6    ,o1 dear6
 ,then we can't get a maremaid1 after   
all4 ,but 'spose we try  and get a live 
snake4    ,that won't do4    ,why not8  
,a live snake is no great curiosity4    
,yes1 but you know we could call it some
 outlandish name2 or say  that it was   
dug up fifty feet below the ground1 out 
of a solid rock1  and was now all alive 
and doin' well4    ,it wouldn't do1     
,sandy4    ,now ,i think it would1      
prime4    ,it might if these temperance 
folks were not so confounded thick      
about here1 interfering with a man and  
preventing him making an  honest living4
 ,if it wasn't for them1 ,i should be   
clearing five or  ten dollars a day1 as 
easy as nothing4    ,confound them6 ,i  
say1 was ,sandy's hearty response2 while
 he  clenched his fist1 and ground his  
teeth together4 ,if ,i had a rope  round
 the necks of every mother's son of 'em1
 wouldn't ,i serve 'em  as old ,julus   
,cesar did the ,hottentots8 ,wouldn't ,i

 though6 ,but what  could they say or do
 about it1 ,mr4 ,graves4    ,they'd     
pretty quick put it on to us in their   
temperance papers  about the good device
 we had4 ,they'd talk pretty fast about 
the  serpent that seduced ,eve1 and all 
that4 ,no1 blast 'em6 ,a snake won't    
do1 ,sandy4    ,how will a monkey do8   
,a monkey might answer1 if he was a     
little cuter than common4 ,but we  can't
 get one handy4    ,try a band of music4
    ,that would soon wear out2 and then 
we should have to get up  something     
else1 and the people would suspect us of
 trying to gull  them4    ,then what is 
to be done1 ,mr4 ,graves8 ,we can never 
stand it at this  rate4    ,i'm sure ,i 
don't know4 ,and the rum-seller leaned  
upon his bar1 and  looked quite sad and 
dejected4    ,i wonder what has become  
of ,bill ,riley8 he at length asked1    
rising  up with a sigh4 ,he hasn't been 
here for a week4    ,dick ,hilton told  
me to-day that he believed he had joined
 the  teetotallers4    ,i feared as     

much4 ,he was one of my very best       
customers2 worth a  clear dollar and a  
half a week to me1 above the cost of the
 liquors1  the year round4 ,and ,tom    
,jones8 ,where can he be8    ,gone1 too4
    ,tom ,jones8 in surprise4    ,it's a
 fact4 ,they got him on the same night  
,bill ,riley was caught4    ,foolish    
fellow1 to go and throw himself away in 
that style6 ,them  temperance men will  
get from him every dollar he can earn1  
to build  ,temperance ,halls1 and get up
 processions1 and buy clothes for lazy1 
loafing vagabonds1 that had a great     
sight better be sent to the  poorhouse4 
,it is too bad4 ,my very blood boils    
when ,i think what  fools men are4      
,and there's ,harry ,peters1--,dick     
,hilton told me that he'd gone1  too4   
,not ,harry ,peters1 surely6    ,yes4   
,he hasn't been near our house for      
several days4    ,well1 something must  
be done to get up a new set of          
customers1 or  we are gone4 ,we must    
invent some new drink4    ,what shall it

 be8    ,o1 that's no consequence4 ,the 
name must be taking4    ,have you       
thought of one8    ,no1 ,can't you think
 of something8    ,well--,let me see4   
,but ,i'm sure ,i don't know what would 
do4    ,what do you think of ',bank     
,stock8' ,that would attract attention4 
,i can't say that ,i like it4    ,or    
',greasers8'    ,most too vulgar4    ,so
 ,i think myself4 ,suppose we call it a 
',mummy8'    ,i'm afraid it wouldn't go4
 ,it ought to have ',imperial1' or      
',nectar1' or something like that about 
it4    ,o1 yes1 ,i see your notion4 ,but
 they've all been used up long ago4  ,it
 must be some entirely new name1 which1 
at the same time1 will hit  a popular   
idea4 ,as ',tariff1' or ',compromise4'  
,i see now4 ,well1 can't you hammer out 
something8    ,i must try4 ,let me see4 
,how will ',sub-,treasury' do8          
,capital6 ',graves' ,sub-,treasury' will
 be just the thing4 ,you see1  the      
young-fellows will say--',why1 what kind
 of a new drink is this  they've been   

getting up1 down at the ,harmony        
,house8'    ',i don't know--,what is    
it8'    ',the ,sub-,treasury1 they call 
it4'    ',have you tried it yet8'       
',no4'    ',well1 come1 let's give him a
 call4 ,novelty1 you know1 is the order 
of the day4'    ,that's the way these   
matters work1 ,mr4 ,graves4 ,but how are
 you  going to make it8    ,i've not    
thought of that4 ,but anything will do4 
,liquor tastes good  to 'em any way you 
choose to fix it4    ,true enough4 ,you 
can leave that part to me4 ,i'll hatch  
up something  that will tickle as it    
goes down1 and make 'em wish their      
throats  were a mile long1 that they    
might taste it all the way4    ,have you
 tried ,graves' new drink yet1 ,joe8    
asked one young man of  another1 a day  
or two after the conversation just noted
 took place4    ,no4--,what is it8      
,sub-,treasury4    ,sub-,treasury8 ,that
 must be something new4 ,i wonder what  
it is8    ,i've just been wondering the 
same thing4 ,suppose we go down and try 

it4    ,i was about swearing off from   
ever tasting another drop of liquor4    
,but1 ,i believe ,i will try a          
',sub-,treasury' with you1 just for the 
fun of the thing4    ,well1 come along  
then4    ,and so the two started off for
 the ,harmony ,house4    ,give us a     
couple of ,sub-,treasuries1 said one of 
them as they  entered2 and forthwith a  
couple of glasses filled with mixed     
liquors1 crushed ice1 lemonpeel1 and    
snow-white sugar1 were  prepared1 and a 
straw placed in each1 through which the 
young men  imbibed the new compound4    
,really1 this is fine1 ,nelson6 said the
 one1 called ,joe1 smacking  his lips4  
,it is1 indeed4 ,you'll make your       
fortune out of this1 ,graves4    ,do you
 think so8 the pleased liquor-seller    
responded1 with a broad  smile of       
satisfaction4    ,i've not the least    
doubt of it1 ,joe1 or ,joseph ,bancroft1
 said1--,i  had half resolved to join   
the temperance society this day4 ,but   
your  ',sub-,treasury' has shaken my    

resolution4 ,i shall never be able to do
  it now in this world1 nor in the next1
 either1 if ,i can only get you  in the 
same place with me to make              
',sub-,treasury6' ,ha6 ha6 ha6    ,a    
,sub-,treasury1 said another young man1 
coming up to the bar4    ,here1         
landlord1 let us have one of your--what 
do you call 'em8 ,o1  ,sub-,treasuries6 
was the request of another4    ,hallo1  
,sandy6 ,what new-fangled stuff is this 
you've got8 broke in  a half-drunken    
creature1 staggering up1 and holding on 
to the  bar-railing4 ,let us have one1  
will you8    ,both ,sandy and ,graves   
were now kept as busy as they could be1 
mixing  liquors and serving customers4  
,the advertisement which had been       
inserted in two or three of the morning 
papers1 in the following  words1 had    
answered fully the rum-sellers'         
expectations4    ,drop in at the        
,,harmony ,,house1 and try a            
',sub-,treasury4' ',what is a           
,sub-,treasury8' you ask4 ,come and see 

for yourself1 and taste for  yourself4  
,old ,graves' word for it1 you'll never 
want anything else  to wet your whistle 
with1 as long as you live4    ,all      
through the forenoon the run was kept up
 steadily1 dozens of new  faces         
appearing at the bar1 and cheering the  
heart of the  tavern-keeper with the    
prospect of a fresh set of customers4   
,about  two o'clock1 succeeded a pause4 
,that works admirably1--don't it1       
,sandy8 said ,mr4 ,graves1 as soon  as  
the bar-room was perfectly clear1 for   
the first time1 since  morning4         
,indeed1 it does4 ,they havn't given me 
time to blow4 ,but aint some  folks     
easily gulled8    ,easily enough1       
,sandy4 ,this ,sub-,treasury they think 
something  wonderful4 ,but it's only rum
 after all1 by another name1 and in a   
little different form4 ,a 'cobbler1' or 
a 'julep' has lost its  attractions2 but
 get up some new name for an old        
compound1 and you  go all before the    
wind again4    ,i think we might tempt  

some of the new converts to temperance  
with  this4 ,bill ,riley1 for instance4 
,no doubt4 ,i'll see if ,i can't come   
across ,bill2 he is too good a  customer
 to lose4    ,and so saying1 ,mr4       
,graves retired from the bar-room1 to   
get his  dinner1 feeling better         
satisfied with himself than he had been 
for a  long time4 ,after eating         
heartily1 and drinking freely1 he went  
into  his handsomely furnished parlour1 
and reclined himself upon a sofa1       
thinking still1 and with a pleasurable  
emotion that warmed his  bosom1 of the  
success of his expedient to draw custom4
 ,he had been  lying down1 it seemed to 
him1 but a few moments1 when a tap at   
the  door1 to which he responded with a 
loud come in1 was followed by  the      
entrance of a thin1 pale1               
haggard-looking creature1 her clothes   
soiled1 and hanging loosely1 and in     
tatters about her attenuated  body4 ,by 
the hand she held a little girl1 from   
whose young face had  faded every trace 

of childhood's happy expression4 ,she1  
too1 was  thin and pale1 and had a      
fixed1 stony look1 of hopeless          
suffering4  ,they came up to where he   
still lay upon the sofa1 and stood      
looking  down upon him in silence4      
,who are you8 ,what do you want8 the    
rum-seller ejaculated1 raising  himself 
up with a strange feeling about his     
heart4    ,the wife and child of one of 
your victims6 ,he is dying1 and wishes  
to see you4    ,who is he8 ,what is his 
name8 asked the tavern-keeper1 while his
  face grew pale1 and his lips quivered4
    ,william ,riley1 was the mournful   
reply4    ,go home1 woman6 ,go home6 ,i 
cannot go with you6 ,what good can ,i do
  your husband8    ,you must go6 ,you   
shall go6 shrieked the wretched being1  
suddenly  grasping the arm of ,mr4      
,graves1 with a tight grip1 while her   
hand  seemed to burn his arm1 as if it  
were a hand of fire4    ,a sudden and   
irresistible impulse to obey the call of
 the dying man  came over him1 and as he

 arose mechanically1 the mother and her 
child turned towards the door1 and he   
followed after them4 ,on  emerging into 
the street1 he became conscious of a    
great and sudden  change in external    
nature4 ,on retiring from his bar an    
hour before1  the sun was shining in a  
sky of spotless beauty4 ,now the heavens
  were shrouded in dense masses of black
 clouds that were whirling  here and    
there in immense eddies1 or careering   
across the sky as if  driven by a fierce
 and mighty wind4 ,but below1 all was   
hushed and  pulseless as the grave2 and 
the stagnant air felt like the hot      
vapour over an immense furnace4 ,the    
tavern-keeper would have paused  and    
returned so soon as he became conscious 
of this fearful change1  portending the 
approach of a wild storm2 but his       
conductors seemed  to know his thoughts2
 and turning1 each fixed upon him a     
stern and  threatening look1 whose      
strange power he could neither resist   
nor  understand4    ,come1 said the     

mother in a hollow1 husky voice2 and    
then turned  and moved on again1 while  
the tavern-keeper followed impulsively4 
,they had proceeded thus1 for only a few
 paces1 when a fierce light  glanced    
through half the sky1 followed by a     
deafening crash1 under  the concussion  
of which the earth trembled as if shaken
 to its very  centre4 ,the tavern-keeper
 again paused in shrinking irresolution1
  and again the woman's emphatic1       
,come6 caused him to follow his guides  
mechanically4    ,soon the storm burst  
over their heads1 and raged with a wild 
fury1  such as he had never before      
witnessed4 ,the wind howled through the 
streets and alleys of the city1 with the
 roar of thunder2 while the  deep       
reverberations following every broad    
sheet of lightning that  blazed through 
the whole circle of the heavens1 was as 
the roar of a  dissolving universe4     
,amid all this1 the rain fell like a    
deluge4 ,but  the rum-seller's guides   
paused not1 and he kept steadily onwards

  after them1 shrinking now into the    
shelter of the houses1 and now          
breasting the fierce storm with a       
momentary desperate resolution4         
,through street after street1 lined on  
either side with wretched  tenements    
that seemed tottering and just ready to 
fall1 and through  alley after alley1   
where squalid misery had hid itself from
 the eye  of general observation1 did   
they pass1 in what seemed to ,mr4       
,graves  an interminable succession2 ,at
 last the woman and her child paused  at
 the door of an old1 wretched-looking   
frame house1 that appeared  just ready  
to sink to the ground with decay4       
,this is the place1 sir4 ,come in6 ,your
 victim would see you before  he dies1  
the woman said in a deep voice that made
 a chill run  through every nerve1 at   
the same time that she looked him       
sternly  and with an expression of      
malignant triumph in the face4          
,unable to resist the impulse that drove
 him onward1 the rum-seller  entered the

 house4    ,see there1 sir6 ,look6      
,behold the work of your own hands6     
exclaimed  the woman with startling     
emphasis1 as he found himself in a room1
  with a few old rags in one corner of  
it for a bed1 upon which lay1  in the   
last sad agonies of dissolution1 his old
 customer1 ,bill  ,riley1 who1 he had   
been that day informed by his           
bar-keeper1 had  joined the temperance  
society4    ,there1 sir6 ,see there6 she
 continued1 grasping his arm1 and       
dragging him up to where the miserable  
wretch lay4 ,look at                    
him6--,bill--,bill6 she continued1      
stooping down1 while she still  held    
tightly the rum-seller's arm1 and       
shaking the dying man4  ,bill--,bill6   
,here he is4 ,you said you wanted to see
 him6 ,now curse  him1 ,bill6 ,curse him
 with your dying breath6 ,and the       
woman's voice  rose to a wild shriek4   
,the wretch1 thus rudely and suddenly   
called back from the brink of  death    
into a painful consciousness of         

existence1 half rose up1 and  stared    
wildly around him for a moment or two4  
,here he is1 ,bill6 ,here he is6 resumed
 his wife1 again shaking him  violently4
    ,who8 ,who8 inquired the dying man4 
,why1 the rum-seller1 who robbed you of 
your hard earnings1 that he  might roll 
in wealth and feast daily on luxuries1  
while your wife  and children were      
starving6 ,here he is4 ,curse him now1  
with your  dying breath6 ,curse him1 ,i 
say1 ,bill ,riley6 ,curse him6    ,who8 
,who8 eagerly asked the wretched being1 
a thrill of new life  seeming to flash  
through his exhausted frame--,old       
,graves8 ,where is  he8    ,here he is1 
,bill6 ,here he is6 ,don't you see him8 
,ah1 yes6 ,i see him now6 ,and ,riley   
fixed his eyes1 that seemed1 to  the    
rum-seller1 to burn and flash like balls
 of fire1 sending off  vivid            
scintillations1 upon him with a long and
 searching stare4    ,ah1 yes1 he       
continued1 this is old ,graves1 the     
rum-seller1 who  has sent more men to   

hell1 and more widows and orphans to the
  poor-house1 than any other man living4
 ,how do you do1 sir8 rising  up still  
more in his bed1 and grasping the       
unwilling hand of the  tavern-keeper1   
which he clenched hard1 and shook with  
superhuman  strength4 ,how are you1 old 
fellow8 ,i'm glad to see you once more  
in  this world4 ,we shall have a jolly  
time in the next1 though1 shan't  we8   
,a smile of malignant triumph flitted   
for a moment over the livid  face of    
,riley4 ,then its expression brightened 
into one of  intelligence4    ,look     
here1 he said1 and brought his lips     
close to the ear of  ,graves4 ,then in a
 deep whisper1 he breathed the words1   
,sub-,treasury6    ,the rum-seller      
started1 suddenly1 and grew paler than  
ever4    ,instantly a loud1 unearthly   
laugh rang through the room1 causing the
  blood to curdle about his heart4      
,ha6 ha6 ha6 ,i thought that chord could
 be touched6 ,ha6 ha6 ,that was  a      
capital idea1 wasn't it1 old fellow8    

,but you were too late for  ,bill       
,riley4 ,you thought the temperance men 
had him4 ,but that was a  little        
mistake4    ,the sweat already stood in 
large drops on the pale face of the     
tavern-keeper1 and his limbs trembled   
like the quivering aspen4    ,horrible6 
he murmured1 closing his eyes1 to shut  
out the scene4    ,not half so horrible 
as the place where ,i was1 just before  
you came  in1 ,mr4 ,graves1 said ,riley 
in a calmer voice4 ,and where do you    
think that was8    ,in hell1 ,i suppose1
 replied the rum-seller1 with the energy
 of  desperation4    ,exactly1 was the  
calm reply4 ,and what do you think ,i   
heard and  saw there8 ,let me tell you4 
,i was dead for a little while1 and     
found  myself in strange quarters1 as   
you will say1 when you get there4 ,i    
always thought devils had long tails1   
and cloven feet1 horns1 and  all that   
kind of thing4 ,but that's a vulgar     
error4 ,they are nothing  but wicked men
 like you1 who in this world have taken 

delight in  injuring others4 ,you will  
make a first-rate devil6 ,ha6 ha6 ,i    
heard  'em say so1 and wishing you were 
only there to help them work out  their 
evil intentions4    ,there are a great  
many little hells there1 all grouped    
into one  immense hell1 like societies  
here1 grouped into one larger society   
or nation4 ,and there1 as here1 every   
smaller society is engaged in  doing    
some particular thing1 and all are in   
one society who love to  do that thing4 
,as for instance1 all who1 while here1  
have taken  delight in theft1 are there 
associated together1 and are all the    
while busy in inventing reasons to put  
into the heads of thieves  here to      
justify them in stealing4 ,murderers1 in
 like manner2 and so  rum-sellers4 ,they
 have a hell all filled with rum-sellers
 there6 ,i  was let into it for a little
 while to see what was going on1 and who
  do you think ,i saw there4 ,why1 old  
,adams1 that died about a month  ago4   
,the old fellow was as lively as a      

cricket1 and as busy as a  bee4    ',how
 is that prime old chap1 ,graves8' he   
asked of me1 as soon as he  found out ,i
 was there4    ',i havn't seen him for a
 week1' ,i replied4 ',i have been sick  
for  that time4'    ',but he's a rum    
'un1 though1 ain't he8' chuckled ,adams4
 ',many a  scheme he and ,i have laid to
 get money out of the grog-drinkers4    
,but  he was always ahead of me4 ,i     
used1 in my early days1 to feel a       
little compunction when ,i saw a clever 
fellow going to ruin4 ,but it  never    
affected him in the least4 ,all was fish
 that came into his  net4 ,i wish we had
 him with us4 ,we want just such        
scheming devils as  he to help us devise
 ways and means to circumvent these     
temperance  men4 ,they'll ruin us1 if we
 don't look out4 ,how were they coming  
on  when you left8'    ',carrying       
everything before them1' ,i said4 ',the 
rum-sellers are  almost driven to their 
wit's ends for devices to get           
customers4'    ',too bad6 ,too bad6'    

ejaculated old ,adams4 ',i'll turn hell 
upside  down1 but what ,i'll beat them  
out4'    ',you'll have to do your       
prettiest1 then1 let me tell you1 old   
fellow1' ,i rejoined1 'for the          
temperance cause is going with a        
perfect rush4 ,it is a mighty torrent   
whose course1 neither men nor  devils   
can stay4 ,it moves onward with a power 
and majesty that  astonishes the        
world1--and onward it will move1 until  
your hell of  rum-makers and rum-sellers
 will not be able to find a single point
  through which to flow into the world  
and tempt men with your  infernal       
devices6'    ,o1 if you had heard the   
horrid yell of malignancy which arose1  
and  echoed through the black chamber of
 that region of wickedness and  misery1 
it would have made you shrink into      
nothingness with terror4  ,they fairly  
gnashed on me with their teeth in       
impotent rage4 ,at  length old ,adams   
got upon a whiskey-still--they have such
 things in  hell--the pattern was got   

from there when introduced here1 and    
made  a speech to his associates4 ,from 
what he said1 ,i found that he had      
minute information of all that was going
 on in this region4    ',old ,graves1'  
he said--'our very best man1 has already
 been so  reduced in his business by    
this accursed temperance movement1 that 
he has recently thought seriously of    
giving up4 ,this must not be4 ,we       
cannot lose him4 ,no mind receives our  
suggestions more readily than  his4--,if
 he gives up1 we lose a host4 ,you all  
know1 that our  influence on earth is   
powerless1 unless we have men to carry  
out our  plans4 ,if they will not listen
 to our suggestion--if they will not    
become our agents1 we can do nothing    
there4 ,as spiritual existences1  we    
cannot affect that which is corporeal1  
except through the  spiritual united    
with the corporeal--that is1 through    
spiritual  bodies in material bodies4   
,in other words1 we can act on men's    
minds1 and they can do our works on     

earth for us4 ,now1 seeing that  we can 
do nothing to stop this temperance      
movement1 except through  the self-love 
of the rum-sellers and rum-makers1 it   
will never do to  let old ,graves fall4 
,we must help him to some new scheme by 
which to  bring back his diminished     
custom4 ,now what shall it be8'         
',some device that will call attention  
to his bar-room1 is what is  wanted1'   
remarked one4    ,yes1 that is plain    
enough1' replied old ,adams1 who seemed 
to be a  kind of head devil there--'but 
what shall it be8 ,that's the           
question6'    ',suppose we put him up to
 getting a woman to walk a plank1'      
suggested one4    ',no4 ,that has been  
tried already2 and if it is tried again 
so soon1  these temperance men will cry1
 humbug6'    ',how would it do for him  
to get a pretty girl behind his bar4'   
',that might do4 ,but then1 his wife is 
a sort of religious woman1  and wouldn't
 let him do it4'    ,couldn't we induce 
him to poison her1 and so get her out of

 the  way8'    ',no--,that's out of the 
question4 ,he kind of likes the woman   
too  well for that4'    ',what1 then1 do
 you suggest8'    ',some new drink will 
be the thing4 ,something that will      
tickle the  ear at the same time that it
 tickles the palate4 ,it will be a great
  thing1 if1 in this matter1 we can kill
 two birds with one stone4  ,bring back 
by some new attraction the wavering     
ones1 and turn the  tide of custom in   
the direction of our very particular    
friend ,mr4  ,graves4'    ',have you    
thought of a name for it8'    ',no4'    
',how would ,ambrosia do8' suggested    
one4    ',not at all1' replied old      
,adams4 ',it aint the thing to catch    
gulls  now-a-days4 ,and more than that1 
it isn't something new4'    ',what do   
you think of ,harlequinade8'    ',that  
might answer2 but it's been used1       
already4'    ',fiscal agent8'    ',the  
same objection4'    ',mummy8'    ',the  
same4'    ',cobbler8'    ',good1 but    
stale4'    ',greaser8'    ',no'--,and   

,adams shook his head emphatically4     
',sam ,weller8'    ',been used already4'
    ',veto8'    ',that too4'            
',hardware8'    ',likewise4'    ',what  
do you think of ,elevator8'    ',that   
might do2 but still ,i can't exactly say
 that ,i like it4 ,it  should be        
something to strike the popular idea4'  
',sub-,treasury1 then8'    ,that's it1  
exactly6 ,sub-,treasury--,sub-,treasury4
 ,let it be called  ,sub-,treasury6 ,and
 now1 as ,i have more power over ,graves
 than any of  you1 let me have the      
managing of him4' ,and so saying1 ,adams
 seemed  to go away1 and remain1 for a  
day or two4 ,when he came back1 all the 
devils gathered around him full of      
interest to hear of his success4  ,they 
greeted him1 first1 with three wild1    
infernal cheers1 full of  malignant     
pleasure1 and then asked1    ',what     
news8 ,what news from earth8'           
',glorious6' was his response4 ,and then
 another wild yell of triumph  went up4 
',i found ,graves1' he went on1 'just   

the same pliant fool that he  has ever  
been4 ,he fell into my suggestions at   
once1 and on the very  next day         
advertised his ',sub-,treasury4' ,it    
took like a charm4 ,i  could tell you of
 a dozen young fellows just about being 
caught by  the teetootallers1 who       
couldn't withstand the new temptation4  
,there  was one in particular4 ,his name
 is ,joe ,bancroft4 ,only married about 
three years1 and almost at the bottom of
 the hill already4 ,on the  day before  
',sub-,treasury' was announced1 he came 
home sober1 for the  first time in six  
months4 ,his wife1 a beautiful young    
girl when he  married her1 but now a    
thin1 pale1 heart-broken creature1 sat  
near a  window sewing when he entered4  
,but she did not look up4 ,she heard    
him come in--but she could not turn her 
eyes towards him1 for her  heart always 
grew sicker whenever she saw the sad    
changes that drink  had wrought upon    
him4    ,for a few moments ,joe stood   
gazing at his young wife1 with a        

tenderer interest than he had felt for a
 long time4 ,he saw that she  did not   
look up1 and was conscious of the       
reason4    ',sarah1' he at last said1 in
 a voice of affection1 coming to her    
side4    ',what do you want8' she       
replied1 still without looking up4      
',look up at me1 ,sarah1' he said1 in a 
voice that slightly trembled4           
,instantly her work dropped from her    
hands1 and she lifted her eyes  to the  
face of her husband1 and murmured in a  
low1 sad tone1    ',what is it you wish1
 ,joseph8'    ',you look very pale1 and 
very sorrowful1 ,sarah1' her husband    
said1  with increasing tenderness of    
tone and manner4    ,it had been so very
 long since he had spoken to her kindly1
 or  since he had appeared to take any  
interest in her1 that the first         
tenderly uttered word melted down her   
heart1 and she burst into  tears1 and   
leaning her head against him1 sobbed    
long and  passionately4    ,with many a 
kind word1 and many a solemn promise of 

reformation did  the husband soothe the 
stricken heart of his wife1 into which a
 new  hope was infused4    ',i will be a
 changed man1 after this1 ,sarah1' he   
said--  ',and then it must go well with 
us4 ,it seems as if ,i had been1 for    
the last year1 the victim of insanity4  
,i cannot realize how it is  possible   
for any one to abandon himself as ,i    
have done2 to the  neglect of all the   
most sacred ties and duties that can    
appertain to  us4 ,how deeply--,o1 how  
deeply you must have suffered6'         
',deeply1 indeed1 dear husband6--,more  
than tongue can utter1' the  young wife 
replied1 in a solemn tone4 ',it has     
seemed1 sometimes1 as  if ,i must die4  
,day after day1 week after week1 and    
month after  month1 to see you coming in
 and going out1 as you have done1 for   
ever intoxicated4 ,to have no kind word 
or look4 ,no rational  intercourse with 
one to whom ,i had yielded up my heart  
so  confidingly4 ,o1 my husband6 you    
know not how sad a trial you have       

imposed upon your wife6'    ',sad--sad1 
indeed1 ,i am sure it has been1 ,sarah6 
,but let us try and  forget the past4   
,there is bright sunshine yet for us1   
and it will  soon1 ,i trust1 fall warmly
 and cheeringly on our pathway4'    ,all
 that day ,bancroft remained at home    
with his wife1 renewing his  assurances 
of reformation1 and laying his plans for
 the future4 ,i  saw all this1 and began
 to fear lest ,joe would really get     
freed from  the toils we had1 through   
the rum-sellers1 thrown around          
him--toils1  that ,i had felt1 sure     
would soon cause him to fall headlong   
down  amongst us4 ,i1 of course1        
suggested nothing to him then2 for it   
would have been of little use4 ,towards 
night1 his wife proposed that  he should
 sign the pledge4 ,i was at his ear in a
 moment--    ',that would be too        
degrading6' ,i whispered4 ',you have not
 got quite  so low as that yet4'        
',no1 ,sarah1 ,i do not wish to sign the
 pledge1' he at once replied4    ',why  

not1 dear8'    ',because1 ,i have always
 despised this way of binding oneself   
down  by a written contract1 not to do a
 thing4 ,it is unmanly4 ,my  resolution 
is sufficient4 ,if ,i say that ,i will  
never drink another  drop1 why ,i won't4
 ,but if ,i were to bind myself by a    
pledge not to  touch liquor again1 ,i   
should1 never feel a moment's peace1    
until ,i  had broken it4'    ,these     
objections ,i readily infused into his  
mind1 and he at once  adopted them as   
his own4 ,i had power to do so1 because 
,i now  perceived that his love of drink
 was so strong1 that he did not wish  to
 cut off all chance of ever tasting it  
again4 ,he1 therefore1  wanted specious 
reasons for not signing the pledge1 and 
with these ,i  promptly furnished him6  
,it was in vain that his wife urged him1
 even with tears and eager  entreaties  
to take the pledge3 ,i was too much for 
her1 and made him  firm as a rock in his
 determination not to sign4    ,on the  
next morning1 he parted with his wife1  

strong in his  resolution to be a       
reformed man4 ,the pleasant thrill of   
her parting  kiss1 the first he had     
received for more than a year1 lingered 
in  his memory and encouraged him to    
abide by his promise4 ,he passed his    
accustomed places of resort for liquor1 
on his way to business1 but  without the
 first desire to enter4 ,i noted all    
this1 and kept myself  busy about him to
 detect a moment of weakness4 ,our      
friend ,graves  advertised his          
',sub-,treasury' on that morning4 ,i    
calculated largely  on the novelty of   
the idea to win him off4 ,but1 somehow  
or other1 he  did not see it4 ,another  
young man1 one of his companions1 did1  
however3    ',have you tried ,graves'   
new drink1 yet8' he asked of him about  
eleven o'clock1 while he was under the  
influence of a pretty strong  thirst4   
',no1 what is it8' he replied1 with a   
feeling of lively interest4             
',sub-,treasury1' replied his friend4   
',sub-,treasury6 ,that must be something

 new6 ,i wonder what it can  be8'       
,into this feeling of interest in       
knowing what the new drink could  be1 ,i
 infused a strong desire to taste it4   
',suppose we go and try some1' suggested
 his friend4    ',there'll not be the   
least danger1' ,i whispered in his ear4 
',you  can try it1 and refrain from     
drinking to excess4 ,the evil has been  
your drinking too much4 ,there is no    
harm in moderate drinking4 ,this        
decided him1 and ,i retired4 ,i knew1 if
 he tasted1 that he was gone4'    ,down 
he went to the ,harmony ,house2--,i was 
there when he came in4 ,it  would have  
done your hearts good to have seen with 
what delight he  sipped the new         
beverage1--and to have heard him say1 as
 ,i did1 to  ,graves2--',i had half     
resolved to join the temperance society 
this  day1--but your ,sub-,treasury has 
entirely shaken my resolution4 ,i  shall
 never be able to do it now in this     
world1 nor in the next  either1 if ,i   
can only get you in the same place with 

me to make  ,sub-,treasury4' ,and then  
he laughed with great glee4 ,one1 of    
course1  did not satisfy him1 nor two1  
nor three4 ,before dinner-time he was   
gloriously drunk1 and went staggering   
home as usual4 ,i could not  resist the 
inclination to see a little of the fun  
when he presented  himself to his wife1 
whose fond hopes were all in the sky    
again4  ,like a bird1 she had sung about
 the house during the morning1 her      
heart so elated that she could not      
prevent an outward expression of  the   
delight she felt4 ,as the hour drew near
 for her husband's  return1 a slight    
fear would glance through her mind1     
quickly  dismissed1 however2--for she   
could not entertain the idea for a      
moment that his newly-formed resolution 
could possibly be so soon  broken4      
,at last the hour for his accustomed    
return arrived4 ,she heard him  open the
 door--and sprung to meet him4 ,one look
 sufficed to break  her heart4          
,statue-like she stood for a moment or  

two1 and then sunk  senseless to the    
floor4    ,other matters calling me     
away1 ,i staid only to see this         
delightful  little scene1 and then      
hurried back to the ,harmony ,house1 to 
see if  the run was kept up4 ,customers 
came in a steady stream1 and crowded    
the bar of our worthy friend1 whose     
heart was as light as a feather4  ,i saw
 at least half a dozen come in and sip a
 glass of ,sub-,treasury1  who ,i knew  
had not tasted liquor for months4 ,i    
marked them2 and  shall be about their  
path occasionally4 ,but the best thing  
of all  that ,i saw1 was a reformer     
break his pledge4 ,he was1 years ago1 a 
noted drunkard1 but had been a reformed 
man for four years4 ,in that  time he   
had broken up several grog-shops1 by    
reforming all their  customers1 and had 
got1 ,i suppose1 not less than five or  
six hundred  persons to sign the pledge4
 ,i had1 of course1 a particular grudge 
against him4 ,it was an exceedingly warm
 day1 and he was uncommonly  thirsty4   

,he was reading the paper1 and came     
across the  ',sub-,treasury'            
advertisement4    ',ha6 ha6 ,what is    
this1 ,i wonder8' he said1 laughing2    
some new trick  of the enemy1 ,i        
suppose4'    ',look here1 what is this  
,sub-,treasury stuff1 that ,graves      
advertises  this morning8' he said1 to a
 young fellow1 a protege  of mine1 who  
was more than a match for him4    ',a   
kind of temperance beverage4' ,i put it 
into the fellow's head to  say4         
',temperance beverage8'    ',yes4 ,it's 
made of lemonpeel1 and one stuff or     
other1 mixed up with  pounded ice4 ,he's
 got a tremendous run for it4 ,i know   
half a dozen  teetotallers who get it   
regularly4 ,i saw three or four there   
to-day1  at one time4'    ',indeed6'    
',it's a fact4 ,come1 won't you go down 
and try a glass8 ,it's  delightful4'    
',are you in earnest about it8'         
',certainly ,i am4 ,it's one of the most
 delicious drinks that has  been got up 
this season4'    ',i don't like to be   

seen going into such a place4'    ',o1  
as to that1 there is a fine back        
entrance leading in from  another       
street1 that no one suspects1 and a     
private bar into the  bargain4 ,we can  
go in and get a drink1 and nobody will  
ever see us4'    ',well1 ,i don't care  
if ,i do1' said the temperance man1 'for
 ,i am  very dry4'    ',you're a gone   
gozzling1 my old chap1' ,i said1 as ,i  
saw him moving  off4 ',i thought ,i'd   
get you before long4' ,sure enough1 the 
moment he  took the first draught his   
doom was sealed4 ,his former desire for 
liquor came back on him with            
irresistible power2 and before          
nightfall1 he was so drunk that he went 
staggering along the street1  to the    
chagrin and consternation of the        
teetotallers2 but to the  infinite      
delight of your humble servant4    ,and 
so saying1 that malignant fiend1 who1   
while he inhabited a  material body1 was
 called old ,billy ,adams1 stepped down 
from the  still4 ,then there arose three

 loud and long cheers1 for ,graves1 and 
his ',sub-,treasury1' that echoed and   
re-echoed wildly through that  gloomy   
prison-house4    ,you're much thought of
 down there1 you see1 continued ,riley1 
with  a cold grin of irony4--,adams     
says1 that if this temperance movement  
aint stopped soon1 they will have to get
 you among them1 and make  you head     
devil in that department4 ,how would you
 like that1 old  chap1 say8 ,how would  
you like to go now8    ,as ,riley said  
this1 he threw himself forward1 and     
clasped his thin1  bony fingers around  
the neck of the rum-seller1 with a      
strong grip4    ,how would you like to  
go now1 ha8 he screamed fiercely in his 
ear1  clenching his hand tighter and    
still tighter1 while his hot breath     
melted over the face of ,graves in a    
suffocating vapour4 ,the  struggles of  
the rum-seller were vigorous and        
terrible--but the  dying man held on    
with a superhuman strength4 ,soon       
everything around  grew confused1 and   

though still distinctly conscious1 it   
was a  consciousness in the mind of the 
tavern-keeper of the agonies of  death4 
,this became so terrible to him that he 
resolved on one last  and more vigorous 
effort for life4 ,it was made1 and the  
hands of the  dying man broke loose4    
,instantly starting to his feet1 the    
wretched  dealer in poison for both the 
bodies and souls of men1 found himself  
standing in the centre of his own       
parlour1 with the sweat rolling  from   
his face in large drops4    ,merciful   
,heaven6 ,and is it indeed a dream8 he  
ejaculated1 panting  with terror and    
exhaustion4    ,a dream--and yet not all
 a dream1 he added1 in a few moments1 in
 a  sad1 low tone4--,in league with hell
 against my fellow-men6 ,can it  indeed 
be true8 ,but away6 away such thoughts6 
,such thoughts1 however1 could not be   
driven away4 ,they crowded upon  his    
mind at every avenue1 and pressed inward
 to the exclusion of  every other idea4 
,but ,i am not in league with evil      

spirits to do harm to my  fellow-men4 ,i
 do not wish evil to any one1 he argued4
    ,you are in such evil consociation1 
whispered a voice within him4  ,there   
are but two great parties in the        
world--the evil and the  good4 ,no      
middle ground exists4 ,you are with one 
of these--working  for the good of your 
fellow-men1 or for their injury4 ,one of
 these  great parties acts in concert   
with heaven1 the other with hell4 ,on   
the side of one stand arrayed good      
spirits--on the side of the other  evil 
spirits4 ,can good spirits be on your   
side8 ,would they1 for the  sake of     
gain1 take the food out of the mouths of
 starving children8  ,would they put    
allurements in a brother's way to entice
 him to ruin8  ,no6 ,only in such deeds 
can evil spirits take delight4    ,then 
,i am on the side of hell8    ,there are
 but two parties4 ,you cannot be on the 
side of heaven1 and  do evil to your    
neighbour4    ,dreadful thought6 ,in    
league with infernal spirits to curse   

the  human race6 ,can it be possible ,am
 ,i really in my senses8    ,for nearly 
half an hour did ,graves pace the floor 
backwards and  forwards1 his mind in a  
wild fever of excitement4 ,in vain did  
he  try1 over and over again1 to argue  
the point against the clearest  and     
strongest convictions of reason4 ,look  
at it as he would1 it all  resolved     
itself into that one bold and startling 
position1 that he  was in league with   
hell against his fellow-men4    ,and    
now1 what shall ,i do8 was the question 
that arose in his mind4  ,give up my    
establishment8    ,at that moment1      
,sandy1 the bar-tender1 opened the      
parlour door1 and  said with a broad    
smile--    ,the ,sub-,treasury is       
working wonders again6 ,i'm overrun1 and
 want  help4    ,i can't come down1 just
 now1 ,sandy4 ,i'm not very well4 ,you  
will  have to get along the best you    
can1 ,graves replied4    ,i don't know  
what ,i shall do then1 sir3 ,i can't    
make 'em half as  fast as they are      

called for4    ,let half of the people  
go away then1 was the cold reply4 ,i    
can't  help you any more to-day4        
,sandy thought1 as he withdrew1 that the
 old man must have suddenly  lost his   
senses4 ,he was confirmed in this idea  
before the next  morning4    ,it was    
past twelve o'clock when the run of     
custom was over1 and  ,sandy closed up  
for the night4 ,as soon as this was     
done1 ,mr4 ,graves  came in for the     
first time since dinner4    ,it's been a
 glorious day for business1 ,sandy said1
 rubbing his  hands4 ,i've taken in     
more1 than thirty dollars4 ,lucifer     
himself  must have put the idea into    
your head4    ,no doubt he did1 was the 
grave reply4    ,sandy stared at this4  
,didn't you tell me that ,bill ,riley   
had joined the temperance  society8     
,yes1 ,i did1 replied the bar-keeper4   
,are you sure8    ,i am sure1 ,i was    
told so by one that knew4    ,i only    
wish ,i was certain of it1 was the      
reply1 made half  abstractedly4 ,and    

then the dealer leaned down upon the bar
 and  remained in deep thought for a    
very long time1 to the still greater    
surprise of ,sandy1 who could not       
comprehend what had come over his       
employer4    ,aint you well1 ,mr4       
,graves1 he at length asked1 breaking in
 upon  the rum-seller's painful reverie4
    ,well6 he ejaculated1 rousing up    
with a start4 ,no1 ,i am not well4      
,what is the matter1 sir8    ,i'm sick1 
was the evasive response4    ,how1 sick8
 was ,sandy's persevering inquiry4      
,sick at heart6 ,o1 dear6 ,i wish ,i'd  
been dead before ,i opened a            
grog-shop6--,and the countenance of ,mr4
 ,graves changed its quiet1  sad        
expression1 to one of intense agony4    
,sandy looked at the tavern-keeper with 
an air of stupid astonishment  for some 
moments1 unable to comprehend his       
meaning4 ,it was evident  to his mind   
that ,mr4 ,graves had suddenly become   
crazed about  something4 ,this idea     
produced a feeling of alarm1 and he was 

about  retiring for counsel and         
assistance1 when the tavern-keeper      
roused  himself and said3    ,when did  
you see ,bill ,riley1 ,sandy8    ,i saw 
him yesterday4    ,are you certain8 in a
 quick1 eager tone4    ,o yes4 ,i saw   
him going along on the other side of the
 street with  two or three fellows that 
didn't look no how at all like          
rum-bruisers4    ,i was afraid he was   
dead1 ,mr4 ,graves responded to this1   
breathing  more freely4    ,dead6 ,why  
should you think that8 inquired ,sandy1 
still more 7sic7  mistified4    ,i had  
reason for thinking so1 was the evasive 
reply4 ,a pause of  some1 moments       
ensued1 when the bar-keeper said--    ,i
 shall have to be stirring bright and   
early to-morrow morning4    ,why so8    
,we're out of sugar and lemons both4    
,that ,sub-,treasury runs on them  'ere 
articles strong4    ,confound the       
,sub-,treasury6 ,mr4 ,graves ejaculated1
 with a strong  and bitter emphasis4    
,sandy stood again mute with            

astonishment1  staring into the         
tavern-keeper's face4    ,sandy1 ,mr4   
,graves at length said in a calm1       
resolute tone1 my  mind is made up to   
quit selling liquor4    ,quit selling   
liquor1 sir6 exclaimed ,sandy1 more     
astonished than  ever4 ,quit selling    
liquor just at this time1 when you have 
made  such a hit8    ,yes1 ,sandy1 ,i'm 
going to quit it4 ,i'm afraid that we   
rum-sellers  are on the side of hell4   
,i never once supposed that we were on  
the side of heaven1 the  bar-keeper     
replied1 half smiling4    ,then what    
side did you suppose we were on8    ,o1 
as to that1 ,i never gave the matter a  
thought4 ,only1 it never  once entered  
my head that we could claim much        
relationship with  heaven4 ,heaven feeds
 the hungry and clothes the naked4 ,but 
we take  away both food and clothing1   
and give only drink4 ,there is some     
little difference in this1 now one comes
 to think about it4    ,then ,i am right
 in my notion4    ,i'm rather afraid you

 are1 sir4 ,but that's a strange way of 
thinking4    ,aint it the true way8     
,perhaps so4    ,i am sure so1 ,sandy6  
,and that's what makes me say that ,i'm 
done  selling rum4    ,the tavern-keeper
 did not tell all that was in his mind4 
,he said  nothing of his dream1 nor of  
that horrible idea of going to the      
rum-seller's hell1 and becoming a devil1
 filled with the delight of  rendering  
mankind wretched by deluging the land   
with drunkenness4    ,what are you going
 to do then8 asked ,sandy4    ,why1 the 
first thing is to quit rum-selling4     
,but what then8    ,i'm not decided     
yet2--but shall enter into some kind of 
business  that ,i can follow with a     
clear conscience4    ,you'll sell out   
this stands ,i suppose4 ,the goodwill is
 worth three  or four hundred dollars4  
,no1 ,sandy1 ,i will not6 was the       
tavern-keeper's positive1 half          
indignant reply4 ,i'll have nothing more
 to do with the gain of  rum-selling4 ,i
 have too much of that sin on my        

conscience already4    ,somebody will   
come right in1 as soon as you move out4 
,and ,i don't  see why you should give  
any one such an advantage for nothing4  
,i'm not going to move out1 ,sandy4     
,then what are you going to do8    ,why1
 one thing--,i'm going to shut up this  
devil's man-trap4 ,and  while ,i can    
keep possession of the property1 it     
shall never be  opened as a dram-shop   
again4    ,what are you going to do with
 your liquors1 ,mr4 ,graves8 ,sell 'em8 
,no4    ,what then8    ,burn 'em4 ,or   
let 'em run in the gutter4    ,that ,i  
should call a piece of folly4    ,you   
may call it what you please4 ,but ,i'll 
do it notwithstanding4  ,i've received  
my last dollar for rum4 ,not another    
would ,i touch for  all the world6    ,a
 slight shudder passed through the      
tavern-keeper's body1 as he said  this1 
occasioned by the vivid recollection of 
some fearful passage  in his late dream4
    ,you'd better give the liquors to   
me1 ,mr4 ,graves4 ,it would be a        

downright sin to throw 'em in the       
gutter1 when a fellow might make a  good
 living out of 'em4    ,no1 ,sandy4     
,neither you nor anybody else shall ever
 make a man drunk  with the liquor now  
in this house4 ,it shall run in the     
gutter4  ,that's settled6    ,when the  
sun arose next morning1 ,harmony ,house 
was shorn of its  attractions as a      
drinking establishment4 ,all the signs1 
with their  deceptive and alluring      
devices1 were taken down--the shutters  
closed1 and everything indicating its   
late use removed1 excepting a  strong   
smell of liquor1 great quantities of    
which had been poured  into the gutters4
    ,in the course of a few weeks1 the  
house was again re-opened as a          
hatter-shop1 ,mr4 ,graves having resumed
 his former honest business1  which he  
still follows1 well patronized by the   
temperance men1 among  whom are ,joseph 
,randolph1 and ,william ,riley1 the     
former reclaimed  through his active    
instrumentality4              ,,how ,,to

 ,,cure ,a ,,toper4            ,,the    
following story1 literally true in its  
leading particulars1 was  told by a     
reformed man1 who knew ,w--very well4   
,in repeating it1 ,i  do so in the first
 person1 in order to give it more       
effect4    ,i was enjoying my glass of  
flip1 one night1 at the little old      
,black  ,horse that used to stand a mile
 out of ,s4--1 7,i hadn't joined the    
great army of teetotallers then17 when a
 neighboring farmer came in1  whose     
moderation1 at least in whisky toddies1 
was not known unto all  men4 ,his name  
was ,w--4 ,he was a quiet sort of a man 
when sober1  lively and chatty under the
 effect of a single glass1 argumentative
  and offensively dogmatic after the    
second toddy1 and downright  insulting  
and quarrelsome after getting beyond    
that number of  drinks4 ,we liked him   
and disliked him on these accounts4     
,on the occasion referred too1 he passed
 through all these changes1  and finally
 sunk off to sleep by the warm stove4   

,being in the way1  and also in danger  
of tumbling upon the floor1 some of us  
removed  him to an old settee1 where he 
slept soundly1 entertaining us with     
rather an unmusical serenade4 ,there    
were two or three mischievous  fellows  
about the place1 and one of them        
suggested it would be  capital fun to   
black ,w--'s face1 and make a darkey of 
him4 ,no  sooner said than done4 ,some  
lamp-black and oil were mixed together  
in an old tin cup1 and a coat of this   
paint laid over the face of  ,w--1 who1 
all unconscious of what had been done1  
slept on as  soundly and snored as      
loudly as ever4 ,full two hours passed  
away  before he awoke4 ,staggering up to
 the bar1 he called for another  glass  
of whisky toddy1 while we made the old  
bar-room ring again  with our peals of  
laughter4    ,what are you all laughing 
at8 he said1 as he became aware that he 
was the subject of merriment1 and       
turning his black face around upon  the 
company as he spoke4    ,give us ,zip   

,coon1 old fellow6 called out one of the
 boys who had  helped him to his        
beautiful mask4    ,no6 no6 ,lucy ,long6
 ,give us ,lucy ,long6 cried another4   
,can't you dance ,jim ,crow8 ,try it4   
,i'll sing the 'wheel about and  turn   
about1 and do jist so4' ,now begin4     
,and the last speaker commenced singing 
,jim ,crow4    ,w--neither understood   
nor relished all this4 ,but the more    
angry  and mystified he became1 the     
louder laughed the company and the      
freer became their jests4 ,at last1 in a
 passion1 he swore at us  lustily1 and  
leaving the barroom1 in high dudgeon1   
took his horse  from the stable and rode
 off4    ,it was past eleven o'clock4   
,the night was cold1 and a ride of two  
miles made ,w--sober enough to          
understand that he had been rather      
drunk1 and was still a good deal in for 
it2 and that it wouldn't  exactly do for
 his wife to see him just as he was4 ,so
 he rode a mile  past his house1--and   
then back again1 at a slow trot1        

concluding  that by this time the good  
woman was fast asleep4 ,and so she was4 
,he  entered the house1 crept silently  
up stairs1 and got quietly into  bed1   
without his better half being wiser     
therefor4    ,on the next morning1 ,mrs4
 ,w--awoke first4 ,but what was her     
surprise and horror1 upon rising up1 to 
see1 instead of her lawful  husband1    
what she thought a strapping negro1 as  
black as charcoal1  lying at her side4  
,her first impulse was to scream2 but   
her presence  of mind in this trying    
position1 enabled her to keep silence4  
,you  may be sure that she didn't remain
 long in such a close contact with  ,sir
 ,darkey4 ,not she6 ,for1 slipping out  
of bed quickly1 but  noiselessly1 she   
glided from the room1 and was soon down 
stairs in  the kitchen1 where a stout1  
two-fisted ,irish girl was at work      
preparing breakfast4    ,oh6 dear6      
,kitty6 she exclaimed1 panting for      
breath1 and looking as  pale as a ghost1
 have you seen any thing of ,mr4 ,w--1  

this  morning8    ,och6 no4 ,but what   
ails ye8 ,ye're as white as a shate8    
,oh6 mercy6 ,kitty4 ,you wouldn't       
believe it1 but there's a monstrous     
negro in my room6    ,gracious me6 ,mrs4
 ,w--1 a nager8    ,yes1 indeed1 ,kitty6
 returned ,mrs4 ,w--1 trembling in every
 limb4  ,and worse and worse1 he's in my
 bed6 ,i just 'woke up and thought it   
was ,mr4 ,w--by my side ,but1 when ,i   
looked over1 ,i saw instead of  his     
face1 one as black as the stove4 ,mercy 
on me6 ,i was frightened  almost to     
death4    ,is he aslape8 asked ,kitty4  
,yes1 sound asleep and snoring4 ,oh6    
dear6 ,what shall we do8 ,where in  the 
world is ,mr4 ,w--8 ,i'm afraid this    
negro has murdered him4    ,och6 the    
blasted murtherin' thafe6 exclaimed     
,kitty1 her organ of  combativeness1    
which was very large1 becoming terribly 
excited4 ,get  into mistress's bed1 and 
the leddy there herself1 the omadhoun6  
,the  black1 murtherin' thafe of a      
villain6    ,and ,kitty1 thinking of no 

danger to herself1 and making no        
calculation of consequences1 seized a   
stout hickory clothes pole  that stood  
in one corner of the kitchen1 and went  
up stairs like a  whirlwind1 banging the
 pole against the door1 balusters1 or   
whatever  came in its way4 ,the noise   
roused ,w--from his sleep1 and he raised
  up in bed just as ,kitty entered the  
room4    ,oh6 you murtherin' thafe of a 
villain6 shouted ,kitty1 as she  caught 
sight of his black face1 pitching into  
him with her pole1 and  sweeping off his
 night-cap1 at the imminent risk of     
taking his head  with it4    ,hallo6 he 
cried1 not at all liking this strange   
proceeding1 are  you mad8    ,mad is it1
 ye thafe6 retorted ,kitty1 who did not 
recognize the  voice1 and taking a surer
 aim this time with her pole1 brought   
him a  tremendous blow alongside of the 
head1 which knocked him senseless4      
,mrs4 ,w--who was at the bottom of the  
stairs1 heard her husband's             
exclamation1 and1 knowing his voice1    

came rushing up1 and entered  the room  
in time to see ,kitty's formidable      
weapon come with terrible  force against
 his head4 ,before the blow could be    
repeated1 for  ,kitty1 ejaculating her  
murtherin' thafe of a villain6 had      
lifted  the pole again1 ,mrs4 ,w--threw 
her arms around her neck1 and cried1    
,don't1 don't1 ,kitty1 for mercy's sake6
 ,it's ,mr4 ,w--1 and you've  killed    
him6    ,mr4 ,w--indade6 retorted       
,kitty1 indignantly1 struggling to free 
herself4 ,is ,mr4 ,w--a thafe of a      
nager1 ma'am8    ,but even ,kitty's     
eyes1 as soon as they took the pains to 
look more  closely1 saw that it was     
indeed all as the mistress had said4    
,w--had fallen over on his face1 and his
 head and white neck were  not to be    
mistaken4    ,the pole dropped from     
,kitty's hands1 and1 with the           
exclamation1  ,och6 murther6 she turned 
and shot from the room1 with as good a  
will as she had entered it4    ,the blow
 which ,w--received was severe1 breaking

 through the flesh  and bruising and    
lacerating his ear badly4 ,he recovered 
very soon1  however1 and1 as he arose   
up1 caught sight of himself in a looking
  glass that hung opposite4 ,we may be  
sure that it took all parties1  in this 
exciting and almost tragical affair1    
some time to understand  exactly what   
was the matter4 ,w--'s recollection of  
the loud  merriment that had driven him 
from the ,black ,horse on the previous  
night1 when it revived1 as it did pretty
 soon1 explained all to him1  and set   
him to talking in a most unchristian    
manner4    ,poor ,kitty was so          
frightened at what she had done that she
 gathered  up her duds and fled         
instanter1 and was never again seen in  
that  neighborhood4    ,as for ,w--1 he 
was cured of his nocturnal visits to the
 ,black  ,horse1 and his love of whisky 
toddy4 ,some months afterwards he       
espoused the temperance cause1 and ,i've
 heard him tell the tale  myself1 many a
 time1 and laugh heartily at the figure 

he must have  cut1 when ,kitty commenced
 beating him for a thafe of a nager4    
,,the ,,broken ,,pledge4            ,,it
 is two years1 this very day1 since ,i  
signed the pledge1  remarked ,jonas     
,marshall1 a reformed drinker1 to his   
wife1 beside  whom he sat one pleasant  
summer evening1 enjoying the coolness   
and  quiet of that calm hour4    ,two   
years6 ,and is it1 indeed1 so long8 was 
the reply4 ,how swiftly  time passes1   
when the heart is not oppressed with    
cape and sorrow6    ,to me1 they have   
been the happiest of my life1 resumed   
the  husband4 ,how much do we owe to    
this blessed reformation6    ,blessed1  
indeed1 may it be called6 the wife said1
 with feeling4    ,it seems scarcely    
possible1 ,jane1 that one1 who1 like me1
 had  become such a slave to            
intoxication1 could have been reclaimed4
 ,i  often think of myself1 and wonder4 
,a little over two years ago1 ,i  could 
no more control the intolerable desire  
for liquor that ,i felt1  than ,i could 

fly4 ,now ,i have not the least         
inclination to touch1  taste1 or handle 
it4    ,and ,i pray ,heaven you may     
never again have6    ,that danger is    
past1 ,jane4 ,two years of total        
abstinence have  completely changed the 
morbid craving once felt for artificial 
stimulus1 into a natural and healthy    
desire for natural and healthy          
aliments4    ,it would be dangerous for 
you even now1 ,jonas1 to suffer a drop  
of  liquor to pass your lips2 do you not
 think so8    ,there would be no        
particular danger in my tasting liquor1 
,i  presume4 ,the danger would be1 as at
 first1 in the use of it1 until  an     
appetite was formed4 ,marshall replied1 
in a tone of confidence4    ,then you   
think that old1 inordinate craving for  
drink1 has been  entirely eradicated8   
,o yes1 ,i am confident of it4    ,and  
heartily glad am ,i to hear you say so4 
,it doubles the guarantee  for our own  
and children's happiness4 ,the pledge to
 guard us on one  side1 and the total   

loss of all desire on the other1 is     
surely a  safe protection4 ,i feel1 that
 into the future ,i may now look1       
without a single painful anxiety on this
 account4    ,yes1 ,jane4 ,into the     
future you may look with hope4 ,and as  
to the  past1 let it sink1 with all its 
painful scenes1--its heart-aching       
trials1 into oblivion4    ,jonas        
,marshall and his young wife had1 many  
years before the period  in which the   
above conversation took place1 entered  
upon the world  with cheerful hopes1 and
 a flattering promise of happiness4     
,they  were young persons of cultivated 
tastes1 and had rather more of this     
world's goods than ordinarily falls to  
the lot of those just  commencing life4 
,a few years sufficed to dash all their 
hopes to the  ground1 and to fill the   
heart of the young wife with a sorrow   
that  it seemed impossible for her to   
bear4 ,marshall1 from habitual  drinking
 of intoxicating liquors1 found the     
taste for them fully  confirmed before  

he dreamed of danger1 and he had not the
 strength  of character at once and for 
ever to abandon their use4 ,gradually he
  went down1 down1 slowly at first1 but 
finally with a rapid movement1  until he
 found himself stripped of everything1  
and himself a  confirmed drunkard4 ,for 
nearly two years longer1 he surrendered 
himself up to drink--his wife and       
children suffering more than my  pen can
 describe1 or any but the drunkard's    
wife and drunkard's  children realize4  
,then came a new era4 ,a friend of      
humanity sought out the poor1  degraded 
wretch1 in his misery and obscurity1 and
 prevailed upon him  to abandon his vile
 habits1 and pledge himself to total    
abstinence4  ,two years from the day    
that pledge was signed1 found him again 
rising in the world1 with health1 peace1
 and comfort1 the cheerful  inmates of  
his dwelling4 ,here is the brief outline
 of a reformed  drinker's history4 ,how 
many an imagination can fill in the dark
  shadows1 and distinct1 mournful       

features of the gloomy picture6    ,on  
the day succeeding the second           
anniversary of ,jonas ,marshall's       
reformation1 he was engaged to dine with
 a few friends1 and met them  at the    
appointed hour4 ,with the dessert1 wine 
was introduced4 ,among  the guests were 
one or two persons with whom ,marshall  
had but  recently become acquainted4    
,they knew little or nothing of his     
former life4 ,one of them sat next to   
him at table1 and very  naturally handed
 him the wine1 with a request to drink  
with him4    ,thank you1 was the        
courteous1 but firm reply4 ,i do not    
drink  wine4    ,another1 who understood
 the reason of this refusal1 observing  
it1  remarked--    ,our friend ,marshall
 belongs to the tee-totallers4    ,ah1  
indeed6 ,then we must1 of course1 excuse
 him1 was the  gentlemanly response4    
,don't you think1 ,marshall1 remarked   
another1 that you temperance  men are a 
little too rigid in your entire         
proscription of wine8    ,for the       

reformed drinker1 was the reply1 it is  
thought to be the  safest way to cut off
 entirely everything that can1 by       
possibility1  inflame the appetite4     
,some argue1 that when that morbid      
craving1  which the drunkard acquires1  
is once formed1 it never can be         
thoroughly eradicated4    ,do you think 
the position a true one8 asked a member 
of the party4    ,i have my doubts of   
it1 ,marshall said4 ,for instance3 ,most
 of you  know that for some years ,i    
indulged to excess in drink4 ,two years 
ago ,i abandoned the use of wine1       
brandy1 and everything else of an       
intoxicating nature4 ,for a time1 ,i    
felt the cravings of an intense  desire 
for liquor2 but my pledge of total      
abstinence restrained me  from any      
indulgence4 ,gradually1 the influence of
 my old appetite  subsided1 until it    
ceased to be felt4 ,and it is now more  
than a year  since ,i have experienced  
the slightest inclination to touch a    
drop4  ,your wine and brandy are now1   

gentlemen1 no temptation to me4    ,but 
if that be the case1 urged a friend1 why
 need you restrict  yourself1 so        
rigidly1 from joining in a social glass8
 ,standing1 as  you evidently do1 upon  
the ground you occupied1 before1 by a   
too  free indulgence1 you passed1       
unfortunately1 the point of             
self-control3 you may now enjoy the good
 things of life without  abusing them4  
,your former painful experience will    
guard you in that  respect4    ,i am not
 free to do so1 replied ,marshall4      
,why8    ,because ,i have pledged myself
 never again to drink anything that  can
 intoxicate1 and confirmed that pledge  
by my sign-manual--thus  giving it a    
double force and importance4    ,what   
end had you in view in making that      
pledge8    ,the emancipation of myself  
from the horrible bondage in which ,i   
had  been held for years4    ,that end  
is accomplished4    ,true4 ,but the     
obligations of my pledge are perpetual4 
,that is a mere figure of speech4 ,you  

fully believed1 ,i suppose1  that       
perpetual total-abstinence was          
absolutely necessary for your  safety8  
,i certainly did4    ,you do not believe
 so now8    ,no4 ,i have seen reason1 ,i
 think1 to change my views in that      
respect4 ,the appetite which ,i believed
 would remain throughout life1  and need
 the force of a solemn bond to restrain 
it1 has1 under the  rigid discipline of 
two years1 been destroyed4 ,i now feel  
myself as  much above the enslaving     
effects of intoxicating liquors1 as ,i  
ever  did in my life4    ,then1 it is   
clear to my mind1 that all the          
obligations of your  pledge are         
fulfilled2 and that1 as a matter of     
course1 it ceases to  be binding4    ,i 
should be very unwilling to violate that
 pledge4    ,it would be1 virtually1 no 
violation4    ,i cannot see it in that  
light1 ,marshall said1 although you may 
be  perfectly correct4 ,at any rate1 ,i 
am not now willing to act up to  your   
interpretation of the matter4    ,this  

declaration closed the argument1 as his 
friends did not feel  any strong desire 
to see him drink1 and argued the matter 
with him  as much for argument sake as  
anything else4 ,in this they acted with 
but little true wisdom2 for the         
particular form in which the subject    
was presented to the mind of ,marshall1 
gave him something to think  about and  
reason about4 ,and the more he thought  
and reasoned1 the  more did he become   
dissatisfied with the restrictions under
 which he  found himself placed4 ,not   
having felt1 for many months1 the least 
desire for liquor1 he imagined that even
 the latent inclination  which existed1 
as he readily supposed1 for some time1  
had become  altogether extinguished4    
,there existed1 therefore1 in his       
estimation1 now that he had begun to    
think over the matter1 no good  reason  
why he should abstain1 totally1 from    
wine1 at least1 on a  social occasion4  
,the daily recurrence of such thoughts1 
soon began to worry his mind1  until the

 pledge1 that had for two years lain so 
lightly upon him1  became a burden      
almost too intolerable to be borne4     
,why didn't ,i bind myself for a limited
 period8 he at last said1  aloud1 thus  
giving a sanction and confirmation by   
word of the  thoughts that had been     
gradually forming themselves into a     
decision  in his mind4 ,no sooner had he
 said this1 than the whole subject      
assumed a more distinct form1 and a more
 imposing aspect in his  view4 ,he now  
saw clearly1 what had not before seemed 
perfectly  plain--what had been till    
then encompassed by doubts4 ,he was     
satisfied that he had acted blindly when
 he pledged himself to                  
total-abstinence4    ,three hundred     
signed the pledge last night1 said his  
wife to him1  a few weeks after the     
occurrence of the dinner-party1 just    
mentioned4    ,three hundred6 ,we are   
carrying everything before us4    ,who  
can tell1 resumed the wife1 the amount  
of happiness involved  in three hundred 

pledges to total-abstinence8 ,there     
were1 doubtless1  many husbands and     
fathers among the number who signed4    
,now1 there is  joy in their dwellings4 
,the fire1 that long since went out1 is 
again  kindled upon their hearths4 ,how 
deeply do ,i sympathize with the        
heart-stricken wives1 upon whom day as  
again arisen1 with a bright  sun shining
 down from an unclouded sky6    ,it is1 
truly1 to them1 a new era--or the       
dawning of a new  existence4--,most     
earnestly do ,i wish that the day had   
arrived1 which  ,i am sure will come1   
when not a single wife in the land will 
mourn  over the wrong she suffers at the
 hand of a drunken husband4    ,to that 
aspiration1 ,i can utter a most devout  
amen1 ,mrs4 ,marshall  rejoined1        
fervently4    ,a few years of           
perseverance and well-directed energy1  
on our part1  will effect all this1 ,i  
allow myself fondly to hope1 if we do   
not  create a reaction by over-doing the
 matter4    ,how1 over-doing it8 asked  

the wife4    ,there is a danger of      
over-doing it in many ways4 ,and ,i am  
by no  means sure that the pledge of    
perpetual abstinence is not an  instance
 of this4    ,the pledge of perpetual   
abstinence6 ,why1 husband1 what do you  
mean8    ,my remark seems to occasion   
surprise4 ,but ,i think that ,i can make
  the truth of what ,i say apparent to  
your mind4 ,the use of the  pledge1 you 
will readily admit1 is to protect a man 
against the  influence of a morbid      
thirst for liquor1 which his own        
resolution is  not strong enough to     
conquer4    ,well4    ,so soon1 then1 as
 this end is gained1 the use of the     
pledge  ceases4    ,is it ever gained8  
,is a man who has once felt this morbid 
thirst1  ever safe from it8    ,most    
certainly do ,i believe that he is4     
,most certainly do ,i believe  that a   
few years of total abstinence from      
everything that  intoxicates1 will place
 him on the precise ground that he      
occupied  before the first drop of      

liquor passed his lips4    ,i cannot    
believe this1 ,jonas4 ,whatever is once 
confirmed by habit1  it seems to me1    
must be so incorporated into the mental 
and physical  organization1 as never to 
be eradicated4 ,its effect is to change1
 in  a degree1 the whole system1 and to 
change it so thoroughly1 as to  give a  
bias to all succeeding states of mind   
and body--thus  transmitting a tendency 
to come under the influence of that     
bias4    ,you advance a thing1 ,jane1   
which will not hold good in practice4   
,as1 for instance1 it is now two years  
since ,i tasted a drop of wine1  brandy1
 or anything else of a like nature4 ,if 
your theory were true1  ,i should still 
feel a latent desire1 at times1 to drink
 again4 ,but  this is not the case4 ,i  
have not the slightest inclination4 ,the
  sight1 or even the smell of wine1 does
 not produce the old desire1  which it  
would inevitably do1 if it were only    
quiescent--not  extirpated--as ,i am    
confident that it is4    ,and this is   

the reason why you think the pledge     
should not be  perpetual8    ,it is4    
,why should there be an external        
restraint imposed upon a  mere          
nonentity8 ,it is absurd6    ,granting1 
for the sake of argument1 the view you  
take1 in regard to  the extirpation of  
the morbid desire1 which1 however1 ,i   
cannot see  to be true1 ,mrs4 ,marshall 
said1 endeavouring to seem unconcerned1 
notwithstanding the position assumed by 
her husband troubled her                
instinctively1--it seems to me1 that    
there still exists a good  reason why   
the pledge should be perpetual4    ,what
 is that1 ,jane8    ,if a man has once  
been led off by a love of drink1 when no
 previous  habit had been formed1 there 
exists1 at least1 the same danger       
again1 if liquor be used2--and if it    
should possibly be true that  the once  
formed desire1 if subdued1 is           
latent--not eradicated--the  danger is  
quadrupled4    ,i do not see the force  
of what you say1 the husband replied4   

,to  me1 it seems1 that the very fact   
that he had once fallen1 and the        
remembrance of its sad consequences1    
would be a sure protection  against     
another lapse from sobriety4    ,it may 
all be so1 ,mrs4 ,marshall said1 in a   
voice that conveyed a  slight evidence  
of the sudden shadow that had fallen    
upon her heart4  ,and then ensued a     
silence of more than a minute4 ,the wife
 then  remarked in an inquiring tone--  
,then1 if ,i understand you rightly1 you
 think that the pledge should  be       
binding only for a limited time8    ,i  
do4    ,how long8    ,from one to two   
years4 ,two1 at the farthest1 would be  
sufficient1 ,i  am fully convinced1 to  
restore any man1 to the healthy tone of 
mind  and body that he once possessed4  
,and then1 the recollection of the  past
 would be an all-sufficient protection  
for the future4    ,seeing that the     
husband was confirming himself more and 
more in the  dangerous position that he 
had assumed1 ,mrs4 ,marshall said no    

more4  ,painfully conscious was she1    
from a knowledge of his peculiar        
character1 that1 if the idea now        
floating in his mind should become      
fixed by a rational confirmation1 it    
would lead to evil  consequences4 ,from 
that moment1 she began eagerly to cast  
about in  her mind for the means of     
setting him right1--means that should   
fully operate1 without her apparent     
agency4 ,but one way presented          
itself1--7argument1 she was well aware1 
as far as it was possible  for her to   
enter into it with him1 would only set  
his mind the more  earnestly in search  
of reason1 to prove the correctness of  
his  assumed positions17--and that was  
to induce him to attend more  frequently
 the temperance meetings1 and listen to 
the addresses and  experiences there    
given4    ,come1 dear1 she said to him1 
after tea1 a few evenings subsequent  to
 the time ,marshall had begun to urge   
his objections to the pledge4  ,i want  
you to go with me to-night to this great

 temperance meeting4  ,mr4--is going to 
make an address1 and ,i wish to hear him
 very  much4    ,it will be so crowded1 
,jane1 that you will not have the least 
satisfaction1 objected her husband--and1
 besides1 the evening is  very warm4    
,but ,i don't mind that1 ,jonas4 ,i am  
very anxious to hear  ,mr4--speak4    ,i
 am sorry1 ,jane1 ,marshall said1 after 
the silence of a few  moments4 ,but ,i  
recollect1 now1 that ,i promised ,mr4   
,patton to call  down and see him this  
evening4 ,there are to be a few friends 
there1  and he wished me1 particularly1 
to meet them4    ,poor ,mrs4 ,marshall's
 countenance fell at this1 and the tears
  gathered in her eyes4    ,so1 then1   
you won't go with me to the temperance  
meeting1 she  said1 in a disappointed   
tone4    ,i should like to do so1 ,jane1
 was the prevaricating reply1 but  you  
see that it is out of my power1 without 
breaking my promise1  which you would   
not1 of course1 have me do4    ,o1 no1  
of course not4    ,you can go1 ,jane4 ,i

 will leave you at the door1 and call   
for you  when the meeting is out4       
,no1 ,i do not feel like going1 now ,i  
should have enjoyed it with you  by my  
side4 ,but to go alone would mar all the
 pleasure4    ,but surely that need not 
be1 ,jane4 ,you know that ,i cannot be  
always  with you4    ,no1 of course not1
 was uttered1 mechanically2 and then    
followed a  long silence4    ,so you    
will not go1 ,marshall at length said4  
,i should not enjoy the meeting1 and    
therefore do not wish to go1  his wife  
replied4    ,i am sorry for it1 but     
cannot help it now1 for ,i should not   
feel  right were ,i not to comply with  
my promise4    ,i do not wish you to    
break it1 of course4 ,for a promise     
should ever  be kept sacred1 ,mrs4      
,marshall said1 with a strong emphasis  
on the  latter sentence4    ,this       
emphasis did not escape the notice of   
her husband1 who felt  that it was      
meant1 as it really was1 to apply to his
 state of mind  in regard to the pledge4

 ,for it was a fact1 which the          
instinctive  perception of his wife had 
detected1 that he had begun1 seriously1 
to argue in his own mind1 the question1 
whether1 under the  circumstances of the
 case1 seeing1 that1 in taking the      
pledge1 the  principle of protection was
 alone considered1 he was any longer    
bound by it4 ,he did not1 however1 give 
expression to the thoughts  that he had 
at the time4 ,the subject of            
conversation was changed1  and1 in the  
course of half an hour1 he left to      
fulfil his  engagement1 which had not1  
in reality1 been a positive one4 ,as he 
closed the door after him1 ,mrs4        
,marshall experienced a degree of       
loneliness1 and a gloomy depression of  
feeling1 that she could not  fully      
account for1 though she could not but   
acknowledge that1 for a  portion of it1 
there existed too certain a cause1 in   
the strange and  dangerous position her 
husband had taken in regard to the      
pledge4    ,as ,marshall emerged from   

his dwelling1 and took his way towards  
the  friend's house1 where he expected  
to meet a select company1 his mind  did 
not feel perfectly at ease4 ,he had     
partly deceived his wife in  reference  
to the positive nature of the           
engagement1 and had done so  in order to
 escape from an attendance on a         
temperance meeting4 ,this  did not seem 
right4 ,there was1 also1 a consciousness
 in his mind  that it would be extremely
 hazardous to throw off the restraints  
of  his pledge1 at the same time that a 
resolution was already half  formed to  
do so4 ,the agitation of mind occasioned
 by this conflict  continued until he   
arrived at his friend's door1 and then1 
as he  joined the pleasant company      
within1 it all subsided4    ,a hearty   
welcome1 ,marshall6 said the friend1    
grasping his hand and  shaking it       
warmly4 ,we were really afraid that we  
should not have  the pleasure of your   
good society4 ,but right glad am ,i1    
that1 with  your adherence to temperance

 men and temperance principles1 you do  
not partake of the exclusive and        
unsocial character that so many  assume4
    ,i regard my friends with the same  
warm feelings that ,i ever did1         
,marshall replied1--and love to meet    
them as frequently4    ,that is right4  
,we are social beings1 and should       
cultivate  reciprocal good-feelings4    
,but don't you think1 ,marshall1 that   
some  of you temperance folks carry     
matters too far8    ,certainly ,i do4   
,as1 for instance1 ,i consider this     
binding of a man  to perpetual          
total-abstinence1 as an unnecessary     
infringement of  individual liberty4 ,as
 ,i look upon it1 the use of the pledge1
 is to  enable a man1 by the power of an
 external restraint1 to gain the        
mastery over an appetite that has       
mastered him4 ,when that is             
accomplished1 all that is wanted is     
obtained3 of what use is the  pledge    
after that8    ,very true1 was the      
encouraging reply4    ,a man1 resumed   

,marshall1 repeating the argument he had
 used to his  wife1 which now seemed    
still more conclusive1 has only to      
abstain  for a year or two from liquor  
to have the morbid craving for it  which
 over-indulgence had created1 entirely  
eradicated4 ,then he  stands upon safe  
ground1 and may take a social glass1    
occasionally1  with his friends1 without
 the slightest danger4 ,to bind himself 
up1  then1 to perpetual abstinence1     
seems not only useless1 but a real      
infringement of individual liberty4     
,so it presents itself to my mind1      
rejoined one of the company4    ,i feel 
it to be so in my case1 was the reply of
 the reformed man  to this1 thus going  
on to invite temptation1 instead of     
fleeing from  it4    ,certainly1 if ,i  
were the individual concerned1 remarked 
one of the  company1 ,i should not be   
long in breaking away from such         
arbitrary  restrictions4    ,how would  
you get over the fact of having signed  
the pledge8 asked  ,marshall1 with an   

interest that he dared not acknowledge  
to himself4    ,easy enough1 was the    
reply4    ,how8    ,on the plea that ,i 
was deceived into signing such a pledge4
    ,how deceived8    ,into a belief    
that it was the only remedy in my case4 
,there is no  moral law binding any man 
to a contract entered into ignorantly4  
,the  fact of ignorance1 in regard to   
the fundamental principles of an        
agreement1 vitiates it4 ,is not that    
true8    ,it certainly is1 was the      
general reply to this question4    ,then
 you think1 said ,marshall1 after       
reflecting for a few moments1  that no  
moral responsibility would attach to me1
 for instance1 if ,i  were to act       
independently of my pledge8             
,certainly none could attach1 was the   
general response2 provided1  of course1 
that the end of that pledge was fully   
attained4    ,of that there can be no   
doubt1 was the assumption of the        
reformed  man4 ,the end was1 to save me 
from the influence of an appetite for   

drink1 against which1 in my own         
strength1 ,i could not contend4 ,that   
end is now accomplished4 ,two years of  
total abstinence has made me a  new man4
 ,i now occupy the same ground that ,i  
occupied before ,i lost  my             
self-control4    ,then ,i can see no    
reason why you should be denied the     
social  privilege of a glass with your  
friends1 urged one of the company4      
,nor can ,i see it clearly1 ,marshall   
said4 ,still ,i feel that a  solemn     
pledge1 made more solemn and binding by 
the subscription of  my name1 is not a  
thing to be lightly broken4 ,the thought
 of doing  so troubles me1 when ,i      
seriously reflect upon it4    ,it seems 
to me that1 were ,i in your place1      
gravely remarked one of  the company1   
heretofore silent1 ,i would not break my
 pledge without  fully settling two     
points--if it is possible for you1 or   
any other  man1 under like              
circumstances1 to settle them4    ,what 
are they8 asked ,marshall1 with         

interest4    ,they are the two most     
prominent points in your case2--two that
 have  already been introduced here     
to-night4 ,one involves the question1   
whether you are really free from the    
influence of your former  habits8    ,i 
have not a single doubt in regard to    
that point1 was the  positive reply4    
,i do not see1 ,mr4 ,marshall1 how it is
 possible for you to settle it  beyond a
 doubt1 urged the friend4 ,to me1 it is 
not philosophically  true that the power
 of habit is ever entirely destroyed4   
,all  subsequent states of body or mind1
 ,i fully believe1 are affected and     
modified by what has gone before1 and   
never lose the impression of  preceding 
states1--and more particularly of       
anything like an  overmastering         
habit--or rather1 ,i should say1 in this
 case1 of an  overmastering affection4  
,the love1 desire1 or affection1        
whichever  you may choose to call it1   
which you once felt for intoxicating    
drinks1 or for the effects produced by  

them1 never could have  existed in the  
degree that they did1 without leaving on
 your  mind--which is a something far   
more real and substantial than this     
material body1 which never loses the    
marks and scars of former               
abuse--ineradicable impressions4 ,the   
forms of old habits1 if this be  true1  
and that it so1 ,i fully believe1 still 
remain2 and these  forms are in the     
endeavour1 if ,i may so speak1 to be    
filled with the  affections that once   
made them living and active4 ,rigidly   
exclude  everything that can excite     
these1 and you are safe2--but1 to me it 
seems1 that no experiment can be so     
dangerous1 as one which will  inevitably
 produce in these forms a vital         
activity4    ,that1 it seems to me1 was 
the reply of one of the company1 is a   
little too metaphysical--or rather1 ,i  
should say1  transcendental--for1       
certainly1 it transcends my powers of   
reasoning  to be able to see how any    
permanent forms1 as you call them1 can  

be  produced in the mind1 as in the     
body--the one being material1 and  the  
other immaterial1 and1 therefore1 no    
more susceptible of lasting             
impressions1 than the air around us4    
,you have not1 ,i presume1 given much   
thought to this subject1 the  previous  
speaker said1 or you would not doubt1 so
 fully1 the truth  of my remark4 ,the   
power of habit1 a fact of common        
observance1 which  is nothing but a     
fixed form of the mind1 illustrates it4 
,and1  certainly1 if the mind retained  
impressions no better than the air      
around us1 we should remember but little
 of what we learned in early  years4    
,i see1 was the reply to this1 that my  
remark was too broad4  ,still1 the      
memory of a thing is very different from
 a permanent and  inordinate desire to  
do something wrong1 remaining as a      
latent  principle in the mind1 and ready
 to spring into activity years          
afterwards1 upon the slightest          
provocation4    ,it certainly is a      

different thing2 and if it be really so1
 its  establishment is a matter of vital
 importance4 ,in regard to reformed     
drinkers1 there has been much testimony 
in proof of the position4 ,i  have heard
 several men relate their experiences2  
and all have said  that time and again  
had they resolved to conquer the habit  
that was  leading them on headlong to   
destruction2 and that they had1 on more 
than one occasion1 abstained for months4
 ,but that1 so soon as they  again put  
liquor to their lips1 the old desire    
came back for it1  stronger and more    
uncontrollable than before4    ,that    
was1 ,i presume1 ,marshall remarked1    
because they had not  abstained long    
enough4    ,one man1 ,i remember to have
 heard say1 that he did not at one      
period of his life use any kind of      
intoxicating drink for three  years4 ,he
 then ventured to take a glass of cider1
 and was drunk and  insensible before   
night6 ,and what was worse1 did not     
again rise  superior to his degradation 

for years4    ,i should call that an1   
extreme case1 urged the infatuated man4 
,there must have been with him a        
hereditary propensity4 ,his father  was1
 doubtless1 a drunkard before him4      
,as to that1 ,i know nothing1 and should
 not be willing to assume the  fact as a
 practical principle1--the friend       
replied4 ,but there is  another point   
that ought to be fully settled4    ,what
 is that8    ,no one can1 without       
seriously injuring himself1 morally1    
violate a  solemn pledge--particularly1 
as you have justly said1 a pledge made  
more binding and solemn1 by act and     
deed1 in the sign-manual4 ,a man  may   
verbally pledge himself to do or not to 
do a thing4 ,to violate  this pledge    
deliberately1 involves moral            
consequences to himself  that are such  
as almost any one would shrink from     
incurring4 ,but  when a man gives to any
 pledge or contract a fulness and a     
confirmation by the act of subscribing  
his name to it1 and then  deliberately  

violates that pledge or contract1 he    
necessarily  separates himself still    
further from the saving power of good   
principles and influences than in the   
other case1 and comes more  fully under 
the power of evil principles and evil   
influences4 ,after  such an act1 that   
man's state is worse1 far worse than it 
was  before4 ,i speak strongly and      
earnestly on this subject1 because ,i   
feel deeply its importance4 ,and ,i     
would say to our friend ,marshall  here1
 as ,i would say to my own brother1 let 
these two points be  fully settled      
before you venture upon dangerous       
ground4 ,be sure that  the latent desire
 for stimulating drinks is fully        
eradicated--and be  certain that your   
pledge can be set aside without great   
moral injury  to yourself1 before you   
take the first step towards its         
violation1  which may be a step fraught 
with the most fatal consequences to     
yourself and family4    ,this           
unlooked-for and serious turn which the 

discussion assumed1 had  the effect to  
make ,marshall hesitate to do what he   
had too hastily  made his mind up that  
he might venture upon without the       
slightest  danger4 ,it also furnished   
reasons to the company why they should  
not  urge him to drink4 ,the result was1
 that he escaped through all the        
temptations of the evening1 which would 
have overcome him1  inevitably1 had his 
own inclination found a general voice of
  encouragement4    ,but none of the    
strong arguments why he should not again
 run madly  into the way of evil1 which 
had been so opportunely and unexpectedly
  urged1 had the effect to keep his eye 
off of the decanters and  brim-full     
glasses that circulated far too         
freely2--nor to prevent  the sight of   
them from exciting in his mind a strong1
 almost  unconquerable desire1 to join  
with the rest4 ,this very desire ought  
to have warned him--it should have      
caused him to tremble and flee  away as 
if a raging wild beast had stood in his 

path4 ,but it did  not4 ,he deceived    
himself by assuming 7sic7 hat the desire
 which he  felt to drink with his       
friends arose from his love of          
sociality1 not  of wine4    ,the evening
 was lonely and long to ,mrs4 ,marshall1
 and there was a  shadow over her       
feelings that she endeavoured in vain to
 dispel4 ,her  husband's knock1 which   
came between ten and eleven o'clock1 and
 for  which she had been listening      
anxiously for at least an hour1 made    
her heart bound and tremble1 producing a
 feeling of weakness and  oppression4   
,as she opened the door for him1 it was 
with a vague  fear4 ,this was instantly 
dispelled by his first affectionate word
  uttered in steady tones4 ,he was still
 himself6 ,still as he had been  for the
 blessed two years that had just gone   
by6    ,what is the matter1 ,jane8 ,you 
look troubled1 the husband remarked1    
after he had seated himself1 and        
observed his wife's appearance4    ,do  
,i8--,if so1 it is because ,i have felt 

troubled this evening4    ,why were you 
troubled1 ,jane8    ,that question ,i   
can hardly answer1 either to your       
satisfaction or  my own1 ,mrs4 ,marshall
 said4 ,from some cause or other1 my    
feelings  have been strangely depressed 
this evening2 and ,i have experienced1  
besides1 a consciousness of coming      
misery1 that has cast a shadow  over my 
spirits1 even now but half dispelled4   
,but why is all this1 ,jane8 ,there must
 be some cause for such a  change in    
your feelings4    ,i know but one cause1
 dear husband6 ,mrs4 ,marshall said1 in 
a voice  of deep tenderness1 laying her 
hand upon her husband's arm as she      
spoke1 and looking him in the face with 
an expression of earnest  affection4    
,speak out plainly1 ,jane4 ,what is the 
cause8    ,do not be offended1 ,jonas1  
when ,i tell you1 that ,i have not been 
so  overcome by such gloomy feelings    
since that happy day when you  signed   
the pledge1 as ,i have been this        
evening4 ,the cause of these  feelings  

lies in the fact of your having become  
dissatisfied with  that pledge4 ,i      
tremble1 lest1 in some unguarded moment1
 under the  assurance that old habits   
are conquered1 you may be persuaded to  
cast aside that impassable barrier1     
which has protected your home  and      
little ones for so long and happy a     
time4    ,you are weak and foolish1     
,jane1 her husband said1 in a           
half-offended tone4    ,in many things  
,i know that ,i am1 was ,mrs4           
,marshall's reply1 but  not in this4 ,a 
wife who loves her husband and children 
as tenderly  as ,i do mine1 cannot but  
tremble when fears are suddenly awakened
  that the footsteps of a deadly enemy  
are approaching her peaceful  dwelling4 
,such an enemy is not drawing nigh to   
your dwelling1 ,jane4    ,heaven grant  
that it may not be so6 was the solemn   
ejaculation4    ,to this1 ,marshall felt
 no inclination to reply4 ,he had       
already said  enough in regard to his   
pledge to awaken the fears of his wife1 

and  to call forth from her expressions 
of strong opposition to his views  of   
the nature of his obligation4 ,his      
silence tended1 in no degree1  to quiet 
her troubled feelings4    ,on the next  
morning1 ,marshall was thoughtful and   
silent4 ,after  breakfast1 he went out  
to attend to business1 as usual4 ,as he 
closed  the door after him1 his wife    
heaved a deep sigh1 lifted her eyes     
upwards1 and prayed silently1 but       
fervently1 that her husband might  be   
kept from evil4 ,and well might she thus
 pray1 for he needed  support and       
sustenance in the conflict that was     
going on in his  bosom--a conflict far  
more vigorous than was dreamed of by the
 wife4  ,he had invited temptation1 and 
now he was in the midst of a  struggle1 
that would end in a more perfect        
emancipation of himself  from the       
demon-vice that had once ruled him with 
a rod of iron1 or  in his being cast    
down to a lower depth of wretchedness   
and misery  than that out of which he   

had arisen4 ,in this painful struggle he
  stood not alone4 ,good spirits        
clustered around him1 anxiously         
interested in his fate1 and endeavouring
 to sustain his faltering  purposes2 and
 evil spirits were also nigh1 infusing  
into his mind  reasons for the          
abandonment of his useless pledge4 ,it  
was a period  in his history full of    
painful interest4 ,heaven was moving    
forward  to aid and rescue him1 and hell
 to claim another victim4 ,but neither  
the one nor the other could act upon him
 for good or for evil1  except through  
his own volition4 ,it was for him to    
turn himself to  the one1 and live1 or  
to the other1 and die4    ,so intense   
was this struggle1 that1 after he had   
entered his place  of business1 he      
remained there for only a short time1   
unable to fix  his mind upon anything   
out of himself1 or to bid the tempest in
 his  mind be still4 ,going out into the
 street1 he turned his steps he  knew   
not whither4 ,he had moved onwards but a

 few paces1 when the  thought of home   
and his children came up in his mind1   
accompanied by  a strong desire to go   
back to his dwelling--a feeling that    
required  a strong effort to resist4    
,the moment he had effectually resisted 
it1 and resolved not to go home1 his eye
 fell upon the tempting  exposure of    
liquors in a bar-room1 near which he    
happened to be  passing4 ,at the same   
instant1 it seemed as if a strong hand  
were  upon him1 urging him towards the  
open door4    ,no--no--no6 he said1 half
 aloud1 hurrying forward1 ,i am not     
prepared for that4 ,and yet1 what a fool
 ,i am1 he continued1 to  suffer myself 
thus to be agitated6 ,why not come to   
some decision1  and end this uncertain1 
painful state at once8 ,but what shall  
,i do8  ,how shall ,i decide8    ,to    
keep your pledge1 a voice1 half audible1
 seemed to say4    ,and be for ever     
restless under it1--for ever galled by  
its slavish  chains1 another voice      
urged1 instantly4    ,yes1 he said1 that

 is the consequence which makes me      
hesitate4  ,fool--fool--not to have     
taken a pledge for a limited period6 ,i 
was  deceived--tricked into an act that 
my sober reason condemns6 ,and  should  
,i now be held by that act8             
,no6--no6--no6 ,the voice of reason     
says no6 ,and ,i will not6    ,as he    
said this1 he turned about1 and walked  
with a firm1 deliberate  step1 towards  
the bar-room he had passed but a few    
moments before1  entered it1 called for 
a glass of wine1 and drank it off4      
,now ,i am a free man6 he said1 as he   
turned away1 and proceeded  towards his 
place of business1 with an erect        
bearing4    ,he had not gone far1       
however1 before he felt a strong desire 
for  another glass of wine1             
unaccompanied by any thought or fear of 
danger4 ,from the moment he had placed  
the forbidden draught to his  lips1 the 
struggle in his mind had ceased1 and a  
great calm  succeeded to a wild conflict
 of opposite principles and influences4 

,he felt happy1 and doubly assured that 
he had taken a right step4 ,a  second   
glass of wine succeeded the first1 and  
then a third1 before  he returned to his
 place of business4 ,these gave to the  
tone of his  spirits a very perceptible 
elevation1 but threw over his mind a    
veil  of confusion and obscurity1 of    
which1 however1 he was not conscious4   
,an hour only had passed after his      
return to business1 before he  again    
went out1 and seeking an obscure        
drinking-house1 where his  entrance     
would not probably be observed1 he      
called for a glass of  punch1 and then  
retired into one of the boxes1 where it 
was handed  to him4 ,its fragrance and  
flavour1 as he placed it to his lips1   
were  delightful--so delightful1 that it
 seemed to him a concentration of  all  
exquisite perceptions of the senses4    
,another was soon called for1 and then  
another and another1 each one  stealing 
away more and more of distinct          
consciousness1 until at last  he sunk   

forward on the table before which he had
 seated himself1  perfectly lost to all 
consciousness of external things6       
,gladly would the writer draw a veil    
over all that followed that  insane     
violation of a solemn pledge1 sealed as 
it had been by the  hand-writing of     
confirmation4 ,but he cannot do it4 ,the
 truth1 and  the whole truth needs to be
 told1--the beacon-light must be raised 
on the gloomy shores of destruction1 as 
a warning to the thoughtless  or        
careless navigator4    ,sadder and more 
wretched was the heart of ,mrs4         
,marshall during the  morning of that   
day1 than it had been on the evening    
before4 ,there  was an overwhelming     
sense of impending danger in her mind1  
that she  could not dissipate by any    
mode of reasoning with herself4 ,as her 
children came about her1 she would look 
upon them with an emotion of  yearning  
tenderness1 while her eyes grew dim with
 tears4 ,and then  she would look up1   
and breathe a heart-felt prayer that ,he

 who  tempereth the winds to the shorn  
lamb1 would regard her little ones4     
,the failure of her husband to return at
 the dinner hour1 filled her  with      
trembling anxiety4 ,not once during two 
years had he been absent  from home     
without her being perfectly aware of the
 cause4 ,its  occurrence just at this   
crisis was a confirmation of her vague  
fears1 and made her sick at heart4      
,slowly did the afternoon pass  away1   
and at last the hour came for his return
 in the evening4 ,but  though she looked
 for his approaching form1 and listened 
for the  well-known sound of his        
footsteps1 he did not come4    ,anxiety 
and trembling uncertainty now gave way  
to an overwhelming  alarm4 ,hurriedly   
were her children put to bed1 and then  
she went out  to seek for him1 she knew 
not whither4 ,to the store in which he  
had  become a partner1 she first turned 
her steps4 ,it was closed as she  had   
feared4 ,pausing for a few moments to   
determine where next to  proceed1 she   

concluded to go to the house of his     
partner1 and learn  from him if he had  
been to the store that day1 and at what 
time4 ,on  her way to his dwelling1 she 
passed down a small street1 in which    
were several drinking-houses1 hid away  
there to catch the many who  are not    
willing to be seen entering a tavern4   
,in approaching one of these1 loud      
voices within1 and the sound of a       
scuffle1 alarmed her4 ,she was about    
springing forward to run1 when  the door
 was suddenly thrown open1 and a man    
dashed out1 who fell  with a violent    
concussion upon the pavement1 close by  
her feet4  ,something about his         
appearance1 dark as it was1 attracted   
her eye4  ,she stooped down1 and laid   
her hand upon him4 ,it was her husband6 
,a wild scream1 that rung upon the      
air1--a scream which the poor           
heart-stricken creature could not have  
controlled if her life had  been the    
forfeit--brought instant assistance4    
,marshall was taken  into a neighbouring

 house1 and a physician called1 who1 on 
making an  examination1 said that a     
serious injury might1 or might not have 
taken place--he could not tell4 ,one    
thing1 however1 was certain1 the  man   
was beastly drunk4    ,o1 with what a   
chill did that last sentence fall upon  
the ear of his  wife6 ,it was the       
death-knell to all the fond hopes she   
had cherished  for two peaceful years4  
,for a moment she leaned her head       
against the  wall near which she was    
standing1 and wished that she could die4
 ,but  thoughts of her children1 and    
thoughts of duty roused her4    ,a      
carnage was procured and her husband    
conveyed home1 and then1  after he had  
been laid upon a bed1 she was left alone
 with him1 and  her own sad reflections4
 ,it was1 to her1 a sleepless night--but
 full  of waking dreams1 whose images of
 fear made her heart tremble and        
shrink1 and long for the morning4       
,morning at last came4 ,how eagerly did 
the poor wife bend over the  still      

unconscious form of her husband1 reading
 each line of his  features1 as the pale
 light that came in at the windows gave 
distinctness to every object6 ,he still 
breathed heavily1 and there  was an     
expression of pain on his countenance4  
,a double cause for  anxiety and alarm1 
pressed upon the heart of ,mrs4         
,marshall4 ,she knew  not how serious an
 injury his fall might have             
occasioned1--nor how  utter might be his
 abandonment of himself1 now that he had
 broken  his solemn pledge4 ,as she bent
 over him in doubt1 pain1 and anxiety1  
he suddenly awoke1 and1 without moving1 
looked her for a moment  steadily in the
 face1 with a glance of earnest inquiry4
 ,then came a  distinct recollection of 
his violated pledge2 but all after that 
was  only dimly seen1 or involved in    
wild confusion4 ,his bodily  sensations 
told him but too plainly how deep had   
been his fall3 and  the intolerable     
desire1 that seemed as if it were       
consuming his very  vitals1 was to him a

 sad evidence that he had fallen1 never1
 he  feared1 to rise again4 ,all this   
passed through his mind in a moment1    
and he closed his eyes1 and turned his  
face away from the earnest1  and now    
tearful gaze of his wife4    ,how do you
 feel1 ,jonas8 ,mrs4 ,marshall inquired1
 tenderly1  modifying her tones1 so as  
not to permit them to convey to his ear 
the exquisite pain that she felt4 ,but  
he made no reply4    ,say1 dear1 how do 
you feel8 she urged1 laying her hand    
upon him1  and pausing for an answer4   
,as if ,i were in hell6 he shouted1     
springing suddenly from the bed1  and   
beginning to dress himself1 hurriedly4  
,o1 husband1 do not speak so6 ,mrs4     
,marshall said1 in a soothing  tone4    
,all may be well again4 ,one sin need   
not bring utter  condemnation4 ,let this
 be the last1 as it has been the first1 
violation of your pledge4 ,let this warn
 you against the removal of  that       
salutary restraint1 which has been as a 
wall of fire around you  for years4     

,jane6 responded the irritated man1     
pausing1 and looking at his  wife1      
fixedly1 while there sat upon his face  
an expression of  terrible despair2 that
 pledge can never be renewed6 ,it would 
be  like binding a giant with a spider's
 web4 ,i am lost6 lost6 lost6 ,the      
eager1 inexpressible desire that now    
burns within me1 cannot be  controlled4 
,the effort to do so would drive me mad4
 ,i must drink1 or  die4 ,and you1 my   
poor wife6--and you1 my children6 what  
will become  of you8 ,who will give you 
sufficient strength to bear your        
dreadful  lot8    ,as he said this1 his 
voice fell to a low and mournful1       
despairing  expression--and he sunk into
 a chair1 covering his face with his    
hands4    ,dear husband6 urged his wife1
 coming to his side1 and drawing her    
arm around his neck1 do not thus give   
way6 ,let the love ,i have ever  borne  
you1 and which is stronger and more     
tender at this moment than  it has ever 
been--let the love you feel for your    

dear little ones1  give you strength to 
conquer4 ,be a man6 ,nerve yourself1 and
 look  upwards for strength1 and you    
must conquer4    ,no--no--no--,jane6 the
 poor wretch murmured1 shaking his head1
  mournfully4 ,do not deceive your heart
 by false hopes1 for they will  all be  
in vain4 ,i cannot look up4 ,the heavens
 have become as brass  to me4 ,i have   
forfeited all claim to success from     
above4 ,as ,i lifted  the fatal glass to
 my lips1 ,i heard a voice1 whose tones 
were as  distinct as yours--',let us go 
hence6' and from that moment1 ,i have   
been weak and unsustained in the hands  
of my enemies4 ,i am a doomed  man6     
,as he said this1 a shrinking shudder   
passed through his frame1 and  he       
groaned aloud4 ,the silence that then   
reigned through the chamber  was as     
appalling as the silence of death to the
 heart of ,mrs4  ,marshall4 ,it was     
broken at length by her husband1 who    
looked up with  an expression of        
tenderness in her face1 as she still    

stood with her  hand upon him1 and      
said--    ,jane1 my dear wife6 let me   
say to you now1 while ,i possess my full
  senses1 which ,i know not that ,i ever
 shall again1 that you have been  true  
and kind to me1 and that ,i have ever   
loved you with an earnest  love4 ,bear  
with me in my infirmity2--if1 amid the  
grief1 and wrong1  and suffering1 which 
must fall upon you and your children1   
you can  bear with the miserable cause  
of all your wretchedness4 ,i shall not  
long remain1 ,i feel1 to be a burden and
 a curse to you4 ,my downward  course   
will be rapid1 and its termination will 
soon come6    ,a gush of tears followed 
this1 and then came a stern silence1    
that  chilled the heart of ,mrs4        
,marshall4 ,she longed to urge still    
further  upon her husband to make an    
effort to restrain the intense desire he
  felt1 but could not4 ,there seemed to 
be a seal upon her lips4 ,slowly  she   
turned away to attend to her little     
ones1 upon whom she now  looked with    

something of that hopelessness which the
 widow feels1 as  she turns from the    
grave of her husband1 and looks upon her
  fatherless children4    ,with a strong
 effort1 ,marshall remained in the house
 until breakfast  was on the table4 ,but
 he could only sip a little coffee1 and 
soon  arose1 and lifted his hat to go   
out4 ,his wife was by his side1 as he   
laid his hand on the door4    ,jonas1   
she said1 while the tears sprang to her 
eyes1 remember  me--remember your       
children6 ,she could say no more2 sobs  
choked her  utterance--and she leaned   
her head1 weak and desponding1 upon his 
shoulder4    ,her husband made no reply1
 but gently placed her in a chair1      
kissed  her cheek1 and then turned      
hastily away1 and left the house4    ,it
 was many minutes before ,mrs4 ,marshall
 found strength to rise1 and  then she  
staggered across the room1 like one who 
had been stunned by  a blow4 ,we will   
not attempt the vain task of describing 
her feelings  through that terrible     

day2--of picturing the alternate states 
of  hope and deep despondency1 that now 
made her heart bound with a  lighter    
emotion1--and now caused it to sink low1
 and almost  pulseless1 in her bosom4   
,it passed away at last1 and brought the
  gloomy night--fall--but not her       
husband's return4 ,eight1 nine1 ten1    
eleven1 and twelve o'clock came1 and    
went1 and still he was absent4    ,for  
an hour she had been seated by the      
window1 listening for the  sound of his 
approaching footsteps4 ,as the clock    
struck twelve1 she  started1 listened   
for a moment still more intently1 and   
then arose  with a deep sigh1 her manner
 indicating a state of irresolution4    
,first she went softly to the bed1 and  
stood looking down for some  moments    
upon the faces of her little ones1      
sleeping calmly and  sweetly1 all       
unconscious of the anguish that swelled 
their mother's  heart almost to         
bursting4 ,then she raised her head1 and
 again  assumed a listening attitude4   

,an involuntary sigh told that she had  
listened in vain4 ,a few moments after  
she was aroused from a state  of deep   
abstraction of thought1 by a strong     
shudder passing through  her frame1     
occasioned by some fearful picture which
 her excited  imagination had conjured  
up4 ,she now went hastily to a wardrobe1
 and  took out her bonnet and shawl4    
,one more glance at her children1 told  
her that they were sleeping soundly4 ,in
 the next minute she was in  the street1
 bending her steps she knew not whither1
 in search of her  husband4    ,almost  
involuntarily1 ,mrs4 ,marshall took her 
way towards that  portion of the city   
where she had1 on the night previous1   
unexpectedly found him4 ,it was not     
longer before she paused by the  door at
 the same drinking-house from which her 
husband had been  thrust1 when he fell1 
almost lifeless1 at her feet4 ,although 
it was  past twelve o'clock1 the sound  
of many voices came from within1        
mingled with wild excitement1 and       

boisterous mirth4    ,now came a severe 
trial for her shrinking1 sensitive      
feelings4 ,how  could she1 a woman1 and 
alone1 enter such a place1 at such an   
hour1  on such an errand8 ,the thought  
caused a sensation of faintness to  pass
 over her1 and she leaned for a moment  
against the side of the  door to keep   
from falling4 ,but affection and        
thoughts of duty  quickly aroused her1  
and resolutely keeping down every       
weakness1 she  placed her hand upon the 
door1 which yielded readily to even her 
light hand1 and in the next moment found
 herself in the presence of  about a    
dozen men1 all more or less intoxicated4
 ,their loud1 insane  mirth was         
instantly checked by her entrance4 ,they
 were all men who  were in the habit of 
mingling daily in good society1 and more
 than  one of them knew ,marshall1 and  
instantly recognised his wife4 ,no      
rudeness was1 of course1 offered her4   
,on the contrary1 two or three  came    
forward1 and kindly inquired1 though    

they guessed too well1 her  errand there
 at such an hour4    ,has my husband    
been here to-night1 ,mr4--8 she asked1  
in a  choking voice1 of one whose       
countenance she instantly recognised4   
,i have not met with him1 ,mrs4         
,marshall1 was the reply1 in a kind1    
sympathizing tone1 but ,i will inquire  
if any one here has seen  him4    ,these
 inquiries were made1 and then          
,mr4--came forward again1 and  said1 in 
a low tone1    ,come with me1 ,mrs4     
,marshall4    ,as the two emerged into  
the street1 ,mr4--said1    ,i would not1
 if ,i were you1 madam1 attempt to look 
further for your  husband4 ,i have just 
learned that he is safe and well1 only a
 little  overcome1 by having1           
accidentally1 ,i have no doubt1 drunken 
a little  too freely4 ,in the1 morning  
he will come home1 and all will1 ,i     
trust1 be right again4    ,what you say1
 ,i know1 is meant in kindness1 ,mr4--1 
,mrs4 ,marshall  replied1 in a firmer   
tone1 the assurance that her husband was

 at  least safe from external danger1   
being some relief to her1 but ,i  would 
rather see my husband1 and have him     
taken home4 ,home is the  best place for
 him1 under any circumstances--and ,i am
 the most  fitting one to attend to him4
 ,will you1 then1 do me the favour to   
procure a hack1 and go with me to the   
place where he is to be  found8         
,mr4--saw that in the manner and tone of
 ,mrs4 ,marshall which made  him at once
 resolve to do as she wished him4 ,the  
hack was procured1  into which both     
entered4 ,directions were given1 in a   
low tone1 to  the driver1 and then they 
rattled away over the resounding        
pavement1  for a space of time that     
seemed very long to the anxious wife4   
,at  last the hack stopped1 the door was
 opened1 and the steps thrown  down4    
,when ,mrs4 ,marshall descended1 she    
found herself in a narrow1  dark street1
 before a low1 dirty-looking tavern1 the
 windows and  doors of which had been   
closed for the night4    ,while         

,mr4--was knocking loudly for admission1
 her eyes1 growing  familiar with the   
darkness1 saw something lying partly    
upon the  street and partly upon the    
pavement a few yards from her1 that grew
  more and more distinct1 the more      
intently she looked at it4  ,advancing a
 few steps1 she saw that it was the body
 of a man1--a few  paces further1       
revealed to her eyes the form of her    
husband4 ,an  exclamation of surprise   
and alarm brought both ,mr4--and the    
hack-driver to her side4    ,in         
attempting to raise ,marshall to his    
feet1 he groaned heavily1 and  writhed  
with a sensation of pain4 ,something    
dark upon the pavement  attracted the   
eye of his wife4 ,she touched it with   
her hand1 to  which it adhered1 with a  
moist1 oily feeling4 ,hurrying to the   
lamp  in front of the hack1 with a      
feeling of sudden alarm1 she lifted her 
hand so that the light could fall upon  
it4 ,it was covered with  blood6        
,with a strong effort1 she kept down the

 sudden impulse that she felt  to utter 
a wild scream1 and went back to         
,mr4--and communicated to  him the      
alarming fact she had discovered4       
,marshall was at once laid  gently down 
upon the pavement1 and a light procured1
 which showed  that his pantaloons1     
above1 below1 and around the knees1 were
  saturated with blood4    ,o1 ,mr4--6  
what can be the matter8 ,mrs4 ,marshall 
said1 in husky  tones1 looking up1 with 
a face blanched to an ashy paleness4    
,some passing vehicle has1 no doubt1 run
 over him--but ,i trust that  he is not 
much hurt4 ,remain here with him1 until 
,i can procure  assistance1 and have him
 taken home4    ,o1 sir1 go quickly6 the
 poor wife replied1 in earnest tones4   
,in a short time1 four men1 with a      
litter1 were procured1 upon which       
,marshall1 now groaning1 as if acutely  
conscious of pain1 was placed1  and     
slowly conveyed home4 ,a surgeon reached
 the house as soon as the  party        
accompanying the injured man4 ,an       

examination showed that his  legs had   
been broken just above the knees4 ,and  
one of them had the  flesh dreadfully   
torn and bruised1 and both were crushed 
as if run  over by some heavy vehicle4  
,a still further examination showed the 
fracture to be compound1 and extensive2 
but1 fortunately1 the knee  joint had   
entirely escaped4 ,already the limbs had
 swollen very  considerably1 exhibiting 
a rapidly increasing inflammation4 ,this
 was  a natural result flowing from the 
large quantity of alcohol which he  had 
evidently been taking through the day   
and evening4    ,fortunately1           
notwithstanding the morbid condition of 
his body1 and  the nature and extent of 
the injury he had sustained1 the vital  
system of ,marshall1 unexhausted by a   
long-continued series of  physical abuse
 from drinking1 rallied strongly against
 the violent  inflammation that followed
 the setting of the bones1 and dressing 
of  the wounds1 and threw off the too   
apparent tendency to mortification  that

 continued1 much to the anxiety of the  
surgeon1 for many days4  ,during this   
time1 he suffered almost incessant      
pain--frequently of  an excruciating    
character4 ,the severity of this pain   
entirely  destroyed all desire for      
intoxicating drink4 ,this desire1       
however1  gradually began to return1 as 
the pain1 which accompanied the         
knitting of the bones1 subsided4 ,but he
 did not venture to ask for  it1 and1 of
 course1 it was not offered to him4     
,with the most earnest attentions1 and  
the tenderest solicitude1 did  ,mrs4    
,marshall wait and watch by the bedside 
of her husband1 both day  and night1    
wearing down her own strength1 and      
neglecting her  children4    ,at the end
 of three weeks1 he had so far          
recovered1 as to be able to  sit up1 and
 to bear a portion of his weight4 ,as   
fear for the  consequences of the injury
 her husband had received1 began to fade
  from the mind of ,mrs4 ,marshall1     
another fear took possession of  it--a  

heart-sickening fear1 under which her   
spirit grew faint4 ,there  was no pledge
 to bind him1 and his newly-awakened    
desire for liquor1  she felt sure would 
bear him away inevitably1               
notwithstanding the  dreadful lesson he 
had received4    ,about this time1      
however1 two or three of his temperance 
friends1  who had heard of his fall1    
came to see him4 ,this encouraged her1  
especially as they soon began to urge   
him again to sign the  pledge2--but he  
would not consent4    ,it is useless1   
was his steady reply1 to all            
importunities1 and  made usually1 in a  
mournful tone1 for me to sign another   
pledge4  ,having broken one1 wilfully   
and deliberately1 ,i have no power to   
keep another4 ,i am conscious of        
this--and1 therefore1 am resolved  not  
to stain my soul with another sin4      
,but you can keep it4 ,i am sure you    
can1 one friend1 more  importunate than 
the rest1 would repeatedly urge4 ,you   
broke your  first pledge1 deliberately1 

because you believed that you were freed
  from the old desire1 even in a latent 
form4 ,satisfied1 from painful          
experience1 that this is not the case1  
you will not again try so  dangerous an 
experiment4    ,but ,marshall would     
shake his head1 sadly1 in rejection of  
all  arguments and persuasions4    ,it  
may all seem easy enough for you1 he    
would sometimes say1 who  have never    
broken a solemn pledge2 but you know not
 how utter a  destruction of internal   
moral power such an act1 deliberately   
done1  effects4 ,i am not the man ,i    
was1 before ,i so wickedly violated that
  solemn compact made between myself and
 heaven--for so ,i now look  upon it4   
,while ,i kept my pledge1 ,i had the    
sustaining power of  heaven to bear me  
safely up against all temptations2--but 
since the  very moment it was broken1 ,i
 have had nothing but my own strength to
  lean upon1 and that has proved to be  
no better than a broken reed1  piercing 
me through with many sorrows4    ,to    

such declarations1 in answer to         
arguments1 and sometimes earnest        
entreaties made by his friends to induce
 him to renew his pledge1  ,mrs4        
,marshall would listen in silence1 but  
with a sinking1 sickening  sensation of 
mind and body4 ,all and more than she   
could say1 was  said to him1 but he     
resisted every appeal--and what good    
could her  weak persuasions and feeble  
admonitions do8    ,day after day passed
 on1 and ,marshall gradually gained more
 use of  his limbs4 ,in six weeks1 he   
could walk without the aid of his       
crutches4    ,i think ,i must try and   
get down to the store to-morrow1 he     
said1  to his wife1 about this time4    
,this is a busy season1 and ,i can be   
of some use there for two or three      
hours1 every day4    ,i don't think ,i  
would venture out yet1 ,mrs4 ,marshall  
said1 looking  at him1 with an anxious1 
troubled expression of countenance1 that
  she tried in vain to conceal4    ,why 
not1 ,jane8    ,i don't think you are   

strong enough1 dear4    ,o1 yes1 ,i am4 
,and1 besides1 it will do me good to go 
out and take  the fresh air4 ,you know  
that it is now six weeks since ,i have  
been  outside of the front door4    ,i  
know it has4 ,but--    ,but what1 ,jane8
    ,you know what ,i would say1 ,jonas4
 ,you know the terrible fear that  rests
 upon my heart like a night-mare4       
,and ,mrs4 ,marshall covered her face   
with her hands1 and gave way to  tears4 
,a long silence followed this4 ,at      
length ,marshall said1    ,i hope1      
,jane1 that ,i shall be able to restrain
 myself4 ,i am1 at  least1 resolved to  
try4    ,o1 husband1 if you will only   
try6 ,mrs4 ,marshall ejaculated         
eagerly1 lifting her tearful eyes1 and  
looking him with an appealing           
expression in the face--,if you will    
only try6    ,i will try1 ,jane4 ,but do
 not feel too much confidence in my     
effort4  ,i am weak--so weak that ,i    
tremble when ,i think of it--and        
remember  what an almost irresistible   

influence ,i have to contend with4      
,why not take the pledge1 again1 ,jonas8
 said his wife1 for the  first time she 
had urged that recourse upon him4       
,you have heard my reasons given for    
that1 over and over again4    ,i know ,i
 have4 ,but they never satisfied me4    
,you would not have me add the sin of a 
double violation of a solemn  pledge to 
my already overburdened conscience8     
,no1 ,jonas4 ,heaven forbid6    ,the    
fear of that restrains me4 ,i dare not  
again take it4    ,do you not deeply    
repent of your first violation8 the wife
 asked1  after a few moments of earnest 
thought4 ,heaven knows how deeply4      
,and ,heaven1 that perceives and knows  
the depth and sincerity of  that        
repentance1 accepts it according to its 
quality4 ,and just so  far as ,heaven   
accepts the sincere offering of a       
repentant heart1  conscious of its own  
weakness1 and mourning over its         
derelictions1  is strength given for    
combat in future temptations4 ,the      

bruised reed  he will not break1 nor    
quench the smoking flax4 ,hope1 then1   
dear  husband6 you are not cast off--you
 are not rejected by ,heaven4    ,o1    
,jane1 if ,i could feel the truth of    
what you4 say1 how happy ,i  should     
be6--,for the idea of sinking again into
 that hopeless1  abandoned1 wretched    
condition1 out of which this severe     
affliction  has lifted me1 as by the    
hair of the head1 is appalling6 was the 
reply1 to his wife's earnest appeal4    
,trust me1 dear husband1--there is truth
 in what ,i say4 ,he who came  down to  
man's lowest1 and almost lost condition1
 that he might raise  him up1 and       
sustain him against the assaults of his 
worst enemies1  has felt in his own body
 all the temptations that ever can      
assail  his children1 and not only felt 
them1 but successfully resisted and     
conquered them2 so that1 there is no    
state1 however low1 in which  there is  
an earnest desire to rise out of evil1  
to which he does not  again come down1  

and in which he does not again          
successfully contend  with the powers of
 darkness4 ,look to ,him1 then1 again1  
in a fixed  resolution to put away the  
evils into which you have fallen1 and   
you  must1 you will be sustained6    ,o1
 if ,i could but believe this1 how      
eagerly would ,i again fly to  the      
pledge6 ,marshall said1 in an earnest   
voice4    ,fly to it then1 ,jonas1 as to
 a city of refuge2 for it is true4 ,you 
have felt the power of the pledge       
once-try it again4 ,it will be  strength
 to you in your weakness1 as it has been
 before4    ,still ,marshall hesitated4 
,while he did so1 his wife brought him  
pens1 ink and paper4    ,write a pledge 
and sign it1 dear husband6 she urged1 as
 she placed  them before him4 ,think of 
me--of the joy that it will bring to my 
heart--and sign4    ,i am afraid1 ,jane4
    ,can you stand alone8    ,i fear    
not4    ,are you not sure1 that the     
pledge will restrain you some8    ,o1   
yes4 ,if ,i ever take it again1 ,i shall

 tremble under the fearful              
responsibility that rests upon me4      
,come with me1 a moment1 ,mrs4 ,marshall
 said1 after a thoughtful  pause4       
,her husband followed1 as she led the   
way to an adjoining room1 where  two or 
three bright-eyed children were playing 
in the happiest mood4    ,for their     
sakes1 if not for mine1 ,jonas1 sign the
 pledge again1  she said1 while her     
voice trembled1 and then became choked1 
as she  leaned her head upon his        
shoulder4    ,you have conquered6 ,i    
will sign6 he whispered in her ear4     
,eagerly she lifted her head1 arid      
looked into his face with a glance  of  
wild delight4    ,o1 how happy this poor
 heart will again be6 she ejaculated1   
clasping her hands together1 and looking
 upwards with a joyous  smile4    ,in a 
few minutes1 a pledge of total          
abstinence from all kinds of            
intoxicating drinks1 was written out and
 signed4 ,while her husband  was engaged
 in doing this1 ,mrs4 ,marshall stood   

looking down upon  each letter as it was
 formed by his pen1 eager to see his    
name  subscribed4 ,when that was finally
 done2 she leaned forward on the  table 
at which he wrote1 swayed to and fro for
 a moment or two1 and  then sank down   
upon the floor1 lost to all             
consciousness of external  things4      
,from that hour to this1 ,jonas         
,marshall has been as true to his       
second pledge1 even in thought1 as the  
needle to the pole4 ,so  dreadful seems 
the idea of its violation1 that the bare
 recollection  of his former            
dereliction1 makes him tremble4    ,it  
was a severe remedy1 he says1 sometimes1
 in regard to his  broken legs2 and     
proved eminently successful4 ,but for   
that1 ,i  should have been utterly lost4
              ,,the ,,wanderer',s       
,,return4    ,a ,,thanksgiving ,,story4 
,a ,,man1 who at first sight1 a casual  
observer would have thought at  least   
forty or fifty years of age1 came       
creeping out of an old1                 

miserable-looking tenement in the lower 
part of ,cincinnati1 a little  while    
after night-fall1 and1 with bent body   
and shuffling gait1  crossed the street 
an angle2 and1 after pausing for a few  
moments  before a mean frame building1  
in the windows of which decanters of    
liquor were temptingly displayed1 pushed
 open the door and entered4    ,it was  
early in ,november4 ,already the leaves 
had fallen1 and there  was1 in the      
aspect of nature1 a desolateness that   
mirrored itself in  the feelings4 ,night
 had come1 hiding all this1 yet by no   
means  obliterating the impression which
 had been made1 but measurably          
increasing it2 for1 with the darkness   
had begun to fall a misty  rain1 and the
 rising wind moaned sadly among the     
eaves4    ,a short time after sundown   
the man1 to whom we have just referred1 
came home to the comfortless-looking    
house we have seen him leaving4  ,all   
day he had turned a wheel in a small    
manufactory2 and when his  work was     

done1 he left1 what to him was a        
prison-house1 and retired  to the cheap 
but wretched boarding-place he had      
chosen1 where were  congregated about a 
dozen men of the lowest class4 ,he did  
not feel  happy4 ,that was impossible4  
,no one who debases himself by          
intemperance can be happy2 and this man 
had gone down1 step by step1  until he  
attained a depth of degradation most sad
 to contemplate4  ,and yet he was not   
thirty years old6 ,after supper he went 
out1 as  usual1 to spend the evening in 
drinking4    ,the man1 fallen as he was1
 and lost to all the higher and nobler  
sentiments of the heart1 had experienced
 during the day a pressure  upon his    
feelings heavier than usual1 that had   
its origin in some  reviving memories of
 earlier times4    ,the sound of his    
mother's voice had been in his ears     
frequently  through the day2 and images 
of persons1 places1 and scenes1 the     
remembrance of which brought no joy to  
his heart1 had many times  come up      

before him4 ,at the supper-table1 amid  
his coarse1  vulgar-minded companions1  
his laugh was not heard as usual2 and1  
when spoken to1 he answered briefly and 
in monosyllables4    ,the tippling-house
 to which the man went to spend his     
day's earnings  and debase himself with 
drink1 was one of the lowest haunts of  
vice  in the city4 ,gambling with cards1
 dominoes1 and dice1 occupied the  time 
of the greater number who made it a     
place of resort1 and little  was heard  
there except language the most obscene  
and profane4 ,for  his daily task at the
 wheel1 the man was paid seventy-five   
cents a  day4 ,his boarding and lodging 
cost him thirty-one and a quarter       
cents1--and this had to be paid every   
night under penalty of being  expelled  
from the house4 ,he was a degraded      
drunkard1 and not  therefore worthy of  
confidence nor credit beyond a single   
day1 and  he received none4 ,what       
remained of the pittance earned1 was    
invariably spent in drink1 or gambled   

away before he retired from  the        
grogshop for the night2 when1 staggering
 home1 he groped his way  to his room1  
too helpless to remove his clothes1 and 
threw himself  upon a straw pallet1 that
 could scarcely be dignified with the   
name  of bed4 ,this in outline1 was the 
daily history of the man's life2  and   
daily the shadows of vice fell more and 
more darkly upon his  path4    ,the     
drinking-house had two rooms on the     
first floor4 ,in front was a  narrow    
counter1 six or eight feet in length1   
and behind this stood a  short1 bloated1
 vice-disfigured image of humanity1     
ready to supply  the wants of customers4
 ,two or three roughly-made pine tables1
 and  some chairs1 stood around the     
room4 ,the back apartment contained     
simply chairs and tables1 and was       
generally occupied by parties  engaged  
in games of chance1 for small sums4     
,tobacco-smoke1 the fumes  of liquor1   
and the polluted breaths of the inmates1
 made the  atmosphere of these rooms so 

offensive1 that none but those who had  
become accustomed to inhale it1 could   
have endured to remain there  for a     
minute4    ,the man1 on entering this   
den of vice1 went to the counter and    
called for whisky4 ,a decanter was set  
before him1 and from this he  poured    
into a glass nearly a gill of the vilest
 kind of stuff and  drank it off1       
undiluted4 ,about half the quantity of  
water was sent  down after the burning  
fluid1 to partially subdue its ardent   
qualities2 and then the man turned      
slowly from the bar4 ,as he did  so1 an 
individual who had seen him enter1 and  
who had kept his eyes  upon him from the
 moment he passed through the door1 came
 towards  him with a smile of pleasure  
upon his countenance1 and reaching out  
his hand1 said1 in an animated voice--  
,how are you1 ,martin1 my good fellow6  
,how are you8    ,and he grasped the    
poor wretch's hand with a hearty grip   
and shook  it warmly4 ,something like a 
smile lighted up the marred and almost  

expressionless face of the miserable    
creature1 as he gave to the  hand that  
had taken his a responsive pressure1 and
 replied1    ,oh6 very well1 very well1 
considering all things4    ,bad night   
out1 said the man1 as he sat down near a
 stove1 that was  sending forth a genial
 heat4    ,yes1 bad enough1 returned    
,martin4 ,a thought of the damp and     
chilly  air without caused him to shiver
 suddenly1 and draw a little nearer  to 
the stove4    ,which makes us prize a   
comfortable place like this1 where we   
can  spend a pleasant evening among     
pleasant friends1 so much the more4     
,yes4 ,it's very pleasant1 said ,martin1
 spreading himself out before  the      
stove1 with a hand upon each knee1 and  
looking with an  absent-minded air1     
through the opening in the door1 which  
had once  been closed by a thin plate of
 mica1 and seeing strange forms in the  
glowing coals4    ,pleasant after a hard
 day's work1 remarked the man1 with an  
insinuating air4    ,i don't know what  

life would be worth1 if seasons of      
recreation and  social intercourse did  
not come1 nightly1 to relieve both body 
and  mind from their wearisomeness and  
exhaustion4    ,yes--yes4 ,it's tiresome
 enough to have to sit and turn a wheel 
all  day1 said ,martin4    ,and a relief
 to get into a place like this at night1
 returned the  man1 rubbing his hands   
with animation4    ,it's a great deal   
better than sitting at the wheel1 sighed
 ,martin4    ,i should think it was6    
,come6 won't you liquor4    ,thank you6 
,i've just taken something4    ,no      
matter4 ,come along1 my good fellow1 and
 try something more4 ,and  he arose1 as 
he spoke1 and moved towards the bar4    
,martin was not the man to refuse a     
drink at any time1 so he followed  to   
the counter4    ,what'll you take8      
,whisky1 rum1 gin1 brandy1 or spirits8  
,any thing1  so it's strong enough to   
drink to old acquaintanceship4 ,ha6 my  
boy8  ,and he leered in ,martin's face  
with a sinister expression1 and  slapped

 him familiarly on the shoulder4        
,brandy1 said ,martin4 ,brandy let it   
be6 ,nothing like brandy6 ,set  out your
 pure old ,cogniac6 ,toby4 ,a drink for 
the gods6    ,prime stuff6 that4 ,it    
warms you to the very soles of your     
feet6  added the1 man after he had      
turned off his glass4 ,don't you say so1
  ,martin8    ,yes6 and through your    
stockings1 to your very shoes6    ,hat  
ha6 ha6 ,he6 he6 laughed the man with a 
forced effort4 ,why1  ,bill ,martin1    
you're a wit6    ,it ain't ,bill1 it's  
the brandy1 said the bar-keeper1 with   
more  truth than jest4    ,that brandy  
would put life into a grindstone6       
,it's put life into our friend here1    
without doubt4 ,and as the very         
disinterested companion of ,martin said 
this1 he slapped him again  upon the    
shoulder4    ,the two men turned from   
the bar and sat down again by the stove1
  both getting more and more familiar   
and chatty4    ,suppose we try a game of
 dominoes or chequers8 at length        

suggested  the friend4    ,no objection1
 replied ,martin4 ,any thing to make the
 time pass  agreeably4 ,suppose we say  
chequers8    ,very well4 ,here's a      
board4 ,we'll go into the backroom where
 it's  more quiet4    ,the two men      
retired into the little den in the rear 
of the bar-room1  where were several    
parties engaged at cards or dice4       
,here's a cozy little corner1 said the  
pleasant friend of ,martin4  ,we can be 
as quiet as kittens4    ,what's the     
stake8 he next inquired1 as soon as the 
board was  opened and the pieces        
distributed4 ,shall we say a bit8       
,martin received1 at the close of each  
day1 his earnings4 ,of his  seventy-five
 cents1 he had already paid out for     
board thirty-one and  a quarter cents2  
and for a glass of liquor and some      
tobacco1 six  cents more4 ,so he had but
 thirty-seven and a half cents4 ,this   
sum he  drew from his pocket1 and       
counted over with scrupulous accuracy1  
so  as to be sure of the amount4 ,while 

he was doing so1 his companion's  eyes  
were fixed eagerly upon the small coins 
in his hands1 in order1  likewise1 to   
ascertain their sum4    ,a bit let it   
be4 ,and the man laid down a            
twelve-and-a-half-cent  piece4    ,no6  
,we'll start with a picayune1 said      
,martin1 selecting the  smaller coin and
 placing it on the table4    ,that's too
 trifling4 ,say a bit1 returned the man1
 but half  concealing the eager         
impatience he felt to get hold of the   
poor  wretch's money4    ,well1 ,i don't
 care6 ,call it a bit1 then1 said       
,martin4 ,and the coin  was staked4     
,an observer would have been struck with
 the change that now came  over ,martin4
 ,his dull eyes brightened2 something   
like light came  flashing into his      
almost expressionless face1 and his lips
 arched  with the influx of new life and
 feeling4 ,he moved his pieces on the   
board with the promptness and skill of  
one accustomed to the game1  and1 though
 he played with an opponent whose       

clearer head gave him  an advantage1 he 
yet held his own with remarkable        
pertinacity1 and  was not beaten until  
after a long and well-balanced struggle4
 ,but  beaten he was2 and one-third of  
all he possessed in the world passed    
from his hand4    ,another              
twelve-and-a-half-cent piece was staked1
 and1 in like  manner1 lost4    ,i can't
 go but a picayune this time1 said      
,martin1 when the pieces  were arranged 
for the third game4 ,my funds are       
getting too low4    ,very well1 a       
picayune let it be4 ,any thing just to  
give a little  interest to the game4    
,i'm sure you'll win this time4    ,and 
win ,martin did4 ,this elated him4 ,he  
played another game and  lost4 ,the next
 was no more successful4 ,only a single 
picayune now  remained4 ,for a short    
time he hesitated about risking this4   
,he  wanted more liquor2 and1 if he     
lost1 there would be no means left to   
gratify the ever burning thirst that    
consumed him4 ,not until the  close of  

the next day would he receive any money2
 and1 without  money1 he could get      
nothing4 ,there were unpaid scores      
against him in  a dozen shops4    ,try  
again4 ,don't be afraid4 ,you're a      
better player than ,i am4  ,you'll be   
sure to win4 ,luck lies in the last     
sixpence4 ,don't you  know that8        
,thus urged1 ,martin put down the last  
small remnant of his day's  earnings4   
,the interest taken in the games had    
nearly counteracted  the effects of the 
liquor1 and he was1 therefore1 able to  
play with  a skill nearly equal to that 
of his companion4 ,slowly and           
thoughtfully he made his moves1 and     
calculated the effect of every  change  
in the board with as much intelligence  
as it was possible for  him to summon to
 his aid4 ,but luck1 so called1 was     
against him4 ,his  three last pieces1   
kings1 were swept from the board by a   
single play  of his adversary1 at a     
moment when he believed himself sure of 
the  game4 ,a bitter imprecation fell   

from his lips1 as he turned from the    
table1 and thrusting his hands nearly to
 his elbows in his pockets1  stalked    
into the bar-room1 leaving the man who  
had won from him the  remnant of his    
day's earnings for the twentieth time1  
to enjoy the  pleasures of success4     
,this man was too much occupied in kind 
attentions to others who were to be his 
victims1 to even see ,martin  again     
during the evening4    ,after having    
lost his last farthing1 the latter1     
feeling miserable  enough1 sat down at a
 table on which were three or four      
newspapers1  and tried to find in them  
something to interest his mind4 ,he was 
nearer to being sober than he had been  
for many weeks4 ,on the night  before1  
he had gambled away his last penny1 and 
the consequence was1  that he had been  
obliged to do without liquor all day4   
,the effects  of the two glasses he had 
taken since nightfall had been almost   
entirely obliterated by the excitement  
of the petty struggle through  which he 

had passed1 and his mind was1 therefore1
 in a more that  usually disturbed      
state4 ,the day had been one of troubled
 feelings2  and the night found him less
 happy than he had been through the day4
    ,as he ran his eye over the         
newspaper he was trying to read1 pausing
  now and then at a paragraph1 and      
seeking to find in it something of      
interest1 the words1 ,thanksgiving in   
,massachusetts1 arrested his  attention1
 ,he read over the few lines that       
followed this heading4  ,they were a    
simple statement of the fact1 that a    
certain day in  ,november had been      
appointed as a thanksgiving day by the  
,governor of  ,massachusetts1 followed  
by these brief remarks by some editor   
who  had recorded the fact3--,how many  
look forward to this day as a time  of  
joyful re-union6 ,and such it is to     
thousands of happy families4  ,but1     
somehow1 we always think of the vacant  
places that death or  absence leaves at 
many tables2 and of the shadows that    

come over the  feelings of those who    
gather in the old homestead4 ,of the    
absent1  how many are wanderers1 like   
the poor prodigal6 ,and how gladly would
  they be received if they would only   
return1 and let all the unhappy  past be
 forgotten and forgiven6 ,does1 by any  
chance1 such a  wanderer's eye fall upon
 these few sentences8 ,if so1 we do     
earnestly  and tenderly entreat him1 by 
the love of his mother1 that is still   
with him1 no matter how far he has gone 
from the right path1 to come  back on   
this blessed day2 and thus make the     
thanksgiving of that  mother's heart    
complete4    ,every word of this appeal1
 which seemed as if it were addressed   
directly to himself1 touched a          
responsive feeling in the bosom of      
,martin4 ,one after another1 images of  
other days passed before  him--innocent1
 happy days4 ,his mother's face1 his    
mother's voice1  her very words were    
present with unwonted vividness4 ,then  
came the  recollection of blessed       

re-unions on the annual ,thanksgiving   
festival4 ,the rush of returning        
memories was too strong for the  poor1  
weak1 depressed wanderer from home and  
happiness4 ,he felt the  waters of      
repentance gathering in his eyes2 and he
 drew his hand  suddenly across them1   
with an instinctive effort to check     
their  flow4 ,but a fountain1 long      
sealed1 had been touched2 and1 ere he   
was  more than half aware of the        
tendency of his feelings1 a tear came   
forth and rested on his cheek4 ,it was  
brushed away quickly4 ,another          
followed1 and another4 ,the man had lost
 his self-control4 ,into one  of the    
lowest haunts of vice and dissipation   
the voice of his mother  had come1      
speaking to him words of hope4 ,even    
here had her image  followed him1 and he
 saw her with the old smile of love upon
 her  face4 ,and he saw the smile give  
way to looks of sorrow1 and heard  the  
voice saying1 in tones of the tenderest 
entreaty1 ,william6 my  poor wanderer6  

come home6 ,come home6    ,oh6 with what
 deep1 heart-aching sincerity did the   
poor wretch wish  that he had never     
turned aside into the ways of folly4 ,if
 ,i could  but go home and die6 he said1
 mentally4    ,if ,i could but feel my  
mother's hand upon my forehead1 and hear
 her  voice again6    ,he had remained  
sitting at the table with the newspaper 
before his  face1 to hide from other    
eyes all signs of emotion4 ,but1 the new
  feelings awakened were1 in no degree1 
congenial to the gross1  depraved1 and  
sensual sphere by which he was          
surrounded2 and1 as he  had no money    
left1 and1 therefore1 no means of       
gratifying his thirst  for liquor1 there
 was no inducement for him longer to    
breathe the  polluted atmosphere4       
,rising1 therefore1 he quietly retired2 
no one  asking him to stay or expressing
 surprise at his departure ,he had no   
money to spend at the bar1 nor to lose  
at the gaming4 table2 and was  not1     
therefore1 an object of the slightest   

interest to any4    ,as ,martin stepped 
into the street1 the cold rain struck   
him in the  face1 and the chilly air    
penetrated his thin1 tattered garments4 
,the  driving mist of the early evening 
had changed to a heavy shower1 and  the 
street was covered with water4 ,through 
this he plunged as he  crossed over1 and
 entered his boarding-house1 dripping   
from head to  foot4 ,he did not stop to 
speak with any one1 but groped his way1 
in  the dark to the attic4 ,removing a  
portion of his wet clothing1 he  threw  
himself upon his bed4 ,he had not come  
to sleep1 but to be  alone that he might
 think4 ,but thought grew so painful    
that he would  fain have found relief in
 slumber1 had that been possible4    ,if
 ,i had never strayed from the right    
path6 he murmured1 as he  tossed himself
 uneasily4 ,oh6 if ,i had never strayed6
    ,go back8 he said1 aloud1 after some
 minutes' silence1 answering to  his own
 thoughts4 ,no--no6 ,i will not blast   
them by my presence4 ,let  them be      

happy4    ,but the wish to return1 once 
felt1 grew every moment stronger1 and   
he struggled against it until1 at last1 
after hours of bitter  remorse and      
repentance1 weary nature yielded1 and he
 fell off into a  more quiet sleep than 
he had known for weeks4 ,in this sleep  
came  many dreams1 all of home1 the old 
pleasant home1 around which  clustered  
every happy memory of his life2 and when
 morning came1 it  found him longing to 
return to that home with an             
irrepressible  desire4    ,i will go    
back1 said he1 in a firm voice1 as he   
arose at day's  dawn1 his mind clear and
 calm4 ,i will go home4 ,home--home6    
,this proved no mere effervescence of   
the mind4 ,the idea1 once fully         
entertained1 kept possession of his     
thoughts4 ,his first resolution  was to 
save his earnings until he had enough to
 procure decent  clothing and pay his   
passage back4 ,a week he kept to this   
resolution1 not once tasting a drop of  
any intoxicating liquor4 ,but  by that  

time he was so impatient of delay1 that 
he changed his  purpose1 and procured a 
situation as deck-hand on board a       
steamboat  that was about leaving for   
,pittsburg4 ,for this service1 he was to
  receive three dollars for the trip1   
besides being furnished with his  meals4
 ,during his week of sobriety1 he had   
been able to save two  dollars4 ,with   
this money he got an old pair of boots  
mended which  his employer at the       
manufactory had given him1 and had his  
clothes  repaired and washed1 all of    
which materially improved his           
appearance1 and gave occasion for       
several of his fellow-workmen to  speak 
encouragingly1 which strengthened him   
greatly in his good  purpose4    ,during
 the passage up the river1 ,martin was  
subjected to many  temptations1 and once
 or twice came near falling into his old
 ways4  ,but thoughts of home came      
stealing into his mind at the right     
moment1 and saved him4    ,with three   
dollars in his pocket1 the wages he had 

received from the  steamboat captain1   
,martin started for ,philadelphia on    
foot4 ,he was  eight days on the        
journey4 ,when he arrived1 his boots    
were worn  through1 his money all       
expended1 and himself sick with fatigue1
 sad  and dispirited4 ,luckily he met an
 old acquaintance1 who was a hand  on   
board a schooner loading with coal for  
,boston4 ,the vessel was to  pass       
through the canal1 and then go by the   
way of ,long ,island ,sound4  ,martin   
told his story to this old crony1 who   
had once been a hard  drinker but was   
now reformed1 and he persuaded the      
captain to give  him a passage4    ,just
 two weeks from the time of his leaving 
,cincinnati1 ,martin saw  the sails     
expand above him1 and felt the onward   
movement of the  vessel that was to bear
 him homeward4 ,his heart swelled with  
sad yet  pleasant emotions4 ,it was a   
long time since he had heard from home2 
and longer still since he had seen the  
face of any member of his  family4 ,for 

years he had been a wanderer4 ,now      
returning1 a mere  wreck1 so marred in  
every feature1 and so changed1 that even
 love  would almost fail to recognize   
him1 the eyes of his mind were bent     
eagerly forward4 ,and1 as the distance  
grew less and less1 and he  attempted to
 realize more and more perfectly the    
meeting soon to  take place1 his heart  
would beat heavily in his bosom1 and a  
dimness  come before his mental vision4 
,thanksgiving1 that day of days in ,new 
,england1 had come round again4  ,among 
the thousands by whom it was celebrated 
as a festive occasion1  were the        
,martins1 who resided in a village only 
a few miles from  ,boston4 ,old ,mr4 and
 ,mrs4 ,martin had four children1 two   
sons and two  daughters4 ,one of the    
daughters remained at home4 ,rachel1 the
 oldest  of the daughters1 was in her   
twenty-third year2 and ,martha was      
nineteen4 ,the former was married and   
lived in the village4 ,thomas1  next    
older than ,rachel1 was also married4   

,he resided ten miles away4  ,the oldest
 of them all1 ,william1 was a wanderer2 
or1 for ought they  knew to the         
contrary1 had long since passed to his  
great account4 ,as  many as five years  
had gone by since there had come from   
him any  tidings2 and nearly eight years
 since his place had been vacant at  the
 ,thanksgiving re-unions4    ,the day   
rose calm and bright on happy thousands4
 ,perhaps no family  in all ,new        
,england would have experienced a purer 
delight on this  occasion1 than that of 
the ,martins1 had not the vacant place  
of an  absent member reminded them of   
the wandering1 it might be the lost4    
,thomas was there with his gentle wife  
and three bright children2  ,rachel with
 her husband and babe2 and ,martha with 
her sweet young  face1 that was hardly  
ever guiltless of a smile4 ,but ,william
 was  away2 and the path in which he was
 treading1 if he were yet alive1  was   
hidden from their view by clouds and    
darkness4    ,dinner1 that chiefest     

event of every ,thanksgiving day1 was   
served  immediately after the return of 
the family from church4 ,it had been    
prepared by the hands of ,martha1 and   
she was in the act of taking an         
enormous turkey from the oven1 when a   
man came to the door1 and1  without     
speaking a word1 stood and looked at her
 attentively4 ,she  noticed him as she  
turned from the oven4 ,he was a sad     
looking object  for a ,new ,england     
village on ,thanksgiving day4 ,his eyes 
were sunken1  his face thin and pale1   
and his old tattered garments hung      
loosely  on his meager limbs4 ,he looked
 like one just from a bed of sickness1  
and he bent1 leaning upon a rough stick1
 like an old man yielding to  the weight
 of years4 ,yet1 poor and weak as he    
seemed1 his clothes  were clean1 and his
 face had been recently shaven4         
,struck with his appearance1 ,martha    
paused and looked at him  earnestly4    
,will you let me rest here for a little 
while8 said the stranger1  as soon as he

 had attracted ,martha's attention4     
,oh6 yes4 ,sit down1 replied ,martha1   
whose sympathies were instantly         
awakened by the man's appearance4 ,and  
she handed him a chair4    ,just then1  
,rachel1 who had taken off her things on
 returning from  church1 came into the  
kitchen to assist ,martha with the      
dinner4 ,she  merely glanced at the man2
 but he fixed upon her a most earnest   
look1 and followed her about with his   
eyes as she moved from one  part of the 
room to another4    ,martha6 called     
,mrs4 ,martin from the adjoining room4  
,neither of the  sisters saw the start  
which the man gave1 nor observed the    
quick  flush that went over his face1 as
 he turned his head in the  direction   
from which the sound came4    ,martha   
ran in to see what her mother wanted4   
,in a little while she  came back1 and1 
as she entered the kitchen1 she could   
not help  remarking the strange         
earnestness with which the man looked at
 her4    ,presently1 ,mrs4 ,martin      

herself came in4 ,she was surprised at  
seeing  the miserable looking object who
 had intruded himself upon them at a    
time that seemed so inopportune4    ,who
 is that1 ,martha8 she asked in a low   
voice1 aside4    ,i don't know1 was     
answered in the same low tone--not so   
low1  however1 as to be inaudible to the
 quick ears of the stranger4    ,what is
 he doing here8    ,he asked me if ,i   
would let him rest for a little while2  
and ,i  couldn't say no4    ,he looks   
sick2 and he must be very poor4    ,yes1
 poor1 indeed6 returned ,mrs4 ,martin   
with a sigh2 a thought of  her own poor 
wanderer crossing her mind4 ,this       
thought caused her to  turn to the man  
and say to him1    ,have you been sick1 
my friend8    ,the man who had been     
looking at her intently from the moment 
that  she entered the room1 now turned  
his face partly away as he  replied--   
,yes4 ,i've been sick for a number of   
days1 but ,i am better now4    ,you look
 very poor4    ,i am poor--poor indeed6 

,you do not belong to these parts8    ,i
 do not deserve to1 replied the man1 low
 and evasively4    ,where do your       
friends live8    ,i don't know that ,i  
have any friends1 said the man4 ,there  
was a  slight tremor in his voice1 that 
thrilled1 answeringly1 a chord in  the  
heart of his questioner4    ,no friends6
    ,there still live those who were    
once my friends4    ,and why not your   
friends now8    ,the man shook his head1
 sadly4    ,i have proved myself        
unworthy1 and1 doubtless1 they have long
 since  cast me forth from their regard4
    ,then you have no mother1 said ,mrs4
 ,martin1 quickly4 ,a mother's  love    
cannot die4    ,i have a mother1 and ,i 
have sisters1 replied the man1 after a  
pause4 ,feel kindly towards me for their
 sakes4 ,i have wandered  long2 but ,i  
am repentant2 and1 now returning to my  
old home1 ,i  seek--    ,the voice that 
had been low and unsteady at the        
beginning1 sunk  sobbing into silence1  
and the stranger's head drooped upon his

  bosom4 ,at that moment1 ,mr4 ,martin  
entered1 and seeing the man1 he         
exclaimed--    ,who in the world is     
this8    ,william8 fell half joyfully1  
half in doubting inquiry1 from the      
mother's lips4    ,my mother6 ejaculated
 the stranger1 starting forward1 and    
falling  into her open arms4            
,william--,william6 said ,mr4 ,martin4  
,oh6 no6 ,it cannot be6    ,it is6 ,yes6
 ,it is my poor1 poor boy6 replied the  
mother1  disengaging herself from his   
clasping arms1 and pushing him off so   
that she could get a full view of his   
face4 ,oh6 ,william6 ,my son6 my  son6  
,and again she hugged him wildly to her 
bosom4    ,how freely the tears of joy  
mingled on that happy ,thanksgiving day1
  need not be told4 ,there was no longer
 a vacant place at the board2  and      
thought turned not away1 doubtingly1 in 
a vain search for the  absent and the   
wandering4 ,the long lost had been      
found2 the straying  member had come    
home4 ,theirs was1 indeed1 a            

,thanksgiving festival4  ,such joy as is
 felt in heaven over a sinner that      
repenteth1 made  glad the mother's heart
 that day4 ,and it has been glad ever   
since1  for1 though ,thanksgiving days  
have come again and again1 there has    
been no absent member since ,william's  
return4              ,,jim ,,braddock',s
 ,,pledge4            ,,you',,ll sign   
it1 ,i'm sure1 said a persevering       
,washingtonian1 who  had found his way  
into a little village grogshop1 and had 
there  presented the pledge to some     
three or four of its half-intoxicated   
inmates4 ,the last man whom he          
addressed1 after having urged the       
others to no effect1 was apparently     
about thirty years of age1 and  had a   
sparkling eye1 and a good-humoured      
countenance1 that attracted  rather than
 repelled4 ,the marks of the destroyer  
were1 however1 upon  him1 showing       
themselves with melancholy distinctness4
    ,you'll sign1 ,i'm sure1 ,jim4      
,o1 of course1 replied the individual   

addressed1 winking1 as he did  so to the
 company1 as much as to say--,don't you 
want to see fun8    ,yes1 but you will1 
,i know8    ,of course ,i will4 ,where's
 the document8    ,here it              
is1--displaying a sheet of paper with   
sundry appropriate  devices1 upon which 
was printed in conspicuous letters1     
,we whose names--1 c4    ,that's very   
pretty1 aint it1 ,ike8 said ,jim1 or    
,james ,braddock1  with a mock          
seriousness of tone and manner4    ,o1  
yes--very beautiful4    ,just see here1 
ran on ,jim1 pointing to the vignette   
over the  pledge4--,this spruce chap1   
swelled out with cold-water until just  
ready to burst1 and still pouring in    
more1 is our friend ,malcom  here1 ,i   
suppose4    ,a loud laugh followed this 
little hit1 which seemed to the company 
exceedingly humorous4 ,but ,malcom took 
it all in good part1 and  retorted by   
asking ,braddock who the wretched       
looking creature was  with a bottle in  
his hand1 and three ragged children1 and

 a pale1  haggard1 distressed woman1    
following after him4    ,another        
cold-water man1 ,i suppose1 ,jim        
,braddock replied2 but  neither his     
laugh nor the laugh of his cronies was  
so hearty as  before4    ,o1 no4 ,that's
 a little mistake into which you have   
fallen1 ,malcom  said1 smiling4 ,he is  
one of your firewater men4 ,don't you   
see how  he has been scorched with it1  
inside and out4 ,now1 did you ever see  
such a miserable looking creature8 ,and 
his poor children--and his  wife6 ,but  
,i will say nothing about them4 ,the    
picture speaks for  itself4    ,here's a
 barrel1 mount him up1 and let us have a
 temperance  speech6 cried the keeper of
 the grog-shop1 coming from behind his  
counter1 and mingling with the group4   
,o1 yes4--,give us a temperance speech6 
rejoined ,jim ,braddock1 not  at all    
sorry to get a good excuse for giving up
 his examination of  the pledge1 which  
had revived in his mind some            
associations of not  the pleasantest    

character in the world4    ,no objection
 at all1 replied the ready              
,washingtonian1 mounting the  rostrum   
which the tavern-keeper had indicated1  
to the no small  amusement of the       
company1 and the great relief of ,jim   
,braddock1 who  began to feel that the  
laugh was getting on the wrong side of  
his  mouth1 as he afterwards expressed  
it4    ,now for some rare fun6          
ejaculated one of the group that        
gathered  around the whiskey-barrel upon
 which ,malcom stood4    ,this is grand 
sport6 broke in another4    ,take your  
text1 ,mr4 ,preacher6 cried a third4    
,o yes1 give us a text and a            
regular-built sermon6 added a fourth1   
rubbing his hands with great glee4      
,very well1 ,malcom replied1 with good  
humour4 ,now for the text4    ,yes1 give
 us the text1 ran around the circle4    
,my text will be found in ,harry        
,arnold's grog-shop1 ,main street1      
three doors from the corner4 ,it is in  
these  words3--',whiskey-barrel4' ,upon 

this text ,i will now1 with your        
permission1 make a few remarks4    ,then
 holding up his pledge and laying his   
finger upon the wretched  being there   
represented as the follower after strong
 drink1 he went  on--    ,you all see   
this poor creature here1 and his wife   
and  children--well1 as my text and his 
fall from happiness and  respectability 
are inseparably united1 ,i will1 instead
 of giving you  a dry discourse on an   
empty whiskey-barrel1 narrate this man's
  history1 which involves the           
whiskey-barrel1 and describes how it    
became empty1 and finally how it came   
here4 ,i will call him ,james           
,bradly--but take notice1 that ,i call  
him a little out of his true  name1 so  
as not to seem personal4    ,well1 this 
,james ,bradly was a house-carpenter--,i
 say was--for  although still living1 he
 is no longer an industrious            
house-carpenter1 but a very industrious 
grog-drinker1--he has  changed his      
occupation4 ,about five years ago1 ,i   

went to his house on  some business4 ,it
 was about dinner-time1 and the table   
was set1 and  the dinner on it4         
',come1 take some dinner with me1' ,mr4 
,bradly said1 in such a kind  earnest   
way1 that ,i could not resist1          
especially as his wife looked  so happy 
and smiling1 and the dinner so neatly   
served1 plentiful and  inviting4 ,so ,i 
sat down with ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,bradly1   
and two fat1  chubby-faced children2 and
 ,i do not think ,i ever enjoyed so     
pleasant  a meal in my life4    ,after  
dinner was over1 ,mr4 ,bradly took me   
all through his house1  which was new4  
,he had just built it1 and furnished it 
with every  convenience that a man in   
mode4 rate circumstances could desire4  
,i  was pleased with everything ,i saw1 
and praised everything with a  hearty   
good will4 ,at last he took me down into
 the cellar1 and  showed me a barrel of 
flour that he had just bought--twenty   
bushels  of potatoes and turnips laid in
 for the winter1 five large fat hogs1   

and ,i can't remember what all4 ,beside 
these1 there was a barrel of  something 
lying upon the cellar floor4    ',what  
is this8' ,i asked4    ',o1 that is a   
barrel of whiskey that ,i have laid in  
also4'    ',a barrel of whiskey6' ,i    
said1 in surprise4    ',yes4 ,i did some
 work for ,harry ,arnold1 and the best  
,i could do was  to take this barrel of 
good old 'rye' in payment4 ,but it is   
just as  well4 ,it will be a saving in  
the end4'    ',how so8' ,i asked4       
',why1 because there are more than twice
 as many drams in this  barrel of       
whiskey1 as ,i could get for what ,i    
paid for it4 ,of course1  ,i save more  
than half4'    ',but have you taken into
 your calculation the fact1 that1 in    
consequence of having a barrel of       
whiskey so handy1 you will drink  about 
two glasses to one that you would want  
if you had to go down  to ,harry        
,arnold's for it every time6'    ',o    
yes1 ,i have1' ,bradly replied4 ',but   
still ,i calculate on it being  a       

saving1 from the fact that ,i shall not 
lose so much time as ,i  otherwise would
 do4 ,a great deal of time1 you know1 is
 wasted in  these dram-shops4'    ',all 
true4 ,but have you never considered the
 danger arising from  the habitual free 
use of liquor--such a free use as the   
constant  sight of a whole barrel of    
whiskey may induce you to make8'        
',danger6' ejaculated ,mr4 ,bradly in   
surprise4    ',yes1 danger1' ,i         
repeated4    ',of what8' he asked4      
',of becoming too fond of liquor1' ,i   
replied4    ',i hope you do not wish to 
insult me in my own house1 ,mr4         
,malcom1'  the carpenter said1 rather   
sternly4    ',o no1' ,i replied4 ',of   
course ,i do not4 ,i only took the      
liberty  that a friend feels entitled to
 use1 to hint at what seemed to me a    
danger that you might be running into   
blindly4'    ,mrs4 ,bradly1 who had gone
 through the house with us1 enjoying my 
admiration of all their comfortable     
arrangements1 seemed to dwell  with     

particular interest on what ,i said in  
reference to the  whiskey-barrel4 ,she  
was now leaning affectionately upon her 
husband's arm--her own drawn through    
his1 and her hands clasped              
together--looking up into his face with 
a tender and confiding  regard4 ,i could
 not help noticing her manner1 and the  
expression of  her countenance4 ,and yet
 it seemed to me that something of      
concern  was on her face1 but so        
indistinct as to be scarcely visible4   
,of  this ,i was satisfied1 when she    
said1    ',i don't think there is much  
use in drinking liquor1 do you1 ,mr4    
,malcom8'    ',i cannot see that there  
is1' ,i replied1 of course4    ',nor can
 ,i4 ,of one thing ,i think ,i am       
certain1 and that is1 that  ,james would
 be just as comfortable and happy       
without it as with it4'    ',you don't  
know what you are talking about1        
,sally1' her husband  replied           
good-humouredly1 for he was a man of    
excellent temper1 and a  little given to

 jesting4 ',but ,i suppose you thought  
it good for you  last christmas1 when   
you got boozy on egg-nog4'    ',o       
,james1 how can you talk so6' his wife  
exclaimed1 her face  reddening4 ',you   
know that you served me a shameful trick
 then4'    ',what do you think he did1  
,mr4 ,malcom8' she added1 turning to me1
  while her husband laughed heartily at 
what she said4 ',he begged me  to let   
him make me a little wine egg-nog1      
seeing that ,i wouldn't  touch that     
which had brandy in it1 because liquor  
always flies to my  head4 ,to please    
him1 ,i consented1 though ,i didn't want
 it4 ,and then1  the rogue fixed me a   
glass as strong again with brandy as    
that which  ,i had refused to take4 ,i  
thought while ,i was drinking it1 that  
it  did not taste like wine1 and told   
him so4 ,but he declared that it  was   
wine1 and that it was so sweet that ,i  
could not clearly perceive  its flavour4
 ,of course ,i had to go to bed1 and    
didn't get fairly  over it for two or   

three days4 ,now1 wasn't that too bad1  
,mr4  ,malcom6'    ',indeed it was1     
,mrs4 ,bradly1' ,i said in reply4       
',it was a capital joke1 though1 wasn't 
it8' rejoined her husband1  laughing    
immoderately4    ',i'll tell you a good 
way to retort on him1' ,i said1         
jestingly4    ',how is that1 ,mr4       
,malcom8'    ,pull the tap out of his   
whiskey-barrel4'    ',i would1 if ,i    
dared4'    ',she'd better not try that1 
,i can tell her4'    ',what would you   
do1 if ,i did8' she asked4    ',buy two 
more in its place1 and make you drink   
one of them4'    ',o dear6 ,i must beg  
to be excused from that4 ,but1 indeed1  
,james1 ,i  wish you would let it run4  
,i'm really ashamed to have it said1    
that  my husband keeps a barrel of      
whiskey in the house4'    ',nonsense1   
,sally6 you don't know what you are     
talking about4'    ',well1 perhaps ,i   
don't1' the wife said1 and remained     
silent1 for  there was a half-concealed 
rebuke in her husband's tone of voice4  

,i saw that ,i could say no more about  
the whiskey-barrel1 and so ,i  dropped  
the subject1 and1 in a short time1 after
 having finished my  business with ,mr4 
,bradly1 went away4    ',well1 how comes
 on the whiskey-barrel8' ,i said to him1
 about a  month after1 as we met on the 
road4    ',first-rate1' was his reply4  
',it contains a prime article of good   
old 'rye1' ,i can tell you4 ,the best ,i
 have ever tasted4 ,come1 won't  you go 
home with me and try some8'    ',no1 ,i 
believe not4'    ',do now--come along1' 
and he took me by the button1 and pulled
 me  gently4 ',you don't know how fine  
it is4 ,i am sure there is not  another 
barrel like it in the town4'    ',you   
must really excuse me1 ,bradly1' ,i     
replied1 for ,i found that he  was in   
earnest1 and what was more1 had a watery
 look about the eyes1  that argued badly
 for him1 ,i thought4    ',well1 if you 
won't1 you won't1' he said4 ',but you   
always were an  unsocial kind of a      
fellow4'    ,and so we parted4 ,six     

months had not passed before it was     
rumoured  through the neighbourhood1    
that ,bradly had begun to neglect his   
business2 and that he spent too much of 
his time at ,harry ,arnold's4  ,i met   
his wife one day1 about this time1 and1 
really1 her distressed  look gave me the
 heart ache4 ,something is wrong1       
certainly1 ,i said  to myself4 ,it was  
only a week after1 that ,i met poor     
,bradly  intoxicated4    ',ah1          
,malcom--good day--,how are you8' he    
said1 reeling up to me and  offering his
 hand4--',you havn't tried that good old
 rye of mine yet4  ,come along now1 it's
 most gone4'    ',you must excuse me    
today1 ,mr4 ,bradly1' ,i replied1 trying
 to pass  on4    ,but he said ,i should 
not get off this time--that home with   
him ,i  must go1 and take a dram from   
his whiskey-barrel4 ,of course1 ,i did  
not go4 ,if there had been no other     
reason1 ,i had no desire1 ,i can  assure
 you1 to meet his wife while her husband
 was in so sad a  condition4 ,after     

awhile ,i got rid of him1 and right glad
 was ,i to do  so4    ,come1 that'll do 
for one day6 broke in ,harry ,arnold1   
the  grog-shop-keeper1 at this point1   
not relishing too well the  allusions to
 himself1 nor1 indeed1 the drift of the 
narrative1 which  he very well          
understood4    ,no--no--go on6 go on6   
urged two or three of the group4 ,but   
,jim  ,braddock said nothing1 though he 
looked very thoughtful4    ,i'll soon   
get through1 replied the ,washingtonian1
 showing no  inclination to abandon his 
text4 ,you see1 ,i did not1 of course1  
go  home with poor ,bradly1 and he left 
me with a drunken1 half-angry           
malediction4 ,that night he went down   
into his cellar1 late1 to draw  some    
whiskey1 and forgot his candle1 which   
had been so carelessly  set down1 that  
it set fire to a shelf1 and before it   
was discovered  the fire had burned     
through the floor above4    ,nearly all 
their furniture was saved1              
whiskey-barrel and all1 but  the house  

was burned to the ground4 ,since that   
time1 ,bradly will  tell you that luck  
has been against him4 ,he has been going
 down1  down1 down1 every year1 and now 
does scarcely anything but lounge  about
 ,harry ,arnold's grog-shop and drink1  
while his poor wife and  children are in
 want and suffering1 and have a most    
wretched look1  as you may see by this  
picture on the pledge4 ,as for the      
whiskey-barrel1 that was rolled down    
here about a month ago1 and  sold for   
half a dollar's worth of liquor1 and    
here ,i now stand upon  it1 and make it 
the foundation of a temperance speech4  
,now1 let me ask you all seriously1 if  
you do not think that ,james  ,bradly   
owes his rapid downfall1 in a great     
measure1 to the fact that  ,harry       
,arnold would not pay him a just debt in
 anything but whiskey8  ,and against    
,harry ,arnold really your friend1 that 
you are so willing  to beggar your wives
 and children to put money in his till8 
,i only  ask the questions4 ,you can    

answer then at your leisure4 ,so ends my
  speech4    ,you are an insulting      
fellow1 let me tell you6 the            
grog-shop-keeper  said1 as he turned    
away1 angrily1 and went behind his      
counter4    ,the ,washingtonian took no 
notice of this1 but went to ,jim        
,braddock1  who stood in a musing       
attitude near the door1 and said--      
,you will sign now1 won't you1 ,jim8    
,no1 ,i will not6 was his gruff         
response4    ,i am not going to sign    
away my liberty for you or anybody else4
 ,so  long as ,i live1 ,i'll be a free  
man4    ,that's right1 ,jim6 ,huzza for 
liberty6 shouted his companions4        
,yes1 huzza for liberty6 say ,i1        
responded ,braddock1 in the effort  to  
rally himself1 and shake off the        
thoughts and feelings that4  ,malcom's  
narrative had conjured up a narrative   
that proved to be too  true a history of
 his own downfall4    ,it was a shame   
for you to do what you did down at      
,harry ,arnold's1  ,braddock said to the

 ,washingtonian about half an hour      
afterwards1  meeting him on the street4 
,do what1 ,jim6    ,why1 rake up all my 
past history as you did1 and insult     
,harry in  his own house into the       
bargain4    ,how did ,i insult ,harry   
,arnold8    ,by telling about that      
confounded whiskey-barrel that ,i have  
wished  a hundred times had been in the 
bottom of the sea1 before it ever  fell 
into my hands4    ,i told the truth1    
didn't ,i8    ,o yes--it was all true   
enough1 and a great deal too true4      
,he owed you a bill8    ,yes4    ,and   
you wanted your money8    ,yes4    ,but 
,harry wouldn't pay you in anything but 
whiskey8    ,no1 he would not4    ,and  
so you took a barrel of whiskey1 that   
you did not want1 in  payment8    ,i    
did4    ,but would much rather have had 
the money8    ,of course1 ,i would4     
,and yet1 you are so exceedingly tender 
of ,harry ,arnold's feelings1           
notwithstanding his agency in your ruin1
 that you would not have him  reminded  

of his original baseness--or rather his 
dishonesty in not  paying you in money1 
according to your understanding with    
him1 for  your work8    ,i don't see any
 use in raking up these old things4     
,the use is1 to enable you to see your  
folly so clearly as to cause  you to    
abandon it4 ,i am sure you not only see 
it now1 but feel it  strongly4    ,well1
 suppose ,i do8--what then8    ,why1    
sign the pledge1 and become a sober man4
    ,i've made up my mind never to sign 
a pledge1 was the emphatic  answer4     
,why8    ,because1 ,i am determined to  
live and die a free man4 ,i'll never    
sign away my liberty4 ,my father was a  
free man before me1 and ,i will  live   
and die a free man6    ,but you're a    
slave now4    ,it is not true6 ,i am    
free4--,free to drink1 or free to et it 
alone1  as ,i choose4    ,you are       
mistaken1 ,jim4 ,you have sold yourself 
into slavery1 and the  marks of the     
chains that still bind you1 are upon    
your body4 ,you are  the slave of a vile

 passion that is too strong for your    
reason4    ,i deny it4 ,i can quit      
drinking if ,i choose4    ,then why     
don't you quit8    ,because ,i love to  
drink4    ,and love to see your wife's  
cheek growing paler and paler every     
day--and your children ragged and       
neglected8    ,malcom6    ,i only asked 
the question1 ,jim4    ,but you know    
that ,i don't love to see them in the   
condition they  are4    ,and still1 you 
say that you can quit drinking whenever 
you choose1  but will not do so1 because
 you love the taste1 or the effect of   
the  liquor1 ,i don't know which8       
,braddock's feelings were a good deal   
touched1 as they had been1 ever  since  
,malcom's temperance speech in the      
grog-shop4 ,he stood silent  for some   
time1 and then said--    ,i know it's   
too bad for me to drink as ,i do1 but ,i
 will break off4    ,you had better sign
 the pledge then4    ,no1 ,i will not do
 that4 ,as ,i have told you1 ,i am      
resolved never to  sign away my liberty4

    ,very well4 ,if you are fixed in    
your resolution1 ,i suppose it is       
useless for me to urge the matter4 ,for 
the sake1 then1 of your wife  and       
children1 break away from the fetters   
that bind you1 and be  really free4 ,now
 you are not only a slave1 but a slave  
in the most  debasing bondage4    ,the  
two then separated1 and ,jim            
,braddock--in former years it was ,mr4  
,braddock--returned to his house2 a very
 cheerless place1 to what it  had once  
been4 ,notwithstanding his abandonment  
of himself to drink  and idleness1      
,braddock had no ill-nature about him4  
,though he  neglected his family1 he was
 not quarrelsome at home4 she might1 and
  talked hard to him1 he never retorted1
 but always turned the matter  off with 
a laugh or a jest4 ,with his children1  
he was always  cheerful1 and frequently 
joined in their sports1 when not too    
drunk  to do so4 ,all this cool         
indifference1 as it seemed to her1      
frequently irritated his wife1 and made 

her scold away at him with  might and   
main4 ,he had but one reply to make     
whenever this occurred1  and that was-- 
,there--there--,keep cool1 ,sally6 ,it  
will all go in your lifetime1  darling6 
,as he came into the house after the not
 very pleasant occurrence  that had     
taken place at ,harry ,arnold's1 he saw 
by ,sally's excited  face and sparkling 
eyes that something was wrong4          
,what's the matter1 ,sally8 he asked4   
,don't ask me what's the matter1 if you 
please6 was her tart reply4    ,yes1 but
 ,i want to know8 ,something is wrong4  
,something is always wrong1 of course1  
,sally rejoined--and  something always  
will be wrong while you act as you do3  
,it's a  burning shame for any man to   
abuse his family as you are abusing     
yours4 ,jim--    ,there--there4 ,keep   
cool1 ,sally6 ,it will all go in your   
lifetime1  darling6 ,jim responded1 in a
 mild1 soothing tone4    ,o yes3--,it's 
very easy to say 'keep cool6' ,but ,i'm 
tired of this  everlasting 'keep cool6' 

,quit drinking and go to work1 and then 
it'll be time to talk about keeping     
cool4 ,here ,i've been all the  morning 
scraping up chips to make the fire burn4
 ,not a stick in the  wood-pile1 and you
 lazing it down to ,harry ,arnold's4 ,i 
wish to  goodness he was hung6 ,it's too
 bad6 ,i'm out of all manner of         
patience6    ,there--there4 ,keep cool1 
,sally6 ,it'll all go--    ,hush1 will  
you6 ejaculated ,sally1 stamping her    
foot1 all patience  having left her     
over-tried spirit4 ,keep away from      
,harry ,arnold's6  ,quit drinking1 and  
then it'll be time for you to talk to me
 about  keeping cool6    ,i'm going to  
quit1 ,sally1 ,jim replied1 altogether  
unexcited by her  words and manner4     
,nonsense6 rejoined ,sally4 ,you've said
 that fifty times4    ,but ,i'm going to
 do it now4    ,have you signed the     
pledge8    ,no4 ,i'm not going to sign  
away my liberty1 as ,i have often said4 
,but ,i'm going to quit4                
,fiddle-de-de6 ,sign away your liberty6 

,you've got no liberty to sign  away6 ,a
 slave1 and talk of liberty6    ,look   
here1 ,sally1 her husband said1         
good-humouredly1 for nothing  that she  
could say ever made him get angry with  
her--you're a  hard-mouthed animal1 and 
it would take a strong hand to hold you 
in4  ,but as ,i like to see you go at   
full gallop1 darling1 ,i never draw a   
tight rein4 ,aint you most out of breath
 yet8    ,you're a fool1 ,jim6          
,there's many a true word spoken in     
jest1 ,sally1 her husband  responded in 
a more serious tone2 ,i have been a most
 egregious  fool--but ,i'm going to try 
and act the wise man1 if ,i havn't      
forgotten how4 ,so now1 as little ,vic4 
said to her mother--      ',pray1       
,goody1 cease and moderate    ,the      
rancour of your tongue4'    ,suddenly   
his wife felt that he was really in     
earnest1 and all her  angry feelings    
subsided--    ,o ,james6 she said--if   
you would only be as you once were1 how 
happy we might all again be6    ,i know 

that1 ,sally4 ,and ,i'm going to try    
hard to be as ,i once was4  ,there's a  
little job to be done over at ,jones'1  
and ,i promised him  that ,i would do it
 for him today4 but ,i got down to      
,harry ,arnold's1  and there wasted my  
time until ,i was ashamed to begin a    
day's work4  ,but to-morrow morning     
,i'll go over1 and stick at it until    
it's done4  ,it'll be cash down1 and you
 shall have every cent it comes to1 my  
old girl6 patting his wife on the cheek 
as he said so4    ,mrs4 ,braddock1 of   
course1 felt a rekindling of hope in her
 bosom4  ,many times before had her     
husband promised amendment1 and as often
  had he disappointed her fond          
expectations4 ,but still she suffered   
her heart to hope again4    ,on the next
 morning1 ,james ,braddock found an     
early breakfast ready  for him when he  
got up4 ,his hand trembled a good deal  
as he lifted  his cup of coffee to his  
lips1 which was insipid without the     
usual  morning-dram to put a taste in   

his mouth4 ,he did not say much1 for  he
 felt an almost intolerable craving for 
liquor1 and this made him  serious4 ,but
 his resolution was strong to abandon   
his former habits4    ,you won't forget1
 ,james8 his wife said1 laying her hand 
upon his  arm1 and looking him earnestly
 and with moistened eyes in the face1   
as he was about leaving the house4      
,no1 ,sally1 ,i won't forget4 ,take     
heart1 my good girl4 ,let what's  past  
go for nothing4 ,it's all in our        
lifetime4    ,and so saying1 ,braddock  
turned away1 and strode off with a      
resolute  bearing4 ,his wife followed   
with her eyes the form of her husband   
until it was out of sight1 and then     
closed the door with a  long-drawn sigh4
    ,the way to ,mr4 ,jones' house was  
past ,arnold's grogshop1 and as         
,braddock drew nearer and nearer to his 
accustomed haunt1 he felt a  desire1    
growing stronger and stronger every     
moment1 to enter and  join his old      
associates over a glass of liquor4 ,to  

this desire1 he  opposed every rational 
objection that he could find4 ,he       
brought up  before his mind his         
suffering wife and neglected children1  
and  thought of his duty to them4 ,he   
remembered that it was drink1 and  drink
 alone1 that had been the cause of his  
downfall4 ,but with all  these          
auxiliaries to aid him in keeping his   
resolution1 it seemed  weak when opposed
 to desires1 which long continued       
indulgence had  rendered inordinate4    
,onward he went with a steady pace1     
fortifying  his mind all the while with 
arguments against drinking1 and yet just
  ready at every moment to yield the    
contest he was waging against  habit and
 desire4 ,at last the grog-shop was in  
sight1 and in a few  minutes he was     
almost at the door4    ,hurrah6 ,here's 
,jim ,braddock1 bright and early6 cried 
one of his  old cronies1 from among two 
or three who were standing in front of  
the shop4    ,so the cold-water-men     
havn't got you yet6 broke in another4 ,i

  thought ,jim ,braddock was made of    
better stuff4    ,old birds aint caught 
with chaff6 added a third4    ,come6    
,hallo6 ,where are you off to in such a 
hurry1 with your tools  on your back8   
quickly cried the first speaker1 seeing 
that ,braddock  was going by without    
showing any disposition to stop4        
,i've got a job to do that's in a hurry1
 replied ,braddock1  pausing--and have  
no time to stop4 ,and besides1 ,i've    
sworn off4    ,sworn off6 ,ha6 ha6 ,have
 you taken the pledge8    ,no1 ,i have  
not4 ,i'm not going to bind myself down 
not to drink any  thing4 ,i'll be a free
 man4 ,but ,i won't touch another drop1 
see if ,i  do4    ,o yes--we'll see4    
,how long do you expect to keep sober8  
,always4    ,you'll be drunk by night4  
,why do you say so8    ,i say so--that's
 all2 and ,i know so4    ,but why do you
 say so8 ,come1 tell me that4    ,o1    
,i've seen too many swear off in my     
time--and ,i've tried it too  often     
myself4 ,it's no use4 ,not over one in a

 hundred ever sticks to  it2 and ,i'm   
sure1 ,jim ,braddock's not that         
exception4    ,there are said to be a   
hundred reformed men in this town now4  
,i am  sure1 ,i know a dozen1 ,braddock 
replied4    ,o yes4 ,but they've signed 
the pledge4    ,nonsense6 ,i don't      
believe a man can keep sober any the    
better by  signing the pledge1 than by  
resolving never again to drink a drop4  
,facts are stubborn things1 you know4   
,but come1 ,jim1 as you havn't  signed  
the pledge1 you might as well come in   
and take a glass now1  for you'll do it 
before night1 take my word for it4      
,it was a fact1 that ,braddock began    
really to debate the question  with     
himself1 whether he should or not go in 
and take a single  glass1 when he became
 suddenly conscious of his danger1      
turned away1  and hurried on1 followed  
by the loud1 jeering laugh of his old   
boon  companions4    ,up-hill work1 he  
muttered to himself1 as he strode       
onward4    ,an hour's brisk walking     

brought him to the residence of ,mr4    
,jones1  nearly four miles away from the
 little town in which he lived1 where   
he entered upon his day's work1 resolved
 that1 henceforth1 he would  be a       
reformed man4 ,at first he was nervous1 
from want of his  accustomed stimulus1  
and handled his tools awkwardly4 ,but   
after  awhile1 as the blood began to    
circulate more freely1 the tone of his  
system came up to a healthier action4   
,about eleven o'clock ,mr4 ,jones came  
out to the building upon which          
,braddock was at work1 and after        
chatting a little1 said--    ,this is   
grog time1 aint it1 ,jim8    ,yes sir1  
,i believe it is1 was the reply4        
,well1 knock off then for a little      
while1 and come into the house  and take
 a dram4    ,now ,mr4 ,jones was a very 
moderate drinker himself1 scarcely      
touching  liquor for weeks at a time1   
unless in company4 ,but he always kept  
it  in the house1 and always gave it to 
his workmen1 as a matter of  course1 at 

eleven o'clock4 ,had he been aware of   
,braddock's effort to  reform himself1  
he would as soon have thought of        
offering him poison  to drink as        
whiskey4 ,but1 knowing his habits1 he   
concluded1  naturally1 that the grog was
 indispensable1 and tendered it to him  
as he had always done before1 on like   
occasions4    ,i've signed the pledge1  
were the words that instantly formed    
themselves in the mind of ,braddock--but
 were instantly set aside1 as  that     
reason for not drinking would not have  
been the true one4 ,could  he have said 
that1 all difficulty would have vanished
 in a moment4    ,no objection1 ,mr4    
,jones1 was then uttered1 and off he    
started for  the house1 resolutely      
keeping down every reason that struggled
 in  his mind to rise and be heard4     
,the image of ,mr4 ,jones1 standing     
before him1 with a smiling  invitation  
to come and take a glass1 backed by his 
own instantly  aroused inclinations1 had
 been too strong an inducement4 ,he     

felt1  too1 that it would have been     
rudeness to decline the proffered       
hospitality4    ,that's not bad to take1
 ,mr4 ,jones1 he said1 smacking his     
lips1  after turning off a stiff glass4 
,no1 it is not1 ,jim4 ,that's as fine an
 article of whiskey as ,i've  ever seen1
 ,mr4 ,jones replied1 a little flattered
 at ,braddock's  approval of his liquor4
 ,you're a good judge of such matters4  
,i ought to be4 ,and as ,jim said this1 
he turned out another glass4    ,that's 
right--help yourself1 was ,mr4 ,jones'  
encouraging remark1 as  he saw this4    
,i never was backward at that1 you know1
 ,mr4 ,jones4 ,after eating a  cracker  
and a piece of cheese1 and taking a     
third drink1 ,braddock  went back and   
resumed his work1 feeling quite happy4  
,after dinner ,mr4 ,jones handed him the
 bottle again1 and did the same  when he
 knocked off in the evening4 ,of course1
 he was very far from  being sober when 
he started for home4 ,as he came into   
town1 his way  was past ,harry          

,arnold's1 whose shop he entered1 and   
was received  with a round of applause  
by his old associates1 who saw at a     
glance  that ,jim was a little          
disguised4 ,their jokes were all        
received in  good part1 and parried by  
treating all around4    ,when her       
husband left in the morning1 ,mrs4      
,braddock's heart was  lightened with a 
new hope1 although a fear was blended   
with that  hope1 causing them both to   
tremble in alternate preponderance in   
her  bosom4 ,still1 hope would gain the 
ascendency1 and affected her  spirits   
with a degree of cheerfulness unfelt for
 many months4 ,as the  day began to     
decline towards evening1 after putting  
everything about  the house in order1   
she took her three children1 washed them
 clean1  and dressed them up as neatly  
as their worn and faded clothes would   
permit4 ,this was in order to make home 
present the most agreeable  appearance  
possible to her husband when he         
returned4 ,then she killed  a chicken   

and dressed it1 ready to broil for his  
supper--made up a  nice short-cake1 and 
set the table with a clean1 white       
table-cloth4  ,about sundown1 she       
commenced baking the cake1 and cooking  
the  chicken1 and at dusk had them all  
ready to put on the table the  moment he
 came in4    ,your father is late1 she  
remarked to one of the children1 after  
sitting in a musing attitude for about  
five minutes1 after  everything was done
 that she could do towards getting      
supper ready4  ,as she said this1 she   
got up and went to the door and looked  
long  and intently down the street in   
the direction that she expected him1    
calling each distant1 dim figure1       
obscured by the deepening  twilight1    
his1 until a nearer approach dispelled  
the illusion4 ,each  disappointment like
 this1 caused her feelings to grow      
sadder and  sadder1 until at length1 as 
evening subsided into night1 with its   
veil of thick darkness1 she turned into 
the house with a heavy  oppressive sigh1

 and rejoined the children who were     
impatient for  their supper4    ,wait a 
little while1 was her reply to their    
importunities4 ,father  will soon be    
here now4    ,she was still anxious that
 their father should see their improved 
appearance4    ,o no--urged one4 ,we    
want our supper now4    ,o yes4 ,give us
 our supper now4 ,i'm so sleepy and     
hungry1 whined  another4    ,and to give
 force to these1 the youngest began to  
fret and cry4 ,mrs4  ,braddock could    
delay no longer1 and so she set them up 
to the table  and gave them as much as  
they could eat4 ,then she undressed each
 in  turn1 and in a little while1 they  
were fast asleep4    ,when all was      
quiet1 and the mother sat down to wait  
for her  husband's return1 a feeling of 
deep despondency came over her mind4    
,it had been dark for an hour1 and yet  
he had not come home4 ,she  could       
imagine no reason for this1 other than  
the one that had kept  him out so often 
before--drinking and company4 ,thus she 

continued to  sit1 hour after hour1 the 
supper untasted4 ,usually1 her evenings 
were spent in some kind of work--in     
mending her children's clothes1  or     
knitting them stockings4 ,but now she   
had no heart to do anything4  ,the state
 of gloomy uncertainty that she was in1 
broke down her  spirits1 for the time   
being4    ,bedtime came2 and still      
,braddock was away4 ,she waited an hour 
later  than usual1 and then retired1    
sinking back upon her pillow as she  did
 so1 in a state of hopeless exhaustion  
of mind and body4    ,in the meantime1  
her husband had spent a merry evening at
 ,harry  ,arnold's1 drinking with more  
than his accustomed freedom4 ,he was the
  last to go home1 the thought of       
meeting his deceived and injured  wife1 
causing him to linger4 ,when he did     
leave1 it was past eleven  o'clock4     
,though more than half-intoxicated on   
going from the  grog-shop1 the cool     
night air1 and the thought of ,sally1   
sobered him  considerably before he got 

home4 ,arrived there1 he paused with his
  hand on the door for some time1       
reluctant to enter4 ,at last he  opened 
the door1 and went quietly in1 in the   
hope of getting up to  bed without his  
wife's discovering his condition4 ,the  
third step  into the room brought his   
foot in contact with a chair1 and over  
he  went1 jarring the whole house with  
his fall4 ,his wife heard  this--indeed 
her quick ear had detected the opening  
of the door--and  it caused her heart to
 sink like a heavy weight in her bosom4 
,gathering himself up1 ,braddock moved  
forward again as steadily as he  could1 
both hands extended before him4 ,a smart
 blow upon the nose  from an open door1 
that had insinuated itself between his  
hands1  brought him up again1 and caused
 him1 involuntarily1 to dash aside  the 
door which shut with a heavy slam4      
,pausing now1 to recall his  bewildered 
senses1 he resolved to move forward with
 more caution1  and so succeeded in     
gaining the stairs1 up which he went1   

his feet1  softly as he tried to put    
them down1 falling like heavy lumps of  
lead1 and making the house echo again4  
,he felt strongly inclined to  grumble  
about all the lights being put out1 as  
he came into the  chamber--but a        
distinct consciousness that he had no   
right to  grumble1 kept him quiet1 and  
so he undressed himself with as little  
noise as possible1--which was no very   
small portion1 for at almost  every     
moment he stept on something1 or ran    
against something that  seemed endowed  
for the time with sonorous power of     
double the  ordinary capacity1--and     
crept softly into bed4    ,mrs4         
,braddock said nothing1 and he said     
nothing4 ,but long before her  eyelids  
closed in sleep1 he was loudly snoring  
by her side4 ,when he  awoke in the     
morning1 ,sally had arisen and gone     
down4 ,a burning  thirst caused him to  
get up immediately and dress himself4   
,there was  no water in the room1 and if
 there had been1 he could not have      

touched it while there was to be had    
below a cool draught from the  well4 ,so
 he descended at once1 feeling very     
badly1 and resolving  over again that he
 would never touch another drop of      
liquor as long  as he lived4 ,having    
quenched his thirst with a large bowl of
 cool  water drawn right from the bottom
 of the well1 he went up to his  wife   
where she was stooping at the fire1 and 
said--    ,sally1 look here--    ,go    
'way1 ,jim1 was her angry response4     
,no1 but ,sally1 look here1 ,i want to  
talk to you1 persisted her  husband4    
,go 'way1 ,i say--,i don't care if ,i   
never see you again6    ,so you've said 
a hundred times1 but ,i never believed  
you1 or ,i  might have taken you at your
 word4    ,to this his wife made no     
reply4    ,i was drunk last night1      
,sally1 ,jim said1 after a moment's     
silence4    ,you needn't take the       
trouble to tell me that4    ,of course  
not4 ,but an open confession1 you know1 
is good for the  soul4 ,i was drunk last

 night1 then--drunk as a fool1 after all
 ,i  promised--but ,i'm not going to get
 drunk again1 so--    ,don't swear any  
more false oaths1 ,jim3 you've sworn    
enough  already4    ,yes1 but ,sally1 ,i
 am going to quit now1 and ,i want you  
to talk to  me like a good wife1 and    
advise with me4    ,if you don't go away
 and let me alone now1 ,i'll throw these
 tongs  at you6 the wife rejoined1      
angrily1 rising up and brandishing the  
article she had named4 ,you are trying  
me beyond all manner of  patience6      
,there--there--keep cool1 ,sally4 ,it'll
 all go into your lifetime1  darlin'1   
,jim replied1 good-humouredly1 taking   
hold of her hand1 and  extricating the  
tongs from them1 and then drawing his   
arm around her  waist1 and forcing her  
to sit down in a chair1 while he took   
one  just beside her4    ,now1 ,sally1  
,i'm in dead earnest1 if ever ,i was in 
my life1 he  began1 and if you'll tell  
me any way to break off from this       
wretched habit into which ,i have       

fallen1 ,i'll do it4    ,go and sign the
 pledge1 then2 his wife said promptly1  
and somewhat  sternly4    ,and give up  
my liberty8    ,and regain it1 rather4  
,you're a slave now4    ,i'll do it1    
then1 for your sake4    ,don't trifle   
with me1 any more1 ,james2 ,i can't bear
 it much longer1  ,i feel that ,i       
can't-- poor ,mrs4 ,braddock said in a  
plaintive tone1  while the tears came to
 her eyes4    ,i wont deceive you any   
more1 ,sally4 ,i'll sign1 and ,i'll keep
 my  pledge4 ,if ,i could only have     
said--',i've signed the pledge1'        
yesterday1 ,i would have been safe4 ,but
 ,i've got no pledge1 and ,i'm  afraid  
to go out to hunt up ,malcom1 for fear  
,i shall see a  grog-shop4    ,can't you
 write a pledge8    ,no4 ,i can't write 
anything but a bill1 or a label for one 
of your  pickle-pots4    ,but try4      
,well1 give me a pen1 some ink1 and a   
piece of paper4    ,but there was       
neither pen1 ink1 nor paper1 in the     
house4 ,mrs4  ,braddock1 however1 soon  

mustered them all in the neighbourhood1 
and  came and put them down upon the    
table before her husband4    ,there1    
now1 write a pledge1 she said4    ,i    
will4 ,and ,jim took up the pen and     
wrote--,blister my feathers  if ever ,i 
drink another drop of ,alcohol1 or      
anything that will make  drunk come1    
sick or well1 dead or alive6    ,,jim   
,,braddock4    ,but that's a queer      
pledge1 ,jim4    ,i don't care if it is4
 ,i'll keep it4    ,it's just no pledge 
at all4    ,you're an old goose6 ,now   
give me a hammer and four nails4        
,what do you want with a hammer and four
 nails8    ,i want to nail my pledge up 
over the mantelpiece4    ,but it will   
get smoky4    ,so will your aunty4 ,give
 me the hammer and nails4    ,jim's wife
 brought them as desired1 and he nailed 
his pledge up over  the mantelpiece1 and
 then read it off with a proud1 resolute
 air4    ,i can keep that pledge1       
,sally1 my old girl6 ,and what's more1  
,i will  keep it1 too6 he said1 slapping

 his wife upon the shoulder4 ,and  now  
for some breakfast in double quick time1
 for ,i must be at  ,jones's early this 
morning4    ,mrs4 ,braddock's heart was 
very glad1 for she had more faith in    
this  pledge than she had ever felt in  
any of his promises4 ,there was         
something of confirmation in the act of 
signing his name1 that  strengthened her
 hopes4 ,it was not long before she had 
a good warm  breakfast on the table1 of 
which her husband eat with a better     
appetite than usual1 and then1 after    
reading his pledge over1 ,jim  started  
off4    ,as before1 he had to go past   
,harry ,arnold's1 and early as it was1  
there were already two or three of his  
cronies there for their  morning dram4  
,he saw them about the door while yet at
 a distance1  but neither the grog-shop 
nor his old companions had now any      
attraction for him4 ,he was conscious of
 standing on a plain that  lifted him   
above their influence4 ,as he drew near1
 they observed  him1 and awaited his    

approach with pleasure1 for his fine    
flow of  spirits made his company always
 desirable4 ,but as he showed no        
inclination to stop1 he was hailed1 just
 as he was passing1 with1    ,hallo1    
,jim6 ,where are you off to in such a   
hurry8    ,off to my work like an       
honest1 sober man1 ,jim replied1 pausing
 to  return his answer4 ,i've taken the 
pledge1 my hearties1 and what's  more1  
,i'm going to keep it4 ,it's all down in
 black and white1 and my  name's to it  
in the bargain1--so there's an end of   
the matter1 you  see6 ,good bye1        
boys6--,i'm sorry to leave you1--but you
 must go my  way if you want my company4
 ,good bye1 ,harry6 ,you've got the old 
whiskey-barrel1 and that's the last     
you'll ever get of mine4 ,i never  had  
any good luck while it was in my house1 
and ,i am most heartily  glad it's out1 
and in your whiskey-shop1 where ,i hope 
it will stay4  ,good bye1 old cronies6  
,and so saying1 ,jim turned away1 and   
walked off with a proud1 erect  bearing4

 ,his old companions raised a feeble    
shout1 but according to  ,jim's account1
 the laugh was so much on the wrong side
 of their  mouths1 that it didn't seem  
to him anything like a laugh4    ,at    
eleven o'clock1 ,mr4 ,jones came out as 
usual1 and said--    ,well1 ,jim1 ,i    
suppose you begin to feel a little like 
it was  grog-time8'    ,no1 sir1 ,jim   
replied4 ,i'm done with grog4    ,done  
with grog6 ejaculated ,mr4 ,jones1 in   
pleased surprise4    ,why1 you didn't   
seem at all afraid of it1 yesterday8    
,i did drink pretty hard1 yesterday2 but
 that was all your fault4    ,my fault6 
,how do you make that out8    ,clear    
enough4 ,yesterday morning1 seeing what 
a poor miserable  wretch ,i had got to  
be1 and how much my wife and children   
were  suffering1 ,i swore of from ever  
touching another drop4 ,i wouldn't  sign
 a pledge1 though1 because that1 ,i     
thought1 would be giving up  my freedom4
 ,in coming here1 ,i got past ,harry    
,arnold's grog-shop  pretty well1 but   

when you came out so pleasantly at      
eleven o'clock1  and asked me to go over
 to the house and take a drink1 ,i      
couldn't  refuse for the life of        
me--especially as ,i felt as dry as a   
bone4 ,so  ,i drank pretty freely1 as   
you' know1 and went home1 in            
consequence1  drunk at night1           
notwithstanding ,i had promised ,sally1 
solemnly1 in  the morning1 never to     
touch another drop again as long as ,i  
lived4  ,poor soul6 ,bad enough1 and    
discouraged enough1 she felt last night1
  ,i know4    ,so you see--when ,i got  
up this morning1 ,i felt half-determined
 to  sign the pledge1 at all hazards4   
,still ,i didn't want to give up my     
liberty1 and was arguing the points over
 again1 when ,sally took me  right aback
 so strongly that ,i gave up1 wrote a   
pledge1 signed it1  and nailed it up    
over the mantelpiece1 where it has got  
to stay4    ,i am most heartily glad to 
hear of your good resolution1 ,mr4      
,jones  said1 grasping warmly the hand  

of ,braddock--and heartily ashamed of   
myself for having tempted you1          
yesterday4 ,hereafter1 ,i am resolved   
not to offer liquor to any man who works
 for me4 ,if my money is not  enough for
 him1 he must go somewhere else4 ,well1 
he continued--you  have signed away your
 liberty1 as you called it4 ,do you feel
 any  more a slave than you did         
yesterday8    ,a slave8 ,no1 indeed6    
,i'm a free man now6 ,yesterday ,i was  
such a  slave to a debased appetite1    
that all my good resolutions were like  
cobwebs4 ,now ,i can act like an honest1
 rational man4 ,i am in a state  of     
freedom4 ,you ask me to drink4 ,i say   
'no'--yesterday ,i could not  say no1   
because ,i was not a free man4 ,but now 
,i am free to choose  what is right1 and
 to reject what is wrong4 ,i don't care 
for all the  grog-shops and             
whiskey-bottles from here to sun-down6  
,i'm not afraid  to go past ,harry      
,arnold's--nor even to go in there and  
make a  temperance speech1 if necessary4

 ,hurrah for freedom6    ,it cannot be  
supposed that ,jim's wife1 after her    
many sad  disappointments1 could feel   
altogether assured that he would stand  
by his pledge1 although she had more    
confidence in its power over  him than  
in anything else1 and believed that it  
was the only thing  that would save him1
 if he could be saved at all4 ,she was  
far more  cheerful1 however1 for her    
hope was stronger than it had ever been2
  and went about her house with a far   
lighter step than usual4    ,towards    
evening1 as the time began to approach  
for his return1 she  proceeded1 as she  
had done on the day before1 to make     
arrangements  for his comfortable       
reception4 ,the little scene of         
preparation for  supper1 and dressing up
 the children1 was all acted over again1
 and  with a feeling of stronger        
confidence4 ,still1 her heart would beat
  at times oppressively1 as a doubt     
would steal over her mind4    ,at last1 
the sun was just sinking behind a       

distant hill4 ,it was the  hour to      
expect him4 ,the children were gathered 
around her in the  door1 and her eyes   
were afar off1 eagerly watching to      
descry his  well-known form in the      
distance4 ,as minute after minute passed
 away1  and the sun at length went down 
below the horizon1 her heart began  to  
tremble4 ,still1 though she strained her
 eyes1 she could see  nothing of        
him1--and now the twilight began to     
fall1 dimly around1  throwing upon her  
oppressed heart a deeper shadow than    
that which  mantled1 like a thin veil1  
the distant hills and valleys4 ,with a  
heavy sigh1 she was about returning into
 the house1 when a slight  noise within 
caused her to turn quickly1 and with a  
start4    ,back again1 safe and sound1  
old girl6 greeted her glad ear1 as the  
form of her husband caught her eye1     
coming in at the back door4    ,o1 ,jim6
 she exclaimed1 her heart bounding with 
a wild1 happy  pulsation4 ,how glad ,i  
am to see you6    ,and she flung herself

 into his arms1 giving way1 as she did  
so1 to a  gush of joyful tears4    ,and 
,i'm glad enough to see you1 too1       
,sally6 ,i've thought about you  and the
 children all day1 and of how much ,i   
have wronged you4 ,but  it's all over   
now4 ,that pledge has done it6 pointing 
up as he spoke  to his pledge nailed    
over the mantelpiece4 ,since ,i signed  
that1  ,i've not had the first wish to  
touch the accursed thing that has       
ruined me4 ,i'm free1 now1 ,sally6 ,free
 to do as ,i please4 ,and that's  what  
,i havn't been for a long time4 ,as ,i  
told ,mr4 ,jones1 ,i don't  care now for
 all the grog-shops1 whiskey-bottles1   
and ,harry ,arnolds1  from here to      
sun-down4    ,i told you it was all     
nonsense1 ,jim1 about signing away your 
liberty6 ,sally said1 smiling through   
her tears of joy4    ,of course it was4 
,i never was free before4 ,but now ,i   
feel as free  as air4 ,i can go in and  
come out and care no more for the sight 
of a  grog-shop1 than for a hay-stack4  

,i can take care of my wife and         
children1 and be just as kind to them as
 ,i please4 ,and that's what ,i         
couldn't do before4 ,huzza for the      
pledge1 say ,i6    ,blister my feathers 
if ever ,i drink another drop of        
,alcohol1 or  anything that will make   
drunk come1 sick or well1 dead or alive6
    ,that evening ,jim ,braddock sat    
down to a good supper with a smiling    
wife1 and three children1 all cleanly   
dressed1 and looking as happy  as they  
could be4 ,the husband and father had   
not felt so light a  heart bounding in  
his bosom for years4 ,he was free1--and 
felt that  he was free to act as reason 
dictated1--to work for and care for his 
household treasures4    ,nearly a year  
has passed1 and ,mr4 ,james ,braddock   
has built himself a  neat little frame  
house1 which is comfortably furnished1  
and has  attached to it a               
well-cultivated garden4 ,in his parlour1
 there  hangs1 over the mantelpiece1 his
 original pledge1 handsomely framed4    

,recently in writing to a friend1 he    
says--    ,you will ask1 where did ,i   
get them8 7his new house1 furniture1    
c47 ,i'll tell you1 boy4 ,these are part
 payment for my liberty1  that ,i signed
 away4 ,didn't ,i sell it at a bargain8 
,but this is not  all4 ,i've got my shop
 back again1 with a good run of         
custom--am ten  years younger than ,i   
was a year ago--have got the happiest   
wife and  the smartest boy in all       
creation--and don't care a snap for     
anybody6  ,so now1 ,s4 come down here2  
bring your wife1 and all the            
responsibilities1 and ,i'll tell you the
 whole story--but ,i can't  write4      
,hurrah for slavery6 ,good bye6    ,,jim
 ,,braddock4              ,,the ,,fair  
,,tempter    ,,or1 ,,wine ,,on ,,the    
,,wedding-,,night4            ,,what    
will you take1 ,haley8    ,a glass of   
water4    ,nonsense6 ,say1 what will you
 take8    ,a glass of water4 ,i don't   
drink anything stronger4    ,not a      
teetotaller8 ,ha6 ha6 ha6 rejoined the  

young man's companion1  laughing in     
mingled mirth and ridicule4    ,yes1 a  
teetotaller1 if you please1 replied the 
one called  ,haley4--,or anything else  
you choose to denominate me4    ,you're 
a member of a temperance society1 then8 
ha6 ha6    ,no1 ,i am not4    ,don't    
belong to the cold-water men8    ,no4   
,then come along and drink with me6     
,here1 what will you take8    ,nothing  
at all1 unless it be a glass of water4  
,as ,i have just said1  ,i drink nothing
 stronger4    ,what's the reason8    ,i 
feel as well--indeed1 a great deal      
better without it4    ,that's all       
nonsense6 ,come1 take a julep1 or a     
brandy-punch with  me4    ,no1 ,loring1 
,i cannot4    ,i shall take it as an    
offence1 if you do not4    ,i mean no   
offence1 and shall be sorry1 if you     
construe into one an  act not so        
intended4 ,drink if you wish to drink1  
but leave me in  freedom to decline     
tasting liquor if ,i choose4    ,well1  
you are a strange kind of a genius1     

,haley--1 but ,i believe ,i  like you   
too well to get mad with you1 although  
,i generally take a  refusal to drink   
with one as an insult1 unless ,i know   
the person to  have joined a temperance 
society1--and then ,i should deem the   
insult  on my part1 were ,i to urge him 
to violate his pledge4 ,but ,i wonder   
you have never joined yourself to some  
of these ultra  reformers--these        
teetotallers1 as they call themselves4  
,i have never done so1--and never intend
 doing so4 ,it is sufficient  for me to 
decline drinking1 because ,i do not     
believe that  stimulating beverages are 
good for the body or mind4 ,i act from  
principle in this matter1 and1          
therefore1 want no external  restraints4
    ,then you are determined not to     
drink with me8    ,o1 yes1 ,i will drink
 with you4    ,cold-water8    ,of       
course4    ,one julep1 and a glass of   
,adam's-ale1 said ,loring1 turning to   
the  bar-keeper4    ,they were soon     
presented1 glasses touched1 heads       

bobbed1 and the  contents of the two    
tumblers poured down their respective   
gullets4    ,it makes a chill go over me
 to see you drinking that stuff1 ,loring
  said1 with an expression of disgust on
 his face4    ,every one to his taste1  
you know1 was ,haley's half-indifferent 
response4    ,you'll be over to-night1  
,i suppose8 said a young man1 stepping  
up  to him1 as the two emerged from the 
,coffee-house--precious little  coffee  
was ever seen there4    ,o1 yes1--of    
course4    ,you'd better not come4      
,why8    ,clara's got a bottle of       
champaign that she says she's going to  
make  you taste this very night4    ,a  
slight shade flitted quickly over the   
face of ,haley1 as the young  man said  
this4 ,but it was as quickly gone1 and  
he replied with a  smile1    ,tell      
,clara it's no use4 ,i'm an incorrigible
 cold-water man4    ,she'll be too much 
for you4    ,i'm not afraid4    ,you'd  
be1 if you were as well acquainted with 
her as ,i am4 ,i never  knew that girl  

to set her head about anything in my    
life that she  didn't accomplish it4    
,and she says that she will make you    
drink a  glass of wine with her1 in     
spite of all your opposition4    ,she'll
 find herself foiled once in her life1  
was the laughing  reply2 and so you may 
as well tell her that all her efforts   
will be  in vain1 and thus save further 
trouble4    ,no1 ,i won't1 though4 ,i'll
 tell her to go on1 while ,i stand off  
and  look at the fun4 ,i'll bet on her1 
into the bargain1 for ,i know  she'll   
beat4    ,so will ,i1 two to one6 broke 
in ,loring--    ,don't be so certain of 
that4    ,we'll see1 was the laughing   
response1 and then the young men        
separated4    ,manley1 the individual   
who had met ,loring and ,haley at the   
coffee-house door1 was the brother of   
,clara1 and ,haley was her  accepted    
lover4 ,the latter had removed to the   
city in which all the  parties resided1 
some two years before1 from the east1   
and had  commenced business for himself4

 ,nothing was known of his previous     
life1 or connections4 ,but the pure gold
 of his character soon became  apparent1
 and guarantied him a reception into    
good society4 ,all who  came into       
association with him1 were impressed in 
his favour4  ,steadily1 however1 during 
that time1 had he persisted in not      
tasting  any kind of stimulating drinks4
 ,all kinds of stimulating condiments   
at table1 were likewise avoided4 ,the   
circle of acquaintances which  had      
gradually formed around him1 or into    
which1 rather1 he had been  introduced1 
was a wine and brandy-drinking set of   
young men1 and he  was frequently urged 
to partake with them2 but neither       
persuasion1  ridicule1 nor pretended    
anger1 could1 in the least1 move him    
from  his fixed resolution4 ,such scenes
 as that just presented1 were of        
frequent occurrence1 particularly with  
recent acquaintances1 as was  the case  
with ,loring4    ,within a year he had  
been paying attention to ,clara ,manley1

 a  happy-hearted young creature1 over  
whose head scarce eighteen bright       
summers had yet passed4 ,esteem and     
admiration of her mind and  person1 had 
gradually changed into a pure and       
permanent affection1  which was tenderly
 and truly reciprocated4    ,wine1 in   
the house of ,mr4 ,manley1 was used     
almost as freely as  water4 ,it was1    
with brandy1 an invariable accompaniment
 of the  dinner-table1 and no evening   
passed without its being served around4 
,haley's refusal to touch it1 was at    
first thought singular by ,clara2  but  
she soon ceased to observe the omission1
 and the servant soon  learned in no    
case to present him the decanter4       
,george ,manley1  however1 could not    
tolerate ,haley's temperate habits1     
because he  thought his abstinence a    
mere whim1 and bantered him upon it     
whenever occasion offered4 ,at last1 he 
aroused ,clara's mind into  opposition1 
and incited her to make an effort to    
induce her lover to  drink4    ,what's  

the use of my doing it1 brother8 she    
asked1 when he first  alluded to it4    
,his not drinking does no harm to any   
one4    ,if it don't1 it makes him      
appear very singular4 ,no matter who is 
here--no matter on what occasion1 he    
must adhere to his foolish  resolution4 
,people will begin to think1 after      
awhile1 that he's some  reformed        
drunkard1 and is afraid to taste a drop 
of any kind of  liquor4    ,how can you 
talk so1 ,george8 ,clara said1 with a   
half-offended air4    ,so it will       
appear1 ,clara2 and you can't help it1  
unless you laugh  him out of his folly4 
,i don't wish to say anything to him    
about it4    ,you're afraid4    ,no1 ,i 
am not1 ,george4    ,yes1 you are4      
,what am ,i afraid of8    ,why1 you're  
afraid that you won't succeed4          
,indeed1 then1 and ,i am not4 ,a mere   
notion like that ,i could easily        
prevail on him to give up4 ,i should be 
sorry1 indeed1 if ,i had not  that much 
influence over him4    ,you'll find it a

 pretty hard notion to beat out of him1 
,i can tell  you4 ,i've seen half a     
dozen young men try for an hour by all  
kinds  of means to induce him to taste  
wine2 but it was no use4 ,he was        
immovable4    ,i don't care2--he        
couldn't refuse me1 if ,i set myself    
about it4    ,he could1 and he would1   
,clara4    ,i don't believe a word of   
it4    ,try him1 then4    ,i don't see  
any use in it4 ,let him enjoy his       
total-abstinence6 if  he wishes to4     
,i knew you were afraid4    ,indeed1 ,i 
am not1 then4    ,yes1 you are4    ,it's
 no such thing4    ,try him1 then4    ,i
 will1 then1 since it's come to that4   
,he'll be too much for you4    ,don't   
flatter yourself4 ,i'll manage him4     
,how8    ,why1 ,i'll insist on his      
taking a glass of that delightful       
champaign  with me1 which you sent home 
yesterday4    ,suppose he declines8     
,i won't take his refusal4 ,he shall    
take a glass with me4    ,we'll see1    
little sis'4 ,i'll bet on ,haley4--,and 

so saying1 the  young man turned away   
laughing at the success of his scheme4  
,that evening1 towards nine o'clock1 as 
,haley sat conversing with  ,clara1 a   
servant entered the room as usual with  
bottles and glasses4  ,george ,manley   
was promptly on his feet1 to cut the    
cork and pop  the champaign1 which he   
did1 while the servant stood just before
  ,clara and her lover4    ,you must    
take a glass of this fine champaign with
 me1 ,mr4 ,haley1  the young tempter    
said1 turning upon him a most winning   
smile4    ,indeed1 ,clara--    ,not a   
word now4 ,i shall take no refusal4     
,i must be--    ,pour him out a glass1  
,george4    ,and ,george filled two     
glasses1 one of which ,clara lifted1    
with the  sparkling liquor at the height
 of its effervescence4    ,there's the  
other2 take it quick1 before it dies1   
she said1  holding her own glass near   
her lips4    ,you must excuse me1       
,clara4 ,i do not drink wine1 ,mr4      
,haley said1 as  soon as he was         

permitted to speak1 in a tone and with a
 manner that  settled the question at   
once4    ,indeed1 it is too bad1 ,mr4   
,haley6 ,clara responded1 with a        
half-offended air1 putting her untasted 
glass of wine back upon the  waiter1--to
 deny me so trifling a request4 ,i must 
say1 that your  refusal is very         
ungallant4 ,whoever heard of a gentleman
 declining to  take wine with a lady8   
,there certainly is an exception to the 
rule to-night1 ,clara1 the  young man   
said4 ,still1 ,i can assure you1 that   
nothing ungallant was  meant4 ,but that 
you know to be out of the question4 ,i  
could not be  rude to any lady1 much    
less to you4    ,o1 as to that1 it's    
easy to make fine speeches--but acts1   
you know1  speak louder than            
words--,clara said1                     
half-laughing--half-serious4    ,the    
servant had1 by this time1 passed on    
with the untasted wine2  and1 of course1
 no further effort could be made towards
 driving the  young man from his        

position4 ,his positive refusal to      
drink1 however1  under the              
circumstances1 very naturally           
disappointed ,clara4 ,he  observed the  
sudden revulsion of feeling that took   
place in her  mind1 and it pained him   
very much4    ,as for her1 she felt     
herself positively offended4 ,she had   
set her  heart upon proving to her      
brother her power over ,haley1 but had  
signally failed in the effort4 ,he had  
proved to her immovable in his  singular
 position4    ,from that time1 for many 
weeks1 there was a coldness between him 
and  ,clara4 ,she did not receive him   
with her accustomed cordiality2 but     
seemed both hurt and offended4 ,to take 
a simple glass of champaign  with her   
was so small a request1 involving1 as   
she reasoned1 no  violation of          
principle1 that for him to refuse to do 
so1 under all  the circumstances1 was   
almost unpardonable4    ,affection1     
however1 at last triumphed over wounded 
pride1 but not  until he had begun1     

seriously1 to debate the question of    
proposing  to her a dissolution of the  
contract existing between them4         
,everything again went on smoothly      
enough1 for there was no further  effort
 on the part of ,clara to drive her     
lover from his resolution4  ,but she    
still entertained the idea of doing     
so--and still resolved  that she would  
conquer him4    ,at last the wedding-day
 was set1 and both looked forward to its
  approach with feelings of pure        
delight4 ,their friends1 without an     
exception1 approved the match2 and well 
they might1 for he was a man  of known  
integrity1 fine intellect1 and          
cultivated tastes2 and she a  young     
woman in every way fitted to unite with 
him in marriage bonds4    ,finally came 
the long anticipated evening4 ,never    
before was there  assembled in the old  
mansion of ,mr4 ,manley a happier       
company than  that which had gathered to
 witness the marriage of his daughter1  
whose young heart trembled in the       

fulness of its delight1 as she  uttered 
the sealing words of her union with one 
who possessed all  her heart4    ,may   
kind heaven bless you1 my child6        
murmured the mother1 as she  pressed her
 lips to those of her happy child4      
,and make your life glide on as         
peacefully as a quiet stream1 added  the
 father1 kissing her in turn1 scarcely  
refraining1 as he did so1  from taking  
her in his arms and folding her to his  
bosom4    ,then came crowding upon her  
the sincere congratulations of friends4 
,o1 how happy she felt ,joy seemed to   
have reached a climax4 ,the cup  was so 
full1 that a drop more would have       
overflowed the brim4    ,a few minutes  
sufficed to restore again the order that
 had reigned  through the rooms1 and the
 servants appeared with the bride's     
cake4  ,all eyes were upon the happy    
couple4    ,you won't refuse me now1    
,james8 the bride said1 in a low tone2  
but with an appealing look1 as she      
reached out her hand and lifted a  glass

 of wine4    ,there was a hesitation in 
the manner of ,haley1 and ,clara saw it4
 ,she  knew that all eyes were upon     
them1 and she knew that all had         
observed her challenge4 ,her pride was  
roused1 and she could not bear  the     
thought of being refused her first      
request after marriage4    ,take it1    
,james1 for my sake1 even if you only   
place it to your lips  without tasting  
it1 she said1 in a low1 hurried whisper4
    ,the young husband could not stand  
this4 ,he took the glass1 while the     
heart of ,clara bounded with an exulting
 throb4 ,of course1 having  gone thus   
far1 he had to go through the form of   
drinking with her4  ,in doing so1 he    
sipped but a few drops4 ,these thrilled 
on the nerve  of taste with a sensation 
of exquisite pleasure4 ,involuntarily he
  placed the glass to his lips again1   
and took a slight draught4    ,then a   
sudden chill passed through his frame as
 consciousness  returned1 and he would  
fain have dashed the glass from him as a

  poisoning serpent that was preparing  
to sting him1 but for the  company that 
crowded the rooms4 ,from this state he  
was aroused by  the sweet voice of his  
young wife1 saying1 in happy tones--    
,so it has not poisoned you1 ,james4    
,he smiled an answer1 but did not speak4
 ,the peculiar expression of  that      
smile1 ,clara remembered for many years 
afterwards4    ,come6 you must empty    
your glass with me1 she said1 in a      
moment  after4 ,see6 you have scarcely  
tasted it yet4 ,now--    ,and she raised
 her glass1 and he did the same4 ,when  
he withdrew his  own from his lips1 it  
was empty4    ,bravo6--exclaimed ,clara1
 in a low1 triumphant tone4    ,now1    
isn't that delightful wine8    ,yes1    
very4    ,did you ever taste wine       
before1 ,james8 the bride laughingly    
said--    ,o1 yes1 many a time4 ,but    
none so exquisitely flavoured as this4  
,long abstinence has sweetened it to    
your taste4    ,no doubt4    ,clara has 
been too much for you to-night1 ,haley1 

,george ,manley  said1 coming up at this
 moment1 and laughing in great glee4    
,he couldn't refuse me on such an       
occasion--the bride gaily  responded4 ,i
 set my heart on making him drink wine  
with me on our  wedding-night1 and ,i   
have succeeded4    ,are you sure he     
hasn't poured it slyly upon the floor8  
,o1 yes6 ,i saw him take every drop4    
,and what is more2 he smacked his  lips1
 and said it was exquisitely flavoured4 
,here comes the servant again1 ,george  
said1 at this moment4 ,come1  ,james6   
let me fill your glass again4 ,you must 
drink with me  to-night4 ,you've never  
given me that pleasure yet4 ,come6--,as 
well be  hung for a sheep as a lamb4    
,thus importuned1 ,haley held up his    
glass which ,george ,manley filled to   
the brim4    ,health and happiness6 the 
young man said1 bowing4    ,haley bowed 
in return1 placed the glass to his lips1
 and took its  contents at a draught4   
,bravely done6 ,why1 it seems to go down
 quite naturally4 ,you were  not always 

a total-abstinence man8    ,no1 ,i was  
not4--,while a slight shadow flitted    
over his face4    ,welcome back again1  
then1 to a truly social1 and convivial  
spirit6  ,after this1 don't let me ever 
see you refuse a generous glass4        
,what6 ,an empty wine-glass in the hand 
of young ,mr4 ,incorrigible6  ,upon my  
word6 ejaculated old ,mr4 ,manley1      
coming up at this moment4    ,o1 yes1   
pa6 ,i've conquered him to-night6 ,he   
couldn't refuse to take  a glass of wine
 with me on this occasion6 the daughter 
said1 in  great glee4    ,he must take  
one with me1 too1 then4    ,you must    
excuse me1 indeed1 sir1 ,haley          
replied--rallying himself1  and bracing 
up into firmness his broken and still   
wavering  resolutions4    ,indeed1 then1
 and ,i won't4    ,o1 no4 ,don't excuse 
him at all1 pa6 ,he drank with me1 and  
then with  brother1 and now to refuse to
 drink with you would be a downright    
shame4    ,he has taken a glass with    
,george1 too1 has he8 ,and now wants to 

be  excused when ,i ask him4 ,upon my   
word6 ,here1 ,george1 tell the servant  
to come over this way4    ,the servant  
came1 of course1 in a moment or two1    
with the wine4    ,fill up his glass1   
,george1 the father said4    ,haley's   
glass was1 of course1 filled again4     
,now1 my boy6--,here's a health to my   
children6 ,may this night's  happiness  
be but as a drop to the ocean of delight
 in reserve for  them4 ,drinking4       
,and here's to our father6 ,may his     
children never love him less than  they 
do now4 ,drinking in turn4    ,thank    
you1 my boy6    ,and thank you in       
return1 for your kind wishes4    ,that  
wine didn't seem to taste unpleasantly1 
,james8    ,o1 no1 sir4 ,it is rich and 
generous4    ,how long is it since you  
tasted wine8    ,about three years4     
,are you not fond of it8    ,o1 yes4 ,i 
like a good glass of wine4    ,then what
 in the world has made you act so       
singularly about it8    ,a mere whim of 
mine1 ,i suppose you will call it4 ,and 

perhaps it  was4 ,i thought ,i was just 
as well without it4    ,nonsense6 ,don't
 let me ever again hear of this         
foolishness4    ,and then the old man   
mingled with the happy company4         
,come1 ,james1 you must drink with me1  
too1 the mother said1 a  little while   
afterward4    ,haley did not seem       
unwilling1 but turned off a glass of    
wine with an  air of real pleasure4     
,you must drink with me1 too1 went      
through the room4 ,every little  while  
some one1 with whom the young man had on
 former occasions  refused to drink1    
finding out that he had been driven from
 his  cold-water resolutions1 insisted  
upon taking a glass with him4 ,such     
being the case1 it is not to be wondered
 at that a remark like this  should be  
made before the passage of an hour4     
,see6 ,as ,i live1 ,haley's getting     
lively6    ,i think that 'rich and      
generous wine' is beginning to brighten 
you  up a little1 ,mr4 ,manley said1    
about this time1 slapping his           

son-in-law familiarly upon the shoulder8
    ,i feel very happy1 sir1 was        
,haley's reply4    ,that's right4 ,this 
is a happy occasion4    ,i never was so 
happy in my life6 ,i hardly know what to
 do with  myself4 ,come6 ,won't you take
 some wine with me4 ,i drank with you a 
little while ago4    ,certainly6        
,certainly6 ,my boy6 ,or1 perhaps you   
would try a little  brandy4    ,no      
objection1 said the young man4 ,and then
 the two went to the  side-board1 and   
each took a stiff glass of brandy4      
,that's capital6 ,it makes me feel good6
 ejaculated ,haley1 as he set  his empty
 glass down4    ,cotillions were now    
formed1 and the bride and groom took the
 floor  in the first set4 ,clara felt   
very proud of her husband as she leaned 
upon his arm1 waiting for the music to  
begin1 and glanced around  upon her     
maiden companions with a look of        
triumph4 ,but she soon had  cause to    
abate her exultation1 for when the music
 struck up1 and the  dancers commenced  

their intricate movements1 she found    
that her  husband blundered so as to    
throw all into confusion4 ,the reason of
  this instantly flashed upon her mind1 
for she knew him to be a  correct and   
graceful dancer4 ,he was too much       
intoxicated to dance6   ,her woman's    
pride caused her to make the effort to  
guide him  through the figures4 ,but it 
was of no use4 ,the second attempt      
failed  signally by his breaking the    
figures1 and reeling with a loud1       
drunken laugh1 through and through1 and 
round and round the  astonished group of
 dancers1 thrown thus suddenly into     
confusion4    ,poor ,clara1 overwhelmed 
with mortification1 retired to a seat1  
while  her husband continued his antics1
 ending them finally with an ,indian    
whoop1 such as may often be heard late  
at night in the streets1 from  a company
 of drunken revellers1--when he sought  
her out1 and came  and took a seat by   
her side4    ,aint you happy to-night1  
,clara6 ,aint you1 old girl6 he said1 in

 a  loud voice1 striking her with his   
open hand upon the shoulder4 ,i'm  so   
happy that ,i feel just ready to jump   
out of my skin6 ,whoop6--,now  see how  
beautifully ,i can cut a pigeon's-wing4 
,and he sprang from his seat1 and       
commenced describing the elegant  figure
 he had named1 with industrious energy1 
much to the amusement  of one portion of
 the company1 but to the painful        
mortification of  another4 ,a circle was
 soon formed around him1 to witness his 
graceful movements1 which strongly      
reminded those present who had          
witnessed the performances1 of a        
corn-field negro's ,juba1 or the        
double-shuffle4    ,come1 old ,mr4      
,manley said1 interrupting the young man
 in his  evolutions1 by laying his hand 
upon his arm4    ,come6 ,i want you a   
moment4    ,hel-lel-lel-lo1 o-o1 there6 
,what's wanting8 ha6 he said1 pausing1  
and then staggering forwards against ,mr
 ,manley4 ,who are you1 sir8    ,for    
shame1 sir6 the old man replied in a    

stern voice4 ,come with  me1 ,i wish to 
speak to you4    ,speak here1 then1 will
 you8 ,i've no se-se-secrets4 ,i'm open 
and  above board6 ,jim ,haley's the boy 
that knows what he's about6             
,who-o-o-oop6 ,clear the track there6   
,and starting away from the old man1 he 
ran two or three paces1 and  then sprang
 clear over the head of a young lady1   
frightening her  almost out of her wits4
    ,there6 ,who'll match me that8 ,jim 
,haley's the boy what's hard to  beat6  
,whoo-oo-oop1 hurrah6 ,but where's      
,clara8 ,where's my dear little  wifie8 
,ah6 there--,no1 that isn't her1        
neither4 ,wh-wh-where is the  little    
jade8    ,the whole of this passed in a 
few moments1 with all the drunken       
gestures required to give it the fullest
 effect4    ,poor ,clara1 at first      
mortified1 when she saw what a perfect  
madman  her husband had become1 was so  
shocked that her feelings overcame  her1
 and she was carried fainting from the  
room4 ,o1 how bitter was  her momentary 

repentance of her blind folly1 ere her  
bewildered  senses forsook her4    ,as  
for ,haley1 he grew worse and worse1    
until the brandy which he  continued to 
pour down1 had completely stupified him1
 when he was  carried off to bed in a   
state of drunken insensibility2 after   
which1  the company retired in          
oppressive and embarrassed silence4     
,sad and lonely was the bridal chamber  
that night1 and the couch of  the young 
bride was wet with bitter1 but          
unavailing tears4    ,on the next       
morning1 those who first entered the    
room where ,haley  had slept1 found it  
empty4 ,towards the middle of the day1 a
 letter  was left for ,clara by an      
unknown hand4 ,it ran thus3    ,,dear   
,,clara--,for you are still dear to me1 
although you have robbed  me of         
happiness for ever1 and crushed your own
 hopes with mine4 ,for  years before ,i 
came to this place1 ,i had been a slave 
to  intoxication--a slave held in a     
fearful bondage4 ,at last1 ,i resolved  

to break loose from my thraldom4 ,one   
vigorous effort1 and ,i was  free4      
,there yet remained to me a small       
remnant of a wrecked fortune4  ,with    
this ,i abandoned my early home1 and    
fixed my residence here1  determined    
once more to be a man4 ,temptations     
beset me on every  hand2 but while ,i   
touched not1 tasted not1 handled not1 ,i
 knew that  ,i was safe4 ,but alas for  
the hour when you became my tempter6 ,o1
  that the remembrance of it could be   
blotted from my memory for ever6  ,when1
 for your sake1 ,i raised that fatal    
glass to my lips1 and the  single drop  
of wine that touched them thrilled      
wildly through every  nerve1 ,i felt    
that ,i was lost4 ,horrible were my     
sensations1 but your  tempting voice    
lured me to sip the scarcely tasted     
poison2 ,i did so1  and my resolution   
was gone6 ,all that occurred after that 
is only  dimly written on my memory4    
,but ,i was a madman4 ,that ,i can      
realize4  ,when drunk1 ,i have always   

acted the madman4 ,and now we part for  
ever6 ,i am a proud man1 and cannot     
remain in the scene of my  disgrace4 ,my
 property ,i leave for you1 and go ,i   
know not1 and care  not1                
whither--perhaps to die1 unlamented1 and
 unknown1 and sink into  a drunkard's   
grave4 ,farewell6    ,this letter bore  
neither name nor date4 ,but they were   
not needed4    ,five years from that    
sorrowful morning ,clara sat by a window
 in her  father's house1 near the close 
of day1 looking dreamily up into the    
serene and cloudless sky4 ,her face was 
pale1 and had a look of  hopeless       
suffering4 ,five years6--,it seemed as  
if twenty must have  passed over her    
head1 each burdening her with a heavy   
weight of  affliction4 ,o1 what a wreck 
did she present6 ,five years of such a  
life6 ,who can tell their history8 ,she 
was alone2 and sat with her  head upon  
her hand1 and her eyes fixed1 as if upon
 some object4 ,but1  evidently1 no image
 touched the nerve of vision4 ,presently

 her lips  moved1 and a few mournful    
words were uttered aloud1 almost        
involuntarily4    ,o1 that ,i knew where
 he was6 ,o1 that ,i could but find him1
 if  alive6    ,a slight noise startled 
her1 and she turned quickly4 ,was it a  
vision8 ,or did her long-lost husband   
stand before her1 the shadow of  what he
 had been8    ,clara6 ,dear ,clara6     
,in a moment she was clinging to him    
with a trembling1 eager1  convulsive    
grasp4 ,tenderly did he fold her in his 
arms1 and press  his lips to hers       
fervently4    ,clara6 ,dear ,clara6     
,my own dear husband6 was all she could 
utter1 as she sank like a  helpless     
child on his bosom4    ,for four years  
from the night of his wedding1 ,haley   
had been a  common drunkard1 with no    
power over himself4 ,on the brink of the
  grave1 he was rescued1 signed a pledge
 of total abstinence1 and set  himself  
eagerly to work to elevate his          
condition4 ,one year had  sufficed to   
efface many sad tokens of his           

degradation1 but time  could not restore
 the freshness to his cheek1 nor the    
light to his  eye4 ,then he returned and
 sought his bride1 who still mourned him
  with an inconsolable grief4 ,a few    
months produced a happy change in  both4
 ,but they cannot look back4 ,over the  
past they throw a  veil1--the future is 
theirs1 and it is growing brighter and  
brighter4 ,may its clear sky never be   
darkened6              ,,the ,,eleventh 
,,commandment4            ,is there a   
good fire in the little spare room      
,jane8 said ,mr4 ,wade1  a plain country
 farmer1 coming into the kitchen where  
his good wife  was busy preparing for   
supper4    ,oh1 yes1 ,i've made the room
 as comfortable as can be1 replied ,mrs4
  ,wade2 but ,i wish you would take up a
 good armful of wood now1 so  that we   
wont have to disturb ,mr4 ,n--1 by going
 into the room after  he gets here4     
,if he should come this evening1        
remarked the husband4 ,but it is        
getting late1 and ,i am afraid he won't 

be here ,before the morning4    ,oh1 ,i 
guess he will be along soon4 ,i have    
felt all day as if he  were coming4     
,they say he is a good man1 and preaches
 most powerfully4 ,mr4 ,jones  heard him
 preach in ,new ,york at the last       
conference1 and tells me he  never heard
 such a sermon as he gave them4 ,it cut 
right and left1  and his words went home
 to every heart like arrows of          
conviction4    ,i hope he will be here  
this evening1 remarked the wife as she  
put  some cakes in the oven4    ,and so 
do ,i4 remarked ,mr4 ,wade1 as he turned
 away1 and went out to  the wood pile   
for an armfull of wood for the expected 
minister's  room4    ,it was ,saturday  
afternoon1 and nearly sundown4 ,mr4     
,n--1 who was  expected to arrive1 and  
for whose comfort every preparation in  
their  power to make1 had been completed
 by the family at whose house he  was to
 stay1 was the new ,presiding ,elder of 
,b--,district1 in the  ,new ,jersey     
,conference4 ,quarterly meeting was to  

be held on the next  day1 which was     
,sunday1 when ,mr4 ,n--was to preach1   
and administer  the ordinances of the   
church4 ,being his first visit to that  
part of  the ,district1 the preacher was
 known to but few1 if any1 of the       
members1 and they all looked forward to 
his arrival with interest1  and were    
prepared to welcome him with respect and
 affection4    ,the house of ,mr4 ,wade 
was known as the 'minister's home4' ,for
 years1  in their movements through the 
circuit1 the preachers1 as they came    
round to this part in the field of their
 appointed labor1 were  welcomed by     
,brother and ,sister ,wade1 and the     
little spare chamber  made comfort4 able
 for their reception4 ,it was felt by   
these  honest-hearted people1 more a    
privilege than a duty1 thus to share    
their temporal blessings with the men of
 ,god who ministered to them  in holy   
things4 ,they had their weaknesses1 as  
we all have4 ,one of  their weaknesses  
consisted in a firm belief that they    

were deeply  imbued with the genuine    
religion1 and regarded things spiritual 
above all worldly considerations4 ,they 
were kind1 good people1  certainly1 but 
not as deeply read in the lore of their 
own hearts1  not as familiar with the   
secret springs of their own actions1 as 
all  of us should desire to be4 ,but    
this was hardly to be wondered at1      
seeing that their position in the church
 was rather elevated as  compared with  
those around them1 and they were the    
subjects of  little distinguishing marks
 flattering to the natural man4         
,while ,mr4 ,wade was splitting a log at
 the wood-pile1 his thoughts on  the new
 ,presiding ,elder1 and his feelings    
warm with the anticipated  pleasure of  
meeting and entertaining him1 a man of  
common appearance  approached along the 
road1 and when he came to where the     
farmer was1  stood still and looked at  
him until he had finished cutting the   
log1  and was preparing to lift the     
cleft pieces in his arms4    ,rather a  

cold day this1 said the man4    ,yes1   
rather1 returned ,mr4 ,wade1 a little   
indifferently1 and in a  voice meant to 
repulse the stranger1 whose appearance  
did not  impress him very favorably4    
,how far is it to ,d--8 inquired the    
man4    ,three miles1 replied ,mr4      
,wade1 who having filled his arms with  
wood1 was beginning to move off towards 
the house4    ,so far6 said the man in a
 tone that was slightly marked with     
hesitation4 ,i thought it was but a     
little way from this4 ,then with  an air
 of hesitation1 and speaking in a       
respectful voice1 he added1  ,i would   
feel obliged if you would let me go in  
and warm myself4 ,i  have walked for two
 miles in the cold1 an--as ,d--is still 
three  miles off1 ,i shall be chilled   
through before ,i get there4    ,so     
modest and natural a request as this1   
,mr4 ,wade could not refuse1  and yet1  
in the way he said--,oh1                
certainly--there was a manner  that     
clearly betrayed his wish that the man  

had passed on and  preferred his request
 somewhere else4 ,whether this was      
noticed or  not1 is of no consequence2  
the wayfarer on this assent to his      
request1 followed ,mr4 ,wade into the   
house4    ,jane1 said the farmer as he  
entered the house with the stranger1    
and his voice was not as cordial as it  
might have been2 let this  man warm     
himself by the kitchen fire4 ,he has to 
go all the way to  ,d--this evening and 
says he is cold4    ,there is a kind of 
magnetic intelligence in the tones of   
the voice4  ,mrs4 ,wade understood      
perfectly1 by the way in which this was 
said1  that the husband did not feel    
much sympathy for the stranger1 and     
only yielded the favor asked because he 
could not well refuse to  grant it4 ,her
 own observation did not correct the    
impression her  husband's manner had    
produced4 ,the man's dress1 though      
neither dirty  nor ragged1 was not      
calculated to impress any one very      
favorably4  ,his hat was much worn1 and 

the old gray coat in which he was       
buttoned up to the chin1 had seen so    
much service that it was  literally     
threadbare from collar to skirt1 and    
showed numerous  patches1 darns1 and    
other evidences of needlework1 applied  
long  since to its original manufacture4
 ,his cow-hide boots1 though whole1  had
 a coarse look2 and his long dark beard 
gave his face1 not a very  prepossessing
 one at best1 a no very attractive      
aspect4    ,you can sit down there1 said
 ,mrs4 ,wade1 a little ungraciously1 for
  she felt the presence of the man1 just
 at that particular juncture1  as an    
intrusion2 and she pointed to an old    
chair that stood4 near  the fire-place1 
in front of which was a large ,dutch    
oven containing  some of her best cream 
short cakes1 prepared especially for    
,mr4  ,n--1 the new ,presiding ,elder   
now momently expected4    ,thank you1   
,ma'am1 returned the stranger1 as he    
took the chair1 and  drew close up to   
the blazing hearth1 and removing his    

thick woolen  gloves1 spread his hands  
to receive the genial warmth4           
,nothing more was said by either the    
stranger or ,mr4 ,wade1 for the  space  
of three or four minutes4 ,during this  
time1 the good  house-wife passed in and
 out1 once or twice1 busy as could be in
  looking after supper affairs4 ,the lid
 of the ample ,dutch oven had  been     
raised once or twice1 and both the eyes 
and nose of the  traveller greeted with 
a pleasant token of the good fare soon  
to be  served up in the family4 ,he was 
no longer cold2 but the sight and  smell
 of the cakes and other good things in  
preparation by the lady1  awakened a    
sense of hunger1 and made it keenly     
felt4 ,but1 as the  comfort of a little 
warmth had been bestowed so reluctantly1
 he  could not think of trespassing on  
the farmer and his wife for a bite  of  
supper1 and so commenced drawing on his 
heavy woolen gloves1 and  buttoning up  
his old gray coat4 ,while occupied in   
doing this1 ,mr4  ,wade came into the   

kitchen1 and said--    ,i'm afraid      
,jane1 that the minister won't be along 
this evening4  ,it's after sun-down1 and
 begins to grow duskish4    ,he ought to
 have been here an hour ago1 returned   
,mrs4 ,w41 in a  tone of disappointment4
    ,it's getting late1 my friend1 and  
,d--'s a good distance ahead1  remarked 
the farmer1 after standing with his back
 to the fire1 and  regarding for some   
moments the stranger1 who had taken off 
his  gloves1 and was slowly unbuttoning 
his coat again4    ,it's three miles you
 say8    ,yes1 good three miles1 if not 
more2 and it will be dark in half an    
hour4    ,what direction must ,i take8  
required the stranger4    ,you keep     
along the road until you come to the    
meeting house on the  top of the hill1  
half a mile beyond this1 and then you   
strike off to  the right1 and keep      
straight on4    ,what meeting house is  
it8    ,the ,d--,methodist ,meeting     
,house4    ,you are expecting the       
minister1 ,i think you just now said8   

,yes4 ,mr4 ,n--1 our new ,presiding     
,elder1 is to preach to-morrow1  and he 
was to have been here this afternoon4   
,he is to stay with you8    ,certainly  
he is4 ,the ministers all stay at my    
house4    ,the man got up1 and went to  
the door and looked out4    ,couldn't   
you give me a little something to eat   
before ,i go1 he  said1 returning4 ,i   
havn't tasted food since this morning1  
and feel  a little faint4    ,jane1     
can't you give him some cold meat and   
bread8 ,mr4 ,wade turned  to his wife1  
and she answered1 just a little         
fretfully1 ,oh1 yes1 ,i  suppose so2 and
 going to the cupboard1 brought out a   
dish  containing a piece of cold fat    
bacon that had been boiled with  cabbage
 for dinner1 and half a loaf of bread1  
which she placed on  the kitchen table  
and told the man to help himself4 ,the  
stranger did  not wait for another      
invitation2 but set to work in good     
earnest  upon the bread and bacon1 while
 the farmer stood with his hands  behind

 him1 and his back to the fire1         
whistling the air of ,auld  ,lang ,syne1
 while he mentally repeated the words of
 the hymn of  ,when ,i can read my title
 clear1 and wished that his visitor     
would  make haste and get through with  
his supper4 ,the latter1 after eating   
for a short time with the air of a man  
whose appetite was keen1  began to      
discuss the meat and bread with more    
deliberation1 and  occasionally to ask a
 question1 or make a remark1 the replies
 to  which were not very gracious1      
although ,mr4 ,wade forced himself to be
  as polite as he could be4    ,the     
homely meal at length concluded1 the man
 buttoned up his old  coat and drew on  
his coarse woolen gloves again1 and     
thanking ,mr4  and ,mrs4 ,wade for their
 hospitality1 opened the door and looked
 out4  ,it was quite dark1 for there was
 no moon1 and the sky was veiled in     
clouds4 ,the wind rushed into his face1 
cold and piercing4 ,for a  moment or    
two1 he stood with his hand upon the    

door1 and then  closing it he turned    
back into the house1 and said to the    
farmer    ,you say it is still three    
miles to ,d--8    ,i do1 said ,mr4 ,wade
 coldly4    ,i said so to you when you  
first stopped1 and you ought to have    
pushed on like a prudent man4 ,you could
 have reached there before it  was quite
 dark4    ,but ,i was cold and hungry1  
and might have fainted by the way4      
,the manner of saying this touched the  
farmer's feelings a little1  and caused 
him to look more narrowly into the      
stranger's face than  he had yet done4  
,but he saw nothing more than he had    
already seen4    ,you have warmed and   
fed me1 for which ,i am thankful4 ,will 
you not  bestow another act of kindness 
upon one who is in a strange place1  and
 if he goes out in the darkness may lose
 himself and perish in  the cold8       
,the peculiar form in which this request
 was made1 and the tone in  which it was
 uttered1 put it almost out of the power
 of the farmer  to say no4    ,go in    

there and sit down1 he 7sic7 answed1    
pointing to the  kitchen1 and ,i will   
see my wife1 and hear what she has to   
say4    ,and ,mr4 ,wade went into the   
parlor where the supper table stood1    
covered with a snow-white cloth1 and    
displaying his wife's set of            
bluesprigged china1 that was only       
brought out on special occasions4  ,two 
tall mould candles were burning thereon1
 and on the hearth  blazed a cheerful   
hickory fire4    ,hasn't that old fellow
 gone yet8 asked ,mrs4 ,wade4 ,she had  
heard  his voice as he returned from the
 door4    ,no4 ,and what do you suppose8
 ,he wants us to let him stay all       
night4    ,indeed1 and we'll do no such 
thing6 ,we can't have the likes of him  
in the house1 no how4 ,where could he   
sleep8    ,not in the best room1 even if
 ,mr4 ,n--shouldn't come4    ,no1       
indeed6    ,but ,i really don't see1    
,jane how we can turn him out of doors4 
,he  doesn't look like a very strong    
man1 and it's dark and cold1 and  full  

three miles to ,d--4    ,it's too much6 
,he ought to have gone on while he had  
daylight1 and  not lingered here as he  
did until it got dark4    ,we can't turn
 him out of doors1 ,jane2 and it's no   
use to think of  it4 ,he'll have to stay
 now4    ,but what can we do with him8  
,he seems like a decent man1 at least2  
and don't look as if he had  anything   
bad about him4 ,we might make him a bed 
on the floor  somewhere4    ,i wish he  
had been to ,guinea before he came here1
 said ,mrs4 ,wade1  fretfully4 ,the     
disappointment1 the conviction that ,mr4
 ,n--would  not arrive1 and the         
intrusion of so unwelcome a visitor as  
the  stranger1 completely unhinged her  
mind4    ,oh1 well1 ,jane1 replied her  
husband in a soothing voice1 never      
mind4 ,we must make the best of it4     
,poor man6 ,he came to us tired and     
hungry1 and we have warmed him and fed  
him4 ,he now asks shelter for  the      
night1 and we must not refuse him1 nor  
grant his request in a  complaining     

reluctant spirit4 ,you know what the    
,bible says about  entertaining angels  
unawares4    ,angels6 ,did you ever see 
an angel look like him8    ,having never
 seen an angel1 said the husband        
smiling1 ,i am unable  to speak as to   
their appearance4    ,this had the      
effect to call an answering smile to the
 face of ,mrs4  ,wade1 and a better     
feeling to her heart4 ,and it was       
finally agreed  between them1 that the  
man1 as he seemed like a decent kind of 
a  person1 should be permitted to occupy
 the minister's room1 if that           
individual did not arrive1 an event to  
which they both now looked  with but    
small expectancy4 ,if he did come1 why  
the man would have  put up with poorer  
accommodations4    ,when ,mr4 ,wade     
returned to the kitchen where the       
stranger had seated  himself before the 
fire1 he informed him1 that they had    
decided to  let him stay all night4 ,the
 man expressed in a few words his       
grateful sense of their kindness1 and   

then became silent and  thoughtful4     
,soon after1 the farmer's wife1 giving  
up all hopes of  ,mr4 ,n--'s arrival1   
had supper taken up1 which consisted of 
coffee1  warm cream short cakes1 and    
sweet cakes1 broiled ham1 and broiled   
chicken4 ,after all was on the table1 a 
short conference was held1 as  to       
whether it would do not to invite the   
stranger to take supper4 ,it  was true1 
they had given him as much bread and    
bacon as he could  eat2 but then1 as    
long as he was going to stay all night1 
it looked  too inhospitable to sit down 
to the table and not ask him to join    
them4 ,so1 making a virtue of necessity1
 he was kindly asked to come  in to     
supper1 an invitation which he did not  
decline4 ,grace was said  over the meal 
by ,mr4 ,wade1 and then the coffee was  
poured out1 the  bread helped1 and the  
meat served4    ,there was a fine little
 boy of some five or six years old at   
the  table1 who had been brightened up1 
and dressed in his best1 in order  to   

grace the minister's reception4 ,charley
 was full of talk1 and the  parents felt
 a natural pride in showing him off1    
even before their  humble guest1 who    
noticed him particularly1 although he   
had not much  to say4    ,come1         
,charley1 said ,mr4 ,wade1 after the    
meal was over1 and he sat  leaning back 
in his chair1 can't you repeat the      
pretty hymn mamma  learned you last     
,sunday8    ,charley started off1       
without further invitation1 and         
repeated1 very  accurately1 two or three
 verses of a new camp-meeting hymn1 that
 was  just then very popular4    ,now   
let us hear you say the ,commandments1  
,charley1 spoke up the  mother1 well    
pleased at her child's performance4 ,and
 ,charley  repeated them with only the  
aid of a little prompting4    ,how many 
commandments are there8 asked the       
father4    ,the child hesitated1 and    
then looking up at the stranger1 near   
whom  he sat1 said1 innocently1--       
,how many are there8    ,the man thought

 for some moments1 and said1 as if in   
doubt--    ,eleven1 are there not8      
,eleven6 ejaculated ,mrs4 ,wade1 looking
 towards the man in unfeigned  surprise4
    ,eleven6 said her husband1 with more
 of rebuke than astonishment in  his    
voice4 ,is it possible1 sir1 that you do
 not know how many  ,commandments there 
are8 ,how many are there1 ,charley8     
,come6 ,tell me2  you know1 of course4  
,ten1 said the child4    ,right1 my son1
 returned ,mr4 ,wade1 with a smile of   
approval4    ,right4 ,why1 there isn't a
 child of his age within ten miles who  
can't tell you that there are ten       
,commandments4 ,did you never read  the 
,bible1 sir8 addressing the stranger4   
,when ,i was a little boy1 ,i used to   
read in it sometimes4 ,but ,i'm  sure ,i
 thought there were eleven              
,commandments4 ,are you not mistaken    
about there being only ten8    ,sister  
,wade lifted her hands in unfeigned     
astonishment1 and  exclaimed--    ,could
 any one believe it8 ,such ignorance of 

the ,bible6    ,mr4 ,wade did not reply1
 but he arose1 and going to one corner  
of the  room1 where the ,good ,book lay 
upon a small mahogany stand1 brought  it
 to the table1 and pushing away his     
plate1 cup and saucer1 laid  the volume 
before him1 and opened that portion in  
which the  ,commandments are recorded4  
,there6 he said1 placing his finger upon
 a proof of the man's  error4 ,there6   
,look for yourself6    ,the man came    
round from his side of the table1 and   
looked over the  farmer's shoulder4     
,there6 ,ten2--d'ye see6    ,yes1 it    
does say ten1 replied the man4 ,and yet 
it seems to me  there are eleven4 ,i'm  
sure ,i have always thought so4         
,doesn't it say ten1 here8 inquired ,mr4
 ,wade1 with marked  impatience in his  
voice4    ,it does certainly4    ,well1 
what more do you want8 ,can't you       
believe the ,bible8    ,oh1 yes ,i      
believe in the ,bible1 and yet1 somehow1
 it strikes me  that there must be      
eleven ,commandments4 ,hasn't one been  

added  somewhere else8    ,now this was 
too much for ,brother and ,sister ,wade 
to bear4 ,such  ignorance on sacred     
matters they felt to be unpardonable4 ,a
 long  lecture followed1 in which the   
man was scolded1 admonished and         
threatened with ,divine indignation4 ,at
 its close1 he modestly asked  if he    
might have the ,bible to read for an    
hour or two1 before  retiring to rest4  
,this request was granted with more     
pleasure than  any of the preceding     
ones4 ,shortly after supper the man was 
conducted to the little spare room      
accompanied by the ,bible4 ,before      
leaving him alone1 ,mr4 ,wade felt it   
his duty to exhort him on  spiritual    
things1 and he did so most earnestly for
 ten or fifteen  minutes4 ,but he could 
not see that his words made much        
impression1  and he finally left his    
guest1 lamenting his ignorance and      
obduracy4    ,in the morning1 the man   
came down1 and meeting ,mr4 ,wade1 asked
 him  if he would be so kind as to lend 

him a razor1 that he might remove  his  
beard1 which did not give his face a    
very attractive aspect4 ,his  request   
was complied with4    ,we will have     
family prayer in about ten minutes1 said
 ,mr4 ,wade1 as  he handed him a razor  
and a shaving-box4    ,in ten minutes   
the man appeared and behaved himself    
with due  propriety at family worship4  
,after breakfast he thanked the farmer  
and his wife for their hospitality1 and 
departing1 went on his  journey4    ,ten
 o'clock came1 and ,mr4 ,n--had not yet 
arrived4 ,so ,mr4 and ,mrs4  ,wade      
started off for the meeting house1 not  
doubting that they would  find him      
there4 ,but they were disappointed4 ,a  
goodly number of  people were inside the
 meeting house1 and a goodly number     
outside1  but the minister had not yet  
arrived4    ,where is ,mr4 ,n--8        
inquired a dozen voices1 as a little    
crowd  gathered around the farmer4      
,he hasn't come yet4 ,something has     
detained him4 ,but ,i still look  for   

him2 indeed1 ,i fully expected to find  
him here4    ,the day was cold1 and ,mr4
 ,wade1 after becoming thoroughly       
chilled1  concluded to go in1 and keep a
 look-out for the minister from the     
window near which he usually sat4       
,others1 from the same cause1  followed 
his example1 and the little meeting     
house was soon filled1  and still one   
after another came dropping in4 ,the    
farmer1 who turned  towards the door    
each time it opened1 was a little       
surprised to see  his guest of the      
previous night enter1 and come slowly   
along the  aisle1 looking from side to  
side as if in search of a vacant seat1  
very few of which were now left4 ,still 
advancing1 he finally passed  within the
 little enclosed altar1 and ascending to
 the pulpit1 took  off his old gray     
overcoat and sat down4    ,by this time 
,mr4 ,wade was by his side1 and with his
 hand upon his  arm4    ,you mustn't sit
 here4 ,come down1 and ,i'll show you a 
seat1 he said  in an excited tone4      

,thank you1 returned the man1 in a      
composed tone4 ,it is very  comfortable 
here4    ,but you are in the pulpit6    
,you are in the pulpit1 sir6    ,oh1    
never mind4 ,it is very comfortable     
here4 ,and the man remained  immovable4 
,mr4 ,wade1 feeling much embarrassed1   
turned away1 and went down1  intending  
to get a brother official in the church 
to assist him in  making a forcible     
ejection of the man from the place he   
was  desecrating4 ,immediately upon his 
doing so1 however1 the man arose1  and  
standing up at the desk1 opened the hymn
 book4 ,his voice  thrilled to the very 
finger ends of ,brother ,wade1 as1 in a 
distinct  and impressive manner1 he gave
 out the hymn beginning--      ,help us 
to help each other1 ,lord1    ,each     
other's cross to bear2    ,let each his 
friendly aid afford1    ,and feel a     
brother's care4    ,the congregation    
arose after the stranger had read the   
entire hymn1  and he then repeated the  
two first lines for them to sing4       

,brother  ,wade usually started the     
tune4 ,he tried it this time1 but went  
off  on a long metre tune4 ,discovering 
his mistake at the second word1 he      
balked1 and tried it again1 but now he  
stumbled on short metre4 ,a  musical    
brother here came to his aid1 and let   
off with an air that  suited the measure
 in which the hymn was written4 ,after  
the singing1  the congregation kneeled1 
and the minister1 for no one now doubted
  his real character1 addressed the     
,throne of ,grace with much fervor  and 
eloquence4 ,the reading of a chapter    
from the ,bible succeeded to  these     
exercises4 ,then there was a deep pause 
throughout the room in  anticipation of 
the text1 which the preacher prepared to
 announce4    ,brother ,wade looked     
pale1 and his hands and knees           
trembled2--,sister  ,wade's face was    
like crimson1 and her heart was beating 
so loud that  she wondered whether the  
sound was not heard by the sister who   
sat  beside her4 ,there was a breathless

 silence4 ,the dropping of a pin  might 
almost have been heard4 ,then the fine1 
emphatic tones of the  preacher filled  
the crowded room4    ,a new commandment 
,i give unto you1 that you love one     
another4    ,brother ,wade had bent to  
listen1 but he now sank back in his     
seat4  ,this was the ,,eleventh         
,,commandment6    ,the sermon was deeply
 searching1 yet affectionate and        
impressive4  ,the preacher uttered      
nothing that could in the least wound1  
the  brother and sister of whose        
hospitality he had partaken1 but he said
  much that smote upon their hearts1 and
 made them painfully conscious  that    
they had not shown as much kindness to  
the stranger as he had  been entitled to
 receive on the broad principles of     
humanity4 ,but  they suffered most from 
mortification of feeling4 ,to think that
 they  should have treated the          
,presiding ,elder of the ,district after
 such a  fashion1 was deeply            
humiliating2 and the idea of the whole  

affair  getting abroad1 interfered sadly
 with their devotional feelings         
throughout the whole period of the      
service4    ,at last the sermon was     
over1 the ordinance administered1 and   
the  benediction pronounced4 ,brother   
,wade did not know what it was best  for
 him now to-do4 ,he never was more at a 
loss in his life4 ,mr4  ,n--descended   
from the pulpit1 but he did not step    
forward to meet  him4 ,how could he do  
that8 ,others gathered around and shook 
hands  with him1 but he still lingered  
and held back4    ,where is ,brother    
,wade8 he at length heard asked4 ,it was
 in the  voice of the minister4    ,here
 he is1 said two or three1 opening the  
way to where the farmer  stood4    ,the 
preacher advanced1 and extending his    
hand1 said--    ,how do you do1 ,brother
 ,wade8 ,i am glad to see you4 ,and     
where is  ,sister ,wade8    ,sister     
,wade was brought forward1 and the      
preacher shook hands with  them         
heartily1 while his face was lit up with

 smiles4    ,i believe ,i am to find my 
home with you8 he said1 as if that were 
a matter understood and settled4        
,before the still embarrassed brother   
and sister could reply1 some  one       
asked--    ,how came you to be detained 
so late8 ,you were expected last night4 
,and where is ,brother ,r--8    ,brother
 ,r--is sick1 replied ,mr4 ,n--1 and so 
,i had to come  alone4 ,five miles from 
this my horse gave out1 and ,i had to   
come the  rest of the way on foot4 ,but 
,i became so cold and weary that ,i     
found  it necessary to ask a farmer not 
far away from here to give me a  night's
 lodging1 which he was kind enough to   
do4 ,i thought ,i was  still three miles
 off1 but it happened that ,i was much  
nearer my  journey's end than ,i had    
supposed4    ,this explanation was      
satisfactory to all parties1 and in due 
time  the congregation dispersed2 and   
the ,presiding ,elder went home with    
,brother and ,sister ,wade4 ,how the    
matter was settled between them1 we  do 

not know4 ,one thing is certain1        
however1--the story which we have       
related did not get out for some years  
after the worthy brother and  sister had
 rested from their labors1 and it was   
then related by ,mr4  ,n--himself1 who  
was rather 7sic7 excentric in his       
character1 and1  like numbers of his    
ministerial brethren1 fond of a good    
joke1 and  given to relating good       
stories4              ,,the ,,iron      
,,will4            ,,fanny6 ,i've but   
one word more to say on the subject4 ,if
 you marry  that fellow1 ,i'll have     
nothing to do with you4 ,i've said it2  
and you  may be assured that ,i'll      
adhere to my determination4    ,thus    
spoke1 with a frowning brow and a stern 
voice1 the father of  ,fanny ,crawford1 
while the maiden sat with eyes bent upon
 the floor4    ,he's a worthless1       
good-for-nothing fellow1 resumed the    
father2  ,and if you marry him1 you wed 
a life of misery4 ,don't come back to   
me1 for ,i will disown you the day you  

take his name4 ,i've said it1  and my   
decision is unalterable4    ,still      
,fanny made no answer1 but sat like a   
statue4    ,lay to heart what ,i have   
said1 and make your election1 girl4 ,and
  with these words1 ,mr4 ,crawford      
retired from the presence of his        
daughter4    ,on that evening ,fanny    
,crawford left her father's house1 and  
was  secretly married to a young man    
named ,logan1 whom1 spite of all his    
faults1 she tenderly loved4    ,when    
this fact became known to ,mr4          
,crawford1 he angrily repeated his      
threat of utterly disowning his child2  
and he meant what he  said--for he was a
 man of stern purpose and unbending     
will4 ,when  trusting to the love she   
believed him to bear for her1 ,fanny    
ventured home1 she was rudely repulsed1 
and told that she no longer  had a      
father4 ,these cruel words fell upon her
 heart and ever after  rested there1 an 
oppressive weight4    ,logan was a young
 mechanic1 with a good trade and the    

ability to  earn a comfortable living4  
,but ,mr4 ,crawford's objection to him  
was  well founded1 and it would have    
been better for ,fanny if she had       
permitted it to influence her2 for the  
young man was idle in his  habits1 and  
,mr4 ,crawford too clearly saw that     
idleness would lead to  dissipation4    
,the father had hoped that his threat to
 disown his  child would have deterred  
her from taking the step he so strongly 
disapproved4 ,he had1 in fact1 made this
 threat as a last effort to  save her   
from a union that would1 inevitably1    
lead to unhappiness4  ,but having made  
it1 his stubborn and offended pride     
caused him to  adhere with stern        
inflexibility to his word4    ,when     
,fanny went from under her father's     
roof1 the old man was left  alone4 ,the 
mother of his only child had been many  
years dead4 ,for  her father's sake1 as 
well as for her own1 did ,fanny wish to 
return4  ,she loved her parents with a  
most earnest affection1 and thought of  

him as sitting gloomy and companionless 
in that home so long made  light and    
cheerful by her voice and smile4 ,hours 
and hours would she  lie awake at night1
 thinking of her father1 and weeping for
 the  estrangement of his heart from    
her4 ,still there was in her bosom an   
ever living hope that he would relent4  
,and to this she clung1 though  he      
passed her in the street without looking
 at her1 and steadily  denied her       
admission1 when1 in the hope of some    
change in his stern  purpose1 she would 
go to his house and seek to gain an     
entrance4    ,as the father had         
predicted1 ,logan added1 in the course  
of a year or  two1 dissipation to idle  
habits and neglect of his wife to both4 
,they had gone to housekeeping in a     
small way1 when first married1  and had 
lived comfortably enough for some time4 
,but ,logan did not  like work1 and made
 every excuse he could find to take a   
holiday1 or  be absent from the shop4   
,the effect of this was1 an insufficient

  income4 ,debt came with its mortifying
 and 7sic7 harrassing  accompaniments1  
and furniture had to be sold to pay     
those who were  not disposed to wait4   
,with two little children1 ,fanny was   
removed by  her husband into a cheap    
boarding-house1 after their things were 
taken and sold4 ,the company into which 
she was here thrown1 was far  from being
 agreeable2 but this would have been no 
source of  unhappiness in itself4       
,cheerfully would she have breathed the 
uncongenial atmosphere1 if there had    
been nothing in the conduct of  her     
husband to awaken feelings of anxiety4  
,but1 alas6 there was much  to create   
unhappiness here4 ,idle days were more  
frequent2 and the  consequences of idle 
days more and more serious4 ,from his   
work1 he  would come home sober and     
cheerful2 but after spending a day in   
idle  company1 or in the woods gunning1 
a sport of which he was fond1 he  would 
meet his wife with a sullen1            
dissatisfied aspect1 and1 too  often1 in

 a state little above intoxication4     
,i'm afraid thy son-in-law is not doing 
very well1 friend ,crawford1  said a    
plain-spoken ,quaker to the father of   
,mrs4 ,logan1 after the  young man's    
habits began to show themselves too     
plainly in his  appearance4    ,mr4     
,crawford knit his brows1 and drew his  
lips closely together4    ,has thee seen
 young ,logan lately8    ,i don't know  
the young man1 replied ,mr4 ,crawford1  
with an  impatient motion of his head4  
,don't know thy own son-in-law6 ,the    
husband of thy daughter6    ,i have no  
son-in-law6 ,no daughter6 said          
,crawford1 with stern  emphasis4        
,frances was the daughter of thy wedded 
wife1 friend ,crawford4    ,but ,i have 
disowned her4 ,i forewarned her of the  
consequences if  she married that young 
man4 ,i told her that ,i would cast her 
off for  ever2 and ,i have done it4     
,but1 friend ,crawford1 thee has done   
wrong4    ,i've said it1 and ,i'll stick
 to it4    ,but thee has done wrong1    

friend ,crawford1 repeated the ,quaker4 
,right or wrong1 it is done1 and ,i will
 not recall the act4 ,i gave  her fair  
warning2 but she took her own course1   
and now she must  abide the             
consequences4 ,when ,i say a thing1 ,i  
mean it2 ,i never eat  my words4        
,friend ,crawford1 said the ,quaker1 in 
a steady voice and with his  calm eyes  
fixed upon the face of the man he       
addressed4 ,thee was  wrong to say what 
thee did4 ,thee had no right to cast off
 thy child4  ,i saw her to-day1 passing 
slowly along the street4 ,her dress was 
thin and faded2 but not so thin and     
faded as her pale1 young face4  ,ah6 if 
thee could have seen the sadness of that
 countenance4 ,friend  ,crawford6 she is
 thy child still4 ,thee cannot disown   
her4    ,i never change1 replied the    
resolute father4    ,she is the child of
 thy beloved wife1 now in heaven1 friend
  ,crawford4    ,good morning6 and      
,crawford turned and walked away4       
,rash words are bad enough1 said the    

,quaker to himself1 but how  much worse 
is it to abide by rash words1 after     
there has been time  for reflection and 
repentance6    ,crawford was troubled by
 what the ,quaker said2 but more        
troubled by  what he saw a few minutes  
afterwards1 as he walked along the      
street1  in the person of his daughter's
 husband4 ,he met the young man1        
supported by two others--so much        
intoxicated that he could not stand     
alone4 ,and in this state he was going  
home to his wife--to ,fanny6    ,the    
father clenched his hands1 set his teeth
 firmly together1  muttered an          
imprecation upon the head of ,logan1 and
 quickened his  pace homeward4 ,try as  
he would1 he could not shut out from his
 mind  the pale1 faded countenance of   
his child1 as described by the  ,quaker1
 nor help feeling an inward shudder at  
the thought of what  she must suffer on 
meeting her husband in such a state4    
,she has only herself to blame1 he said1
 as he struggled with his  feelings4 ,i 

forewarned her2 ,i gave her to          
understand clearly what  she had to     
expect4 ,my word is passed4 ,i have said
 it2 and that ends  the matter4 ,i am no
 childish trifler4 ,what ,i say1 ,i     
mean4    ,logan had been from home all  
day1 and1 what was worse1 had not been1 
as his wife was well aware1 at the shop 
for a week4 ,the woman with  whom they  
were boarding1 came into her room during
 the afternoon1  and1 after some        
hesitation and embarrassment1 said--    
,i am sorry to tell you1 ,mrs4 ,logan   
that ,i shall want you to give up  your 
room1 after this week4 ,you know ,i have
 had no money from you  for nearly a    
month1 and1 from the way your husband   
goes on1 ,i see  little prospect of     
being paid any thing more4 ,if ,i was   
able1 for  your sake1 ,i would not say a
 word4 ,but ,i am not1 ,mrs4 ,logan1 and
  therefore must1 in justice to myself  
and family1 require you to get  another 
boarding-house4    ,mrs4 ,logan answered
 only with tears4 ,the woman tried to   

soften what  she had said1 and then went
 away4    ,not long after this1 ,logan  
came stumbling up the stairs1 and       
opening  the door of his room1 staggered
 in and threw himself heavily upon  the 
bed4 ,fanny looked at him a few moments1
 and then crouching down1  and covering 
her face with her hands1 wept long and  
bitterly4 ,she  felt crushed and        
powerless4 ,cast off by her father1     
wronged by her  husband1 destitute and  
about to be thrust from the poor home   
into  which she had shrunk3 faint and   
weary1 it seemed as if hope were  gone  
forever4 ,while she suffered thus1      
,logan lay in a drunken sleep4          
,arousing herself at last1 she removed  
his boots and coat1 drew a  pillow under
 his head1 and threw a coverlet over    
him4 ,she then sat  down and wept again4
 ,the tea bell rung1 but she did not go 
to the  table4 ,half an hour afterwards1
 the landlady came to the door and      
kindly inquired if she would not have   
some food sent up to her room4    ,only 

a little bread and milk for ,henry1 was 
replied4    ,let me send you a cup of   
tea1 urged the woman4    ,no1 thank you4
 ,i don't wish any thing to night4      
,the woman went away1 feeling troubled4 
,from her heart she pitied the          
suffering young creature1 and it had    
cost her a painful struggle to  do what 
she had done4 ,but the pressing nature  
of her own  circumstances required her  
to be rigidly just4 ,notwithstanding    
,mrs4  ,logan had declined having any   
thing1 she sent her a cup of tea and    
something to eat4 ,but they remained    
untasted4    ,on the next morning ,logan
 was sober1 and his wife informed him of
  the notice which their landlady had   
given4 ,he was angry1 and used  harsh   
language towards the woman4 ,fanny      
defended her1 and had the  harsh        
language transferred to her own head4   
,the young man appeared as usual at the 
breakfast table1 but ,fanny  had no     
appetite for food1 and did not go down4 
,after breakfast1  ,logan went to the   

shop1 intending to go to work2 but found
 his place  supplied by another         
journeyman1 and himself thrown out of   
employment1 with but a single dollar in 
his pocket1 a months  boarding due1 and 
his family in need of almost every      
comfort4 ,from  the shop he went to a   
tavern1 took a glass of liquor1 and sat 
down  to look over the newspapers1 and  
think what he should do4 ,there he  met 
an idle journeyman1 who1 like himself1  
had lost his situation4 ,a  fellow      
feeling made them communicative and     
confidential4    ,if ,i was only a      
single man1 said ,logan1 ,i wouldn't    
care1 ,i could  easily shift for myself4
    ,wife and children6 ,yes1 there's   
the rub1 returned the companion4  ,a    
journeyman mechanic is a fool to get    
married4    ,then you and ,i are both   
fools1 said ,logan4    ,no doubt of it4 
,i came to that conclusion1 in regard to
 myself1  long and long ago4 ,sick wife1
 hungry children1 and four or five      
backs to cover2 no wonder a poor man's  

nose is ever on the  grindstone4 ,for my
 part1 ,i am sick of it4 ,when ,i was a 
single man1 ,i  could go where ,i       
pleased1 and do what ,i pleased2 and ,i 
always had  money in my pocket4 ,now ,i 
am tied down to one place1 and grumbled 
at  eternally2 and if you were to shake 
me from here to the ,navy ,yard1  you   
wouldn't get a sixpence out of me4 ,the 
fact is1 ,i'm sick of it4    ,so am ,i4 
,but what is to be done8 ,i don't       
believe ,i can get work in  town4    ,i 
know you can't4 ,but there is plenty of 
work and good wages to be  had in       
,charleston or ,new ,orleans4    ,logan 
did not reply2 but looked intently into 
his companion's face4    ,i'm sure my   
wife would be a great deal better off if
 ,i were to  clear out and leave her4   
,she has plenty of friends1 and they'll 
not  see her want4    ,logan still      
looked at his fellow journeyman4    ,and
 your wife would be taken back under her
 father's roof1 where  there is enough  
and to spare4 ,of course she would be   

happier than  she is now4    ,no doubt  
of that4 ,the old rascal has treated her
 shabbily enough4  ,but ,i am well      
satisfied that if ,i were out of the way
 he would  gladly receive her back      
again4    ,of this there can be no      
question4 ,so1 it is clear1 that with   
our  insufficient incomes1 our presence 
is a curse rather than a blessing  to   
our families4    ,logan readily admitted
 this to be true4 ,his companion then   
drew a  newspaper towards him1 and after
 running his eyes over it for a few     
moments1 read3    ,this day1 at twelve  
o'clock1 the copper fastened brig       
,emily1 for  ,charleston4 ,for freight  
or passage1 apply on board4    ,there's 
a chance for us1 he said1 as he finished
 reading the  advertisement4 ,let us go 
down and see if they won't let us work  
our  passage out4    ,logan sat         
thoughtful a moment1 and than said1 as  
he arose to his  feet4    ,agreed4      
,it'll be the best thing for us1 as well
 as for our  families4    ,when the     

,emily sailed1 at twelve o'clock1 the   
two men were on board4    ,days came and
 passed1 until the heart of ,mrs4 ,logan
 grew sick with  anxiety1 fear and      
suspense4 ,no word was received from her
 absent  husband4 ,she went to his old  
employer1 and learned that he had been  
discharged2 but she could find no one   
who had heard of him since  that time4  
,left thus alone1 with two little       
children1 and no  apparent means of     
support1 ,mrs4 ,logan1 when she became  
at length  clearly satisfied that he for
 whom she had given up every thing1 had 
heartlessly abandoned her1 felt as if   
there was no hope for her in  the world4
    ,go to your father by all means1    
urged the woman with whom she was  still
 boarding4 ,now that your husband has   
gone1 he will receive  you4    ,i       
cannot1 was ,fanny's reply4    ,but what
 will you do8 asked the woman4    ,work 
for my children1 she replied1 arousing  
herself and speaking  with some         
resolution4 ,i have hands to work1 and  

,i am willing to  work4    ,much better 
go home to your father1 said the woman4 
,that is impossible4 ,he has disowned   
me4 ,has ceased to love me or  care for 
me4 ,i cannot go to him again2 for ,i   
could not bear1 as ,i am  now1 another  
harsh repulse4 ,no--no--,i will work    
with my own hands4  ,god will help me to
 provide for my children4    ,in this   
spirit the almost heart-broken young    
woman for whom the  boarding-house      
keeper felt more than a common          
interest--an interest  that would not   
let her thrust her out from the only    
place she could  call her home--sought  
for work and was fortunate enough to    
obtain  sewing from two or three        
families1 and was thus enabled to pay a 
light board for herself and children4   
,but incessant toil with her  needle1   
continued late at night and resumed     
early in the morning1  gradually        
undermined her health1 which had become 
delicate1 and  weariness and pain became
 the constant companions of her labor4  

,sometimes in carrying her work home1   
the forsaken wife would have to  pass   
the old home of her girlhood1 and twice 
she saw her father at  the window4 ,but 
either she was changed so that he did   
not know his  child2 or he would not    
bend from his stern resolution to disown
 her4  ,on these two occasions she was  
unable1 on returning1 to resume her     
work4 ,her fingers could not hold or    
guide the needle2 nor could she1  from  
the blinding tears that2 filled her eyes
 have seen to sew1 even  if her hands   
had lost the tremor that ran through    
every nerve of her  body4    ,a year had
 rolled wearily by since ,logan went    
off1 and still no word  had come from   
the absent husband4 ,labor beyond her   
bodily strength1  and trouble and grief 
that were too severe for her spirit to  
bear1  had done sad work upon the       
forsaken wife and disowned child4 ,she  
was  but a shadow of her former self4   
,mr4 ,crawford had been very shy of the 
old ,quaker1 who had spoken so  plainly 

to him2 but his words made some         
impression on him1 though no  one would 
have supposed so1 as there was no change
 in his conduct  towards his daughter4  
,he had forewarned her of the           
consequences1 if  she acted in          
opposition to his wishes4 ,he had told  
her that he would  disown her forever4  
,she had taken her own way1 and1 painful
 as it  was to him1 he had to keep his  
word--his word that had ever been       
inviolate4 ,he might forgive her2 he    
might pity her2 but she must  remain a  
stranger4 ,such a direct and flagrant   
act of disobedience to  his wishes was  
not to be forgotten nor forgiven4 ,thus1
 in stubborn  pride1 did his hard heart 
confirm itself in its cold and cruel    
estrangement4 ,was he happy8 ,no6 ,did  
he forget his child8 ,no4 ,he  thought  
of her and dreamed of her1 day after    
day1 and night after  night4 ,but-he had
 said it1 and he would stick to it6 ,his
 pride was  unbending as iron4    ,of   
the fact that the husband of ,fanny had 

gone off and left her with  two children
 to provide for with the labor of her   
hands1 he had been  made fully aware1   
but it did not bend him from his stern  
purpose4    ,she is nothing to me1 was  
his impatient reply to the one who      
informed him of the fact4 ,this was all 
that could be seen4 ,but his  heart     
trembled at the intelligence4 7sic7     
,neverthless1 he stood  coldly aloof    
month after month1 and even repulsed1   
angrily1 the kind  landlady with whom   
,fanny boarded1 who had attempted1 all  
unknown to  the daughter1 to awaken     
sympathy for her in her father's heart4 
,one day the old ,friend1 whose plain   
words had not pleased ,mr4  ,crawford1  
met that gentleman near his own door4   
,the ,quaker was  leading a little boy  
by the hand4 ,mr4 ,crawford bowed1 and  
evidently  wished to pass on2 but the   
,quaker paused1 and said--    ,i should 
like to have a few words with thee1     
friend ,crawford4    ,well1 say on4     
,thee is known as a benevolent man1     

friend ,crawford4 ,thee never  refuses1 
it is said1 to do a deed of charity4    
,i always give something when ,i am sure
 the object is deserving4    ,so ,i am  
aware4 ,do you see this little boy8     
,mr4 ,crawford glanced down at the child
 the ,quaker held by the hand4  ,as he  
did so1 the child lifted to him a gentle
 face1 with mild  earnest loving eyes4  
,it is a sweet little fellow1 said ,mr4 
,crawford1 reaching his hand  to the    
child4 ,he spoke with some feeling1 for 
there was a look about  the boy that    
went to his heart4    ,he is1 indeed1 a 
sweet child--and the image of his poor1 
sick1  almost heart-broken mother1 for  
whom ,i am trying to awaken an          
interest4 ,she has two children1 and    
this one is the oldest4 ,her  husband is
 dead1 or what may be as bad1 perhaps   
worse1 as far as she  is concerned1 dead
 to her2 and she does not seem to have a
 relative  in the world1 at least none  
who thinks about or cares for her4 ,in  
trying to provide for her children1 she 

has overtasked her delicate  frame1 and 
made herself sick4 ,unless something is 
done for her1 a  worse thing must       
follow4 ,she must go to the ,alms-house1
 and be  separated from her children4   
,look into the sweet1 innocent face of  
this dear child1 and let your heart say 
whether he ought to be taken  from his  
mother4 ,if she have a woman's feelings1
 must she not love  this child tenderly2
 and can any one supply to him his      
mother's  place8    ,i will do something
 for her1 certainly1 ,mr4 ,crawford     
said4    ,i wish thee would go with me  
to see her4    ,there is no use in that4
 ,my seeing her can do no good4 ,get all
 you  can for her1 and then come to me4 
,i will help in the good work           
cheerfully1 replied ,mr4 ,crawford4     
,that is thy dwelling1 ,i believe1 said 
the ,quaker1 looking around  at a house 
adjoining the one before which they     
stood4    ,yes1 that is my house1       
returned ,crawford4    ,will thee take  
this little boy in with thee1 and keep  

him for a few  minutes1 while ,i go to  
see a friend some squares off8    ,oh1  
certainly4 ,come with me1 dear6 ,and    
,mr4 ,crawford held out his  hand to the
 child1 who took it without hesitation4 
,i will see thee in a little while1 said
 the ,quaker1 as he turned  away4       
,the boy1 who was plainly1 but very     
neatly dressed1 was about four  years   
old4 ,he had a more than usually        
attractive face2 and an  earnest look   
out of his mild eyes1 that made every   
one who saw him  his friend4    ,what is
 your name1 my dear8 asked ,mr4         
,crawford1 as he sat down in  his       
parlor1 and took the little fellow upon 
his knee4    ,henry1 replied the child4 
,he spoke with distinctness2 and1 as he 
spoke1 there was a sweet expression of  
the lips and eyes1 that was             
particularly winning4    ,it is ,henry1 
is it8    ,yes1 sir1    ,what else      
besides ,henry8    ,the boy did not     
reply1 for he had fixed his eyes upon a 
picture that  hung over the mantle1 and 

was looking at it intently4 ,the eyes of
  ,mr4 ,crawford followed those of the  
child1 that rested1 he found1 on  the   
portrait of his daughter4    ,what else 
besides1 ,henry8 he repeated4    ,henry 
,logan1 replied the child1 looking for a
 moment into the face  of ,mr4          
,crawford1 and then turning to gaze at  
the picture on the  wall4 ,every nerve  
quivered in the frame of that man of    
iron will4  ,the falling of a bolt from 
a sunny sky could not have startled and 
surprised him more4 ,he saw in the face 
of the child1 the moment be  looked at  
him1 something strangely familiar and   
attractive4 ,what it  was1 he did not1  
until this instant1 comprehend4 ,but it 
was no  longer a mystery4    ,do you    
know who ,i am8 he asked1 in a subdued  
voice1 after he had  recovered1 to some 
extent1 his feelings4    ,the child     
looked again into his face1 but longer  
and more earnestly4  ,then1 without     
answering1 he turned and looked at the  
portrait on the  wall4    ,do you know  

who ,i am1 dear8 repeated ,mr4          
,crawford4    ,no1 sir1 replied the     
child2 and then again turned to gaze    
upon the  picture4    ,who is that8 and 
,mr4 ,crawford pointed to the object    
that so fixed  the little boy's         
attention4    ,my mother4 ,and as he    
said these words1 he laid his head down 
upon  the bosom of his unknown relative1
 and shrunk close to him1 as if  half   
afraid because of the mystery that1 in  
his infantile mind1 hung  around the    
picture on the wall4    ,moved by an    
impulse that he could not restrain1 ,mr4
 ,crawford drew  his arms around the    
child and hugged him to his bosom4      
,pride gave  way2 the iron will was     
bent2 the sternly uttered vow was       
forgotten4  ,there is power for good in 
the presence of a little child4 ,its    
sphere of innocence subdues and renders 
impotent the evil spirits  that rule in 
the hearts of selfish men4 ,it was so in
 this case4 ,mr4  ,crawford might have  
withstood the moving appeal of even his 

daughter's presence1 changed by grief1  
labor1 and suffering1 as she  was4 ,but 
his anger1 upon which he had suffered   
the sun to go down1  fled before her    
artless1 confiding1 innocent child4 ,he 
thought not  of ,fanny--as the wilful   
woman1 acting from the dictate of her   
own  passions or feelings2 but as a     
little child1 lying upon his  bosom--as 
a little child1 singing and dancing     
around him--as a  little child1 with1 to
 him1 the face of a cherub2 and the     
sainted  mother of that innocent one by 
her side4    ,when the ,friend came for 
the little boy2 ,mr4 ,crawford said to  
him1  in a low voice--made low to hide  
his emotion--    ,i will keep the child4
    ,from its mother8    ,no4 ,bring the
 mother1 and the other child4 ,i have   
room for them  all4    ,a sunny smile   
passed over the benevolent countenance  
of the ,friend  as he hastily left the  
room4    ,mrs4 ,logan1 worn down by     
exhausting labor1 had at last been      
forced  to give up4 ,when she did give  

up1 every long strained nerve of mind   
and body instantly relaxed2 and she     
became almost as weak and  helpless as  
an infant4 ,while in this state1 she was
 accidentally  discovered by the        
kind-hearted old ,friend1 who1 without  
her being  aware of what he was going to
 do1 made his successful attack upon    
her father's feelings4 ,he trusted to   
nature and a good cause1 and  did not   
trust in vain4    ,come1 ,mrs4 ,logan1  
said the kind woman1 with whom ,fariny  
was still  boarding1 an hour or so after
 little ,henry had been dressed up to   
take a walk--where1 7sic7 the the mother
 did not know or  think1--the good      
,friend1 who was here this morning1 says
 you must  ride out4 ,he has brought a  
carriage for you1 ,it will do you good1 
,i  know4 ,he is very kind4 ,come1 get  
yourself ready4    ,mrs4 ,logan was     
lying upon her bed4    ,i do not feel   
able to get up1 she replied4 ,i do not  
wish to ride  out4    ,oh1 yes1 you must
 go4 ,the pure1 fresh air1 and the      

change1 will do  you more good than     
medicine4 ,come1 ,mrs4 ,logan2 ,i will  
dress little  ,julia for you4 ,she needs
 the change as much as you do4    ,where
 is ,henry8 asked the mother4    ,he has
 not returned yet4 ,but1 come6 ,the     
carriage is waiting at the  door4       
,won't you go with me8    ,i would with 
pleasure--but ,i cannot leave home4 ,i  
have so much to  do4    ,after a good   
deal of persuasion1 ,fanny at length    
made the effort to  get herself ready to
 go out4 ,she was so weak1 that she     
tottered  about the floor like one      
intoxicated4 ,but the woman with whom   
she  lived1 assisted and encouraged her1
 until she was at length ready to  go4  
,then the ,quaker came up to her room1  
and with the tenderness and  care of a  
father1 supported her down stairs1 and  
when she had taken  her place in the    
vehicle1 entered1 with her youngest     
child in his  arms1 and sat by her side1
 speaking to her1 as he did so1 kind and
  encouraging words4    ,the carriage   

was driven slowly1 for a few squares1   
and then stopped4  ,scarcely had the    
motion ceased1 when the door was        
suddenly opened1  and ,mr4 ,crawford    
stood before his daughter4    ,my poor  
child6 he said1 in a tender1 broken     
voice1 as ,fanny1  overcome by his      
unexpected appearance1 sunk forward into
 his arms4    ,when the suffering young 
creature opened her eyes again1 she was 
upon her own bed1 in her own room1 in   
her old home4 ,her father sat  by her   
side1 and held one of her hands tightly4
 ,there were tears in  his eyes1 and he 
tried to speak2 but1 though his lips    
moved1 there  came from them no         
articulate sound4    ,do you forgive me1
 father8 ,do you love me1 father8 said  
,fanny1 in  a tremulous whisper1 half   
rising from her pillow1 and looking     
eagerly1 almost agonizingly1 into her   
father's face4    ,i have nothing to    
forgive1 murmured the father1 as he drew
 his  daughter towards him1 so that her 
head could lie against his bosom4       

,but do you love me1 father8 ,do you    
love me as of old8 said the  daughter4  
,he bent down and kissed her2 and now   
the tears fell from his eyes  and lay   
warm and glistening upon her face4      
,as of old1 he murmured1 laying his     
cheek down upon that of his  child1 and 
clasping her more tightly in his arms4  
,the long pent up  waters of affection  
were rushing over his soul and          
obliterating the  marks of pride1 anger1
 and the iron will that sustained them  
in  their cruel dominion4 ,he was no    
longer a strong man1 stern and rigid  in
 his purpose2 but a child1 with a loving
 and tender heart4    ,there was light  
again in his dwelling2 not the bright   
light of other  times2 for now the rays 
were mellowed4 ,but it was light4 ,and  
there  was music again2 not so joyful2  
but it was music1 and its spell over    
his heart was deeper and its influence  
more elevating4    ,the man with the    
iron will and stern purpose was subdued1
 and the  power that subdued him1 was   

the presence of a little child4         
,a ,,cure ,,for ,,low ,,spirits4    ,a  
,,household ,,sketch4            ,,from 
some cause1 real or imaginary1 ,i felt  
low spirited4 ,there was a  cloud upon  
my feelings1 and ,i could not smile as  
usual1 nor speak in  a tone of          
cheerfulness4 ,as a natural result1 the 
light of my  countenance being gone1 all
 things around me were in shadow4 ,my   
husband was sober1 and had little to    
say2 the children would look  strangely 
at me when ,i answered1 their questions1
 or spoke to them  for any purpose1 and 
my domestics moved about in a quiet     
manner1 and  when they addressed me1 did
 so in a tone more subdued than usual4  
,this re-action upon my state1 only made
 darker the clouds that  veiled my      
spirits4 ,i was conscious of this1 and  
was conscious that  the original cause  
of my depression was entirely           
inadequate1 in  itself1 to produce the  
result which had followed4 ,under this  
feeling1 ,i made an effort to rally     

myself1 but in vain2 and sank  lower    
from the very struggle to rise above the
 gloom that  overshadowed me4    ,when  
my husband came home at dinner time1 ,i 
tried to meet him with a  smile2 but ,i 
felt that the light upon my countenance 
was feeble1 and  of brief duration4 ,he 
looked at me earnestly1 and1 in his kind
 and  gentle way1 inquired if ,i felt no
 better1 affecting to believe that  my  
ailment was one of the body instead of  
the mind4 ,but ,i scarcely  answered    
him1 and ,i could see that he felt hurt4
 ,how much more  wretched did ,i become 
at this4 ,could ,i have then retired to 
my  chamber1 and1 alone1 give my full   
heart vent in a passion of tears1  ,i   
might have obtained relief to my        
feelings4 ,but1 ,i could not do  this4  
,while ,i sat at the table1 forcing a   
little food into my mouth for           
appearance sake1 my husband said--      
,you remember the fine lad who has been 
for some time in our store8    ,i nodded
 my head1 but the question did not      

awaken in my mind the  slightest        
interest4    ,he has not made his       
appearance for several days2 and ,i     
learned this  morning1 on sending to the
 house of his mother1 that he was very  
ill4    ,ah6 was my indifferent         
response4 ,had ,i spoken what was in my 
mind1  ,i would have said--,i'm sorry1  
but ,i can't help it4 ,i did not1 at    
the moment1 feel the smallest interest  
in the lad4    ,yes1 added my husband1  
and the person who called to let me know
  about it1 expressed his fears that    
,edward would not get up again4    ,what
 ails him8 ,i inquired4    ,i did not   
clearly understand4 ,but he has fever of
 some kind4 ,you  remember his mother   
very well8    ,oh1 yes4 ,you know she   
has worked for me4 ,edward is her only  
child1  ,i believe4    ,yes4 ,and his   
loss to her will be almost every thing4 
,is he so dangerous8 ,i inquired1 a     
feeling of interest beginning to  stir  
in my heart4    ,he is not expected to  
live4    ,poor woman6 ,how distressed   

she must be8 ,i wonder what her         
circumstances are just at this time4    
,she seemed very poor when she  worked  
for me4    ,and she is very poor still1 
,i doubt not4 ,she has herself been     
sick1  and during the time it is more   
than probable1 that ,edward's wages     
were all her income4 ,i am afraid she   
has suffered1 and that she has  not1    
now1 the means of procuring for her sick
 boy things necessary  for his comfort4 
,could you not go around there this     
afternoon1 and  see how they are8    ,i 
shook my head instantly1 at this        
proposition1 for sympathy for  others   
was not yet strong enough to expel my   
selfish despondency of  mind4    ,then  
,i must step around1 replied my husband1
 before ,i go back to  the store1       
although we are very busy today1 and ,i 
am much wanted  there4 ,it would not be 
right to neglect the lad and his mother 
under  present circumstances4    ,i felt
 rebuked at these words2 and1 with a    
forced effort1 said--    ,i will go4    

,it will be much better for you to see  
them than for me1 returned  my husband1 
for you can understand their wants      
better1 and minister  to them more      
effectually4 ,if they need any comforts1
 ,i would like  you to see them         
supplied4    ,it still cost me an effort
 to get ready2 but as ,i had promised   
that  ,i would do as my husband wished1 
the effort4 had to be made4 ,by the     
time ,i was prepared to go out1 ,i felt 
something better4 ,the exertion  ,i was 
required to make1 tended to disperse    
slightly the clouds that  hung over me1 
and1 as they began gradually to move1 my
 thoughts  turned1 with an awakening    
interest1 toward the object of my       
husband's solicitude4    ,all was silent
 within the humble abode to which my    
errand led me4 ,i  knocked lightly1 and 
in a few moments the mother of ,edward  
opened  the door4 ,she looked pale and  
anxious4    ,how is your son1 ,mrs4     
,ellis8 ,i inquired1 as ,i stepped in4  
,he is very low1 ma'am1 she replied4    

,not dangerous1 ,i hope8    ,the fever  
has left him1 but he is as weak as an   
infant4 ,all his  strength is gone4     
,but proper nourishment will restore    
him1 if the disease is broken4    ,so   
the doctor says4 ,but ,i'm afraid it is 
too late4 ,he seems to be  sinking every
 hour4 ,will you walk up and see him1   
ma'am8    ,i followed ,mrs4 ,ellis up   
stairs1 and into the chamber where the  
sick  boy lay4 ,i was not surprised at  
the fear she had expressed1 when ,i  saw
 ,edward's pale1 sunken face1 and       
hollow1 almost expressionless  eyes4 ,he
 scarcely noticed my entrance4    ,poor 
boy6 sighed his mother4 ,he has had a   
very sick spell4 ,my  liveliest interest
 was at once awakened4    ,he has been  
sick indeed6 ,i replied1 as ,i laid my  
hand upon his  white forehead4 ,i found 
that his skin was1 cold and damp4 ,the  
fever  had nearly burned out the vital  
energies of his system4 ,do you give    
him much nourishment8    ,he takes a    
little barley water4    ,has not the    

doctor ordered wine8    ,yes1 ma'am1    
replied ,mr4 ,ellis1 but she spoke with 
an air of  hesitation4 ,he says a       
spoonful of good wine1 three or four    
times a  day1 would be very good for    
him4    ,and you have not given him any8
    ,no ma'am1    ,we have some very    
pure wine1 that we always keep for      
sickness4 ,if  you will step over to our
 house1 and tell ,alice to give you a   
bottle  of it1 ,i will stay with ,edward
 until you return4    ,how brightly     
glowed that woman's face1 as my words   
fell upon her  ears6    ,oh1 ma'am you  
are very kind6 said she4 ,but it will be
 asking too  much of you to stay here6  
,you did'nt ask it1 ,mrs4 ,ellis1 ,i    
smilingly replied4 ,i have  offered to  
stay2 so do you go for the wine as      
quickly as you can1  for ,edward needs  
it very much4    ,i was not required to 
say more4 ,in a few minutes ,i was alone
 with  the sick boy1 who lay almost as  
still as if death were resting upon  his
 half closed eye-lids4 ,to some extent1 

in the half hour ,i  remained thus in   
that hushed chamber1 did ,i realize the 
condition  and feelings of the poor     
mother whose only son lay gasping at the
  very door of death1 and all my        
sympathies were1 in consequence1        
awakened4    ,as soon as ,mrs4 ,ellis   
returned with the wine1 about a tea     
spoonful  of it was diluted1 and the    
glass containing it placed to the sick  
lad's lips4 ,the moment its flavor      
touched his palate1 a thrill  seemed to 
pass through his frame1 and he swallowed
 eagerly4    ,it does him good6 said ,i1
 speaking warmly1 and from an impulse of
  pleasure that made my heart glow4     
,we sat1 and looked with silent interest
 upon the boy's face1 and we  did not   
look in vain1 for something like warmth 
came upon his wan  cheeks1 and when ,i  
placed my hand again upon his forehead1 
the  coldness and dampness was gone4    
,the wine had quickened his languid     
pulses4 ,i staid an hour longer1 and    
then another spoonful of the  generous  

wine was given4 ,its effect was as      
marked as at first4 ,i  then withdrew   
from the humble home of the widow and   
her only child1  promising to see them  
again in the morning4    ,when ,i       
regained the street and my thoughts1 for
 a moment1 reverted  to myself1 how did 
,i find all changed4 ,the clouds had    
been  dispersed--the heavy hand raised  
from my bosom1 ,i walked with a  freer  
step4 ,sympathy for others1 and active  
efforts to do others  good1 had expelled
 the evil spirits from my heart2 and now
 serene  peace had there again her quiet
 habitation4 ,there was light in every  
part of my dwelling when ,i re-entered  
it1 and ,i sung cheerfully1 as  ,i      
prepared1 with my own hands1 a basket of
 provisions for the poor  widow4        
,when my husband returned in the        
evening1 he found me at work1           
cheerfully1 in my family1 and all bright
 and smiling again4 ,the  effort to do  
good to others had driven away the      
darkness from my  spirit1 and the       

sunshine was again upon my countenance1 
and  reflected from every member of my  
household4--,lady's ,wreath4            
,,three ,,hundred ,a ,,year4    ,,the   
,,call4            ,,how much salary do 
they offer8 asked ,mrs4 ,carroll of her 
husband1  who was sitting near her with 
a letter in his hand4 ,he had just      
communicated the fact that a ,parish was
 tendered him in the ,village  of ,y--1 
distant a little over a hundred and     
fifty miles4    ,the money is your first
 thought1 ,edith1 said ,mr4 ,carroll1   
half  chidingly1 yet with an            
affectionate smile4    ,this remark     
caused a slight flush to pass over the  
face of ,mrs4  ,carroll4 ,she replied1  
glancing1 as she did so1 towards a bed  
on  which lay three children4    ,is it 
wrong to think of the little ones whom  
,god has given to us8    ,oh1 no6 ,but  
we must believe that ,god who calls us  
to labor in his  vineyard1 will feed    
both us and our children4    ,how are we
 to know that ,,he calls us1 ,edward8   

inquired ,mrs4  ,carroll4    ,i hold the
 evidence in my hand4 ,this letter from 
the vestry of  ,y--,parish contains the 
call4    ,it may be only the call of    
man4    ,edith6--,edith6--,your faith is
 weak2 weak almost as the expiring      
flame4    ,what do they say in that     
letter8 ,will you read it to me4    ,oh1
 yes4 ,and ,mr4 ,carroll read--         
,,rev4 ,,and ,,dear ,,sir3--,our ,parish
 has been for some months without a     
minister4 ,on the recommendation of     
,bishop--1 we have been led to  make you
 an offer of the vacant place4 ,the     
members of the church1  generally1 are  
in moderate circumstances1 and we       
cannot1 therefore1  offer anything more 
than a moderate living4 ,there is a neat
 little  parsonage1 to which is attached
 a small garden1 for the use of the     
minister4 ,the salary is three hundred  
dollars4 ,you will find the  people kind
 and intelligent1 and likewise          
prepossessed in your  favor4 ,the       
,bishop has spoken of you warmly4 ,we   

should like to hear  from you as early  
as convenient4    ,very affectionately1 
c4 c4    ,three hundred dollars6 said   
,mrs4 ,carroll in a disappointed tone4  
,and the parsonage1 added ,mr4 ,carroll1
 quickly4    ,equivalent to sixty or    
seventy more4    ,equivalent to a       
hundred dollars more1 at least4    ,we  
are doing much better here1 ,edward4    
,true6 ,but are we to look to worldly   
advantage alone8    ,we have a duty to  
discharge to our children1 which1 it    
seems to me1  comes before all other    
duties4    ,god will take care of these 
tender lambs1 ,edith1 do not fear4 ,he  
has called me to preach his everlasting 
,gospel1 and ,i have heard and          
answered4 ,now ,he points to the field  
of labor1 and shall ,i hold back        
because the wages seem small8 ,i have   
not so learned my duty4 ,though  lions  
stood in the way1 ,i would walk in it   
with a fearless heart4 ,be  not afraid4 
,the salvation of souls is a precious   
work1 and they who  are called to the   

labor will not lack for bread4    ,but  
,edward1 said the wife1 in a serious    
voice1 will it be right  for us to enter
 any path of life blindfold1 as it were8
 ,god has  given us reason for a guide2 
and should we not be governed by its    
plain dictate8    ,we must walk by      
faith1 ,edith1 and not by sight1 replied
 ,mr4  ,carroll1 in a tone that         
indicated some small measure of         
impatience4    ,a true faith1 dear      
husband6 said ,mrs4 ,carroll tenderly1  
while a  slight suffusion appeared about
 her eyes4    ,a true faith is ever     
enlightened and guided by reason4 ,when 
reason  plainly points the way1 faith   
bids us walk on with unfaltering  steps4
    ,and does not reason now point the  
way8 asked ,mr4 ,carroll4    ,i think   
not4 ,from our school we receive nearly 
seven hundred  dollars2 and we have not 
found that sum too large for our        
support4 ,i  know that ,i work very     
hard1 and that ,i find it as much as ,i 
can do  to keep all things comfortable4 

,but remember that we have rent to pay4 
,i know4 ,still a little over five      
hundred dollars remain4 ,and the        
present offer is only three hundred4    
,edward1 we cannot live upon  this sum4 
,think of our three children4 ,and my   
health1 you know1 is  not good4 ,i am   
not so strong as ,i was1 and cannot go  
through as  much4    ,the wife's voice  
trembled4    ,poor1 weak doubter6 said  
,mr4 ,carroll1 in a tender1 yet         
reproving  voice4 ,does not ,he who     
calls us to this labor know our wants8  
,and  is not ,he able to supply them8   
,have you forgotten that the earth is   
the ,lord's and the fullness thereof8   
,whose are the cattle upon a  thousand  
hills8 ,did not ,god feed ,elijah by    
ravens8 ,did the widow's  oil fail8 ,be 
not doubtful but believing1 ,edith6 ,and
 what if we do  have to meet a few      
hardships1 and endure many privations8  
,are these  to be counted against the   
salvation of even one precious soul8    
,the  harvest is great1 hut the laborers

 are few4    ,mrs4 ,carroll knew her    
husband well enough to be assured that  
if he  believed it to be his duty to    
accept a call from ,lapland or the      
,indian ,ocean1 he would go4 ,yet1 so   
strongly did both reason and  feeling   
oppose the contemplated change1 that she
 could not help  speaking out what was  
in her mind4    ,the day of miracles is 
past1 she replied4    ,we must not      
expect ,god to send us bread from heaven
 if we go into a  wilderness1 nor water 
from the rock1 if we wander away to some
  barren desert4 ,this ,parish of       
,y--cannot afford living to any but a   
single man1 and1 therefore1 it seems to 
me that none but a single  man should   
accept their call4 ,wait longer1        
,edward4 ,we have every  comfort for our
 children1 and you are engaged in a     
highly useful  employment4 ,when the    
right field for ministerial labor       
offers1 ,god  will call you in a manner 
so clear that you need not feel a doubt 
on  the subject4    ,i feel no doubt    

now1 said ,mr4 ,carroll4 ,i recognise   
the voice of  my ,master1 and must obey4
 ,and ,i will obey without fear4 ,our   
bread  will be given and our water sure4
 ,ah6 ,edith4 ,if you could only see    
with me1 eye to eye4 ,if you could only 
take up your cross hopefully1  and walk 
,i by my side1 how light would seem all 
the burden ,i have to  bear8    ,mrs4   
,carroll felt the words of her husband1 
as a rebuke4 ,this  silenced all        
opposition4    ,i know that ,i am weak  
and fearful1 she murmured1 leaning her  
head  upon her husband1 and concealing  
her face4 ,but ,i will try to have      
courage4 ,if you feel it to be your duty
 to accept this call1 ,i will  go with  
you2 and1 come what may1 will not vex   
your ears by a  complaining word4 ,it   
was only for our little ones that ,i    
felt  troubled4    ,the ,lord will      
provide1 ,edith4 ,he never sends any one
 upon a journey  at his own cost4 ,fear 
not3 we have the ,god of harvest on our 
side4    ,the will of ,mr4 ,carroll     

decided in this1 as in almost every     
thing  else4 ,he saw reason to accept   
the call1 and did not therefore1        
perceive any force in his wife's        
objections4    ,the school1 from which a
 comfortable living had been obtained1  
was  given up2 an old home and old      
friends abandoned4 ,prompt as ,mr4      
,carroll had been to accept the call to 
,y--1 the process of  breaking up did   
not take place without some natural     
feelings coming  in to disturb him4 ,how
 he was to support his wife and children
 on  three hundred dollars1 did not     
exactly appear4 ,it had cost him1       
annually1 the sum of five hundred1      
exclusive of rent2 and no one  could    
affirm that he had lived extravagantly4 
,but he dismissed such  unpleasant      
thoughts by saying1 mentally--    ,away 
with these sinful doubts6 ,i will not be
 faithless1 but  believing4    ,as for  
,mrs4 ,carroll1 who felt1 in view of the
 coming trials and  labor1 that she had 
but little strength2 the parting from   

the old  place where she had known so   
many happy hours1 gave her deeper pain  
than she had ever experienced4 ,strive  
as she would1 she could not  keep up her
 spirits4 ,she could not feel any       
assurance for the  future1--could not   
put her entire trust in ,heaven4 ,to her
 the  hopeful spirit of her husband     
seemed a blind confidence1 and not a    
rational faith4 ,but1 even while she    
felt thus1 she condemned herself  for   
the feeling2 and strove--with how little
 effect6--to walk  sustainingly by the  
side of her husband4              ,,the 
,,change4            ,six months have   
elapsed since ,mr ,carroll accepted the 
call to ,y--4  ,he has preached         
faithfully and labored diligently4 ,that
 was his  part4 ,and he has received1   
quarterly1 on the day it became due1 his
  salary4 ,that was according to the    
contract on the other side4 ,his        
conscience is clear on the score of     
duty2 and his parishioners are  quite as
 well satisfied that they have done all 

that is required of  them4 ,they offered
 him three hundred a year and the       
parsonage4 ,he  accepted the offer2 and1
 by that act1 declared the living to be 
adequate to his wants4 ,if he was       
satisfied they were4    ,i don't know   
how he gets along on three hundred      
dollars1 some one1  more thoughtful     
about such matters1 would occasionally  
say4 ,it  costs me double that sum1 and 
my family is no larger than his4        
,they get a great many presents1 would1 
in all probability1 be  replied to this4
 ,mr4 ,a--1 ,i know1 sent them a load of
 wood some  time ago2 a ,mr4 ,b--told me
 that he had sent them a quarter of lamb
  and a bushel of apples4 ,and ,i have1 
two or three times1 furnished  one      
little matter and another4 ,i'm sure    
what is given to them will  amount to   
half as much as ,mr4 ,carroll's salary4 
,this makes a difference1 of course1 is 
the satisfied answer4 ,and  yet1 all    
told1 the presents received by the whole
 family1 in useful  articles1 has not   

reached the value of twenty-five dollars
 during  six months4 ,and this has been 
more than abstracted from them by the   
kind ladies of the parish1 who must     
needs visit and take tea with  the      
minister as often as convenient4    ,six
 months had passed since the ,rev4 ,mr4 
,carroll removed to ,y--4  ,it was      
mid-winter2 and a stormy day closed in  
with as stormy a  night4 ,the rays which
 came through the minister's little     
study-window grew faint in the pervading
 shadows1 and he could no  longer see   
with sufficient clearness to continue   
writing4 ,so he went  down stairs to the
 room in which were his wife and        
children4 ,the  oldest child was a      
daughter1 six years of age1 named ,edith
 from her  mother4 ,edward1 between     
three and four years old1 and ,aggy the 
baby1  made up the number of ,mr4       
,carroll's household treasures4 ,they   
were  all just of an age to require     
their mother's attention in every       
thing4 ,as her husband entered the room1

 ,mrs4 ,carroll said--    ,i'm glad     
you've come down1 dear4 ,i can't get    
,aggy out of my arms a  minute4 ,it's   
nearly supper time1 and ,i havn't been  
able even to put  the kettle on the     
fire4 ,she's very fretful4    ,mr4      
,carroll took the baby4 ,his wife threw 
a shawl over her head1 and  taking an   
empty bucket from the dresser1 was      
passing to the door1  when her husband  
said--    ,stop1 stop1 ,edith6 ,you     
musn't go for water in this storm4      
,here1  take the baby4    ,i can go well
 enough1 replied ,mrs4 ,carroll1 and    
before her husband  could prevent her1  
she was out in the blustering air1 with 
the  snowflakes driving in her face4    
,oh1 ,edith6 ,edith6 ,why will you do   
so8 said her husband1 as soon as  she   
came back4    ,it's as easy for me to go
 as for you1 she replied4    ,no it     
isn't1 ,edith4 ,i am strong to what you 
are4 ,if you expose  yourself in this   
way1 it will be the death of you4       
,mrs4 ,carroll shook the snow from her  

shawl and dress1 and brushed it  from   
her shoes1 saying as she did so--    ,oh
 no6 a little matter like this won't    
hurt me4    ,she then filled the        
tea-kettle and placed it over the fire4 
,after  which she set out the table1 and
 busied herself in getting ready  their 
evening meal4 ,meanwhile1 ,mr4 ,carroll 
walked the floor with  ,aggy in his     
arms1 both looking and feeling serious2 
while the two  older children amused    
themselves with a picture book4    ,as  
the reader has probably anticipated1 the
 living 787 at  ,y--proved altogether   
inadequate to the wants of ,mr4         
,carroll's  family2 and faith1          
confidence1 and an abstract trust in    
,providence  by no means sufficed for   
its increase4    ,at first1 ,mrs4       
,carroll had a servant girl to help her 
in her  household duties1 as usual4 ,but
 she soon found that this would not  do4
 ,a dollar and a quarter a week1 and the
 cost of boarding the  girl1 took just  
about one-third of their entire income4 

,so1 after  the first three months1 help
 was dispensed with4 ,the washing had   
to be put out2 which cost half a dollar1
 weekly4 ,to get some one in  the house 
to iron1 would cost as much more4 ,so   
,mrs4 ,carroll took  upon herself the   
task of ironing all the clothes1 in     
addition to the  entire work of the     
house and care of her three children4   
,for three months this hard labor was   
performed2 but not without a  visible   
effect4 ,the face of ,mrs4 ,carroll grew
 thinner2 her step lost  its lightness2 
and her voice its cheerful tone4 ,all   
this her husband  saw1 and saw with     
intense pain4 ,but1 there was no remedy4
 ,his income  was but three hundred     
dollars a year2 and out of that small   
sum it  was impossible to pay one       
hundred for the wages and board of a    
girl1  and have enough left for the     
plainest food and clothing4 ,there was1 
therefore1 no alternative4 ,all that it 
was in his power to do1 was  done by    
,mr4 ,carroll to lighten the heavy      

burdens under which his  wife was       
sinking2 but it was only a little1 in   
reality1 that he  could do2 and he was  
doomed to see her daily wasting away1   
and her  strength departing from her4   
,at the time we have introduced them1   
,mrs4 ,carroll had begun to show  some  
symptoms of failing health1 that alarmed
 her husband seriously4  ,she had taken 
cold1 which was followed by a dry1      
fatiguing cough1  and a more than usual 
prostration of strength4 ,on coming in  
with her  bucket of water from the well1
 as just mentioned1 she did not take    
off her shoes1 and brush away the snow  
that had been pressed in  around the    
tops against her stockings1 but suffered
 it to lie there  and melt1 thus wetting
 her feet4 ,it was nearly an hour from  
the time  ,mr4 ,carroll came down from  
his room1 before supper was ready4 ,aggy
  was1 by this time1 asleep2 so that the
 mother could pour out the tea  without 
having1 as was usually the case1 to hold
 the baby in her  arms4    ,ain't you   

going to eat anything8 asked ,mr4       
,carroll1 seeing that  his wife1 whose  
face looked flushed1 only sipped a      
little tea4    ,i don't feel any        
appetite1 replied ,mrs4 ,carroll4       
,but you'd better try to eat something1 
dear4    ,just then there was a knock at
 the door4 ,on opening it1 ,mr4 ,carroll
  found a messenger with a request for  
him to go and see a parishioner  who was
 ill4    ,you can't go away there in    
this storm1 said his wife1 as soon as   
the messenger had retired4    ,it's full
 a mile off4    ,i must go1 ,edith1     
replied the minister4 ,if the distance  
were many  miles instead of one1 it     
would be all the same4 ,duty calls4     
,and out into the driving storm the     
minister went1 and toiled on his  lonely
 way through the deep snow to reach the 
bedside of a suffering  fellow man1 who 
sought spiritual consolation in the hour
 of  sickness1 from one whose temporal  
wants he had1 while in health1  shown   
but little inclination to supply4 ,that 

consolation offered1 he  turned his face
 homeward again1 and again breasted the 
unabated  storm4 ,he found his wife in  
bed--something unusual for her at ten   
o'clock--and1 on laying his hand upon   
her face1 discovered that she  was in a 
high fever4 ,in alarm1 he went for the  
doctor1 who declined  going out1 but    
sent medicine1 and promised to come over
 in the  morning4    ,in the morning    
,mrs4 ,carroll was much worse1 and      
unable to rise4 ,to  dress the children 
and get breakfast1 ,mr4 ,carroll found  
to be tasks  of no very easy performance
 for him2 and as soon as they were      
completed1 he called in a neighbor to   
stay with his wife while he  went in    
search of some one to come and take her 
place in the family  until she was able 
to go about again as usual4    ,that    
time1 however1 did not soon come4 ,weeks
 passed before she could  even sit up1  
and then she was so susceptible of cold1
 that even the  slightest draft of air  
into the room affected her2 and so weak1

  that1 in attempting to mend a garment 
for one of her children1 the  exertion  
caused her to faint away4    ,when ,mrs4
 ,carroll was taken sick1 they had only 
fifteen dollars of  their quarter's     
salary left4 ,it was but two weeks since
 they had  received it1 yet nearly all  
was gone1 for twenty-five dollars1      
borrowed to meet expenses during the    
last month of the quarter1 had  to be   
paid according to promise3 shoes for    
nearly every member of  the family had  
to be purchased1 besides warmer clothing
 for  themselves and children2 and      
several little bills unavoidably        
contracted1 had to be settled4 ,the     
extra expense of sickness1 added  to the
 regular demand1 soon melted away the   
trifling balance1 and  ,mr4 ,carroll    
found himself1 with his wife still      
unable to leave her  room--in fact1     
scarcely able to sit up--penniless and  
almost  hopeless4--,his faith had grown 
weak--his confidence was gone--his      
spirits were broken4 ,daily he prayed   

for strength to bear up2 for a  higher  
trust in ,providence2 for light upon his
 dark pathway4--,but no  strength came1 
no confidence was created1 no light     
shone upon his  way4 ,and for this we   
need not wonder4 ,it was no day of      
miracles1 as  his wife had forewarned   
him4 ,he had1 as too many do1 hoped for 
sustenance in a field of labor where    
reason could find no  well-grounded     
hope4 ,he knew that he could not live on
 three hundred  a year2 yet he had      
accepted the offer1 in the vain hope    
that all  would come out well6    ,the  
last shilling left the hand of the      
unhappy minister1 and at  least six     
weeks remained before another quarter's 
salary became due4  ,he could not let   
his family starve2 so1 after much       
thought1 he  finally determined to call 
the vestry together1 frankly state his  
case1 and tell his brethren that it was 
impossible for him to live  on the small
 sum they allowed4    ,a graver meeting 
of the vestry of ,y--parish had not for 

a long  time taken place4 ,as for an    
increase of salary1 that was declared to
  be out of the question entirely4 ,they
 had never paid any one over  three     
hundred dollars1 which1 with the        
parsonage1 had always been  considered a
 very liberal compensation4 ,they were  
very sorry for ,mr4  ,carroll1 and would
 advance him a quarter's salary4 ,but   
all increase  was out of the question4  
,they knew the people would not hear to 
it4  ,the meeting then broke up1 and the
 official members of the church  walked 
gravely away1 while ,mr4 ,carroll went  
home1 feeling so sad and  dispirited1   
that he almost wished that he could die4
    ,the ,parish of ,y--was not rich2   
though six hundred dollars could  have  
been paid to a minister with as little  
inconvenience to the  members as three  
hundred4 ,but the latter sum was        
considered ample2  and much surprise was
 manifested when it was found that the  
new  minister asked for an increase1    
even before the first year of his       

engagement had expired4    ,the face of 
his wife had never looked so pale1 her  
cheeks so thin1  nor her eyes so sunken1
 to the minister1 as when he came home  
from  this mortifying and disheartening 
meeting of the vestry4 ,one of  those   
present was the very person he had gone 
a mile to visit on the  night of the    
snow-storm2 and he had more to say that 
hurt him than  any of the rest4         
,edith1 said ,mr4 ,carroll1 taking the  
thin hand of his wife1 as he  sat down  
by her and looked sadly into her face1  
we must leave  here4    ,must we8 ,why8 
she asked1 without evincing very marked 
surprise4    ,we cannot live on three   
hundred a year4    ,where will we go8   
,heaven only knows6 ,but we cannot      
remain here6    ,and as the minister    
said this1 he bowed his head until his  
face  rested upon the arm of his wife4  
,he tried to hide his emotion1 but      
,edith knew that tears were upon the    
cheeks of her husband4                  
,,the ,,sequel4            ,,just one   

year has elapsed1 since ,mr4 ,carroll   
accepted the call from  ,y--4 ,it has   
been a year of trouble1 ending in deep  
affliction4  ,when the health of ,mrs4  
,carroll yielded under her too heavy    
burdens1  it did not come back again4   
,steadily she continued to sink1 after  
the first brief rallying of her system1 
until it became hopelessly  apparent    
that the time of her departure was near 
at hand4 ,she was  too fragile a        
creature to be thrown into the position 
she occupied4  ,inheriting a delicate   
constitution1 and raised with even an   
unwise  tenderness1 she was no more     
fitted to be a pastor's wife1 with only 
three hundred a year to live upon1 than 
a summer flower is to take  the place of
 a hardy autumn plant4 ,this her husband
 should have  known and taken into the  
account1 before he decided to accept the
  call from ,y--4    ,when it was found 
that ,mrs4 ,carroll1 after partially    
recovering from  her first severe       
attack1 began1 gradually to sink2 a     

strong interest  in her favor was       
awakened among the ladies of the        
congregation1 and  they showed her many 
kind attentions4 ,but all these         
attentions1 and  all this kindness1 did 
not touch the radical disability under  
which  she was suffering4 ,they did not 
remove her too heavy weight of care  and
 labor4 ,all the help in her family that
 she felt justified in  employing1 was a
 girl between fourteen and fifteen years
 of age1 and  this left so much for her 
to do in the care of her children1 and  
in  necessary household duties that she 
suffered all the time from  extreme     
physical exhaustion4    ,in the just    
conviction of the error he had          
committed1 and while he  felt the       
hopelessness of his condition1 ,mr4     
,carroll1 as has been  seen1 resolved to
 leave ,y--immediately4 ,this design he 
hinted to  one of the members of his    
church4    ,you engaged with us for a   
year1 did you not8 enquired the member4 
,that settled the question in the mind  

of the unhappy minister4 ,he  said no   
more to any one on the subject of his   
income1 or about  leaving the parish4   
,but his mind was made up not to remain 
a single  day1 after his contract had   
expired4 ,if in debt at the time1 as he 
knew he must be1 he would free himself  
from the incumbrances by  selling a part
 of his household furniture4 ,meantime  
his liveliest  fears were aroused for   
his wife1 as symptom after symptom of a 
rapid  decline1 showed themselves4 ,that
 he did not preach as good sermons1  nor
 visit as freely among his parishioners 
during the last three  months of the    
time he remained at ,y--1 is no matter  
of surprise4  ,some1 more considerate   
than the rest1 excused him2 but others  
complained1 even to the minister        
himself4 ,no matter4 ,mr4 ,carroll had  
too much at home to fill his heart to   
leave room for a troubled  pulsation on 
this account4 ,he was conscience-clear  
on the score of  obligation to his      
parishioners4    ,at last1 and this     

before the year had come to its close1  
the  drooping wife and mother took to   
her bed1 never again to leave it  until 
carried forth by the mourners4 ,we will 
not pain the reader by  any details of  
the affecting scenes attendant upon the 
last few  weeks of her mortal life2 nor 
take him to the bed-side of the dying   
one1 in the hour that she passed away4  
,to state the fact that she  died1 is   
enough--and painful enough4    ,for all 
this1 it did not occur to the people of 
,y--that1 in  anything they had been    
lacking4 ,they had never given but three
  hundred a year to a minister1 and1 as 
a matter of course1 considered  the sum 
as much as a reasonable man could       
expect4 ,as for keeping a  clergyman in 
luxury1 and permitting him to get rich2 
they did not  think it consistent with  
the office he held1 which required      
self-denial and a renouncing of the     
world4 ,as to how he could live  on so  
small a sum1 that was a question rarely 
asked2 and when  presented1 was put to  

rest by some backhanded kind of an      
answer1  that left the matter as much in
 the dark as ever4    ,notwithstanding  
the deep waters of affliction through   
which ,mr4  ,carroll was required to    
pass1 his ,sabbath duties were but once 
omitted1 and that on the day after he   
had looked for the last time  upon the  
face of his lost one4 ,four ,sabbaths   
more he preached1 and  then1 in         
accordance with notice a short time     
previously given1  resigned his pastoral
 charge4 ,there were many to urge him   
with great  earnestness not to leave    
them2 but a year's experience enabled   
him  to see clearer than he did before1 
and to act with greater decision4  ,in  
the hope of retaining him1 the vestry   
strained a point1 and  offered to make  
the salary three hundred and fifty      
dollars4 ,but much  to their surprise1  
the liberal offer was refused4    ,it   
happened that the ,bishop of the        
,diocese came to visit ,y--a week       
before ,mr4 ,carroll intended taking his

 departure with his motherless          
children1 for his old home1 where a     
church had been offered him in          
connexion with a school4 ,to him1 three 
or four prominent members of  the church
 complained that the minister was       
mercenary1 and looked  more to the      
loaves and fishes than to the duty of   
saving souls4    ,mercenary6 said the   
,bishop1 with a strong expression of    
surprise4    ,yes1 mercenary1 repeated  
his accusers4    ,so far from it1 said  
the ,bishop1 warmly1 he has paid more   
during  the year1 for supporting the    
,gospel in ,y--1 than any five men in   
the parish put together4    ,mr4        
,carroll has6    ,how much do you give8 
addressing one4    ,i pay ten dollars   
pew rent1 and give ten extra1 besides1  
was the  answer4    ,and you1 speaking  
to another4    ,the same4    ,and you8  
,thirty dollars1 in all4    ,while1 said
 the ,bishop1 speaking with increased   
warmth1 your  minister gave two hundred 
dollars4    ,this1 of course1 took them 

greatly by surprise1 and they asked for 
an explanation4 ,it is given in a few   
words1 returned the ,bishop4  ,it cost  
him1 though living in the most frugal   
manner1 five hundred  dollars for the   
year4 ,of this1 you paid three hundred1 
and he two  hundred dollars4    ,i don't
 understand you1 ,bishop1 said one4     
,plainly1 then2 he was in debt at the   
end of the year1 two hundred  dollars1  
for articles necessary for the health   
and comfort of his  family1 to pay which
 he has sold a large part of his        
furniture4 ,he  was not working for     
himself1 but for you1 and1 therefore1   
actually  paid two hundred dollars for  
the support of the ,gospel in ,y--1     
while you paid but twenty or thirty     
dollars apiece4 ,under these            
circumstances1 my friends1 be assured   
that the charge of being  mercenary1    
comes with an exceeding bad grace4 ,nor 
is this all that  he has sacrificed4 ,an
 insufficient income threw upon his     
wife1  duties beyond her strength to    

bear2 and she sunk under them4 ,had you 
stepped forward in time1 and lightened  
these duties by a simple act  of        
justice1 she night still be living to   
bless her husband and  children6--,three
 hundred a year for a man with a wife   
and three  children1 is not enough2 and 
you know it1 my brethren6 ,not one of   
you could live on less than double the  
sum4    ,this rebuke came with a        
stunning force upon the ears of men who 
had  expected the ,bishop to agree with 
them in their complaint1 and had  its   
effect4 ,on the day ,mr4 ,carroll left  
the village1 he received a  kind and    
sympathetic letter from the official    
members of the church  enclosing the sum
 of two hundred dollars4 ,the first     
impulse of his  natural feelings was to 
return the enclosure1 but reflection    
showed  him that such an act would be   
wrong2 and so he retained it1 after     
such acknowledgments as he deemed the   
occasion required4    ,back to his old  
home the minister went1 but with        

feelings1 how  different1 alas6 from    
those he had experienced on leaving for 
,y--4  ,the people among whom he had    
labored for a year1 felt as if they had 
amply paid him for all the service he   
had rendered2 in fact had  overpaid him1
 as if money1 doled out grudgingly1     
could compensate  for all he had        
sacrificed and suffered1 in his effort  
to break for  them the ,bread of ,life4 
,here is one of the phases of           
ministerial life1 presented with little 
ornament or attractiveness4 ,there are  
many other phases1 more  pleasant to    
look upon1 and far more flattering to   
the good opinion  we are all inclined to
 entertain of ourselves4 ,but it is not 
always  best to look upon the fairest   
side4 ,the cold reality of things1 it   
is needful that we should sometimes see4
 ,the parish of ,y--1 does  not1 by any 
means1 stand alone4 ,and ,mr4 ,carroll  
is not1 the only man  who has suffered  
wrong from the hands of those who called
 him to  minister in spiritual things1  

yet neglected duly to provide for the   
natural and necessary wants of the body4
              ,i',,ll ,,see ,,about     
,,it4            ,,mr4 ,,easy sat alone 
in his counting room1 one afternoon1 in 
a most  comfortable frame1 both as      
regards mind and body4 ,a profitable    
speculation in the morning had brought  
the former into a state of  great       
complacency1 and a good dinner had done 
all that was required  for the repose of
 the latter4 ,he was in that delicious1 
half asleep1  half awake condition1     
which1 occurring after dinner1 is so    
very  pleasant4 ,the newspaper1 whose   
pages at first possessed a charm for    
his eye1 had fallen1 with the hand that 
held--it1 upon his knee4 ,his  head was 
gently reclined backwards against the   
top of a high1  leather cushioned chair2
 while his eyes1 half opened1 saw all   
things  around him but imperfectly4     
,just at this time the door was quietly 
opened1 and a lad of some fifteen or    
sixteen years1 with a pale1  thin face1 

high forehead1 and large dark eyes1     
entered4 ,he  approached the merchant   
with a hesitating step1 and soon stood  
directly before him4    ,mr4 ,easy felt 
disturbed at this intrusion1 for so he  
felt it4 ,he  knew the lad to be the son
 of a poor widow1 who had once seen     
better  circumstances than those that   
now surrounded her4 ,her husband had1   
while living1 been his intimate friend1 
and he had promised him1 at  his dying  
hour1 to be the protector and adviser of
 his wife and  children4 ,he had meant  
to do all he promised1 but1 not being   
very  fond of trouble1 except where     
stimulated to activity by the hope of   
gaining some good for himself1 he had   
not been as thoughtful in  regard to    
,mrs4 ,mayberry as he ought to have     
been4 ,she was a modest1  shrinking1    
sensitive woman1 and had1               
notwithstanding her need of a  friend   
and adviser1 never called upon ,mr4     
,easy1 or even sent to  request him to  
act for her in any thing1 except once4  

,her husband  had left her poor4 ,she   
knew little of the world4 ,she had three
 quite  young children1 and one1 the    
oldest1 about sixteen4 ,had ,mr4 ,easy  
been true to his pledge1 he might have  
thrown many a ray upon her  dark path1  
and lightened her burdened heart of many
 a doubt and  fear4 ,but he had         
permitted more than a year to pass since
 the death  of her husband1 without     
having once called upon her4 ,this      
neglect  had not been intentional4 ,his 
will was good but never active at the   
present moment4 ,to-morrow1 or next     
week1 or very soon1 he  would call upon 
,mrs4 ,mayberry2 but to-morrow1 or next 
week1 or very  soon1 had never yet come4
    ,as for the widow1 soon after her   
husband's death1 she found that  poverty
 was to be added to affliction4 ,a few  
hundred dollars made up  the sum of all 
that she received after the settlement  
of his  business1 which had never been  
in a very prosperous condition4 ,on     
this1 under the exercise of extreme     

frugality1 she had been enabled  to live
 for nearly a year4 ,then the paucity of
 her little store made  it apparent to  
her mind that individual exertion was   
required  directed towards procuring the
 means of support for her little        
family4 ,ignorant of the way in which   
this was to be done1 and having  no one 
to advise her1 nearly two months more   
passed before she could  determine what 
to do4 ,by that time she had but a few  
dollars left1  and was in a state of    
great mental distress and uncertainty4  
,she  then applied for work at some of  
the shops1 and obtained common  sewing1 
but at prices that could not yield her  
any thing like a  support4    ,hiram1   
her oldest son1 had been kept at school 
up to this period4  ,but now she had to 
withdraw him4 ,it was impossible any    
longer to pay  his tuition fees4 ,he was
 an intelligent lad--active in mind1 and
  pure in his moral principles4 ,but    
like his mother2 sensitive1 and         
inclined to avoid observation4 ,like    

her1 too1 he had a proud  independence  
of feeling1 that made him shrink from   
asking or  accepting a favor1 putting   
himself under an obligation to any one4 
,he first became aware of his mother's  
true condition1 when she took  him from 
school1 and explained the reason for so 
doing4 ,at once his  mind rose into the 
determination to do something to aid his
 mother4  ,he felt a glowing confidence1
 arising from the consciousness of      
strength within4 ,he felt that he had   
both the will and the power to  act1 and
 to act efficiently4    ,don't be       
disheartened1 mother1 he said1 with     
animation4 ,i can and  will do          
something4 ,i can help you4 ,you have   
worked for me a great  many years4 ,now 
,i will work for you4    ,where there is
 a will1 there is a way4 ,but it is     
often the case1  that the will lacks the
 kind of intelligence that enables it to
 find  the right way at once4 ,so it    
proved in the case of ,hiram ,mayberry4 
,he had a strong enough will1 but did   

not know how to bring it into  activity4
 ,good1 without its appropriate truth1  
is impotent4 ,of this  the poor lad soon
 became conscious4 ,to the question of  
his mother--    ,what can you do1 child6
 an answer came not so readily4    ,oh1 
,i can do a great many things1 was      
easily said2 but1 even in  saying so1 a 
sense of inability followed the first   
thought of what  he should do1 that the 
declaration awakened4    ,the will      
impels1 and then the understanding seeks
 for the means of  affecting the        
purposes of the will4 ,in the case of   
young ,hiram1  thought followed         
affection4 ,he pondered for many days   
over the means  by which he was to aid  
his mother4 ,but1 the more he thought1  
the  more conscious did he become1 that1
 in the world1 he was a weak boy4  ,that
 however strong might be his purpose1   
his means of action were  limited4 ,his 
mother could aid him but little4 ,she   
had but one  suggestion to make1 and    
that was1 that he should endeavor1 to   

get a  situation in some store1 or      
counting room4 ,this he attempted to do4
  ,following her direction1 he called   
upon ,mr4 ,easy1 who promised to  see   
about looking him up a situation4 ,it   
happened1 the day after1  that a        
neighbor spoke to him about a lad for   
his store--7,mr4 ,easy  had already     
forgotten his promise7--,hiram was      
recommended1 and the  man called to see 
his mother4    ,how much salary can you 
afford to give him8 asked ,mrs4         
,mayberry1  after learning all about the
 situation1 and feeling satisfied that  
her son should accept of it4    ,salary1
 ma'am8 returned the storekeeper1 in a  
tone of surprise4  ,we never give a boy 
any salary for the first year4 ,the     
knowledge  that is acquired of business 
is always considered a full             
compensation4 ,after the first year1 if 
he likes us1 and we like him1  we may   
give him seventy-five or a hundred      
dollars4    ,poor ,mrs4 ,mayberry's     
countenance fell immediately4    ,i     

wouldn't think of his going out now1 if 
it were not in the hope  of his earning 
something1 she said in a disappointed   
voice4    ,how much did you expect him  
to earn8 was asked by the storekeeper4  
,i didn't know exactly what to expect4  
,but ,i supposed that he might  earn    
four or five dollars a week4    ,five   
dollars a week is all we pay our porter1
 an able bodied1  industrious man1 was  
returned4 ,if you wish your son to      
become  acquainted with mercantile      
business1 you must not expect him to    
earn  much for three or four years4 ,at 
a trade you may receive for him  barely 
a sufficiency to board and clothe him1  
but nothing more4    ,this declaration  
so dampened the feelings of the mother  
that she  could not reply for some      
moments4 ,at length she said--    ,if   
you will take my boy with the           
understanding1 that1 in case ,i am  not 
able to support him1 or hear of a       
situation where a salary can  be        
obtained1 you will let him leave your   

employment without hard  feelings1 he   
shall go into your store at once4    ,to
 this the man consented1 and ,hiram     
,mayberry went with him  according to   
agreement4 ,a few weeks passed1 and the 
lad1 liking both  the business and his  
employer1 his mother felt exceedingly   
anxious  for him to remain4 ,but she    
sadly feared that this could not be4    
,her  little store was just about       
exhausted1 and the most she had yet been
  able to earn by working for the shops1
 was a dollar and a half a  week4 ,this 
was not more than sufficient to buy the 
plainest food for  her little flock4 ,it
 would not pay rent1 nor get clothing4  
,to meet  the former1 recourse was had  
to the sale of her husband's small1     
select library4 ,careful mending kept   
the younger children tolerably  decent1 
and by altering for him the clothes left
 by his father1 she  was able to keep   
,hiram in a suitable condition1 to      
appear at the  store of his employer4   
,thus matters went on for several       

months4 ,mrs4 ,mayberry working late    
and early4 ,the natural result was1 a   
gradual failure of strength4 ,in  the   
morning1 when she awoke1 she would feel 
so languid and heavy1  that to rise     
required a strong effort1 and even after
 she was up1  and attempted to resume   
her labors1 her trembling frame almost  
refused to obey the dictates of her     
will4 ,at length1 nature gave  way4 ,one
 morning she was so sick that she could 
not rise4 ,her head  throbbed with a    
dizzy1 blinding pain--her whole body    
ached1 and her  skin burned with fever4 
,hiram got something for the children to
 eat1  and then taking the youngest1 a  
little girl about two years old1  into  
the house of a neighbor who had showed  
them some good will1  asked her if she  
would take care of his sister until he  
returned  home at dinner time4 ,this the
 neighbor readily consented to          
do--promising1 also1 to call in         
frequently to see his mother4    ,at    
dinner time ,hiram found his mother     

quite ill4 ,she was no better  at night4
 ,for three days the fever raged        
violently4 ,then1 under the  careful    
treatment of their old family physician1
 it was subdued4  ,after that she       
gradually recovered1 but very slowly4   
,the physician  said she must not       
attempt again to work as she had done4  
,this  injunction was scarcely          
necessary4 ,she had not the strength to 
do  so4    ,i don't see what you will   
do1 ,mrs4 ,mayberry1 a neighbor who had 
often aided her by kind advice1 said1 in
 reply to the widows  statement of her  
unhappy condition4 ,you cannot maintain 
these  children1 certainly4 ,and ,i     
don't see how1 in your present feeble   
state1 you are going to maintain        
yourself4 ,there is but one thing  that 
,i can advise1 and that advice ,i give  
with reluctance4 ,it is to  endeavor to 
get two of your children into some      
orphan asylum4 ,the  youngest you may be
 able to keep with you4 ,the oldest can 
support  himself at something or other4 

,the pale cheek of ,mrs4 ,mayberry grew 
paler at this proposition4 ,she  half   
sobbed1 caught her breath1 and looked   
her adviser with a  strange1 bewildered 
stare in the face4    ,o1 no6 ,i cannot 
do that6 ,i cannot be separated from my 
dear little  children4 ,who will care   
for them like a mother8    ,it is hard1 
,i know1 ,mrs4 ,mayberry4 ,but necessity
 is a stern ruler4  ,you cannot keep    
them with you--that is certain4 ,you    
have not the  strength to provide them  
with even the coarsest food4 ,in an     
asylum1  with a kind matron1 they will  
be better off than under any other      
circumstances4    ,but ,mrs4 ,mayberry  
shook her head4    ,no--no--no1 she     
replied--,i cannot think of such a      
thing4 ,i cannot  be separated from     
them4 ,i shall soon be able to work     
again--better  able than before4    ,the
 neighbor who felt deeply for her1 did  
not urge the matter4 ,when  ,hiram      
returned at dinner time1 his face had in
 it a more animated  expression than    

usual4    ,mother1 he said1 as soon as  
he came in1 ,i heard today that a boy   
was wanted at the ,gazette office1 who  
could write a good hand4 ,the  wages    
were to be four dollars a week4    ,you 
did6 ,mrs4 ,mayberry said1 quickly1 her 
weak frame trembling1  although she     
struggled hard to be composed4    ,yes4 
,and ,mr4 ,easy is well acquainted with 
the publisher1 and could  get me the    
place1 ,i am sure4    ,then go and see  
him at once1 ,hiram4 ,if you can secure 
it1 all will  be well1 if not1 your     
little brothers and sisters will have to
 be  separated1 perhaps sent to an      
orphan asylum4    ,mrs4 ,mayberry       
covered her face with her hands and     
sobbed bitterly  for some moments4      
,hiram eat his frugal meal quickly1 and 
returned to the store1 where  he had to 
remain until his employer went home and 
dined4 ,on his  return he asked liberty 
to be absent for half an hour1 which was
  granted4 ,he then went direct to the  
counting room of ,mr4 ,easy1 and        

disturbed him as has been seen4         
,approaching with a timid step1 and a   
flushed brow1 he said in a confused and 
hurried manner--    ,mr ,easy there is a
 lad wanted at the ,gazette office4     
,well8 returned ,mr4 ,easy in no very   
cordial tone4    ,mother thought you    
would be kind enough to speak to ,mr4   
,g--for  me4    ,havn't you a place in a
 store8    ,yes sir4 ,but ,i don't get  
any wages4 ,and at the ,gazette office  
they  will pay four dollars a week4     
,but the knowledge of business to be    
gained where you are1 will be  worth a  
great deal more than four dollars a     
week4    ,i know that1 sir4 ,but mother 
is not able to board and clothe me4 ,i  
must earn something4    ,oh1 aye1 that's
 it4 ,very well1 ,i'll see about it for 
you4    ,when shall ,i call1 sir8 asked 
,hiram4    ,when8 ,oh1 almost any time4 
,say to-morrow or next day4    ,the lad 
departed1 and ,mr4 ,easy's head fell    
back upon the chair1 the  impression    
which had been made upon his mind       

passing away almost as  quickly as      
writing upon water4    ,with anxious    
trembling hearts did ,mrs4 ,mayberry and
 her son wait for  the afternoon of the 
succeeding day4 ,on the success of ,mr4 
,easy's  application1 rested all their  
hopes4 ,neither she nor ,hiram eat over 
a few mouthfuls at dinner time4 ,the    
latter hurried away1 and  returned to   
the store1 there to wait with trembling 
eagerness until  his employer should    
return from dinner1 and he again be free
 to go  and see ,mr4 ,easy4    ,to ,mrs4
 ,mayberry1 the afternoon passed slowly4
 ,she had forgotten to  tell her son to 
return home immediately1 if the         
application should  be successful4 ,he  
did not come back1 and she had1         
consequently1 to  remain in a state of  
anxious suspense until dark4 ,he came in
 at the  usual hour4 ,his dejected      
countenance told of disappointment4     
,did you see ,mr4 ,easy8 ,mrs4 ,mayberry
 asked1 in a low troubled  voice4       
,yes4 ,but he hadn't been to the        

,gazette office4 ,he said he had been   
very busy4 ,but that he would see about 
it soon4    ,nothing more was said4 ,the
 mother and son1 after sitting silent   
and  pensive during the evening1 retired
 early to bed4 ,on the next day1  urged 
on by his anxious desire to get the     
situation of which he had  heard1 ,hiram
 again called at the counting room of   
,mr4 ,easy1 his  heart trembling with   
hope and fear4 ,there were two or three 
men  present4 ,mr4 ,easy cast upon him  
rather an impatient look as he  entered4
 ,his appearance had evidently annoyed  
the merchant4 ,had he  consulted his    
feelings1 he would have retired at once4
 ,but that was  too much at stake4      
,gliding to a corner of the room1 he    
stood1 with  his hat in his hand1 and a 
look of anxiety upon his face1 until    
,mr4  ,easy was disengaged4 ,at length  
the gentlemen with whom he was  occupied
 went away1 and ,mr4 ,easy turned       
towards the boy4 ,hiram  looked up      
earnestly in his face4    ,i have really

 been so much occupied my lad1 the      
merchant said1 in  a kind of apologetic 
tone1 as to have entirely forgotten my  
promise  to you4 ,but ,i will see about 
it4 ,come in again1 to-morrow4    ,hiram
 made no answer1 but turned with a sigh 
towards the door4 ,the  keen            
disappointment expressed in the boy's   
face1 and the touching  quietness of his
 manner1 reached the feelings of ,mr4   
,easy4 ,he was  not a hard hearted man1 
but selfishly indifferent to others4 ,he
  could feel deeply enough if he would  
permit himself to do so4 ,but of  this  
latter failing he was not often guilty4 
,stop a minute1 he said4 ,and then stood
 in a musing attitude for a  moment or  
two4 ,as you seem so anxious about this 
matter1 he added1  if you will wait here
 a little while1 ,i will step down to   
see ,mr4  ,g--at once4    ,the boy's    
face brightened instantly4 ,mr4 ,easy   
saw the effect of what  he said1 and it 
made the task he was about entering upon
  reluctantly1 an easy one4 ,the boy    

waited for nearly a quarter of an  hour1
 so eager to know the result that he    
could not compose himself  to sit down4 
,the sound of ,mr4 ,easy's step at the  
door at length made  his heart bound4   
,the merchant entered4 ,hiram looked    
into his face4  ,one glance was         
sufficient to dash every dearly         
cherished hope to the  ground4    ,i am 
sorry1 ,mr4 ,easy said1 but the place   
was filled this morning4  ,i was a      
little too late4    ,the boy was unable 
to control his feelings4 ,the           
disappointment was  too great4 ,tears   
gushed from his eyes1 as he turned away 
and left  the counting-room without     
speaking4    ,i'm afraid ,i've done     
wrong1 said ,mr4 ,easy to himself1 as he
 stood1  in a musing attitude1 by his   
desk1 about five minutes after ,hiram   
had left4 ,if ,i had seen about the     
situation when he first called  upon me1
 ,i might have secured it for him4 ,but 
it's too late now4    ,after saying this
 the merchant placed his thumbs in the  

arm-holes of  his waistcoat1 and        
commenced walking the floor of his      
counting room  backwards and forwards4  
,he could not get out of his mind the   
image  of the boy as he turned from him 
in tears1 nor drive away thoughts  of   
the friend's widow whom he had          
neglected4 ,this state of mind          
continued all the afternoon4 ,its       
natural effect was to cause him to  cast
 about in his mind for some way of      
getting employment for ,hiram  that     
would yield immediate returns4 ,but     
nothing presented itself4    ,i wonder  
if ,i couldn't make room for him here8  
he at length  said--,he looks like a    
bright boy4 ,i know ,mr4--is highly     
pleased  with him4 ,he spoke of getting 
four dollars a week4 ,that's a good     
deal to give to a mere lad4 ,but1 ,i    
suppose ,i might make him worth  that to
 me4 ,and now ,i begin to think         
seriously about the matter1 ,i  believe 
,i cannot keep a clear conscience and   
any longer remain  indifferent to the   

welfare of my old friend's widow and    
children4 ,i  must look after them a    
little more closely than ,i have        
heretofore  done4    ,this resolution   
relieved the mind of ,mr4 ,easy a good  
deal4    ,when ,hiram left the counting 
room of the merchant1 his spirits were  
crushed to the very earth4 ,he found his
 way back1 how he hardly  knew1 to his  
place of business1 and mechanically     
performed the tasks  allotted him1 until
 evening4    ,then he returned home1    
reluctant to meet his mother1 and yet   
anxious  to relieve her state of        
suspense1 even1 if in doing so1 he      
should  dash a last hope from her heart4
 ,when he came in ,mrs4 ,mayberry       
lifted her eyes to his1 inquiringly2 but
 dropped them instantly--she  needed no 
words to tell her that he had suffered a
 bitter  disappointment4    ,you did not
 get the place8 she at length said1 with
 forced  composure4    ,no--,it was     
taken this morning4 ,mr4 ,easy promised 
to see about it4  ,but he didn't do so4 

,when he went this afternoon1 it was too
 late4    ,hiram said this with a       
trembling voice and lips that quivered4 
,thy will be done6 murmured the widow1  
lifting her eyes upwards4  ,if these    
tender ones are to be taken from their  
mother's fold1 oh1  do thou temper for  
them the piercing blast1 and be their   
shelter  amid the raging tempests4    ,a
 tap at the door brought back the       
thoughts of ,mrs4 ,mayberry4 ,a  brief  
struggle with her feelings enabled her  
to overcome them in  time to receive a  
visitor with composure4 ,it was the     
merchant4    ,mr4 ,easy6 she said in    
surprise4    ,mrs4 ,mayberry1 how do you
 do6 ,there was some restraint and      
embarrassment in his manner4 ,he was    
conscious of having neglected  the widow
 of his friend1 before he came4 ,the    
humble condition in  which he found her1
 quickened that consciousness into a    
sting4    ,i am sorry1 madam1 he said   
after he had become seated and made a   
few inquiries1 that ,i did not get the  

place for your son4 ,in fact1  ,i am to 
blame in the matter4 ,but1 ,i have been 
thinking since that he  would suit me   
exactly1 and if you have no objections1 
,i will take  him and pay him a salary  
of two hundred dollars for the first    
year4    ,mrs4 ,mayberry tried to reply1
 but her feelings were too much excited 
by this sudden and unlooked for         
proposal1 to allow her to speak for     
some moments4 ,even then her assent was 
made with tears glistening on  her      
cheeks4    ,arrangements were quickly   
made for the transfer of ,hiram from the
  store where he had been engaged1 to   
the counting room of ,mr4 ,easy4  ,the  
salary he received was just enough to   
enable ,mrs4 ,mayberry1 with  what she  
herself earned1 to keep her little      
together1 until ,hiram1  who proved a   
valuable assistant in ,mr4 ,easy's      
business1 could  command a larger       
salary1 and render her more important   
hid4              ,,the ,,fiery ,,trial4
            ,,the amount of that bill1  

if you please1 sir4    ,the man thus    
unceremoniously addressed1 lifted his   
eyes from the  ledger1 over which he had
 been bending for the last six hours1   
with  scarcely the relaxation of a      
moment1 and exhibited a pale1 care-worn 
countenance--and1 though still young1 a 
head over which were thickly  scattered 
the silver tokens of age4 ,a sad smile  
played over his  intelligent features1 a
 smile meant to shake the sternness of  
the  man who was troubling his peace1 as
 he replied in a low1 calm  voice--     
,to-day1 it will be impossible1 sir4    
,and how many times have you given me   
the same answer4 ,i cannot  waste my    
time by calling day after day1 for so   
paltry a sum4    ,a flush passed over   
the fine countenance of the man thus    
rudely  addressed4 ,but he replied in   
the same low tone1 which now slightly   
trembled3    ,i would not ask you to    
call1 sir1 if ,i had the money ,but what
 ,i  have not1 ,i cannot give4    ,and  
pray when will you have the money8 ,the 

man paused for some  time1 evidently    
calculating the future1 and after a     
long-drawn sigh1  as if disappointed    
with the result1 said3--    ,it will be 
two or three months1 before ,i can pay  
it and even then1  it will depend on a  
contingency4    ,two or three months8--a
 contingency8 ,it must come quicker and 
surer  than that1 sir4    ,that is the  
best ,i can say4    ,but not the best ,i
 can do1 ,i hope4--,good-morning4 ,after
 the  collector had gone1 the man bent  
his head down1 until his face  rested   
even upon the ponderous volume over     
which he had been poring  for hours4 ,he
 thought1 and thought1 but thought      
brought no relief4  ,the most he could  
earn was ten dollars a week1 and for his
 children1  two sweet babes1 and for the
 comfort of a sick wife1 he had to      
expend the full sum of his wages4 ,the  
debt for which he was now  troubled1 was
 a rent-bill of forty dollars1 held     
against him by a  man whose annual      
income was twenty thousand dollars4     

,finally1 he  concluded to go and see   
,mr4 ,moneylove1 and try to prevail upon
 him  to stop any proceedings that the  
collector might institute against  him4 
,in the evening1 he sought the dwelling 
of his rich creditor1  and after being  
ushered into his splendid parlour1      
waited with a  troubled heart for his   
appearance4 ,mr4 ,moneylove entered4    
,how do you do1 sir8    ,how do you do8 
replied the debtor1 in a low1 troubled  
voice4 ,the  manner of ,mr4 ,moneylove  
changed1 the moment he heard the        
peculiar  tone of his voice1 although he
 did not know him4 ,there was an        
appealing language in its cadence that  
whispered a warning to his  ear1 and he 
closed his heart on the instant4        
,well1 sir1 were his next words1 what is
 your will8    ,you hold a bill against 
me for rent4    ,well1 sir1 go to my    
agent4    ,i have seen ,mr4--4    ,that 
will do1 sir4 ,he knows all about my    
business1 and will arrange  to my entire
 satisfaction4    ,but1 sir1 ,i cannot  

pay it now1 and he threatens harsh      
measures4    ,i have entire confidence  
in his judgment1 sir1 and am willing to 
leave all such matters to his           
discretion4    ,i am in trouble1 sir1   
and in poverty beside1 for the demands  
on me  are greater than ,i can meet4    
,your own fault1 ,i suppose1 retorted   
the landlord1 with a sneer4  ,that1 any 
one might know1 who took half a glance  
at you4    ,this remark caused the blood
 to mount suddenly to the face of the   
man4    ,let me be judged by what ,i am1
 not by what ,i have been1 was the  meek
 reply1 after the troubled pause of a   
few moments4 ,then in a  more decided   
tone of voice1 he said3--    ,will you  
not interfere8    ,will ,i8 ,no6 ,i     
never interfere with my agent4 ,he gives
 me entire  satisfaction1 and while he  
does so1 ,i shall not interfere4 ,and   
,mr4  ,moneylove smiled with            
self-satisfaction at the idea of his    
careful  and thrifty agent1 and his own 
worldly policy4    ,the petitioner      

slowly left the house--murmuring to     
himself3  ,forgive us our debts as we   
forgive our debtors4 ,it was more than  
an hour before he could compose his mind
 sufficiently to be able to  meet his   
wife with a countenance that was not too
 deeply shadowed  with care4    ,she was
 ill1 and besides1 under the pressure of
 many causes1 was  suffering from a     
nervous lowness of spirits4 ,against    
this  depression1 her husband saw that  
she was striving with all the  mental   
energy she possessed1 but striving      
almost in vain4 ,to know  that she even 
had cause for the exercise of such an   
internal power1  was1 to him1 painful in
 the extreme2 and he was bitter in his  
self-reproaches for being the cause of  
suffering to one he loved  with a pure  
and fervent love4    ,turning1 at last1 
resolutely towards his dwelling1 and    
striving with  a strong effort to keep  
down the troubles that were sweeping in 
rough waves over his spirit2 it was not 
long before he set his foot  upon his   

own doorstone4    ,to give force to this
 scene1 and to throw around what follows
 its  true interest1 it will be         
necessary to go back and sketch some    
things in the history of the individual 
here introduced4    ,his name was       
,theodore ,wilmer4 ,in earlier years1 he
 was clerk in the  large mercantile     
house of ,rensselaer1 ,wykoff  ,co41 in 
,new ,york4  ,being a young man of      
intelligence1 good address1 and good    
principles1 he was much esteemed1 and   
valued by his employers1 who  took some 
pains to introduce him into society4 ,in
 this way he was  brought into contact  
with some of the first families in ,new 
,york1  and1 in this way1 he became     
acquainted with ,constance ,jackson1 the
  daughter of a wealthy merchant4       
,constance was truly a lovely girl1  and
 one for whom ,theodore soon began to   
entertain feelings akin to  love4       
,mr4 ,jackson1 7the father of           
,constance17 was the son of a man who   
had  begun life in ,new ,york1 at the   

very bottom of fortune's wheel4 ,he  was
 a native of ,ireland1 and came to this 
country very poor4 ,for  some years1    
with his pack on his back1 he gained a  
subsistence by  vending dry-goods1 and  
unimportant trifles1 through the        
counties and  small towns in the        
vicinity of ,new ,york4 ,gradually he   
laid up dollar  after dollar1 until he  
was able to open a very small shop in   
,maiden  ,lane1 a kind of               
thread-and-needle store4 ,careful in his
 purchases1  and constant in his        
attendance on business1 he soon began to
 find  his tens counting hundreds2 and  
but few years rolled away1 before  his  
hundreds began to grow into thousands4  
,after a while he took a  larger store1 
and suddenly became known4 and respected
 as a  merchant4 ,at the end of twenty  
years from the time he carried his  pack
 out of ,new ,york1 he could write      
himself worth fifty thousand  dollars4  
,success continued to crown his efforts 
in business1 and  when his children came

 on the stage of active life1 they were 
raised  to consider themselves as far   
superior to mere mechanics1 or those    
who had to labour for their daily bread4
    ,the father of ,constance was the   
eldest son of old ,mr4 ,jackson1 and    
inherited from him a large share of     
haughty pride4 ,his wife was out  of a  
family with notions equally             
aristocratic4 ,constance was their  only
 child1 and they had bestowed no little 
care in endeavouring to  make her the   
most accomplished young lady in ,new    
,york4 ,they loved  her tenderly1 but   
pride divided with affection their      
interest in  her4 ,she had already      
declined the hands of two young men of  
the  first families in the city1 much to
 the displeasure of both her  parents1  
when she met ,theodore ,wilmer1 who     
resided in the family of  ,mr4 ,wykoff1 
partner in the house that employed the  
young man in the  capacity of clerk4 ,in
 this family1 ,constance visited        
regularly1 and  the intimacy which      

sprung up between the young couple1 had 
a chance  of maturing into a more       
permanent affection1 before ,mr4 or     
,mrs4  ,jackson had the slightest       
suspicion of such an event4 ,indeed1 the
  first knowledge they had of the real  
state of affairs was obtained  through  
,wilmer himself1 in the form of an      
application for the hand  of their      
daughter4 ,it was made to ,mr4 ,jackson1
 on whom it fell with  the unexpected   
suddenness of a flash from a clear sky  
in ,june4    ,and pray1 sir1 who are    
you8 was his hasty and excited answer4  
,theodore ,wilmer1 clerk in the house of
 ,rensselaer1 ,wykoff  ,co4    ,are you 
really in earnest1 young man8 said ,mr4 
,jackson1 in a  calmer voice1 though his
 lips trembled with suppressed anger4   
,never more so in my life1 sir4    ,and 
does my daughter know of this           
application8    ,she does4    ,and is it
 made by her consent8    ,of course4    
,the calm1 and of course manner of the  
young man was more than the  patience of

 ,jackson could withstand4 ,hardly able 
to contain the  indignation that swelled
 within him1 at the presumption of an   
unknown clerk1 thus to ask the hand of  
his daughter1 he paused but a  moment1  
and then seizing ,wilmer by the         
shoulder1 and looking him  steadily in  
the face1 while he almost foamed with   
anger1 replied  thus to his last        
admission3--    ,if that headstrong girl
 has dared to place her thoughts on you1
  obscure underling6 and dared1 as you  
say1 to consent to accept you1  ,i will 
cut her off this hour from fortune and  
affection4 ,i will cast  her loose upon 
the world as unworthy4 ,go--go--and     
never presume to  come again into my    
presence6    ,opposition1 denial1 he had
 expected2 but nothing like this4 ,he   
had  hoped that when the parents saw a  
fixed resolution on the part of         
,constance to accept none other1 that   
gradually opposition would be  worn     
away4 ,such a termination he now saw to 
be hopeless4 ,the father  did not seek  

an immediate interview with his child4  
,before meeting  her1 he had found time 
to reflect upon the real position of    
affairs4  ,he was well enough taught in 
the theory1 at least1 of a woman's      
affections4 ,he had heard of instances  
where opposition in a love  affair had  
only added fuel to the flame2 and one or
 two such cases  had fallen under his   
own eye4 ,he1 therefore1 decided to make
 no  present show of opposition1 and on 
no consideration to allow her to  know  
of the interview that had occurred      
between her lover and  himself4 ,mrs4   
,jackson1 entering into her husband's   
view and  feelings1 took upon herself   
the task of watching and silently       
controlling all the movements of her    
daughter4 ,particular care was  taken to
 prevent her visiting the family of ,mr 
,wykoff4    ,where are you going1 love8 
said her mother1 to her the next day    
after that of the interview1 as         
,constance came out of her room1        
dressed for a walk4    ,i promised to   

walk with ,laura ,wykoff1 ma1 and am    
going to call for  her4    ,i was just  
going to send for you to dress for a    
walk with me2 ,i  want to make a call   
to-day on ,madame ,boyer4 ,and this     
afternoon ,i am  to spend with ,mrs4    
,claxton and her five daughters1 and you
 must go  along1 of course4 ,so you will
 have to postpone your walk with ,laura 
today4    ,if it had only been the walk 
with ,laura ,wykoff1 ,constance would   
not  have hesitated a moment1 but her   
heart almost ached with suspense to     
know from ,theodore the result of his   
interview with her father4 ,he  had     
promised to leave a note for her with   
,laura1 who was their  mutual           
confidante4 ,the mother1 of course1     
noticed an air of regret  at her        
disappointment1 and ingeniously         
remarked--    ,so you would rather walk 
with ,miss ,wykoff1 than your mother8   
,the tears started into the eyes of     
,constance1 and twining her arms  around
 the neck of her mother1 she murmured1  

,no1 no1 dear mother6 ,how could you    
think so8    ,hiding her anxious desire 
to know the result of that interview    
upon  which hung her fate1 she passed   
with apparent cheerfulness through  the 
weary day2 and late at night sought her 
pillow from which sleep  had fled4 ,on  
the next morning1 much to her distress  
of mind1 she  learned that a visit of a 
few weeks to a relation in ,albany had  
been  suddenly determined upon1 and that
 in company with her mother she  had to 
set off in the first boat that day4 ,her
 suspicions were at  once roused as to  
the real cause for this hasty movement1 
and she  determined to write to         
,theodore immediately on her arrival at 
,albany4    ,the beautiful scenery of   
the ,hudson was unappreciated by one eye
 of  the many brilliant ones that looked
 out from the majestic boat1  that1 in  
the language of ,carlyle1 travelled on  
fire-wings1 through  the looming        
highlands4 ,the watchful mother strove  
hard to divert the  mind of her child1  

but in vain4 ,her heart was away from   
the present  reality2 and no effort of  
her own could bring it back4 ,it was    
night  when the boat arrived1 and no    
chance offered for writing before       
retiring to bed4 ,it seemed1 indeed1 as 
if the mother1 suspicious  that some    
communication would be made in this way1
 kept so about  ,constance all the next 
day1 that she had no chance of dropping 
,theodore even a line to say where she  
was1 and that she still  remembered him 
with affection4 ,and the next day passed
 in the same  way2 not an hour1 not a   
moment could she get for privacy or     
uninterrupted self-communion4 ,at last  
she determined to write to  ,laura      
,wykoff1 to which1 of course1 her mother
 could make no  objection4 ,but she     
dared not mention the name of ,theodore1
 or allude  to her present restrained   
condition1 except remotely1 for fear    
that  her mother would ask to see the   
letter4 ,this letter was given to a     
servant to convey to the post-office1 in

 the presence of her mother4  ,it never 
reached its destination4 ,and the mother
 knew well the  reason why4 ,in it1 she 
asked an immediate answer4 ,day after   
day  passed1 and no answer came4 ,she   
wrote again1 and with the same  success4
 ,finally1 she gained a few minutes to  
pen a line or two to  ,theodore1 which  
she concealed1 suspecting that there was
 something  wrong about the transmission
 of the letters1 until a chance offered 
for having it certainly placed in the   
right channel of conveyance4  ,this note
 reached ,theodore1 and removed a       
mountain from his  feelings4 ,he had    
learned of her hasty journey to ,albany1
 but this  was all he could ascertain1  
and suspecting the cause1 his mind was  
in a state of racking and painful       
suspense4    ,day after day passed1     
until a month had expired1 and still    
there was  no indication of a movement  
to return home4 ,once or twice a week   
her  father would come up from ,new     
,york1 and to the persuasions of the    

relatives at whose house they were      
visiting1 half-consented that           
,constance and her mother should stay   
all summer4 ,finally1 it was  decided1  
that ,albany should be their place of   
residence for some  months4    ,things  
assuming this decided appearance1       
,constance now set herself  resolutely  
to work to circumvent her mother's      
careful surveillance4  ,it was the first
 time in her life that she had seriously
 determined  to act towards the parent  
she had so long and so tenderly loved1  
with duplicity4 ,all at once she became 
more cheerful1 and seemed to  enter with
 a joyful spirit into every plan        
proposed for spending the  time         
pleasantly4 ,with a sprightly cousin1 a 
young girl of her own  age1 she         
cultivated a close intimacy1 and finding
 her somewhat  romantic and independent1
 finally confided to her the secret that
  was wearing into her heart from       
concealment4 ,readily did ,ellen        
,raymond enter into the scheme she at   

last proposed1 which was to  write to   
,theodore1 and give the letter into her 
charge4 ,it was  promptly conveyed to   
the post-office4 ,theodore was directed 
to  address ,ellen1 and in the envelope 
to enclose a letter for  ,constance4 ,on
 the third day1 the young ladies took a 
walk1 and in  their way called at the   
post-office4 ,a letter was handed out to
  ,ellen1 and on breaking the seal1     
another appeared addressed to           
,constance4 ,she did not dare to open it
 in the street1 but retired to  a       
confectioner's1 and while ,ellen was    
tasting an ice-cream1  ,constance was   
devouring1 with eager eyes1 the first   
love-token she  had ever received from  
,theodore ,wilmer4    ,this was the     
beginning of a correspondence which was 
regularly kept  up through the summer1  
of all of which both father and mother  
remained profoundly ignorant4 ,they were
 delighted to see their  daughter so    
soon recover from the first deep        
depression of spirits  which was        

occasioned by their sudden removal from 
,new ,york1 but  little suspected the   
cause4 ,less and less carefully did the 
mother  watch her daughter1 and more    
frequently were the two young friends   
alone in their chambers1 even for hours 
together4 ,such times were  not spent   
idly by ,constance4 ,thus the very      
means--separation--resorted to by ,mr4  
,jackson and his wife1 to wean  the mind
 of their daughter from the low-born    
,wilmer1 only proved1  from not having  
been thoroughly carried out1 that which 
bound them  together in heart for ever4 
,give two lovers1 pen1 ink1 and paper1  
and their love will defy time and       
distance4 ,the thousand expressed  fond 
regards1 and weariness of absence1      
endear each to each2 and  imagination1  
from affection1 invests each with new   
and undiscovered  perfections4 ,three   
months had passed away since the hasty  
journey  from ,new ,york1 and supposing 
,constance to be thoroughly weaned from 
her foolish preference for a poor clerk1

 for she was now cheerful1  and         
expressed no wish to return--the parents
 proposed to go back to  the city4      
,preparation was accordingly made1 and  
in a few days  ,constance found herself1
 with a yearning desire to get home     
again1  gliding swiftly along the smooth
 surface of the ,hudson4 ,she had not   
failed to inform ,theodore of her       
return1 and as the boat swept up to  the
 wharf1 her quick eye caught his eager  
face bending over towards  her4 ,a      
glance of glad1 and yet painful         
recognition passed between  them1 and in
 the next moment he had disappeared in  
the living mass  of human beings4 ,for  
some time she was closely watched2 but  
she  carefully lulled suspicion1 and at 
last succeeded in managing to get  short
 and stolen interviews with ,wilmer4    
,their first meeting was at  a young    
friend's1 to whom she had confided her  
secret3 this was not  ,laura ,wykoff1   
for her mother had managed to fall out  
with her  family1 so as to have a good  

plea for denying to ,constance the      
privilege of visiting her4 ,regularly   
did the lovers meet1 about once  every  
week1 at this friend's2 and1 encouraged 
by her1 they finally  took the hazardous
 and decisive step of getting married   
clandestinely4    ,three days after this
 event1 ,wilmer entered the store of the
  merchants in whose service he had been
 for years1 for the purpose of  resuming
 his regular duties which had been      
briefly interrupted4 ,he  was met by the
 senior partner1 with a manner that     
chilled him to the  heart4    ,is ,mr4  
,wykoff in8 he asked4    ,no1 was the   
cold reply4    ,he has not left town8   
,yes4 ,he went to ,new ,orleans         
yesterday1 and will not return for two  
or three months4    ,did he leave a     
letter for me8    ,no4    ,then came an 
embarrassing silence of some moments    
which was broken  by ,wilmer's saying-- 
,i suppose that ,i can resume my duties1
 as usual8    ,we have supplied your    
place1 was the answer to this4    ,quick

 as thought1 the young man turned away1 
and left the store1 his  mind all in    
confusion4 ,in marrying ,constance in   
opposition to her  parents' wishes1 he  
did so with a feeling of pride in the   
internal  power1 and external           
facilities1 which he possessed for      
rising  rapidly in the world1 and       
showing ere long to old ,mr4 ,jackson1  
that  he could stand upon an equal      
social eminence with himself4 ,how      
suddenly was this feeling of proud      
confidence dashed to the earth6  ,the   
external facilities upon which he had   
based his anticipations  were to be     
found in the friendship and ample means 
of the house of  ,rensselaer1 ,wykoff   
,co4 ,that friendship had been suddenly 
withdrawn1 evidently in strong          
disapprobation of what he had done4     
,as he turned away1 and walked slowly   
along1 he knew not and scarcely  cared  
whither1 a feeling of deep despondency  
took possession of his  mind4 ,from a   
proud consciousness of ability to rise  

rapidly in the  world1 and show to the  
friends of ,constance that she had not  
chosen  one really beneath her1 he sunk 
into that gloomy and depressing  state  
of mind in which we experience a painful
 inability to do  anything1 while deeply
 sensible that unusual efforts are      
required at  our hands4 ,the thought of 
not being able to lift his wife above   
the  obscure condition in which he must 
now inevitably remain1 at least  for a  
long time1 seemed as if it would drive  
him mad4 ,passing slowly  along1 wrapped
 thus in gloomy meditations1 he was     
suddenly aroused  by a hand upon his    
arm1 and a cheerful voice1 saying--     
,give us your hand1 ,theodore6 ,here's a
 hearty shake1 and a hearty             
congratulation at the same time6 ,run   
off with that purse--proud old          
curmudgeon's daughter ,ha6 ha6 ,i like  
you for that6 ,you're a man of  mettle4 
,but1 halloo6 ,what's the matter8 ,you  
look as grave as a  barn-door1 on the   
shady side4 ,not repenting1 already1 ,i 

hope8    ,yes1 ,henry1 ,i am repenting  
of that rash act from the very bottom of
  my heart4    ,o1 no6 ,don't talk in   
that way1 ,theodore4 ,constance is one  
of the  sweetest girls in the city1 and 
will make you a lovely wife4 ,there  are
 hundreds who envy you4    ,they need   
not2 for this is the most wretched hour 
of my life4    ,why1 what in the world  
is the matter1 ,wilmer8 his friend      
replied  to this4 ,you look as if you   
had buried instead of married a wife4   
,but come1 you want a glass of something
 to revive you4 ,let us step  in here4  
,i am a little dry myself4    ,without  
hesitation or reply1 ,wilmer entered a  
drinking-house1 with  the young man1    
where they retired to a box1 and ordered
 brandy and  water4 ,after this had been
 taken in silence1 the friend1 whose    
name  was ,wilbert ,arnold1 said--      
,the state of mind in which ,i find you1
 ,theodore1 surprises and  pains me     
greatly4 ,if it is not trespassing too  
far upon private  matters1 ,i should    

like very much to know the reason4 ,i   
ask1 because  ,i feel now1 and always   
have felt1 much interest in you4    ,it 
was some time before ,wilmer replied to 
this4 ,at length1 he said--    ,the     
cause of my present state of mind is of 
such recent occurrence1  and ,i have    
become so bewildered in consequence of  
it1 that ,i can  scarcely rally my      
thoughts sufficiently to reply to your  
kind  inquiries4 ,suffice it to say1    
that1 in consequence1 ,i presume1 of my 
having run off with ,mr4 ,jackson's     
daughter1 ,i have lost a good           
situation1 and the best of friends4 ,i  
am1 therefore1 thrown upon the  world at
 this very crisis1 like a sailor cast   
upon the ocean1 with  but a plank to    
sustain himself1 and keep his head above
 the waves4  ,when ,i married ,miss     
,jackson1 it was with the resolution to 
rise  rapidly1 and show to the world    
that she had not chosen  thoughtlessly4 
,of course1 ,i expected the aid of      
,rensselaer1 ,wykoff   ,co4 ,their      

uniform kindness towards me seemed a    
sure guarantee for  this aid4 ,but the  
result has been1 not only their         
estrangement from  me1 but my dismissal 
from their service4 ,and now1 what to   
do1 or  where to turn myself1 ,i do not 
know4 ,really ,i feel desperate6        
,that is bad1 truly1 ,arnold rejoined1  
musingly1 after ,wilmer had  ceased     
speaking4 ,then ringing a little        
hand-bell that stood upon the  table1 he
 ordered the waiter1 was obeyed the     
summons1 to bring some  more brandy4    
,nothing further was said until the     
brandy was served1  of which both of the
 young men partook freely4    ,what do  
you intend doing8 ,arnold at length     
asked1 looking his  friend in the face4 
,i wish you would answer that question  
for me1 for it's more than ,i  can do1  
was the gloomy response4    ,you must   
endeavour to rise in the world4 ,it will
 never do to bring  ,constance down to  
the comparatively mean condition in     
which a clerk  with a small salary is   

compelled to live4    ,that ,i know1 too
 well4 ,but how am ,i to prevent it8    
,that is what  drives me almost beside  
myself4    ,you must hit upon some      
expedient for making money fast4    ,i  
know of no honest expedients4    ,i     
think that ,i do4    ,name one4    ,do  
you know ,hardville8    ,yes4    ,he    
came as near failure as could possibly  
be1 last week4    ,he did8    ,yes4     
,and how did he get through8    ,it is  
the answer to that question which ,i    
wish you to consider4 ,he  was saved    
from ruin in the last extremity1 and by 
what some would  call a desperate       
expedient4 ,your case is a desperate    
one1 and1 if  you would save yourself1  
you must resort to desperate expedients1
  likewise4    ,name the expedient4     
,hardville had one thousand dollars to  
pay1 more than he could  possibly raise4
 ,he tried everywhere1 but to no        
purpose4 ,he could  neither borrow nor  
collect that sum4 ,in a moment of       
desperation1 he  put one hundred dollars

 into his pocket1 and went to a regular 
establishment near here1 and staked that
 sum at play4 ,in two hours  he came    
away with twelve hundred dollars in his 
pocket1 instead of  one hundred4 ,and   
thus he was saved from ruin4    ,when   
,arnold ceased speaking1 ,wilmer looked 
him in the face with a  steady1 stern1  
half-angry look1 but made no reply4     
,try another glass of this brandy1 the  
former said1 pouring out a  pretty      
liberal supply for each4 ,mechanically1 
,wilmer put the glass  to his lips1 and 
turned off the contents4    ,well1 what 
do you think of that plan8 asked the    
friend1 after each  had sat musing for  
some time4    ,i am not a gambler6 was  
the reply4    ,of course not4 ,but your 
case1 as ,i said1 and as you admit1 is a
  desperate one2 and requires desperate 
remedies4 ,the fact of your  going to a 
regular establishment1 and gaining      
there1 in an  honourable way1 something1
 as a capital to begin with1 does not   
make  you a gambler4 ,after you have got

 a start1 you needn't go there any      
more4 ,and all you want is a start4     
,give you that1 and1 my word for  it1   
you will make your way in the world with
 the best of them4    ,o1 yes6 ,give me 
a start1 as you say1 and ,i'll go ahead 
as fast as  anybody4 ,give me that      
start1 and ,i'll show old ,mr4 ,jackson 
in a few  years that ,i can count       
dollars with him all day4    ,exactly4  
,and that start you must have4 ,now1 how
 are you going to  get it1 unless in the
 way that ,i suggest8    ,i am not so   
sure that ,i can get it in that way4    
,i am1 then4 ,only make the trial4 ,you 
owe it to your wife to do so4  ,for her 
sake1 then1 let me urge you to act      
promptly and  efficiently4    ,thus     
tempted1 while his mind was greatly     
obscured by the strong  potations he had
 taken1 ,theodore ,wilmer began to      
waver4 ,it did not  seem half so wrong1 
nor half so disgraceful1 to play for    
money1 as  it did at first4 ,finally1 he
 agreed to meet his friend that evening1

  and get introduced to some one of the 
many gambling establishments  that      
infest all large cities4    ,a reaction 
in his feelings now took place4 ,the    
elation of mind  caused by the brandy1  
made him confident of success4 ,he saw  
before  him a rapid elevation to wealth 
and standing in society1 and1           
consequently1 a rapid restoration of    
,constance to the circle in  which she  
had moved4    ,before marriage1 he had  
rented a handsome house1 and had it     
furnished in very good style1 upon means
 which he had prudently  saved from a   
liberal salary4 ,into this1 he at once  
introduced his  young wife1 who had     
already begun to feel her heart yearning
 for her  mother's voice1 and her       
mother's smile4 ,one young friend had   
been  with her all the morning1 but had 
left towards the middle of the day      
,alone1 for the first time1 since her   
hurried marriage1 her feelings  became  
somewhat saddened in their hue4 ,but as 
the hour approached  for her husband to 

come home1 those feelings gate place1 in
 a  degree1 to an ardent desire for his 
return1 the result of deep and  fervent 
love for him4 ,she had sat for some     
moments1 expecting to  hear him at the  
door1 when the bell rung1 and she       
started to her  feet1 and stood on the  
floor1 ready to spring forward the      
moment he  should enter the room4 ,no   
one1 however1 came in1 and her heart    
sunk  in her bosom with the             
disappointment4 ,in a moment after1 the 
servant  handed her a note1 the seal of 
which she broke hastily4 ,it was from   
her husband1 and ran thus3--    ,,dear  
,,constance3--,an accumulation of       
business in my absence so  presses upon 
me now1 that ,i cannot possibly come so 
great a distance  to dinner1 at least   
for this day4 ,it may likewise keep me  
away until  eight or nine o'clock this  
evening4 ,but keep a good heart1 dear2  
our  meeting will be pleasanter for the 
long absence--,adieu1    ,,theodore4    
,the note dropped from her hand1 and she

 sank into a chair1 overcome  with a    
feeling of strong disappointment4 ,to   
wait until eight or nine  o'clock in the
 evening1 before she should see him1    
when the morning  had appeared          
lengthened to a day6 ,o1 it seemed as if
 she could not  endure the wearisome    
interval6    ,as for ,wilmer1 the truth 
was1 he found himself so much under the 
influence of the liberal quantity of    
brandy which he had taken1 that  he     
dared not go home to ,constance4 ,he    
would not have appeared before  her as  
he was1 for the world4 ,it was under the
 consciousness of his  condition1 that  
he wrote the billet1 which his young    
wife had  received4 ,after doing so1 he 
went to bed at a public house1 and      
slept until towards evening4 ,when he   
awoke1 ,arnold was sitting in  the      
chamber4 ,some feelings of bitter regret
 for the pains which his  absence must  
have caused his young wife1 passed      
through his mind1 as  he aroused        
himself4 ,these were soon drowned by a  

few glasses of  wine1 which his friend  
had already ordered to be sent up4 ,that
  friend1 let it here be remarked1 was  
not a professed gambler--nor  had he any
 sinister designs in urging on ,wilmer  
as he was doing4 ,but  he was a man of  
loose morals1 and1 therefore1 really    
believed that  he was doing him a       
service in urging him to make an effort 
to get  upon his feet by means of the   
gambling-table4 ,knowing the young      
man's high-toned feelings--and how      
utterly he must1 from his  character1   
condemn anything like play1 he had      
purposely sought to  obscure his        
perceptions by inducing him to drink    
freely4 ,in this1 he  had succeeded4    
,as soon as night had thrown her dark   
shadows over the city1 the two  young   
men took their steps towards one of     
those haunts1 known1 too  appropriately1
 by the name of hells4 ,at eight        
o'clock1 ,theodore  went in1 with two   
hundred dollars in his pocket--all the  
money he  possessed2--and at ten        

o'clock1 came out penniless4    ,lonely 
and long was the afternoon to the young 
bride1 giving  opportunity to many      
thoughts of a sober1 and even saddening 
nature4  ,evening came at last1 and then
 night with its deeper gloom4 ,eight    
o'clock arrived1 and nine1 but her      
husband did not return4 ,and then  the  
minutes slowly passed1 until the clock  
struck ten4    ,o1 where can he be6     
,constance ejaculated1 rising to her    
feet1 and  beginning to pace the room to
 and fro1 pausing every moment to       
listen to the sound of passing          
footsteps4 ,thus she continued for the  
space of something like half an hour1   
when she sunk exhausted upon a  chair4  
,it was twelve o'clock when he at length
 came in4 ,as he opened  the door1 his  
young wife sprung to his side1          
exclaiming--    ,o1 ,theodore6          
,theodore6 ,why have you staid away so  
very long8    ,as she said this1 he     
staggered against her1 almost throwing  
her  over1 and then passed on to the    

parlors without a word in return to  her
 earnest and affectionate greeting4     
,poor ,constance was stunned for the    
moment4 ,but she quickly  recovered1 her
 woman's heart nerving itself           
involuntarily1 and  followed after her  
husband4 ,he had thrown himself upon a  
sofa1 and  sat1 half-reclining1 with his
 head upon his bosom4    ,are you sick1 
dear ,theodore8 his young wife asked1 in
 a tone of  deep and earnest affection1 
laying her hand upon him1 and bending   
down and kissing his forehead4    ,yes1 
,i am sick1 ,constance1 was the         
half-stupid reply--    ,come1 then1 let 
me assist you up to bed4 ,a good night's
 rest will  do you good1 she said1      
gently urging him to rise4    ,she      
understood perfectly his condition4 ,she
 knew that it was  intoxication4 ,but   
while it pained her young heart deeply1 
it awoke  in her bosom no feelings of   
alarm4 ,she felt convinced that it was  
the result of accident1 and had no      
expectation of ever again seeing  its   

recurrence4 ,she asked him if he were   
sick1 to spare him the  mortification of
 knowing that she perceived the true    
nature of his  indisposition4    ,thus  
urged1 he at once arose1 and supported  
by the weak arm of his  young wife1     
slowly ascended the stairs1 and entered 
his chamber4 ,it  was not many minutes  
before his senses were locked in        
profound  slumber4    ,not so1 however1 
,constance4 ,the earnestness with which 
she had  looked for evening to come1    
that she might again see the face1 and  
hear the voice of her husband1 had      
greatly excited her mind4 ,this         
excitement was increased by the         
condition in which he had so            
unexpectedly returned4 ,the effect was1 
to keep her awake1 in spite  of strong  
efforts to sink away into sleep4 ,many  
sad and desponding  thoughts forced     
themselves upon her1 as she lay1 hour   
after hour1 in  a state of half-waking  
consciousness4 ,it was nearly day-dawn1 
when1  from all this1 she found relief  

in a deep slumber4    ,the next day was 
one of heart-aching reflections to      
,theodore ,wilmer4  ,in his eager1 but  
half-insane effort to elevate himself   
rapidly for  the sake of his young wife1
 he had sunk into actual want1 and not  
only forfeited his own self-respect1 but
 degraded himself1 he felt1  in the eyes
 of her whose love was dearer to him    
than life4    ,the events of two years  
must now be passed over1 with but a     
brief  notice4 ,there will be enough in 
the after history of ,wilmer and his    
young wife1 to awaken the reader's      
keenest sympathies1 without  unveiling  
the particular incidents of this period4
    ,suffice it1 then1 to say1--that the
 first night's experience at the        
gambling-table was not enough to satisfy
 ,wilmer1 that it was neither  the right
 way1 nor the most successful way of    
elevating himself in  the world4 ,so    
anxious did he feel on account of       
,constance1 that be  borrowed money of  
his false friend ,arnold1 on the evening

 of the  very next day1 and after       
drinking1 freely1 to nerve himself up1  
sought again the gambling-table4 ,at ten
 o'clock1 he left1 the winner  by fifty 
dollars4 ,he left thus early on account 
of his wife1 who  would be1 he knew1    
anxiously looking for his return4 ,this 
encouraged  him to go on1 and he did go 
on4 ,but he could never feel sanguine of
  success1 or be able to still the      
troubled whispers within1 until he  had 
drunken freely4 ,of course1 he was every
 day more or less under  the influence  
of liquor4 ,for a year1 he managed1 in  
this way1 to  keep up the style of      
living in which he had commenced1 but he
 could  get nothing ahead4 ,none could  
imagine how this was done1 for the      
young man was exceedingly cautious4 ,he 
looked to some good turn of  fortune by 
which he should be enabled to abandon   
for ever a course  of life that he hated
 and despised4 ,no such lucky turn1     
however1 met  his anxious expectations4 
,after the first year of this course of 

life1 his health1 which had never been  
very good1 began rapidly to  fail4 ,his 
cheeks became hollow1 and a racking     
cough began to show  itself4 ,still he  
went on keeping late hours1 and drinking
 more and  more freely1 while his mind  
was all the time upon the rack4 ,towards
  the close of the second year1 he was  
taken down with a severe  illness1 the  
result of all this abuse of mind and    
body4 ,he lingered  long upon the brink 
of the grave2 but the little energy     
which his  system retained1 rallied at  
last1 and he began slowly to recover4   
,during convalescence1 he had full time 
for reflection4 ,for full two  years1 he
 had been almost constantly so much     
under the influence of  brandy1 as      
really to be unable to think rationally 
upon any subject1  and he had1 in       
consequence1 pursued a course of life1  
injurious1  both to his own moral and   
physical health1 and to the happiness of
  her for whom he would1 at any moment  
of that time1 have sacrificed           

everything1 even life itself4 ,in rising
 from that bed of sickness1  it was with
 a solemn vow never again to enter a    
gaming-house1 and  never again to touch 
the bewildering poison that had been the
  secondary1 if not1 indeed1 the primary
 cause of two years'  folly--nay1       
madness4    ,and ,constance1 what of    
her1 all that time8 the reader asks4 ,it
 would  be a difficult task to give even
 a feeble idea of all she patiently     
endured1 and of all she suffered4 ,not  
once in that long period did  she either
 see1 or hear from her parents4 ,three  
or four times had  she written to them1 
but no answer was returned4 ,at last she
  ventured under the yearning anxiety   
that she felt once more to see  her     
mother1 and to hear the voice that      
lingered in her memory like  old        
familiar music to go to her1 and ask her
 forgiveness and her  love4 ,but she was
 coldly and cruelly repulsed--not even  
being  permitted to gain her mother's   
presence4    ,in regard to her husband1 

her love was like a deep1 pure stream4  
,its  course was never troubled by      
passion1 or obstructed in its onward    
course4 ,though he would come home often
 and often in a state of  stupor from   
drink--though it was rarely earlier than
 midnight when  he returned to make glad
 with his presence her watching and     
waiting  heart1 she never felt a        
reproaching thought4 ,and to her1 his   
words  and tones1 and manner1 were ever 
full of tenderness4 ,deeply did he  love
 her--and for her sake more than for his
 own1 was he struggling  thus against a 
powerful current daily exhausting his   
strength1  without moving onward4       
,thus much1 briefly1 of those two years 
of toil1 and struggle1 and  pain4 ,on   
recovering1 with a shattered            
constitution1 from the serious  attack  
of illness that had resulted from the   
abuse of himself during  that period1   
,wilmer felt compelled to give up his   
fondly-cherished  ideas of rising with  
,constance to the position from which he

 had  dragged her down1 and to be       
content with a humbler lot4 ,he1        
therefore1 sought1 and obtained a       
situation as a clerk at a salary  of    
eight hundred dollars per annum4        
,already he had been compelled to  move 
into a smaller house than the one at    
first taken1 and in this  he was now    
able to remain4    ,but seeing1 with a  
clearer vision than before1 ,wilmer     
perceived that  much of the bloom had   
faded from his wife's young cheek1 and  
that  her heart had not ceased to yearn 
for the home and loved ones of her      
earlier years4    ,another year passed  
away1 and during the whole of that time 
not one  word of kindness or censure    
reached the ears of ,constance from her 
parents4 ,they seemed to have not only  
cast her off1 abut to have  forgotten   
the fact of her existence4 ,to a mind   
like that of ,theodore  ,wilmer's1 any  
condition in which a beloved one was    
made to suffer  keenly1 and as he       
believed1 alone through him1 could not  

be endured  without serious inroads upon
 a shattered constitution2 and much to  
his alarm1 by the end of the year he    
found that he was less able  than usual 
to attend through the whole day to the  
fatiguing duties  of the counting-room4 
,frequently he would return home at     
night with  a pain in his breast1 that  
often continued accompanied by a        
troublesome cough through a greater part
 of the night4 ,the morning1  too1 often
 found him feverish and debilitated1 and
 with no appetite4    ,the engrossing   
love of a mother for her first-born1    
relieved1 during  this year1 in a great 
degree1 the aching void of ,constance   
,wilmer's  breast4 ,the face of her     
sweet babe often reflected a smile of   
deep1  heart-felt happiness1 lighting   
up1 ere it faded away into the sober    
cast of thought1 a feeble ray upon the  
face of her husband4 ,the  steady lapse 
of days1 and weeks1 and months1 brought 
a steady  development of the mind and   
body of their little one4 ,he was the   

miniature image of his father1 with     
eyes1 in which ,wilmer could see  all   
the deep love which lay in the dark     
depths of those that had won  his first 
affections4 ,happy would they have been 
but 7who would not  be happy were it not
 for that little word87 for one yearning
 desire  in the heart of ,constance for 
the lost love of her mother--but for    
the trembling fear of want that stared  
,theodore daily in the face4  ,his      
salary as clerk was small1 and to live  
in ,new ,york cost them no  trifle4 ,at 
last1 owing to the failure of the house 
by which he was  employed1 the dreaded  
event came4 ,he was out of a situation1 
and  found it impossible to obtain one4 
the failure had been a very bad  one1   
and there was a strong suspicion of     
unfair dealing4 ,the  prejudice against 
the house1 extended even to the clerks1 
and  several of them1 finding it very   
difficult to get other places that      
suited them1 left ,new ,york for other  
cities4 ,one of them1 a friend  to      

,wilmer1 came to ,baltimore1 and got    
into a large house2 a vacancy  soon     
occurring1 he recommended ,wilmer1 who  
was sent for4 ,he came at  once1 for    
neither to him nor his wife was there   
anything attractive  in ,new ,york4 ,his
 salary was to be five hundred dollars4 
,in removing to ,baltimore1 he took with
 him the greater part of the  furniture 
that he had at first purchased1 some of 
which was of a  superior quality4 ,there
 he rented a small house1 and           
endeavoured by  the closest economy to  
make his meagre salary sufficient to    
meet  every want4 ,but this seemed      
impossible4    ,gradually1 every year he
 found himself getting behind-hand1 from
  fifty to sixty dollars4 ,the birth of 
a second child added to his  expenses2  
and1 the failing health of his wife1    
increased then still  more4 ,finally1 he
 got in arrears with the agent of ,mr4  
,moneylove1  his landlord4 ,at this     
time1 an apparently rapid decline had   
become  developed in the system of his  

wife1 and on the night on which he  had 
appealed to this person's feelings of   
humanity1 as mentioned in  the opening  
of the story1 he found her1 on his      
return1 extremely  ill4 ,a high fever   
had set in1 and she was suffering4 much 
from  difficult respiration4 ,the       
physician must1 of course1 be called in1
  even though but the day before he had 
put off his collector for the  tenth    
time4 ,sad1 from many causes1 he turned 
again from the door of  his dwelling1   
and sought the physician4    ,he rang   
the bell1 and waited with a throbbing   
heart1 for the  appearance of the man he
 earnestly desired1 and yet dreaded to2 
see4  ,when he heard his step upon the  
stairs1 his cheek began to burn1 and  he
 even trembled as a criminal might be   
supposed to tremble in the  presence of 
his judge4 ,for a moment he thought only
 of his unpaid  bill1 in the next of his
 suffering wife4 ,the physician entered4
  ,theodore hesitated1 and spoke in a   
low1 timid voice1 as he requested  a    

call that night upon his wife4    ,is   
,mrs4 ,wilmer very ill8 inquired the    
physician1 in a kind voice4    ,i fear  
seriously so1 sir4    ,how long has she 
been sick8    ,it has been several weeks
 since she complained of a pain in her  
side2 and all that time she has been    
troubled with a hard cough4 ,for  the   
last few days she has hardly been able  
to move about1 and  to-night she is in a
 high fever1 and finds great difficulty 
in  breathing4    ,then she must be     
attended to1 at once4 ,why did you not  
call before1  ,mr4 ,wilmer8 ,such       
delays1 you know1 are very dangerous4   
,i do--,i do--but--,wilmer hesitated1   
and looked troubled and  confused4      
,but what1 ,mr4 ,wilmer8 urged the      
physician in the kindest manner4        
,i--,i--,i have not been able to pay    
your last bill1 much as ,i have  desired
 it4 ,my salary is small1 and ,i find it
 very difficult to get  along4          
,still1 my dear sir1 health and life are
 of great value4 ,and  besides1 if you  

had called in a physician at the        
earliest stage of  ,mrs4 ,wilmer's      
illness1 you might have saved much      
expense1 as well as  spared her much    
suffering4 ,but cheer up1 sir2 bright   
sunshine always  succeeds the cloud and 
the storm4 ,i shall be glad to have my  
bill  when it is convenient1 and not    
before4 ,don't let it cause you an      
uneasy moment4    ,the kind manner of   
the physicians soothed his feelings1 and
 the  prompt visit1 and prompt relief   
given softened the stern anguish of  his
 troubled spirit4 ,the bruised reed is  
never broken4 ,when the  stricken heart 
is tried1 it is never beyond the point  
of endurance4    ,in no instance had    
,wilmer drawn from his employers more   
than his  regular salary1 no matter how 
pressing were his necessities4 ,beyond  
the contract he had entertained no      
desire to go1 but strove1 in            
everything1 to keep down his expenses to
 his slender income4 ,now1  however1 in 
view of the threat made by the collector

 of rents1 after  having thought and    
thought about it until bewildered with a
  distressing sense of his almost       
hopeless condition1 he came to the      
resolution to ask an advance of fifty   
dollars1 to be kept back from  his      
regular wages1 at the rate of five      
dollars a month4 ,for some  hours he    
pondered this plan in his mind1 and     
obtained much relief  from the imaginary
 execution of it1 ,but when the moment  
came to ask  the favour1 his heart sank 
within him1 and his lips were sealed4   
,in  alternate struggles like this1 the 
morning of the first day passed1  after 
his interview with ,mr4 ,money4 love1   
and still he had not been  able to      
prefer his humble request4 ,when he went
 home to dine1 in  consequence of the   
continued perturbation of his mind for  
hours1 he  was pale and nervous1 with no
 inclination for food4 ,to add to his   
distress of mind1 his oldest child1 now 
a fine boy of four summers1  had been   
taken extremely ill since morning1 and  

the anxiety  consequent upon it1 had    
painfully excited the feeble system of  
his  wife4 ,another visit from the      
physician became necessary1 and was     
promptly made4    ,frequently1 in       
consequence of pressing calls at home1  
he had been  almost forced to remain    
longer away from his place of business  
at  dinner-time1 than was customary for 
the clerks4 ,on this day1 two  hours had
 glided by when his hasty foot entered  
the store1 on his  return from dinner4  
,his fears of a distraint for rent were 
greatly  heightened in consequence of   
the increased illness of his family1    
and as the only way to prevent it that  
had occurred to his mind1 was  to obtain
 from his employers a loan of fifty     
dollars as just  mentioned1 he had fully
 made up his mind to waive all feeling  
and at  once name his request4 ,two     
hours we have said had expired since he 
went home to dine4 ,on his entering the 
counting-room1 the senior  partner of   
the house drew out his watch1 and       

remarked1 rather  angrily1 that he could
 not permit such neglect of duty in a   
clerk1  and that unless he kept better  
hours1 he must look for another  place4 
,it was some time before the confusion  
of his mind1 consequent upon  this      
censure and threat1 subsided            
sufficiently to allow him to feel       
keenly the utter prostration of the last
 expectation for help1 that  had arisen 
like an angel of hope1 in what seemed   
the darkest hour of  his fate4 ,and     
bitter indeed1 were then his thoughts4  
,those who have  never felt it1 cannot  
imagine the awful distress which the    
mind  feels1 while contemplating the    
wants of those who are dearer than  all 
the world1 without possessing the means 
of relieving them4 ,at  times1 there is 
a wild excitement1 an imaginary         
consciousness of  power to do all       
things2 too quickly1 alas6 succeeded by 
the chilling  certainty that honestly   
and honourably it can do nothing4       
,slowly and painfully passed the hours  

until nightfall1 and then  ,wilmer again
 sought with hasty steps the nest that  
sheltered his  beloved ones4 ,alas6 the 
spoiler had been there4 ,true to his    
threat1  the agent of ,mr4 ,moneylove   
had taken quick means to get his own4   
,all  of his furniture had been seized1 
and not only seized1 but nearly         
everything1 except a bed and a few      
chairs1 removed in his absence4    ,o1  
,constance1 what is the meaning of this8
 was his agonized  question1 to his     
weeping wife1 who met him ill as she was
 at the  door1 and hid her face in his  
bosom1 like a dove seeking protection4  
,i cannot tell1 ,theodore4 ,everything  
has been carried off under  distraint   
for rent1 so they said1 who came here4  
,but you do not owe  any rent1 do you8  
,i am sure you never mentioned it4      
,it is too true--too true1 was his only 
answer4 ,carefully had  ,wilmer         
concealed from his wife all his         
troubles4 ,he could not think  of adding
 one pang more to the heart that had    

already suffered so  much on his        
account4 ,wisely he did not act in this1
 but few can  blame the weakness that   
shrunk from giving pain to a beloved    
object4  ,there are few who have not1   
sometime in life1 found themselves in   
situations of trial and distress1 in    
which nothing was left them but         
submission4 ,in that very condition did 
this lonely family1 strangers  in a     
strange place1 find themselves on this  
night of strong trial4  ,they           
experienced a ray of comfort1 and that  
was the apparent health  re-action in   
the system of their sick child4 ,with   
this to cheer  them1 they gathered their
 two little ones with them in their only
  bed1 and slept soundly through the    
night4    ,their servant had left them  
the day before1 and they were spared the
  mortification of having such a witness
 of their humiliation4 ,mrs4  ,wilmer   
found it somewhat difficult to prepare  
their food on the next  morning1 as even
 her kitchen furniture had nearly all   

shared the  fate of the rest1 and she   
found herself very feeble4 ,something   
like  three hundred dollars worth had   
been taken for a debt of forty or       
fifty4 ,the slender breakfast over1 with
 the reprimand of the day  before       
painfully fresh in his mind1 ,wilmer    
hastened away to the  counting-room4 ,he
 had only been a few moments at the     
desk1 when the  partner who had spoken  
to him the day before1 came up with the 
morning's paper in his hand1 and        
pointing to an advertisement of a  sale 
of furniture seized for rent due by     
,theodore ,wilmer1 asked him  if he was 
the person named4 ,wilmer looked at him 
for some moments1  vainly attempting to 
reply1 his face exhibiting the most     
painful  emotions--finally1 he laid his 
head upon the desk without a word1  and 
gave way to tears4 ,it was a weakness1  
but he was not then  superior to it4    
,how much do you owe for rent8    ,forty
 dollars4    ,forty dollars6 ,and is it 
for this sum alone that your furniture  

has  been taken8    ,that is all ,i owe 
for rent4    ,then why did you not let  
us know your condition8 ,you should have
  had more consideration for your       
family4    ,yesterday1 sir1 ,wilmer     
replied1 somewhat bitterly1 ,i came here
  from dinner1 after having been        
unavoidably detained with a sick  child1
 resolved to conquer my reluctance1 and 
ask for the loan of  fifty dollars1 to  
be deducted from my salary1 at the rate 
of five  dollars a month4 ,but your     
reproof for remissness deterred me4 ,and
  when ,i returned home1 the work had   
been done4 ,they have left us but  a    
bed1 a few chairs1 and a common table4  
,oh1 sir1 it seems as if it  would kill 
me6    ,but1 my dear sir1 when ,i       
complained1 you owed it to yourself1 and
  you owed it to me1 to explain4 ,how   
could ,i know your peculiar  situation8 
,have you ever felt1 sir1 that no one   
cared for you8 ,as if even  ,heaven had 
forgotten you8 ,if not1 then you cannot 
understand my  feelings4 ,it may be     

wrong1 but always meaning to act justly 
towards  every one1 ,i feel so humbled  
by accusation1 that ,i have no heart to 
explain4 ,it seems to me that others    
should know that ,i would not  wrong    
them4    ,it certainly is wrong1 ,mr4   
,wilmer4 ,suppose you had simply        
mentioned  yesterday the illness of your
 child2 ,i should at once have withdrawn
  my censure1 and probably have made    
some kind inquiry2 you would then  have 
been more free to prefer your request1  
which would have been at  once granted4 
,see what it would have saved your      
family4    ,i see it all4 ,feeling      
always obscures the judgment4    ,to one
 in your particular situation1 a right  
knowledge of the truth  you have just   
uttered is all-important4 ,no matter    
what may be your  condition1 never      
suffer feeling to become so acute as to 
dim your  sober thoughts1 and paralyze  
your right actions4 ,but here are a     
hundred dollars4 ,redeem your things1   
and get on your feet again4  ,take them 

as an advance on your salary for the    
last year2 and draw  six hundred instead
 of five1 in future4    ,a grateful look
 told the joy of his heart1 as he       
hastened away4 ,in  one hour the        
furniture which the day before had been 
forcibly taken  away1 was at his own    
door4    ,relief from present           
embarrassment1 and a fair prospect of a 
full  support for the future1 gave      
,wilmer a lighter heart than he had     
carried in his bosom for many months4   
,the reaction made him for a  time      
happy4 ,but1 while our hearts are evil1 
we cannot be happy1  except for brief   
periods4 ,the disease will indicate by  
pain its  deep-rooted presence4    ,the 
drooping form of his wife soon called   
his thoughts back to  misery4 ,health   
had wandered away1 and the smiling      
truant strayed so  long1 that hope of   
her return had almost forsaken them4    
,nearly five years had passed since     
,constance turned away1 almost          
broken-hearted1 from the door-stone of  

her father's house2 and  during all that
 long1 long time1 she had received no   
token of  remembrance4 ,she dared not   
suffer herself to think even for a      
moment  on the cruel fact4 ,the sudden1 
involuntary remembrance of such a       
change from the fondest affection to the
 most studied disregard1  would almost  
madden her4    ,as for ,wilmer1 the     
recollection of the past was as a thorn 
in his  pillow1 too often driving sleep 
from a wearied frame1 that needed  its  
health-restoring influence4 ,and often1 
deep and bitter were his                
self-reproaches4 ,but for his fatal and 
half-insane abandonment of  himself to  
the vain hope of gaining a foothold by  
which he might  rapidly elevate his     
condition for the sake of ,constance1 he
 was now  conscious that1 slowly1 but   
surely1 he would have risen1 by the     
power of an internal energy of          
character4 ,and more deeply conscious   
was he1 that1 but for the               
half-intoxicated condition in which he  

was  when he consented to go to a       
gaming-house1 he never would have       
abandoned himself to gaming and drinking
 as he did for two long  years of       
excited hopes1 and dark1 gloomy         
despondency4 ,two years1  that broke    
down his spirits1 and exhausted the     
energies of his  physical system4 ,two  
years1 from whose sad effects1 neither  
mind nor  body was ever again able to   
recover4    ,but now let us turn from   
the cast-off1 from the forsaken1 to the 
parents who had estranged themselves    
from their child4    ,a foreign arrival 
had brought letters from ,mr4 ,jackson's
 agent in  ,holland1 containing         
information of a great fall in tobacco4 
,large  shipments had been made by      
several houses1 and especially by that  
of  ,mr4 ,jackson1 in anticipation of   
high prices resulting from a  scarcity  
of the article in the ,german markets4  
,but the shipments had  been too large1 
and a serious decline in price was the  
consequence4  ,any interruption of      

trade1 by which the expectation of      
profits  entertained for months is      
dashed to the ground in a moment1 has1  
usually1 the effect to make the merchant
 unhappy for a brief period4  ,it takes 
some time for the energies of his mind1 
long directed in  one course1 to gather 
themselves up again1 and bend to some   
new  scheme of profit4 ,the tobacco     
speculation of #ah--1 had been a        
favourite scheme of ,mr4 ,jackson's1 and
 he had entered into it more  largely   
than any other ,american house4 ,its    
failure necessarily  involved him in a  
heavy loss4    ,as evening came quietly 
down1 sobering into a browner mood the  
feelings of ,mr4 ,jackson1 the merchant 
turned his steps slowly  towards his    
home4 ,naturally1 the smiling image of  
his daughter came  up before his mind1  
and he quickened his pace instinctively4
 ,he  remembered how nearly he had lost 
even this darling treasure1 and  chid   
himself for being troubled at the loss  
of a few thousand  dollars1 when he was 

so rich in the love of a lovely child4  
,he rang  the bell with a firmer hand1  
and stepped more lightly as he entered  
the hall1 in anticipation of the sweet  
smile of his heart's darling4  ,he felt 
a little disappointed at not finding her
 in the  sitting-room1 but did not ask  
for her1 in expectation of seeing her   
enter each moment4 ,so much was he      
engrossed with her image that he  almost
 forgot his business troubles4          
,gradually his mind1 from the           
over-excitement of the day1 became a    
little fretted1 as he listened  in vain 
for her light foot-fall at the door4    
,when the bell rung for  tea1 he        
started1 and asked1--    ,where is      
,constance8    ,in her room1 ,i suppose1
 replied ,mrs4 ,jackson1 indifferently4 
,they  seated themselves at the         
tea-table1 and waited for a few moments2
  but ,constance did not come4    ,john1
 run up and call ,constance2 perhaps she
 did not hear the  bell4    ,john       
returned in a moment with the           

intelligence that his young  mistress   
was not there4    ,then1 where is she8  
asked both the parents at once4         
,don't know1 replied ,john1             
mechanically4    ,call ,sarah4    ,sarah
 came4    ,where is ,constance8    ,i   
don't know1 ma'am4    ,did she go out   
this afternoon8    ,yes1 ma'am4 ,she    
went out about two hours ago1 ma'am4    
,that's strange1 said her mother4 ,she  
always tells me where she is  going4    
,both parents left the tea-table1 each  
with a heavy presentiment of  coming    
trouble about the heart4 ,they went1 as 
by one consent1 to  ,constance's        
chamber4 ,the mother proceeded to look  
into her drawers1  and found to her     
grief and astonishment that they were   
nearly all  empty4    ,for some time1   
neither spoke a word4 ,the truth had    
flashed upon the  mind of each at the   
same moment4    ,it may not yet be too  
late1 were the first words spoken1 and  
by  the mother4    ,it is too late1 was 
the brief1 but meaning response4        

,from that time her name was not        
mentioned1 and even her portrait was    
taken down and thrown into the          
lumber-room4 ,her few letters1 after    
her hasty and imprudent marriage1 were  
burned up without being  opened4 ,so    
much for wounded family pride6 ,but     
think not that her  image was really    
obliterated from their minds4 ,no--no4  
,it was there  an ever constant and     
living presence4--    ,though neither of
 the parents spoke of1 or alluded to    
her1 yet they  could not drive away her 
spiritual presence4    ,year after year 
glided away1 and though the name of     
,constance had  never passed their lips1
 and they knew nothing of her destiny2  
yet  as year after year passed1 her     
image1 now a sad1 tearful image1 grew   
more and more distinct before their     
eyes4 ,in their dreams they often  saw  
her in suffering and nigh unto death1   
and when they would  stretch forth their
 hands to save her1 she would be        
snatched out of  their sight4 ,still    

they mentioned not her name2 and the    
world  thought the cold-hearted1        
unnatural parents had even forgotten    
their  child4    ,but what had they now 
to live for8 ,to such as they1 no       
happiness  resulted from doing good to  
others1 for the love of self had        
extinguished all love of the neighbour4 
,the passion for  accumulating1 it is   
true1 still remained with the merchant2 
but  trade had become so broken up and  
diverted from its old channels1  that he
 realized small profits1 and frequent   
losses4 ,finally1 he  retired from      
business1 and from the city4    ,after  
the marriage of ,constance1 ,mrs4       
,jackson found herself of far  less     
consideration in company4 ,few in high  
life are altogether  heartless1 and all 
are ready to censure any exhibition of  
family  pride1 which is carried so far  
as to alienate the parent from the      
child4 ,this feeling the mother of      
,constance found to prevail  wherever   
she went1 and she never attributed the  

coolness of  fashionable acquaintances1 
nor the gradual falling away of more    
intimate friends1 to any other than the 
right cause4 ,how could she8  ,in her   
case the adage was true to the          
letter--,a guilty conscience  needs no  
accusation4    ,nearly ten years had    
passed away since the parents became    
worse than  childless4 ,they were living
 at their country residence near        
,harlaem1  enduring1 but not enjoying   
life4 ,they had wealth1 and every       
comfort  and luxury that wealth could   
bring4 ,but the slave who toiled in the 
burning sun1 and prepared his own coarse
 food at night in a dirty  hovel1 was   
happier than they4 ,even unto this time 
had they not  spoken together of their  
child1 since the day of her departure4  
,one night in ,august1 a terrible storm 
swept over ,new ,york and its           
neighbourhood4 ,flash after flash of    
keen lightning blazed across the  sky1  
and peal after peal of awful thunder    
rent the air4 ,it came up  about        

midnight1 and continued for more than an
 hour4 ,mr4 and ,mrs4  ,jackson were    
roused from slumber by this terrible war
 of the  elements4 ,its noise had       
troubled their sleep ere it awoke them1 
and  their dreams were of their child4  
,during its awful continuance1  while   
they felt themselves more intimately in 
the hands of the  ,all-,powerful1 their 
many sins passed rapidly before them1   
but the  stain that darkened the whole  
of the last ten years1 the one crime  of
 many years1 which made their hearts    
sick within them with a  strange fear1  
was their conduct towards their child4  
,but neither  spoke of it4 ,upon this   
subject1 for several years1 they had    
been  afraid of each other4    ,the     
storm passed away1 but they could not   
sleep4 ,wearied nature  sought1 but     
could find no repose4 ,each tossed and  
turned and wished  for the morning1 and 
when the morning began to dawn they     
closed  their eyes1 and almost wished   
the darkness had continued4 ,a troubled 

sleep fell upon the husband1 and in it  
he murmured the name of his  child4 ,the
 quick ear of the mother caught the     
word1 and it thrilled  through every    
nerve4 ,tears stole down her cheeks1 and
 her heart  swelled near to bursting    
with maternal instincts4 ,the vision of 
his  child that passed before him had   
been no pleasant one1 and with the      
murmur of her name he awoke to          
consciousness4 ,lifting himself up1 he  
saw the tearful face of his wife4 ,he   
could not mistake the cause4  ,why      
should she weep but for her child8 ,he  
looked at her for a  moment1 when she   
pronounced the name of ,constance1 and  
hid her  tearful face on his breast4    
,the fountain was now unsealed1 and the 
feelings of the parents  gushed out like
 the flow of pent-up waters4 ,they      
talked of  ,constance1 and blamed       
themselves1 and wept for their lost one4
 ,but  where was she8 how could they    
find her8    ,the sun had scarcely      
risen1 when ,mr4 ,jackson set out to    

seek for his  child1 while his wife     
remained at home in a state of agonizing
  suspense4 ,he knew not whether she    
were alive or dead2 in ,new ,york or    
elsewhere4 ,the second day brought ,mrs4
 ,jackson a letter1 it ran as           
follows3--    ,i have searched in vain  
for our ,constance4 ,but how could it be
  otherwise8 ,who should know more about
 her than myself8 ,i have asked  some of
 our old acquaintances if they ever     
heard of her since her  marriage4 ,they 
shake their heads and look at me as     
though they  thought me demented4 ,laura
 ,wykoff1 you know1 married some years  
ago4  ,i called upon her4 ,she knew     
little or nothing2 but said1 she had    
heard that her husband who had become   
dissipated had left her and  gone off to
 ,baltimore4 ,she thought it highly     
probable that she had  been dead some   
years4 ,she treated me coldly enough4   
,but ,i feel  nothing for myself4 ,poor1
 dear child6 where can thy lot be cast8 
,perhaps1 how dreadful the thought6 she 

may have dragged her  drooping1 dying   
form past our dwelling1 once her        
peaceful home1 and  looked her last look
 upon the door shut to her for ever1    
while the  cold winds of winter chilled 
her heart in its last pulsations4 ,oh1  
,i  fear we have murdered our poor      
child6 ,every meagre-looking1  shrinking
 female form ,i pass on the street1     
makes my heart throb4  ',perhaps that is
 ,constance1' ,i will say1 and hasten to
 read the  countenance of the forlorn   
one4 ,but ,i turn away1 and sigh2       
'where1  where can she be8'    ,since   
writing this1 ,i have seen a young man  
who knew her husband4  ,he says1 that   
after the failure of a house in which   
,wilmer was  employed1 he went to       
,baltimore and took ,constance with him4
 ,he says1  he knows this to be so1     
because he was well acquainted with     
,wilmer1  and shook hands with him on   
the steamboat when he went away4 ,i     
hinted to him what ,i had heard about   
,wilmer's leaving her4 ,he  repelled the

 insinuation with warmth1 and said1 that
 he1 ,wilmer1  would have died rather   
than cause ,constance a painful         
feeling--that  she certainly did go with
 him1 for when he parted with ,wilmer1  
,constance was leaning on his arm4 ,he  
says1 she looked pale and  troubled2 and
 mentioned that they had with them a    
sweet little baby4  ,oh1 how my heart   
yearns after my child6    ,i have since 
learned the name of the firm in         
,baltimore in whose  employment he was1 
shortly after he went there4 ,to-morrow 
morning ,i  shall go to that city4 ,you 
shall hear from me on my arrival4       
,nearly a week passed before ,mrs4      
,jackson received further  intelligence 
from her husband4 ,i will not attempt to
 describe her  feelings during that long
 time4 ,in suffering or joy we discover 
how  relative and artificial are all our
 ideas of time4    ,the next letter ran 
thus3--    ,here ,i am in ,baltimore1   
but it seems no nearer finding our child
  than when ,i was in ,new ,york4 ,the  

firm in whose employment ,wilmer was    
shortly after his arrival in ,baltimore1
 has been dissolved some  years2 and ,i 
am told that neither of the partners is 
now in this  city4 ,i have not been able
 to learn the name of a single clerk who
  was in their store4 ,i feel           
disheartened1 yet more eager every day  
to  find our lost one4 ,where can she   
be8    ,a day more has passed since my  
arrival here1 and ,i have a little      
hope4 ,i have found one of his former   
fellow-clerks4 ,he says1 that he  thinks
 ,wilmer is still in town4 ,i do not    
want to advertise for him1  if ,i can   
help it1 but shall do so before ,i leave
 the city1 if other  means fail4 ,this  
young man tells me1 that when he knew   
him he had  three children4 ,he never   
saw our ,constance4 ,he represents      
,wilmer as  having been in bad health1  
and as generally appearing dejected4 ,he
  says1 all his furniture was once      
seized and sold by the sheriff for      
rent1 but that it was redeemed next day 

by his employers1 who  treated him very 
kindly on the occasion4 ,i have heard   
nothing of the  poor boy that has not   
prepossessed me in his favour4 ,i fear  
he has  had a hard time of it4 ,how much
 happiness have we lost--how much       
misery have we occasioned6--,surely we  
have lived in vain all our  lives6 ,i   
feel more humbled every day since ,i    
left home4    ,since yesterday ,i have  
learned that he was in the city less    
than a  year ago--and that ,constance   
was living4 ,how my heart throbs6 ,shall
  ,i see my own dear child again8       
,theodore1 ,i fear1 is in very bad      
health1 if still alive4 ,he had to give 
up a good situation about a  year ago1  
as book-keeper in a large establishment 
here1 where he was  much esteemed1 on   
account of his health giving way so fast
 under the  confinement4 ,i believe he  
took another situation as salesman in a 
retail store1 on a very small salary4   
,some one told me that  ,constance had  
been under the necessity of taking in   

sewing1 to help  to get a living--and   
all this time we had abundance all      
around us6 ,i  call myself1             
'wretch1'--and so ,i would call any     
other man who would  cast off his child1
 as ,i have done--a tender flower to    
meet the cold  winds of autumn4    ,i   
have seen my child6 my poor dear        
,constance6 ,but oh1 how changed6       
,while passing along the street to-day1 
almost in despair of ever  finding      
her--a slender female1 about the same   
height of ,constance1  passed me        
hastily4 ,there was something peculiar1 
,i thought1 about  her1 and ,i felt as  
,i had never yet felt1 while near a     
stranger4 ,i  followed her1 scarce      
knowing the reason why4 ,she entered a  
clothing-store1 and ,i went in after    
her1 and asked to look at some  article1
 ,i scarce knew what4 ,her first word   
startled me as would a  shock of        
electricity4 ,it was my own child4 ,but 
,i could not make  myself known to her  
there4 ,she laid down upon the counter  

three  vests1 and then presented a small
 book4 in which to have the work        
entered4 ,the entry was made1 and the   
book handed back4    ',there are just   
three dollars due you1' said the man4   
',three-and-a-half1 ,i believe it is1   
sir4'    ',no1 it's only three4'        
',then ,i have calculated wrong4 ,i     
thought it was three-and-a-half4'       
,how mournful and disappointed was her  
tone6    ,after standing for some time  
looking over her book1 she said in a    
lighter voice1 'well1 ,i believe ,i am  
right4 ,see here2 ,i have made          
twenty-eight vests1 and at              
twelve-and-a-half cents each1 that is   
three dollars and a half4'    ',well1 ,i
 believe you are right1' said the man1  
in a changed tone1  after looking over  
the book again4    ',can you pay me     
to-day8 ,i am much in want of it4'      
',no1 ,i can't4 ,i have a thousand      
dollars to pay in bank1 and ,i  cannot  
spare anything before two or three      
days4'    ,she paused a moment1 and then

 went slowly towards the door2  lingered
 for a short time1 and then turned to   
the man again4 ,i then  saw for the     
first time1 for ten long years1 her     
face4 ,how thin and  pale it was6 how   
troubled its expression6--,but it was   
the face of  our dear ,constance4 ,she  
did not look towards me2 but turned     
again to  the shop-keeper1 and said1    
',be kind enough1 sir1 to let me have   
one dollar4 ,i want it very  much6'     
',you give me more trouble about your   
money than any other workman ,i  have1' 
said the man roughly1 as he handed her a
 dollar4    ,she took it1 unheeding the 
cruel remark1 and before ,i could make  
up  my mind how to act1 glided quickly  
away4 ,i followed as hastily1 and       
continued to walk after her1 until ,i   
saw her enter a large1  old-fashioned   
brick building4 ,about this dwelling1   
there was no air  of comfort4 ,in the   
door sat a little girl1 and two boys1   
pale1 but  pleasant-looking children4   
,one of them clapped his little hands as

  ,constance passed them1 and then got  
up and ran after her into the  house4   
,they all had her own bright eyes4 ,i   
would have known them for  7sic7 her's  
anywhere4    ,does it not seem strange  
that ,i hesitated to go in at once to my
  child4 ,but ,i am at a loss what to   
do4 ,sometimes ,i think that ,i will    
wait until you come on1 and make her    
heart glad with the presence of  both at
 once4 ,to-morrow ,i will write you     
again4 ,the mail is just  closing2 and  
,i must send this4    ,after ,wilmer had
 received the kindly proffered relief   
from his  employers1 in an increase of  
salary1 he was less troubled about the  
daily wants of his family4 ,but other   
sources of keen anxiety soon  presented 
themselves4 ,his own health began to    
give way so rapidly as  to awaken in his
 mind1 fearful apprehensions of         
approaching  inability to support his   
family2 and ,constance was not strong4  
,too  often1 the pain in his breast and 
side was so severe as to make his  place

 at the desk little less than torture4  
,a confirmed1 short1 dry  cough1 not    
severe1 but constant1 also awakened his 
liveliest fears4    ,at the end of a    
year from the time when his employers   
began to feel  a kind interest in him1  
he was removed from the desk1 and given 
more  active employment as salesman and 
out-of-door clerk4 ,the benefit of  this
 change was soon felt4 ,the pain in his 
breast and side gradually  gave way1 his
 appetite increased1 and his cough      
became less and less  irritating4 ,but  
this improvement was only temporary4    
,the disease had  become too deeply     
rooted4 ,true1 he suffered much less    
than while  confined at the desk1 but   
the morbid indications were too constant
  to leave him much of the flattery of  
hope4    ,another year gradually rolled 
away1 and with it came more changes1    
and causes of concern4 ,a little        
stranger had come into his family1      
making three the number of his babes1   
and adding to the list of his  cares and

 his expenses2 and it must also be said1
 to his pleasures4  ,for what parent1   
with the heart of a parent1 be his      
condition what  it may1 but rejoices in 
the number of the little ones whose eyes
  brighten at his coming8 ,but there was
 a change of greater importance  in his 
prospects4 ,the firm in whose service he
 was1 became involved  and had to wind  
up their business4 ,all the clerks were 
in a short  time discharged1 and ,wilmer
 among the rest4 ,the time was one of   
great commercial pressure1 and many     
long-established houses were  forced to 
yield2 others were driven to great      
curtailment of  expenses4 ,the          
consequence was that few were employing 
clerks1 and  many dispensing with their 
services4 ,under the circumstances1     
,wilmer  found it impossible to obtain  
employment4 ,daily did he call at the   
various stores and counting-rooms in the
 hope of meeting with a  situation1 only
 to return to his dwelling more         
depressed and  disheartened4    ,by     

great economy1 in view of approaching   
ill health1 he had managed  to lay up1  
since the increase in his wages1 nearly 
the amount of  that increase4 ,he had   
done this1 by living upon the same      
amount that  he before found to be      
inadequate to the support of his family4
 ,how  this was done1 they only can know
 who have resolutely1 from  necessity1  
made the same experiment1 and found that
 the real amount  necessary to live upon
 is much smaller than is usually        
supposed4  ,this sum1 about one hundred 
dollars1 he had when he was thrown out  
of employment scarcely enough to last   
for three months1 under their  present  
expenses4 ,it was with painful          
reluctance that ,wilmer  trespassed upon
 this precious store1 but he found      
necessity a hard  task-master4    ,amid 
the gloom and darkness of his condition 
and prospects1 there  was one bright    
star shining upon him with an           
ever-constant light4 ,no  cloud could   
dim or obscure it4 ,that light1 that    

cheerful star1 was  the wife of his     
bosom4 ,the tie that bound her to her   
husband was not  an external one alone2 
she was wedded to him in spirit4 ,her   
affection for him1 as sorrow1 and doubt1
 and fearful foreboding of  coming evils
 gathered about him1 assumed more and   
more of the  mother's careful and       
earnest love for the peace of her child4
 ,she  met him with an ever-cheerful    
countenance2 gently soothed his fears1  
and constantly referred him to the      
overruling care of ,divine  ,providence4
 ,affliction had wrought its proper work
 upon her  affections1 and as they      
became gradually separated from the     
world1  they found a higher and purer   
source of attraction4 ,from a           
thoughtless girl1 she had become a      
reflecting woman1 and with  reflection  
had come4 a right understanding of her  
duties4 ,an angel  of comfort is such a 
woman to a man of keen sensibilities1   
who finds  his struggle in the world a  
hard and painful one4    ,two months    

passed away in the vain effort to obtain
 employment4  ,every avenue seemed shut 
against him4 ,the power of endurance was
  tried to its utmost strength1 when he 
was offered a situation in an           
iron-store1 to handle iron1 and         
occasionally perform the duties of a    
clerk4 ,three hundred dollars was the   
salary4 ,he caught at it1 as his  last  
hope1 with eagerness1 and at once       
entered upon his duties4 ,he  found them
 more toilsome than he had expected4    
,the business was a  heavy one1 and kept
 him at fatiguing labour nearly the     
whole day4  ,never having been used to  
do hard work1 he found on the morning of
  the second day1 that the muscles of   
his back1 arms1 and legs1 were  so      
strained1 that he could hardly move     
himself4 ,he was as sore as if  he had  
been beaten with a heavy stick4 ,this1  
however1 in a great  measure1 wore off1 
after he began to move about2 but he    
found his  strength giving way much     
sooner on this day than on the preceding

  one4 ,at night1 his head ached badly1 
he had no appetite1 and was  feverish4  
,on the next morning1 however1 he went  
resolutely to work2  but he felt so     
unfit for it1 that he finally1 referring
 in his own  mind to what he had        
suffered on a former occasion by not    
explaining  his true situation1         
determined to mention to his new        
employer how he  felt4 and ask a little 
respite for a day or two1 until his     
strength  should return4 ,he1           
accordingly1 left the large pile of iron
 which he  had commenced assorting1 and 
entered the counting-room4 ,he felt a   
great degree of hesitation1 but strove  
to keep it down1 while he  summoned up  
resolution to utter distinctly and      
mildly his request4    ,the man of iron 
was busy over his bill-book when ,wilmer
 sought his  presence1 and looked up    
with a stern aspect4    ,i feel quite   
sick1 began ,theodore1 an older man than
 his employer1  from working beyond my  
strength for the last two days1 and     

should  be very glad if you could employ
 me at something lighter for as long  a 
time1 until ,i recover myself1 when ,i  
will be much stronger than  when ,i     
began1 and able to keep steadily on4 ,i 
have never been used  to hard labour1   
and feel it the more severely now4      
,mr4--looked at him with a slight sneer 
for a moment1 and then  replied1--    ,i
 can't have any playing about me ,if my 
work suits you1 well2 if  not1 there are
 a plenty whom it will suit4            
,silently did ,wilmer withdraw from the 
presence of the unfeeling man1  and     
turned with aching limbs to his toilsome
 work4    ,at night he found himself    
much worse than on the preceding        
evening2  and on the ensuing morning he 
was unable to go to the store4 ,it was  
nearly a week before he could again find
 his way out1 and then he  was in a     
sadly debilitated state1 from the       
effects of a fever  brought on by       
over-exertion4 ,he went to the          
iron-store1 and formally  declined his  

situation4 ,no offer was made to        
reengage him1 and as he  turned away    
from the door of the counting-room1 he  
heard the man  remark1 in a sneering    
under-tone to a person present1 a poor  
milk-sop6    ,generally1 the unfortunate
 are stung to the quick by any          
reflection  upon them by those in a     
better condition2 and few were more     
alive to  ridicule than ,wilmer4 ,both  
the condition and the constitutional    
infirmity combined1 made the remark of  
,mr4--produce in his bosom a  tempest of
 agitation2 and for a moment he was     
roused from his usual  calm exterior2   
but he recovered himself as quick as    
thought1 and  hurried away4 ,he did not 
go directly home1 but wandered          
listlessly  about for several hours4    
,when he returned at the usual dinner   
hour1  he found his wife busily engaged 
in preparing dinner4 ,her babe was      
asleep in the cradle1 by which sat the  
eldest boy1 touching it with  his foot1 
while the other little one1 about four  

years old1 was  prattling away to her   
baby-doll4    ,why ,constance1 where is 
,mary8    ,she has gone away1 was the   
smiling reply4    ,how comes that8 ,i   
thought she appeared very well          
satisfied4    ,she was very well pleased
 with her place1 ,i believe2 but as ,i  
have  taken it into my head to do       
without her1 and am a very wilful       
creature1 as you know1 why1 there was no
 remedy but to let her get  another     
place4 ,so ,i told her as much this     
morning1 and she has  already found a   
pleasant situation--not so good1        
however1 as this1  she says4 ,come1     
don't look so serious about it6         
,theodore can bring  water for me1 and  
you can cut the wood1 and among us we   
will do very  well4 ,it is a pity if two
 people can't take care of themselves1  
and  three other little bodies besides4 
,and just see what we will  save8--,four
 dollars a month for her wages1 and her 
boarding into the  bargain4 ,and you    
know1 ,mary1 though a kind1 good sort of

 a body1 and  very industrious and      
obliging1 eat almost as much as all the 
rest of  us together4    ,well1         
,constance1 put as good a face upon the 
matter as you can1 but  ,i feel that    
stern necessity has brought you to it4  
,you must not talk so much about 'stern 
necessity1' ,theodore4 ,it is  surely no
 great hardship for me to sweep up the  
house every morning1  and get the little
 food we eat4 ,i know that our income is
 cut off1  for ,i don't suppose you are 
going back to that iron-store again4    
,but  there will be a way opened1 for   
us4 ,the kind ,being who is trying us   
for our good will not leave us in our   
last extremity4 ,it is for us  to do the
 best we can1 with what we can get4 ,now
 that our certain  resources are        
withdrawn1 it is for us to limit our    
expenses to the  smallest possible sum4 
,we have1 it is true1 lived quite       
frugally for  the past year4 ,but it is 
possible for us to live on much less    
than  the five hundred dollars that it  

has cost4 ,our servant's wages and      
boarding were at least one hundred      
dollars2 and by the present             
retrenchment we save that sum1 and shall
 live just as comfortably1  for now we  
will all help to take care of each      
other4    ,so far so good1 my comforter6
 ,but where will the four hundred       
dollars come from8    ,well1 let us go  
on4 ,we pay one hundred and fifty       
dollars for this  house4 ,by going out  
upon the suburbs of the town1 we can get
 a  pleasant little house for five      
dollars a month4    ,o1 no1 ,constance1 
you are too fast4    ,not at all4 ,i    
have seen just the little place that    
will suit us4  ,the house is not old1   
and everything around is sweet and      
clean4 ,and  it's plenty big enough for 
us4    ,well1 ,constance1 suppose by so 
doing we reduce our expenses to  three  
hundred and ten dollars4 ,where is that 
sum to come from8 ,i  can't get any     
work4    ,don't despair1 ,theodore6 ,we 
shall not be forsaken4 ,but we must do  

for ourselves the best we can4 ,i have  
been turning over a plan in my  head1 by
 which we can live much cheaper and a   
great deal happier2  for the less it    
takes us to live1 the less care we shall
 have about  it4    ,go on4    ,by      
moving into a smaller house1 we can     
dispense with a great many  things which
 will then be of no use to us4 ,these   
will bring us from  two to three hundred
 dollars1 at public sale4 ,good         
furniture1 you  know1 always brings good
 prices4    ,well4    ,with this money1 
we can live in a smaller house1 without 
any  servant1 for nearly a year2 and    
surely you will get something to do  by 
next spring1 even if you should be idle 
all winter4    ,wilmer kissed the cheek 
of his wife1 now glowing with the       
excitement  of cheerful hope1 with a    
fervent and heartfelt affection1 and    
murmuring in a low voice--,my comforting
 angel6 turned with a  lighter heart    
than had beat in his bosom for months1  
to caress the  little girl1 who was     

clamouring for her usual kiss4    ,that 
afternoon was spent in discussing the   
proposed retrenchment1  and in going to 
look at the little house which ,mrs4    
,wilmer had  mentioned4 ,it was small1  
but neat1 and had a good yard1 with a   
pump  at the door4 ,they decided at once
 to take it1 and obtained  possession of
 the key4    ,no time was lost in       
offering their superfluous furniture at 
public  sale2 and to the satisfaction of
 both ,wilmer and his wife1 the         
auctioneer returned them1 after         
deducting his commissions1 the net  sum 
of three hundred dollars4    ,in one    
week from the time of ,mrs4 ,wilmer's   
proposition1 they were  snugly packed   
away in their new residence4    ,late in
 the fall1 ,wilmer obtained a situation 
as collector for one  of the newspaper  
offices1 on a salary of four hundred    
dollars4 ,this1  under the reduced      
expense system1 and with the surplus on 
hand1  afforded them ample means4 ,the  
exercise in the open air which it       

allowed him1 was greatly conducive to   
his health1 and he soon showed          
considerable improvement in body and    
mind4 ,things went on smoothly  and     
satisfactorily until about ,christmas1  
when he took a violent  cold1 on a wet  
day1 which fell upon his lungs1 and soon
 brought him  to a very weak state4     
,from this1 his recovery was so slow1   
and his  prospect of health so          
unpromising1 that he found it a matter  
of  necessity to decline his situation1 
which was retained for him as  long as  
the office could wait4    ,during the   
whole of the remaining inclement weather
 of the winter  season1 he found it     
necessary to keep within doors1 as he   
invariably  took cold whenever he       
ventured out4    ,perceiving the failure
 of her husband's health to be certainly
 and  rapidly progressing1 ,mrs4 ,wilmer
 dwelt in her own mind with painful     
solicitude upon the probable means of   
support for them all1 when his  strength
 should so entirely give way1 as to     

render him altogether  unfitted for     
business4 ,the only child of over-fond  
parents1 rich in  this world's goods1   
she had received a thorough1 fashionable
  education1 which fitted her for doing 
no one thing by which she  could earn   
any money4 ,her music had been confined 
to a few  fashionable waltzes and       
overtures2 her ,french and ,spanish were
  nearly forgotten1 and her proficiency 
in drawing and embroidery had  never    
been very great4 ,in her girlish days   
she could dance  gracefully1 and talk   
fashionable nonsense with a bewitching  
air when  it became necessary to amuse  
some sprig of fashion1 or wield good    
plain common sense with common sense    
people1 when occasion called  for it4   
,but as to possessing resources in      
herself for getting a  living in the    
world1 that was another matter          
altogether4 ,but there  is a creative   
power in necessity1 which acts with     
wonderful skill  when the hour of trial 
comes4 ,that hour had come with         

,constance1 and  she steadily cast about
 her for the means of earning money4    
,next door to where she lived was a     
widow woman with three grown-up         
daughters1 who were always busy working 
for the clothing-stores1 or  slop-shops1
 as they were called4 ,she had made     
their acquaintance  during the winter1  
and found them kind and considerate of  
others1  and ever ready with an         
encouraging word1 or serious advice when
  called for4 ,the very small           
compensation which they received for    
their work1 encouraged her but little1  
when she thought of obtaining  something
 to do in the same way4 ,but the more   
she thought of other  means1 the less   
she found herself fitted for doing      
anything else1  and at last determined  
to learn how to make common pantaloons1 
that  she might have some resource to   
fly to1 when all others failed4 ,she    
found her kind neighbours ready to give 
her all the instruction she  needed1 and
 they also kindly offered to introduce  

her to the shops  whenever she should   
determine to take in work4 ,it did not  
take her  long to learn1 and soon after 
she had acquired the art1 as her        
husband's health still continued to     
decline1 she began1 in odd  times1 to   
make common pantaloons and vests1 for   
which she received  the meagre          
compensation of twelve-and-a-half cents 
each4 ,it took her  about one-half of   
her time1 actively engaged1 to attend to
 her  family4    ,during the remaining  
half of each day and evening1 she would 
make a  vest or a pair of pantaloons1   
which at the end of the week would      
bring her in seventy-five cents4 ,when  
she looked at this small sum1  the      
aggregate of a week's labour1 during    
leisure from the concerns  of her       
family1 she felt but little encouraged  
in prospect of having  the whole of her 
little family dependent upon her2 and   
for some  weeks she entertained1 in the 
silence of her own heart1 a sickening   
consciousness of coming destitution1    

which she might in vain  endeavour to   
prevent4 ,gradually her mind reacted    
from this painful  state1 and she gave  
daily diligence to her employments1     
entertaining  a firm trust in ,divine   
,providence4    ,as the spring opened1  
her husband's health revived a little1  
and he  found employment at a small     
compensation in a retail dry-goods      
store4 ,this just suited his strength   
and the state of his health1  and he    
continued at it for something like three
 years4 ,during this  period nothing of 
material interest occurred1 and we pass 
it over in  silence4    ,the            
long-looked-for1 long-dreaded time1 when
 ,wilmer's health should  entirely give 
way1 at length came2 and although       
through the kindness  of his employers  
he had been retained in the store long  
after he was  able to do his full duty1 
yet at last he had to give up4    ,it   
would require a pen more skilled to     
portray the workings of the  human      
heart1 than mine1 to sketch his real    

feelings1 when he  received his last    
month's wages2 the last that he felt he 
would ever  earn for his family1 and    
turned his steps homeward4 ,he loved the
  wife who had forsaken the wealth and  
comfort of a father's house1  and had   
been all in all to him through sunshine 
and storm1 with deep  and tearful       
affection2 he would have sacrificed     
everything for her2  and yet for years  
had he been compelled to see her toil   
for a  portion of the bread that        
nourished her and her children4 ,he     
loved  his little ones1 with a yearning 
tenderness2 the more fervently and      
passionately1 now that he could no      
longer minister to their wants4  ,how   
could he meet them all on this evening1 
and see their dear faces  brighten up on
 his entrance1 when he could no longer  
earn them food1  or provide them with   
comforts8 ,it was with a strong effort  
that he  kept down his feelings4 as he  
entered his home1 now comprised in two  
rooms in the second story of an old     

house in ,commerce street1 where  they  
had removed1 to be nearer his place of  
business1 the long walk  having been too
 fatiguing for him1 after standing      
behind the counter  all day4    ,mrs4   
,wilmer's quick eye at once detected a  
change in the expression  of her        
husband's countenance1 but she said     
nothing4 ,after tea1 the  children were 
all put to bed in the next room1 and    
they were then  alone4 ,wilmer sat in   
deep thought by the table1 shading his  
face  with his sand when his wife came  
in from the chamber where she had  been 
with the children4 ,twining her arm     
round his neck1 she bent  over him1 and 
said1 in a tone of tender concern--     
,why so thoughtful1 ,theodore8    ,he   
did not reply for some moments1 nor lift
 his head1 and ,constance  was about to 
repeat her question in a more earnest   
voice1 when a hot  tear fell upon her   
hand4 ,she had seen him often sorely    
tried and  painfully exercised1 but had 
never known him to shed a tear4 ,there  

had always been a troubled silence in   
his manner when difficulties  pressed   
upon him1 but tears moistened not his   
eyes4 ,well might her  heart sink down  
in her bosom at that strange token of   
intense  suffering4    ,dear ,theodore6 
she said1 in a changed tone1 tell me    
what it is  that troubles you6    ,a    
shuddering sob was the only reply1 as he
 leaned his head back upon  her bosom4  
,say1 dearest1 what has happened8       
,the tears now fell from his eyes like  
rain1 and sob after sob shook  his frame
 convulsively4    ,constance waited in  
silence until the agitation subsided1   
and then  gently urged him to tell her  
what it was that troubled him so        
painfully4    ,i am broken in spirits   
now1 ,constance4 ,i am a weak child4 ,i 
have  received the last blow1 and       
manhood has altogether forsaken me4     
,tell me6 oh1 tell me6 ,theodore1 all1  
all6 ,do not distress me by  further    
silence1 or mystery6    ,a pause of some
 minutes succeeded1 during which ,wilmer

 was making  strong efforts to overcome 
his feelings4    ,constance1 he at      
length said1 mournfully1 ,i have tried  
long1 and  much beyond my strength1 to  
earn the small sum that it took to      
support our little ones2 but nature has 
at last given way4 ,here is  the last   
dollar ,i shall probably ever earn1 and 
now ,i shall be a  burden upon you1     
eating the bread of my children1 while  
they1 poor  things1 will hunger for the 
morsel that nourishes me4 ,i do not     
wonder that manly feelings have passed  
away with my strength4  ,constance1 what
 shall we do8    ,an angel of comfort is
 woman to life's last extremity4        
,fragile as a reed1 that bends to the   
passing breeze1 when the  sunshine of   
prosperity is bright above and around1  
she becomes the  tall oak1 deep-rooted  
and strong-branched1 when the wintry    
storms of  adversity sweep over the     
earth4 ,no trial subdues her1 no        
privation  brings a murmur of           
discontent4 ,she will hope to the last1 

and still  have a smile of assurance for
 those who1 in their despondency1 have  
even cast away hope4 ,constance ,wilmer 
was a woman1 and as a woman1  her worth 
was felt more and more1 as troubles came
 thicker and  faster4    ,dear husband6 
she said1 in a steady and cheerful      
voice1 you have  forgotten that line1 so
 true and so comforting--',despair is   
never  quite despair'--    ,i see no    
cause for such painful feelings4        
,pinching want is not upon  us yet1 and 
,i am sure the time will never come when
 our children  shall ask food at our    
hands in4 vain4 ,trial1 which is always 
for our  good1 will never reach beyond  
the point of endurance4    ,the burden  
is all upon you1 ,constance4 ,heaven    
grant that you may  have strength to    
bear it6    ,i fear not for the         
strength4 ,that will come in due time4  
,now we  have food and raiment1 and     
therewith let us be content4 ,if ,god so
  clothe the grass of the field1 which  
to-day is1 and to-morrow is  cast into  

the oven1 will he not clothe us8 ,he    
that feedeth the young  ravens when they
 cry1 will not turn away from us4 ,are  
we not of more  value than many         
sparrows8    ,bless you6 bless you6     
,constance4    ,do not1 then1 dear      
husband6 cast away your confidence4 ,if 
the  burden is to be all upon me1 it    
will be lightened by your cheerful      
countenance and encouraging words4 ,i   
shall need them both1  doubtless2 then  
do not withhold them4    ,her voice lost
 its steadiness1 trembled a moment1 and 
then she hid  her face1 in silence and  
in tears1 upon his bosom4    ,as ,wilmer
 had foreseen1 the strength for further 
labour was gone for  ever4 ,he lingered 
about for a few weeks1 and then took to 
his bed4  ,and now came the time for the
 full trial of ,mrs4 ,wilmer's mental   
and  bodily strength4                   
,notwithstanding all her close          
application at the needle1 the small    
sum that had been saved from former     
earnings1 slowly1 but steadily          

diminished4 ,daily she increased her    
exertions1 and encroached  further upon 
the hours of rest2 but still there was a
 steady  withdrawal of the hoarded      
treasure4 ,at first1 her confidence in  
the  ,divine ,providence was measurably 
shaken2 but soon the wavering  needle of
 her faith turned steadily to its polar 
star4 ,her own  health1 never vigorous1 
began also to give way under the        
increased  application which became     
necessary for the support of the beloved
  ones1 now entirely dependent upon her 
labour for food and raiment4  ,her      
appetite1 never very good1 failed       
considerably1 and consequently  there   
was a withdrawal instead of an increase 
of strength4 ,but none  knew of her pain
 or weakness4 ,her pale face was ever a 
cheerful one1  and her voice full of    
tenderness4    ,when the next spring    
opened1 ,wilmer was not only confined to
 the  house1 but unable to sit up1      
except for a few hours at a time        
through the day4 ,his wife's health had 

suffered much1 and all the  hours she   
sat at her needle1 were hours of painful
 endurance4 ,spring  passed away1 and   
summer came4 ,but the milder airs had no
 kind effect  upon the fast sinking     
frame of her husband4 ,he was rapidly   
going  down to the grave1 his last hours
 embittered by the sight of his  wife   
and children suffering before him4      
,during the month of ,august1 ,wilmer   
declined so fast1 and needed such       
constant attention1 that his wife could 
find but little time to  devote to her  
needle4 ,what she thus lost in the      
day-time1 she had to  make up1 as far as
 possible1 by encroaching upon the night
 hours1  and often the lamp by her side 
would grow dim before the light of  day1
 while she still bent in weariness and  
pain1 over the work that  was to give   
bread to her children4    ,for some     
months her work had been confined to one
 shop1 the master  of which was not     
always punctual in paying her the       
pittance she  earned4 ,instead of       

handing her1 whenever she called1 the   
trifle due  her1 he made her procure a  
little book in which he would enter the 
work1 promising to pay when it would    
amount to a certain sum4 ,in  anxious   
hope would ,mrs4 ,wilmer wait until her 
earnings rose to the  required amount2  
but not always then could she get her   
due2 there  would too frequently be a   
part payment1 or a request to call in a 
day or two4    ,one day towards the     
first of ,september1 she found that both
 food and  money were out4 ,she was just
 finishing a couple of vests for the    
clothing-shop1 and there were more than 
three dollars due to her4  ,while       
turning over in her own mind the hope   
that ,mr4--would pay  her the small sum 
due1 when she carried in the work1 and  
troubled  the ,while with fears lest he 
should deny her1 as he had often done   
before2 her husband1 whose bright eye   
had been upon her for some  time1 and   
whose countenance1 unseen by her1 had   
expressed an  earnest1 yet hesitating   

desire to ask for something1 said--     
,constance1 ,i don't know whether you   
are able to get them1 but if  you can1  
,i should like1 above all things1 to    
have some grapes4    ,then you shall    
have some1 ,constance replied1 earnestly
 and  affectionately4 ,i am sure they   
will help you4 ,why did ,i not think  of
 this for you long ago8    ,resuming her
 needle1 she plied it with double       
swiftness1 her heart  trembling lest    
when she asked for her money at the     
shop1 it should  be refused her4 ,at    
last the work was done and she carried  
it in4 ,it  was entered1 and her book   
handed back to her4 ,she paused a       
moment1  then turned to go out1 but she 
could not go home without some money4   
,hesitatingly she asked to have her due1
 but it was refused on some  excuse of  
having a large payment to make on that  
very day4 ,again she  turned to go1 but 
again turned to ask for only a part of  
what was  her own4 ,one dollar was      
thrown her with an unkind remark4 ,the  

first  she seized with avidity1 the last
 passed her ear unheeded4    ,how       
swiftly did she hurry home with her     
little treasure6 more  precious than a  
hundred times the sum had ever been     
before4 ,it was  to meet the first      
expressed want of her husband1 to       
gratify which  she would herself have   
abstained days from food4    ,the grapes
 were soon obtained1 with some bread1   
and a small portion  of meat1 for the   
children4 ,they proved very grateful and
 refreshing  to ,wilmer1 who1 soon after
 he had eaten a few of them1 fell into a
  gentle sleep4    ,the food which ,mrs4
 ,wilmer had bought would last them     
probably about  two days--not longer4   
,two months' rent would be due in a     
week1  amounting to eight dollars4      
,their landlord had threatened to take  
some of their things to satisfy the last
 months' rent1 and she had  little hope 
of his being put off longer than the    
expiration of the  two months4 ,there   
were still two-and-a-half dollars due   

her by the  keeper of the               
clothing-store1 which she knew it would 
be almost as  hard to get as to earn4   
,not disposed1 however1 to sit down and 
brood over her difficulties1  which only
 made them worse1 she went to work in   
the best spirit  possible to overcome   
them4 ,she obtained more work1 and bent 
herself  again over her daily           
employment4    ,she was sitting with an 
aching head and troubled heart at her   
work  on the next morning1 having only  
sought a brief repose through the       
night1 when a smart tap at the door     
roused her from her abstraction  of     
mind4    ,does ,mrs4 ,wilmer live here1 
ma'am8 asked a man4    ,that is my name4
    ,then ,i am directed to leave this  
basket1--and the man deposited  his     
burden on the floor1 and was gone before
 another word could be  spoken4    ,mrs4
 ,wilmer stood for a moment in mute     
surprise1 and then removed  the covering
 off the basket4 ,it contained tea1     
coffee1 sugar1 rice1  meat1 bread1 and  

various other articles of food2 and     
also1 a letter  directed to ,constance  
,wilmer4 ,she broke the seal with an    
anxious  and trembling heart4 ,it       
contained a fifty dollar note1 and these
  brief words3--    ,put by your        
work--you are cared for--there is help  
coming1 and now  very nigh--be of good  
cheer6    ,the coarse garment she still 
held in her hand1 fell to the floor4    
,her fingers released themselves from it
 by an instinctive effort  which she    
could not control4 ,her head reeled for 
a moment1 and she  sunk into a chair1   
overcome by a tumult of contending      
feelings4 ,from  this1 she was aroused  
by the voice of her husband1 who        
anxiously  inquired the contents of the 
letter4 ,he read it1 and saw the        
enclosure1 and the supply of food in the
 basket1 and then clasped  his hands and
 looked up with mute thankfulness to    
heaven4 ,mrs4  ,wilmer obeyed1 with a   
confidence for which she could not      
account1  the injunction of her         

stranger-friend1 and almost hourly for  
the  first day referred to the          
characters of the letter1 which seemed  
familiar to her eye4 ,that she had seen 
the writing before1 she was  certain2   
but where1 or when1 she could not tell4 
,relieved from daily care and toil1 she 
had more time to give to her  sick      
husband4 ,she found him nearer the grave
 than she had supposed4    ,four days   
more passed away1 and ,wilmer had come  
down to the very  brink of the dark     
river of death4    ,it was night4 ,the  
two younger children were asleep1 and   
the oldest  boy1 just in his tenth year1
 with his mother1 stood anxiously over  
the low bed1 upon which lay1 gasping for
 breath1 the dying husband  and father4 
,the widow1 who cannot forget the dear  
image of her  departed one2 the orphan1 
who remembers the dying agony of a fond 
father1 can realize in a great degree   
the sorrows which pressed upon  the     
hearts of these lone watchers by the bed
 of death4    ,the last hours of        

,wilmer's life were hours of distinct   
consciousness4    ,constance1 he        
whispered1 in a low difficult whisper1  
while his  bright eyes were fixed upon  
her face--,constance1 what will you do  
when ,i am gone8 ,i am but a burden on  
you now2 but my presence ,i feel  is    
something4    ,his stricken-hearted wife
 could make no answer2 but the tears    
rolled  over her face in great drops1   
and fell fast upon the pillow of her    
dying husband4    ,i cannot say1 'do not
 weep1' continued ,wilmer4 ,o that ,i   
could  give a word of comfort6 but your 
cup is full1 running over1 and ,i       
cannot dash it from your lips3--,dear   
,constance6 you have been to me  a wife 
and a mother4 ,let me feel your warm    
cheek once more against  mine1 for it is
 cold1 very cold4 ,hark6 did you not    
hear voices8 ,and  he strained his eyes 
towards the door1 half-lifting himself  
up4    ,for a few moments he looked     
eagerly for some one to enter1 and then 
fell back upon the bed with a heavy     

sigh1 murmuring to himself1 in a  low   
disappointed tone--    ,i thought they  
were coming4    ,who1 love8 asked ,mrs4 
,wilmer1 eagerly4 ,but her husband did  
not  seem to hear her question2 but lay 
gasping for breath1 the muscles  of his 
neck and face distorted and giving to   
his countenance the  ghastly expression 
of death4    ,who1 love8--who were      
coming8 eagerly asked ,mrs4 ,wilmer     
again1 her  own heart trembling with a  
recurrence of the vague hopes with which
  the mysterious letter and timely      
supply had inspired her1--hopes  that   
had never been hinted to her husband4   
,but it seemed that he had  given the   
incident his own interpretation4    ,but
 he heeded not her question4 ,for some  
time mother and son again  stood over   
him1 in troubled silence4 ,perhaps half 
an hour had passed  since he had spoken1
 when a slight bustle was heard1 on the 
steps  below1 and then feet were heard  
quickly ascending1 and hastening  along 
the passage towards their chamber door4 

,they come6 ,they come6 half-shrieked   
the dying man1 springing up in  the bed1
 and bending over towards the door1     
which was hastily flung  open4 ,his eyes
 glared upon the two persons1 a man and 
woman1 both  well advanced in life1 as  
they entered4 ,that one anxious gaze was
  enough4 ,looking up into the face of  
,constance1 against whose breast  his   
head had sunk1 his countenance changed  
into an expression of  intense delight1 
and he whispered--    ,they have come1  
,constance6 they have come4 ,think of me
 as at rest  and happy4 ,i die in peace6
    ,his eye-lids closed                
naturally--there was no longer any      
convulsive  play of the muscles1 and as 
an infant sinking into slumber1 so      
quietly did ,theodore ,wilmer sleep the 
sleep of death4    ,one month from that 
night of sorrow1 the darkest one in the 
many  gloomy seasons of ,mrs4 ,wilmer's 
life1 might have been seen this  child  
of many afflictions1 with her three     
little ones1 at home in  one of the most

 pleasant houses in the vicinity of ,new
 ,york4 ,there  was something sad and   
subdued in the expression of her pale   
face1  but it was from the recollection 
of the past4 ,her mother1 who ten  years
 before had cast her off as unworthy1   
now gazed upon her with a  look of the  
intensest affection2 and the father1 who
 had sworn never  to call her his child1
 sat holding her thin white hand in his1
 and  listening to her first recital of 
all she had passed through since  she   
left the home of her childhood1 while   
the tears fell from his  eyes in large  
drops1 upon the hand that lay within his
 own4              ,,the ,,sisters4     
,,the following unadorned narrative1 the
 reminiscence of a friend1 ,i  give as  
if related by him from whom ,i received 
it4 ,he was1 in early  years1 the       
apprentice of a tradesman1 in whose     
family the principal  incidents         
occurred4 ,the picture presented is one 
of every-day life4    ,,mr4 ,,williams1 
to whom1 when a boy1 ,i was apprenticed 

to learn the  art and mystery by which  
he supported a pretty large family1 was 
not  rich1 although1 by industry and    
economy1 he had gathered together a  few
 thousand dollars1 and owned1 besides1  
two or three neat little  houses1 the   
aggregate annual rent of which was      
something like six  hundred dollars4    
,his wife1 a weak-minded woman1 however1
 considered  him independent1 in regard 
to wealth1 and valued herself           
accordingly4 ,few held their heads      
higher1 or trode the pavement with  a   
statelier step than ,mrs4 ,williams4    
,an elder sister1 greatly her superior  
in every quality of mind1 had  been far 
less fortunate in her marriage4 ,she was
 the wife of a man1  who1 instead of    
increasing his worldly goods1 the fruit 
of some  twenty years' prudence and     
industry1 had become dissipated1 and at 
the time now referred to1 was sinking   
rapidly1 and bearing his  family1 of    
course1 down with him4 ,all energy      
seemed lost1 and though  his family was 

steadily increasing1 he grew more and   
more careless  every day4    ,he spent  
much time in taverns1 and wasted there a
 good deal of  money1 that his family   
needed4 ,mrs4 ,haller1 his wife1 was1 as
 has  been said1 in intelligence and    
feeling1 much the superior of ,mrs4     
,williams1 but appeared to little       
advantage in her peculiar  situation4   
,she was the elder sister1 by four or   
five years4 ,at the  time of which ,i am
 now writing1 ,mrs4 ,haller had five    
children1 two  of them grown up1 and the
 rest small4 ,her husband had become so 
indolent and sottish1 that all her      
exertions were needed to keep her       
little flock from suffering with cold   
and hunger4 ,no woman could  have       
laboured more untiringly than she did1  
but it was labouring  against a strong  
current that bore her little bark       
slowly1 but  surely backward4 ,here1    
then1 are the two sisters2 one1 the     
elder1  and superior in all the         
endowments of head and heart--the other 

with  few claims to estimation other    
than those afforded by a competence  of 
worldly goods4 ,let us view them a      
little closer4 ,perhaps we can  read a  
lesson in their mutual conduct that will
 not soon be  forgotten4    ,in earlier 
years1 ,i have learned1 that they were  
much attached to  each other4 ,in their 
father's house1 they knew no cares1 and 
when  they married1 which was within a  
few years of each other1 their          
prospects were equal for future         
happiness4 ,while this equality         
existed1 their intercourse was          
uninterrupted and affectionate4 ,but1   
as ,mr4 ,haller began to neglect his    
family1 the cloud that settled  upon the
 brow of his poor wife was not pleasant 
for ,mrs4 ,williams to  look upon4 ,nor 
were the complaints that a full heart   
too often  forced to the lips1 at all   
agreeable to her ears4 ,naturally proud 
and selfish1 these two feelings had been
 gaining strength with the  progress of 
years1 and were now so confirmed1 that  

even towards an  only sister in changed 
circumstances they remained in full     
activity4    ,when ,i first went to live
 with ,mr4 ,williams1 ,mrs4 ,haller     
resided in  a neatly furnished1 small   
two-story brick house4 ,her husband had 
not  then shown his vagabond            
propensities very distinctly1 though he 
spent in his family1 and otherwise1 all 
that he earned each week1  thus leaving 
nothing for a rainy day4 ,he was a      
little in debt1 too1  but not so much as
 to make him feel uneasy4 ,mrs4 ,haller 
was anxious  to lay up something1 and to
 be getting ahead in the world1 and was1
  consequently1 always troubled because 
things never got any better4  ,she came 
to our house every week1 and ,mr4       
,williams would visit her  once in a    
month or two4 ,mrs4 ,haller often talked
 of her troubles to  her sister1 who    
used then to sympathize with her1 and   
make many  suggestions of means to      
gender things more accordant with her   
desires4 ,as matters gradually grew     

worse in the progress of time1  and     
,mrs4 ,haller began to make rather an   
indifferent appearance1 the  manner of  
her sister became evidently constrained 
and  unsympathizing4 ,she began to look 
upon her in the light of a poor         
relation4 ,her children1 cousins of     
course to ,mrs4 ,williams's1 were  not  
treated encouragingly when they came to 
our house1 and if  company happened to  
be there1 they were kept out of sight1  
or sent  home4 ,mrs4 ,williams rarely   
visited ,mrs4 ,haller--not so often as  
once  in six months4    ,long before the
 period of which ,i am now writing1     
,haller had become  drunken and very    
lazy4 ,their comfortable house and      
furniture had  been changed for poor    
rooms1 with little in them1 except what 
was  barely necessary4 ,the oldest      
child1 a son1 about nineteen years of   
age1 on to whose maturity the mother had
 often looked with a lively  hope1      
following the example of his father1 had
 become idle and  dissipated2 spending  

most of his time in low taverns and     
gambling-shops4 ,here was a keen sorrow 
which no heart but a mother's  can      
understand4 ,oh1 what a darkening of all
 the dreams of early  years6 ,when a    
warm-hearted girl1 looking into the     
pleasant future  with a tremulous joy1  
she stood beside her chosen one at the  
altar1  how little did she dream of the 
shadows and darkness that were to  fall 
upon her path6 ,and alas6 how little    
does many a careless girl1  who gives   
herself away1 thoughtlessly1 to a young 
man of unformed  character1 dream of the
 sorrow too deep for tears that awaits  
her4  ,surely this were anguish         
enough1--and surely it called for the   
sustaining sympathy of friends4 ,but the
 friend of her early years1  the sister 
in whose arms1 in the days of innocent  
childhood1 she had  slept peacefully1   
now turned from her coldly1 and even    
repulsively4    ,so unnatural and       
revolting seems the picture ,i am       
drawing1 even in  its dim outlines1 that

 ,i turn from it myself1 half-resolved  
to leave  it unfinished4 ,but many      
reasons1 stronger than feeling1 urge me 
to  complete my task with the imperfect 
skill ,i possess1 and ,i take the       
pencil which ,i had laid down in shame  
and disgust1 and proceed to  fill up    
more distinctly4    ,i had observed for 
some time the growing coolness of ,mrs4 
,williams  towards her unfortunate      
sister1 and had noted more than once the
  deep dejection of ,mrs4 ,haller's     
manner1 whenever she went away from  our
 house4 ,she began to come less and less
 frequently1 and her  children at still 
more remote intervals4 ,things became   
desperate  with her at length1 and she  
came1 forced by necessity1 to seek a    
little aid and comfort in her sorrow    
from her once kind sister1 and  with the
 faint hope that some relief would be   
offered4 ,i was sitting  in the neatly  
furnished breakfast-room1 one evening1 a
 little after  tea1 reading a book1 when
 ,mrs ,haller came in4 ,she had on a    

dark  calico dress1 faded1 but clean1 a 
rusty shawl that had once been  black1  
and a bonnet that ,mrs4 ,williams's     
kitchen-servant would not  have worn4   
,my eye instinctively glanced to the    
face of ,mrs4 ,williams  as she entered2
 it had at once contracted into a cold  
and forbidding  expression4 ,she neither
 rose from her chair1 nor asked ,mrs4   
,haller  to take one1 greeting her only 
with a chilling well1 ,sally4 ,the      
latter naturally sought a chair1 and    
waited silently1 and surely  with an    
aching heart1 for a kinder manifestation
 of sisterly regard4  ,i immediately    
left the room2 but learned afterwards   
enough of the  interview to make it     
distinct to the imagination of the      
reader4    ,the sisters sat silent for  
some moments1 the one vainly trying to  
keep down the struggling anguish of a   
stricken heart1 and the other1          
half-angry at the intrusion1            
endeavouring to fashion a form of       
greeting that should convey her real    

impressions1 without being  verbally    
committed4 ,at length the latter said1  
half-kindly1  half-repulsively3--       
,why1 ,sally1 what has brought you so   
far from home1 after dark8    ,nothing  
very particular4 ,only ,i thought ,i    
would like to drop in a  little while   
and see how you all did4 ,besides1      
little ,thomas is  sick1 and ,i wanted  
to get a few herbs from you1 as you     
always keep  them4    ,what kind of     
herbs do you want8    ,only a few sprigs
 of balm1 and some woodbitney4          
,kitty--bawled out this unfeeling woman 
to the servant in the  kitchen--go up   
into the garret and bring me a handful  
of balm and  woodbitney--and don't stay 
all night6    ,no1 ma'am1 said ,kitty1  
thinking the last part of the order most
  requiring a reply4    ,a further pause
 of a few minutes ensued1 when ,mrs4    
,haller1 after  almost struggling to    
keep silence1 at length ventured to say1
 sadly1  and despondingly1 that she     
should have to move again4    ,and what1

 in the name of heaven1 ,sally1 are you 
going to move again  for8 ,you can't be 
suited much better4    ,nor much worse1 
either1 ,mary4 ,but ,john has paid no   
rent1 and we  can't stay any longer4    
,the landlord has ordered us to leave by
 next  ,wednesday1 or he will throw our 
few things into the street4    ,well1 ,i
 declare1 there is always something     
occurring with you to  worry my mind4   
,why do you constantly harass me with   
your troubles8 ,i  have enough at home  
in my own family to perplex me1 without 
being  made to bear your burdens4 ,i    
never trouble you with my grievances1   
or anybody else1 and do not think it    
kind in you to make me feel bad  every  
time you come here4 ,i declare1 ,i grow 
nervous whenever ,i see  you6    ,poor  
,mrs4 ,haller1 already bending beneath  
her burden1 found this  adding a weight 
that made it past calm endurance1 and   
she burst into  tears1 and sobbed aloud4
 ,but not the slightest impression did  
this  exhibition of sorrow make upon    

,mrs4 ,williams4 ,she even reproached   
her with unbecoming weakness4           
,although her sister had before shown   
indifference and great  coolness1 yet   
never had she spoken thus unkindly4 ,in 
a few moments  ,mrs4 ,haller regained   
her calmness1 and with it came back some
 of her  former pride of feeling4 ,for a
 moment she sat with her eyes cast  upon
 the floor1 endeavouring to keep down   
her struggling emotions2  in the next   
she rose up1 and looking her sister     
fixedly in the face1  read her this     
impressive lesson4    ,mary1 ,i could   
not have dreamed of such harshness from 
you6 ,i have  thought you cold and      
indifferent1 long2 but ,i tried hard to 
believe  that you were not unkind4 ,i   
have never come to see you in the last  
three years1 that ,i did not go away sad
 in spirit4 ,there was  something in    
your manner that seemed to say that you 
thought my  presence irksome1 and as you
 were the only friend ,i had to speak to
  about my wearying cares and anxieties1

 it grieved me more than ,i can  tell to
 think that that only friend was growing
 cold--and that  friend a sister6 ,as   
things have become worse with me1 your  
manner  has grown colder1 and now you   
have spoken out distinctly1 and         
destroyed the little resting place ,i   
sometimes sought when wearied  to       
faintness4 ,mary1 may ,god who has      
afflicted me1 grant you a  happier lot  
in the future6 ,may you never know the  
anguish of one who  sees a once idolized
 husband become a brute--her children   
growing up  worthless under the dreadful
 example of their father1 and all often 
wanting food to sustain nature6 ,you    
have everything you desire4 ,i  have not
 the necessaries of life4 ,we were born 
of the same mother1  and nursed at the  
same bosom4 ,we played together in      
childhood1--once  ,i saved your life4   
,and now1 because our ways are          
different2 yours  even and flowery1 and 
mine rough and thorny1 you turn from me1
 as  from an importunate beggar4 ,mary1 

we shall meet our father and  mother at 
the bar of ,god6    ,thus saying1 ,mrs4 
,haller turned slowly away1 and left the
 house  before her sister1 who was      
startled at this unexpected appeal1     
could  sufficiently collect her senses  
to reply4 ,her real errand1 or1  rather1
 her principal errand to the house of   
,mrs4 ,williams1 had been  to ask for   
some food for her children4 ,it was many
 weeks since her  husband had           
contributed a single dollar towards the 
daily family  expenses1 and all the     
burden of their support devolved upon   
the wife  and mother4 ,night and day1 in
 pain1 and exhaustion of body and mind1 
had she toiled to get food for those who
 looked up to her1 but all  her efforts 
were inadequate4 ,like thousands of     
others1 when a girl1  she had acquired  
an education that was more ornamental   
than useful4  ,the consequence was1 that
 she had no ready means of earning      
money4  ,the wants of a family of       
children1 had1 it is true1 given her    

some  skill with her needle1 but not of 
a kind that would enable her to  earn   
much by sewing4    ,she did1 however1 at
 first try what she could do by working 
for the  cheap clothing-stores4 ,but    
twelve-and-a-half cents a pair for      
pantaloons1 ten cents for vests1 and    
eight cents for shirts1 yielded  so     
little1 that she was driven to something
 else4 ,that something  else was the    
washtub2 over which1 and the            
ironing-table1 she toiled  early and    
late1 often ready to sink to the floor  
from exhaustion4    ,of this1 she said  
nothing to ,mrs4 ,williams1 who would   
have been  terribly mortified at the    
idea of her sister1 taking in washing   
for  a support4 ,the labour of one pair 
of hands in the wash-tub1 was1  however1
 unequal to the task of providing food  
for seven mouths1  even of a very poor  
quality4 ,consequently1 ,mrs4 ,haller   
found the  wants of her family pressing1
 every day1 harder and harder upon the  
slender means by which they were        

supplied4 ,often1 when she carried  home
 her work1 there was no food in the     
house1 and often did she  work half the 
night1 so as to be able to take her     
clothes home early  on the next day1 and
 get the money she had earned to meet   
that day's  wants4    ,among those for  
whom she washed and ironed1 was a woman 
in good  circumstances1 who never paid  
her anything until she asked for it1    
and then the money came with an air of  
reluctance4 ,of course1 she  applied to 
her for her hard earnings1 only when    
pressed by  necessity4 ,on the morning  
before the interview with her sister1   
just  detailed1 ,mrs4 ,haller found     
herself nearly out of everything1 and   
with not a cent in the world4 ,the woman
 just alluded to1 owed her  two dollars1
 and she had nearly completed another   
week's washing for  her1 which would    
make the amount due her two dollars and 
a half4 ,at  dinner-time1 every mouthful
 of food1 and that a scanty portion1 was
  consumed1 and there would be nothing  

for supper1 or breakfast1 on  the next  
morning1 unless ,mrs4 ,hamil should pay 
her4 ,it was nearly  night when she     
finished ironing the last piece4        
,hurriedly putting on  her things1 after
 sending two of her children with the   
clothes in a  basket1 she joined them as
 they were about entering the dwelling  
of  ,mrs4 ,hamil4    ,her heart beat1   
audibly to her own ear1 as she went in1 
and asked to  see the woman for whom she
 had been labouring4 ,although1         
heretofore1  whenever she had asked for 
her money1 she had received it1         
sometimes  with reluctance1 it is true1 
yet her extremity being now so great1   
she trembled lest1 from some cause1 she 
should not be able to get  the pittance 
due her4    ,for a few moments she sat  
in the kitchen hesitating to ask for    
,mrs4  ,hamil1 after the clothes had    
been given to the servant4 ,when she did
  do so1 she was told that she was      
engaged and could not be seen4    ,ask  
her1 then1 for me1 if you please1 she   

said1 to send me a  dollar4 ,i want it  
very much4    ,the servant went up and  
delivered her message1 and in a few     
moments  came back with the answer1 that
 ,mrs4 ,hamil was engaged1 and could    
not attend to such matters2--that she   
could step in on the next day1  and get 
her money4    ,the words fell coldly    
upon her feelings1 and oppressed her    
with a  faint sickness4 ,then she got up
 slowly from her chair1 hesitated a     
moment1 took one or two steps towards   
the door1 and then pausing1  said to the
 servant1    ,go up and tell ,mrs4      
,hamil1 that ,i am sorry to trouble her1
 but that  ,i want the money very much1 
and that if she will send it down to me1
  she will confer a very great favour1  
indeed4    ,i had rather not1 the       
servant replied4 ,she didn't appear     
pleased  at my going up the first time4 
,and ,i am sure she will be less        
pleased if ,i go again4    ,but you do  
not know how much ,i am in want of this 
money1 ,jane--  and the poor woman's    

voice quivered4    ,well1 ,mrs4 ,haller1
 ,i will try again1 the kind-hearted    
girl said1  but ,i can't promise to be  
successful4 ,mrs4 ,hamil is very queer  
sometimes4    ,in a few minutes ,jane   
returned with a positive refusal4 ,mrs4 
,hamil  couldn't and wouldn't be        
troubled in that way4    ,in a state of 
half-conscious1 dreamy wretchedness1 did
 ,mrs4 ,haller  turn her steps slowly   
homewards4 ,the shadows of evening were 
falling  thickly around1 adding a deeper
 gloom to her feelings4    ,o1 mother6  
,i'm glad you've come4 ,i'm so hungry6  
cried one of her  little ones1 springing
 to her side as she entered4 ,won't we  
have  supper soon1 now8    ,this was too
 much for her1 and she sank exhausted   
and almost  fainting into a chair4      
,tears soon brought temporary relief to 
an  overburdened heart4 ,then she       
soothed her hungry little ones as well  
as she could1 promising them a good     
supper before they went to bed4    ,but 
why can't we have it now8 urged one1    

more impatient1 or more  hungry1 than   
the rest4    ,because mother hasn't got 
any good bread for little ,henry-- she  
replied--,but she will have some soon4  
,so all be good children1 and  wait     
until mother goes out and gets some     
bread and meat1 and then we  will all   
have a nice supper4    ,after quieting  
the importunities of her children in    
this way1 and  soothing little ,thomas1 
who was sick and fretful1 ,mrs4 ,haller 
again  left them1 and bent her steps1   
with a reluctant spirit1 towards the    
comfortable dwelling of her sister1     
nearly a mile away from where  she      
lived4 ,the interview with that sister  
has already been given4    ,when she    
turned away1 as has been seen1          
empty-handed1 from the door  of that    
sister1 it was with feelings that few   
can imagine4 ,it seemed  to her as if   
she were forsaken both of earth and     
heaven4 ,how she got  home1 she hardly  
knew1 but when she entered that         
cheerless place she  found her poor sick

 child1 for whom she had no money to buy
  medicine1 burning with fever1 and     
crying bitterly4 ,her brutal  husband   
was snoring on the bed the smaller      
children quarrelling  among themselves1 
and her oldest boy1 half-intoxicated1   
leaning over  the back of a chair1 and  
swinging his body backward and forward  
in  the 7sic7 idiotcy of drunkenness4   
,as she entered1 the children  crowded  
round her1 asking fretfully for their   
suppers2 but nothing  had she to give   
them1 for she had come away empty-handed
 and  repulsed from the door of her     
affluent sister1 to whose dwelling she  
had gone solely to ask for some food for
 her children6 ,in the  momentary energy
 of despair she roused her husband      
rudely from the  bed1 and bade him1 in  
an excited tone1 to go and get some     
bread for  the children3 ,the brute1    
angered by her words and manner1 struck 
her  a blow upon the head1 which brought
 her senseless to the floor4    ,an hour
 at least passed before she recovered   

her senses2 when she  opened her eyes1  
she found herself on a bed1 her sister  
sitting by  her side1 weeping1 and ,mr4 
,williams standing over her4 ,her       
husband  was not there1 some of the     
children were crying about the room1 and
  others had fallen asleep on the floor4
 ,the oldest boy was sitting in  the    
position before-mentioned4 ,brief       
explanations were made1 and  ,mrs4      
,williams offered a faint apology for   
her harsh treatment4 ,the  appeal of her
 sister had touched her feelings1 and   
she had proposed  to ,mr4 ,williams to  
go over and see her4 ,on entering her   
dwelling  they found her senseless on   
the floor1 and the children screaming   
around her4 ,the husband was not there4 
,as soon as the mother's voice was heard
 by the smallest child1 a  little girl1 
she climbed up the side of the bed1 and 
simply1 and  earnestly1 in lisping      
tones1 asked for a piece of bread4 ,the 
poor  woman burst into tears1 and turned
 her head away from her child4  ,mrs4   

,williams went to the closet1           
saying--,come1 ,emma1 ,i will get  you  
some bread4 ,the little thing was at her
 side in a moment4 ,but  the search     
there was in vain4    ,where is the     
bread1 ,sally8 she asked4    ,there is  
none in the house1 faintly murmured the 
almost  broken-hearted mother4    ,good 
heavens6 said ,mr4 ,williams--you are   
not without food1  surely8    ,we have  
tasted nothing to-day1 was the startling
 reply4    ,where is ,mr4 ,haller8    ,i
 know not--he left the house a short    
time ago4    ,he ran out when he struck 
you1 mother1 spoke up the little child  
who had asked for the bread4    ,mr4 and
 ,mrs4 ,williams looked at each other   
for some moments in  silence4    ,get a 
basket and come with me1 ,john1 said    
,mr4 ,williams1 to the  oldest boy1 who 
was gazing on with indifference or      
stupidity4    ,mechanically he took a   
basket and followed his uncle4 ,they    
soon  returned with bread1 dried meat1  
ham1 c41 and in a brief space1 a        

comfortable meal was prepared for the   
starving family4    ,conscience felt    
about the heart of ,mrs4 ,williams that 
night1 with  touches of pain1 and she   
repented of her cruel neglect1 and      
unkind  treatment of her sister4 ,she   
dreamed not of the extent of her        
destitution and misery--simply1 because 
she had refused to make  herself        
acquainted with her real condition4 ,now
 that the sad reality  had been forced  
upon her almost unwilling eyes1 a few   
returning  impulses of nature demanded  
relief for her suffering sister4    ,mr4
 ,williams1 whose benevolent feelings   
were easily excited1 was  shocked at the
 scene before him1 and blamed himself   
severely for not  having earlier become 
acquainted with ,mrs4 ,haller's         
condition4 ,he  immediately set about   
devising means of relief4 ,haller had   
become so  worthless that he despaired  
of making him do anything for his       
family4 ,he therefore invited his       
sister-in-law to come home to our       

house1 and bring her two youngest girls 
with her4 ,the rest were  provided with 
places4 ,the family had grown pretty    
large1 and she  could assist in sewing1 
c41 and thus render a service1 and live 
comfortably4 ,mrs4 ,williams seconded   
the proposition1 though not with  much  
cordiality2 she could not1 however1 make
 any objections4    ,we look at the     
sisters now in a different relation4    
,the superior in  dependence on the     
inferior4 ,can any for a moment question
 the  result8    ,it was not without a  
struggle that poor ,mrs4 ,haller        
consented to  disband her little        
family--and virtually to divorce herself
 from her  husband4 ,no matter how cruel
 the latter had been1 nor how deplorable
  the condition of the former1 her heart
 still retained its household           
affections1 and would not consent       
willingly to have her little flock      
scattered-perhaps for ever4 ,but stern  
necessity knows no law4 ,in due  time1  
with little ,emma1 and ,emily1 ,mrs4    

,haller was assigned a  comfortable room
 over the kitchen1 and became a member  
of our  family4 ,all of us in the shop  
felt for her a warm interest1 but       
hesitated not to express among ourselves
 a regret that she could do  no better  
than to trust herself and little ones to
 the tender  mercies of a sister1 whom  
we knew too well to respect4    ,at     
first1 ,mrs4 ,haller was employed in    
needle-work1 but as she was  neither a  
very fast nor neat sewer1 her sister    
soon found it better  policy to let her 
do the chamber-work1 and sometimes      
assist in  cooking4 ,for about three    
months1 her situation was comfortable1  
except that her children were required  
to act just so1 and were  driven about  
and scolded if they ventured to amuse   
themselves in the  yard1 or anywhere in 
the sight or hearing of their aunt4 ,her
 own  children were indulged in almost  
everything1 but her little nieces  were 
required to be as staid and circumspect 
as grown-up women4  ,after about six    

months had elapsed1 ,mrs4 ,williams     
began to find  fault with her sister for
 various trifles1 and to be petulant and
  unkind in manner towards her4 ,this   
thing was not done right1 and the  other
 thing was neglected4 ,if she sat down  
for half an hour to sew  for herself or 
children1 something would be said or    
hinted to wound  her1 and make her feel 
that she was viewed by her sister in no 
other  light than that of a hired       
servant4    ,something occurring to make
 the kitchen-servant leave her place1   
,mrs4 ,haller cooked and attended in her
 situation until another could  be      
obtained4 ,there was1 however1 no effort
 made to procure another2  week after   
week passed away1 and still all the     
menial employments of  the house and the
 hard duties of the kitchen fell upon   
,mrs4 ,haller4  ,from her place at the  
first table1 where she sat for a short  
time  after she came into the house1 she
 was assigned one with us4 ,to all      
these changes she was not indifferent4  

,she felt them keenly4 ,but  what could 
she do8 ,unfortunately for her1 she had 
been so raised 7as  too many of our     
poor1 proud1 fashionable girls are now  
raised7 as to  be almost helpless when  
thrown upon her own resources4 ,she was 
industrious1 and saving2 but understood 
nothing about getting a  living4        
,therefore1 she felt that endurance was 
her only present  course4 ,it was       
grievous to the heart to be trampled    
upon by a sister  whose condition was   
above her's2 but as that sister had     
offered her  an 7sic7 assylum1 when in  
the utmost destitution1 she resolved to 
bear patiently the burden she imposed   
upon her4    ,it was now tacitly        
understood between the sisters that     
,sally was to  be kitchen-servant to the
 other4 ,and as a servant she was       
treated4  ,when company were at the     
house1 she was not to know them or sit  
down  in the parlour with them4 ,her    
little ones were required to keep       
themselves out of the family            

sitting-room1 and ,mrs4 ,williams's     
children taught1 not by words1 but by   
actions1 to look upon them as           
inferiors4 ,from confinement1 and being 
constantly checked in the  outburst of  
their feelings1 they soon began to look 
much worse than  they did when first    
taken from their comfortless abode4 ,the
  youngest1 a quiet child1 might usually
 be found sitting on a little  stool by 
her mother in the kitchen1 playing with 
some trifling toy2  but the other was a 
wild little witch1 who was determined to
 obey no  arbitrary laws of her aunt's  
enacting4 ,there was no part of the     
house that she did not consider neutral 
ground4 ,now she would be  playing with 
her little cousins in the               
breakfast-room1 or in some of  the      
chambers1 and now clambering over the   
shop-board among the boys  and          
journeymen4 ,all liked her but ,mrs4    
,williams1 and to her she was  a thorn  
in the flesh1 because she set at        
defiance all her  restrictions4 ,this   

was a cause of much trouble to ,mrs4    
,haller1 who  saw that the final result 
would be a separation from one or both  
of  her children4 ,the only reason that 
weighed with her and caused her  to     
remain in her unpleasant and degraded   
situation1 was the ardent  desire she   
felt to keep her two youngest children  
with her4 ,she  could not trust them to 
the tender mercies of strangers4 ,deep  
distress and abject poverty had not     
blunted a single maternal  feeling1 and 
her heart yearned for her babes with an 
increased  anxiety and tenderness as the
 chances every day appeared less in     
favour of her retaining them with her4  
,one had nearly grown up1 and  was a    
sorrow and an anguish to her heart4 ,two
 others1 quite young1  were bound out1  
and but one of them had found a kind    
guardian4 ,and  now1 one of the two that
 remained she feared would have to be   
removed from her4    ,one day1 her      
sister called her into the sitting-room1
 where she  found a lady of no very     

prepossessing appearance4    ,sally1    
said she1 this is ,mrs4 ,tompkins4 ,she 
has seen ,emily1 and  would like to have
 her very much4 ,you1 of course1 have no
 objections  to getting so good a place 
for ,emily4 ,how soon can you get her   
ready  to go8 ,mrs4 ,tompkins would like
 to have her by the first of next  week4
    ,thus1 without a moment's warning1  
the dreaded blow fell upon her4  ,she   
murmured a faint assent1 named an early 
day1 and retired4 ,she  could not resist
 the will of her sister1 for she was a  
dependant4    ,in the disposition of    
other people's children1 we can be      
governed by  what we call rational      
considerations2 but when called upon to 
part  with our own helpless offspring1  
how differently do we estimate          
circumstances6 ,every day we hear some  
one saying1 ,why don't she put  out her 
children8--and1 ,why don't she put out  
her children8 ,they  will be much better
 off4 ,and perhaps these children are   
but eight1  nine1 and ten years old4    

,mother6 father6 whoever you may be1    
imagine  your own children1 of that     
tender age1 among strangers as servants 
7for that is the capacity of children   
who are thus put out7 required  to be1  
in all respects1 as prudent1 as         
industrious1 as renouncing of  little   
recreations and pleasures as men and    
women1 and subject to  severe           
punishments for all childish faults and 
weaknesses1 such as  you would have     
borne with and gently corrected4 ,don't 
draw parallels  between your own and    
poor people's children1 as if they were 
to be  less regarded than yours4 ,even  
as your heart yearns over and loves     
with unspeakable tenderness your        
offspring1 does the mother1 no  matter  
how poor her condition1 yearn over and  
love her children--and  when they are   
removed from under her protecting wing1 
she feels as  keen a sorrow as would    
rend your heart1 were the children of   
your  tenderest care and fondest love1  
taken from you and placed among         

strangers4    ,in due time1 ,emily was  
put out to ,mrs4 ,tompkins1 a woman who 
had  wonderful fine notions about       
rearing up children so as to make men   
and women of them1 7than her own1 there 
were not a more graceless  set in the   
whole city47 ,she had never been able to
 carry into full  practice her admirable
 theories in regard to the education of 
children among her own hopefuls2        
because--first3 ,johnny was a very      
delicate boy1 and to have governed him  
by strict rules1 would have  been to    
have ruined his constitution4 ,she had  
never dared to break  him of screaming  
by conquering him1 in a single instance1
 because  the rupture of a blood-vessel 
would doubtless have been the           
consequence1 or a fit in which he might 
have died4 ,once indeed she  did try to 
force him to give up his will1 but he   
grew black in the  face from passion1   
and she had hard work to recover        
him--after this  he was humoured in     
everything4 ,and ,tommy was a           

high-spirited and  generous fellow1 and 
it would have been a pity to warp his   
fine  disposition4 ,years of discretion 
would make him a splendid specimen  of  
perfect manhood4 ,angelina1 7a forward1 
pert little minx17 was1  from her birth1
 so gentle1 so amiable1 so affectionate1
 that no  government was necessary--and 
,victorine was so naturally             
high-tempered1 that her mother guarded  
against the developement of  anger by   
never allowing her to be crossed in     
anything4    ,in ,emily1 ,mrs4 ,tompkins
 supposed she had found a fine subject  
on  which to demonstrate her theories4  
,a wilful1 spoiled child1 she was1      
eleven years of age1 and needed curbing1
 and in a few days ,mrs4  ,tompkins     
found it necessary to exercise her      
prerogative4 ,emily was1  of course1 put
 right to work1 so soon as she came into
 the house4  ,her first employment was  
to sweep up the breakfast-room1 after   
the  maid had removed the               
breakfast-things and placed back the    

table4 ,she  had never handled a broom1 
and was1 of course1 very awkward4 ,with 
this awkwardness1 ,mrs4 ,tompkins had no
 patience1 and once or twice  took the  
broom from her hand1 and directed her   
how to hold and use  it1 in a high tone1
 and half-angry manner4 ,in due course  
she got  through this duty2 and then was
 directed to rock the cradle1 while     
,mrs4 ,tompkins went through her chamber
 and made herself look a  little tidy4  
,sitting still a whole hour was a       
terrible trial to  ,emily's patience1   
but she made out to stick at her post   
until ,mrs4  ,tompkins re-appeared4 ,she
 was then sent into the cellar to bring 
up  three or four armfuls of wood1 and  
immediately after to the grocer's  for a
 pound of soap1 then to the milliner's  
with a band-box4 ,when  she returned1 it
 was about eleven o'clock1 and she was  
set to help  one of the servants wash   
the windows1 which were taken out of the
  frames and washed in the yard4 ,this  
occupied until twelve4 ,then she  must  

rock the cradle again1 which she did    
until one o'clock1 when it  waked1 and  
she had to sit on a little chair and    
hold it1 while the  family dined4 ,her  
own dinner was afterwards put on a      
plate1 and she  made to stand by the    
kitchen-table and eat it4 ,all the      
afternoon was  taken up in some         
employment or other1 and as soon as     
supper was over  7which she eat1 as     
before1 standing at the kitchen-table7  
she was  sent to bed--and glad she was  
to get there1 for she was so tired she  
could hardly stand up4    ,the next day 
passed in the same unrelaxing round of  
duties1 and the  third commenced in a   
similar way4 ,the little thing had by   
this time  become almost sick from such 
constant confinement and extra labour   
for one of her strength4 ,she was set1  
on this day1 to scrub down a  pair of   
back stairs1 a task to which she was    
unequal4 ,before she had  got down to   
the third step1 she accidentally upset  
the basin and  flooded the whole        

stair-case--dashing the dirty-water in  
the face of  ,mrs4 ,tompkins who was    
just coming up4 ,she was a good deal    
frightened1 for ,mrs4 ,tompkins had     
shown so much anger towards her on      
different occasions in the last three   
days1 and had once threatened  to       
correct her1 that she feared punishment 
would follow the  accident4 ,a slight   
box on the ear was indeed administered4 
,trembling  from head to foot with fear1
 and weakness1 for the child was by no  
means well1 she brought up another basin
 of water1 and commenced  scouring the  
steps again4 ,by some strange fatality1 
the basin was  again upset1 and         
unfortunately fell in the face of ,mrs4 
,tompkins  again4 ,a cruel chastisement 
followed1 with a set of leather thongs1 
upon the poor child's bare back and     
shoulders4    ,that night the child came
 home to her mother1 and gave a history 
of  her treatment4 ,her lacerated back  
was sufficient evidence how  cruelly she
 had been punished4 ,the little thing   

was in a high fever1  and moaned and    
talked in her sleep all night4          
,finding that the child was not sent    
back in the morning1 ,mrs4  ,williams   
wished to know the reason1 and was told 
the real condition  of ,emily4    ,she's
 a bad child1 ,sally1 and has no doubt  
deserved a whipping6 ,you  have spoiled 
your older children by mistaken         
kindness1 and will  spoil the rest4 ,but
 ,i can tell you very distinctly that ,i
 am not  going to be a party in this    
matter1 and will not consent that ,emily
  stay here any longer4 ,so1 if you     
don't send her back to ,mrs4  ,tompkins1
 you may get her a place somewhere else1
 for after this  week she shall not stay
 here4 ,she has almost ruined my ,clara1
 now6    ,to this1 poor ,mrs4 ,haller   
made no reply4 ,her home at our house   
had  only been endured because there she
 thought she could keep her babes  with 
her4 ,she left the presence of her      
unfeeling sister1 and began  to study   
how she could manage to support herself 

and two children by  her own unaided    
exertions4 ,many plans were suggested to
 her mind1  but none seemed to promise  
success4 ,at length she resolved to rent
 a  small room1 and put into it a bed1 a
 table1 and a few chairs1 with  some    
other necessary articles which she still
 had1 and then buy some  kind of        
vegetables with about five dollars that 
were due her1 and go  to market as a    
huckster6 ,let not the sentimental and  
romantic turn  away in disgust4 ,when   
humanity is reduced to a last resource1 
be it  what it may1 the heart endures   
pains1 and doubts1 and fears of a  like 
character1 whether the resource be that 
offered to a noble  lady1 or a lonely   
widow4    ,before ,saturday night1 ,mrs4
 ,haller had found a room near the      
market  that just suited her1 which she 
rented at two dollars a month with  the 
use of the cellar4 ,when she made known 
to ,mrs4 ,williams her  intention of    
leaving her house1 and told her how she 
intended to  make a living1 the latter  

was almost speechless with surprise4    
,surely1 ,sally1 said she1 you cannot be
 in earnest8    ,indeed ,i am in        
earnest1 though8    ,but consider the   
disgrace it will be to your family4     
,nothing is disgraceful that is honest4 
,i never will consent to your being a   
huckster3--,sally6 if you do so         
disgrace yourself as to stand in the    
market and sell potatoes and  cabbages1 
,i will disown you6 ,you have a         
comfortable home here1 and  where then  
is the use of your exposing yourself in 
the  market-house8    ,you will not let 
,emily stay here with me1 and ,i cannot 
part with my  poor babes4 ,a flood of   
tears burst forth1 even though she      
struggled  hard to conceal them4    ,you
 are very weak and foolish1 ,sally4     
,emily will be much better  off1 away   
from you4 ,she is growing up a spoiled  
child1 and needs  other care than yours4
 ,you are too indulgent4    ,in any     
case1 ,mary1 ,i am determined to keep   
these children with me4  ,i know that it

 is not pleasant for you to have them   
here1 and ,i  don't want to have them in
 your way4 ,the best thing ,i can do is 
that  which ,i have determined on4      
,if you will go1 why not take in sewing1
 or washing and ironing8    ,simply1    
because ,i cannot make a living with my 
needle1 and my  health will not permit  
me to stand over the wash-tub from      
morning  till night4 ,there is no       
resource left me but the market-house1  
reluctantly as ,i go there4    ,well1   
,sally1 you can do as you please4 ,but  
let me tell you1 that if  you do turn   
huckster1 ,i will never own you as my   
sister again4    ,any such foolish and  
rash resolution on your part1 ,i should 
regret  very much2 for1 unkindly and    
unfeelingly as you have acted towards   
me1 ,i have no wish to dissolve the tie 
of nature4    ,it shall be dissolved1   
you may rely upon it1 if you do so      
disgraceful a thing4    ,on ,saturday   
she got what was due to her1 and on     
,monday removed to  her new abode4 ,of  

all this1 ,mr4 ,williams had not the    
slightest  knowledge4 ,after getting her
 room fixed up1 she went down to the    
wharf and bought a few bushels of       
potatoes1 and some apples3 with  these  
she went to the market4 ,her feelings in
 thus exposing herself1  can only be    
imagined by such as have had to resort  
to a similar  method of obtaining a     
livelihood1 when they first appeared in 
the  market-house4 ,she had not been    
long at her stand1 when ,mr4 ,williams1 
who generally went to market1 came      
unexpectedly upon her4    ,why1 ,sally1 
what in the world are you doing here8   
was his  surprised salutation4    ,why1 
didn't you know that ,i had left your   
house for the  market-house8    ,no6    
,how should ,i know ,you never told me  
that you were going4    ,but surely     
sister did8    ,indeed she did not4     
,she knew last week that ,i was going1  
and that ,i had determined to  make a   
living for myself and children in this  
way4    ,i am sorry you left our house1 

,sally6 ,you should have had a home     
there as long as ,i lived4 ,you must not
 stay here1 anyhow4 ,something  better  
can be done for you4 ,surely you and    
,mary have not  quarrelled8    ,she has 
renounced me for ever6    ,mr4 ,williams
 was a good deal shocked by this        
unexpected interview1  and when he went 
home inquired into the state of affairs4
 ,he  censured his wife severely for her
 part in the matter1 upon her own       
statement2 and told her plainly that she
 had not treated ,sally as a  sister    
should have been treated4 ,he went to   
see ,mrs4 ,haller that  day1 and used   
many arguments to induce her to come    
back1 or at least  to give up her       
newly-adopted calling4    ,put me in a  
better and more comfortable way of      
making a living1 ,mr4  ,williams1 was   
her answer--and ,i will most gladly     
adopt it4 ,i know  of no other that will
 suit me4 ,i cannot longer remain       
dependent4 ,in  your house ,i was       
dependent1 and daily and hourly ,i was  

made to feel  that dependence1 in the   
most galling manner4    ,by her first   
day's efforts in the market-house1 ,mrs4
 ,haller earned  three-quarters of a    
dollar1 with which she bought food for  
herself  and children1 and re-invested  
the original amount4 ,on the next day1  
as on the first1 she disposed of her    
whole stock1 and was so  fortunate in   
her sales as to clear one dollar4 ,on   
the next day she  did not sell more than
 half of her little stock1 and cleared  
only  thirty-seven-and-a-half cents on  
that4 ,greatly discouraged she went     
home at twelve o'clock1 and was still   
further cast down at finding  her       
husband there1 come to take up his      
lodgings1 and eat up her  meagre        
earnings from her children4 ,she        
remonstrated against his  coming back1  
but with drunken oath and cruel threats 
he let her know  that he should stay    
there in spite of her4 ,before night1   
her oldest  son1 a worthless vagabond1  
also made his appearance1 and between   

them swept off all the food1 that she   
had bought with the profits on  her five
 dollars1 which she had resolved from   
the first not to  break4 ,on the next   
morning she cleared a full dollar1 and  
on  ,saturday1 another4 ,but her        
increased family prevented her adding a 
cent of the profits to her original     
capital4 ,after the market on  ,saturday
 morning1 she went out and bought about 
three dollars worth  of eggs1 at ten    
cents a dozen1 which1 before night1 she 
sold at  twelve-and-a-half cents1 thus  
clearing twenty-five cents on the       
dollar1 or three-quarters of a dollar in
 all4 ,with a dollar and  three-quarters
 that she had made that day1 she laid in
 a supply of  common and substantial    
food4    ,on ,sunday she went1 as was   
her custom1 to church1 and took her two 
little girls with her4 ,her husband and 
son remained at home4 ,when  she        
returned from service they were gone2   
instinctively turning to  where she had 
concealed her little treasure1 of five  

dollars1 she  found that it had also    
disappeared6 ,she knew well how to      
account for  its loss4 ,her husband and 
son had robbed her6 ,the little hope    
that  had animated her breast for the   
last few days1 gave way1 and she  sunk  
down into a condition of mind that was  
almost despair4 ,towards  evening1 her  
husband and son came home drunk1 and lay
 all night  stupid4 ,in the morning1    
they stole off by day-light1 and she was
  left alone with her little ones1 to   
brood over her melancholy  prospect4    
,she could not1 of course1 go to market1
 for she had  nothing to sell1 nor      
anything with which to purchase a little
 stock4    ,mr4 ,williams1 who felt a   
lively interest in her case1 especially 
on  account of the unkind treatment she 
had received from his wife1 used  to    
stop and inquire into her prospects     
whenever he saw her in the  market1 and 
had been looking round for something    
better for her to  do4 ,missing her this
 morning1 he went to her house1 and     

there found  her in a state of complete 
despondency4 ,he encouraged her in the  
best way he could1 but did not advance  
her another little capital1  which he   
would willingly have done under other   
circumstances1 and  then went away1     
determined to get her some situation    
which would be  more suitable for one of
 her habits and feelings4    ,not an    
hour after he learned that a head nurse 
was much wanted at  the alms-house4 ,he 
made immediate application for her1 and 
was happy  in securing the place4 ,it   
was at once offered to her1 and she     
accepted it with gladness1 especially as
 she would be allowed to  bring her two 
children with her4 ,in due time1 she    
removed to her new  abode1 and soon won 
the good-will and kind consideration of 
the  ,board of ,trustees1 and the       
affectionate regards of those to whose  
afflictions she was called to minister4 
,her two little girls were  educated at 
the alms-house school1 and grew up      
amiable1 intelligent1  and industrious4 

,of her other children1 ,i never knew   
much4    ,mrs4 ,williams seemed to think
 the situation of her sister at the     
alms-house1 almost as disgraceful as her
 place in the market4 ,she  never       
renewed a communication with her4 ,even 
up to the hour when  ,mrs4 ,haller was  
called to her final account1 which was  
many years  after1 her sister neither   
saw nor spoke to her4              ,,the
 ,,maiden',s ,,error4            ,,the  
story of ,julia ,forrester is but a     
revelation of what occurs  every day4 ,i
 draw aside the veil for a moment1 would
 that some one  might gaze with         
trembling on the picture1 and be saved6 
,the father of ,julia had served an     
apprenticeship to the tanning and       
currying business4 ,he had been taken   
when an orphan boy of twelve  years old1
 by a man in this trade1 and raised by  
him1 without any of  the benefits of    
education4 ,at twenty-one he could read 
and write a  little1 but had no taste   
for improving his mind4 ,his master1    

being  well pleased with him for his    
industry and sobriety1 offered him a    
small interest in his business1 shortly 
after he was free1 which  soon enabled  
him to marry1 and settle himself in     
life4    ,his new companion was the     
daughter of a reduced tradesman2 she had
  high notions of gentility1 but        
possessed more vanity and love of       
admiration than good sense4 ,neither of 
them could comprehend the  true relation
 of parents4 ,if they fed their children
 well1 clothed  them well1 and sent them
 to the most reputable schools1 they    
imagined that they had1 in part1        
discharged their duty2 and1 wholly1     
when they had obtained good-looking and 
well-dressed husbands for  their        
daughters4 ,this may be a little        
exaggerated2 but such an  inference     
might readily have been drawn by one who
 attentively  considered their actions4 
,i shall not spend further time in      
considering their characters4  ,their   
counterpart may be found in every       

street1 and in every  neighbourhood4    
,the curious student of human nature can
 study them at  will4 ,julia ,forrester 
was the child of such parents4 ,when she
 was  fifteen1 they were in easy        
circumstances4 ,but at that critical    
period of their daughter's life1 they   
were ignorant of human nature1  and     
entirely unskilled in the means of      
detecting false pretension1  or         
discovering true merit4    ,indeed1 they
 were much more ready to consider the   
former as true1  and the latter as      
false4 ,the unpretending modesty of real
 worth they  generally mistook for      
imbecility1 or a consciousness of       
questionable  points of character2 while
 bold-faced assurance was thought to be 
an  open exhibition of manliness--the   
free1 undisguised manner of those  who  
had nothing to conceal4    ,it is rarely
 that a girl of ,julia's age1 but little
 over fifteen1  possesses much insight  
into character4 ,it was enough for her  
that  her parents invited young men to  

the house1 or permitted them to  visit  
her4 ,her favour1 or dislike1 was       
founded upon mere impulse1 or  the      
caprice of first impressions4 ,among her
 earliest visitors1 was a  young man of 
twenty-two1 clerk in a dry-goods' store4
 ,he had an  open1 prepossessing manner1
 but had indulged in vicious habits for 
many years1 and was thoroughly          
unprincipled4 ,his name ,i will call    
,warburton4 ,another visitor was a      
modest1 sensible young man1 also  clerk 
in another dry-goods' store4 ,he was    
correct in all his habits1  and inclined
 to be religious4 ,he had no particular 
end in view in  visiting at             
,forrester's1 more than to mingle in    
society4 ,still1 as  he continued his   
visits1 he began to grow fond of ,julia1
  notwithstanding her extreme youth4    
,the fact was1 she had shot up  suddenly
 into a graceful woman2 and her manners 
were really  attractive4 ,little could  
be gleaned1 however1 in her society1 or 
in  that of but few who visited her1    

from the current chit-chat4 ,it was  all
 chaffy stuff1--mere small-talk4 ,let me
 introduce the reader to  their more    
particular acquaintance4 ,there is      
assembled at ,mr4  ,forrester's a gay   
social party1 such as met there almost  
every week4  ,it is in the summer time4 
,the windows are thrown open1 and the   
passers-by can look in upon the         
light-hearted group1 at will4           
,warburton and ,julia are trifling in   
conversation1 and the others are        
wasting4 the moments as frivolously as  
possible4 ,we will join them  without   
ceremony4    ,a more beautiful ring than
 this on your finger1 ,i have never     
seen4  ,do you know why a ring is used  
in marriage8    ,la6 no1 ,mr4           
,warburton4 ,do tell me4    ,why1       
because it is an emblem of love1 which  
has neither beginning  nor end4    ,and 
how will you make that out1 ,sir        
,oracle8 ha6 ha6    ,why as plain as a  
pike-staff4 ,true love has no beginning2
 for those  who are to be married love  

each other before they meet4 ,and it    
cannot have an end4 ,so you see that a  
ring is the emblem of love4    ,that's  
an odd notion2 where did you pick it up8
    ,i picked it up nowhere4 ,it is a   
cherished opinion of my own1 and ,i     
believe in it as firmly as some of the  
,jews of old did in the  transmigration 
of souls4    ,you are a queer body4     
,yes1 ,i have got some queer notions2 so
 people say3 but ,i think ,i  am right1 
and those who don't agree with me1      
wrong4 ,a mere  difference of opinion1  
however4 ,all things are matters of     
opinion4  ,aint it so1 ,perkins8        
addressing the young man before alluded 
to4    ,what were you talking about8    
,why1 ,i was just saying to ,julia that 
all different ideas  entertained by     
different persons1 were differences of  
opinion  merely4    ,do you mean to say1
 that there is no such thing as truth1  
or  error8    ,i do--in the abstract4   
,then we differ1 of course--and as it   
would be1 according to your  estimation1

 a mere difference of opinion1 no       
argument on the subject  would be in    
place here4    ,of course not1 replied  
,warburton1 rather coolly1 and dropped  
the  subject4 ,julia almost saw that    
,warburton had made himself appear      
foolish in the eyes of the dull1 insipid
 ,perkins--but her mental  vision was   
closed up as firmly as ever1 in a       
moment4    ,a loud burst of laughter    
from a group at the other end of the    
room1  drew the attention of the        
company1 who flocked to the scene of    
mirth1 and soon all were chattering and 
laughing in a wild and  incoherent      
manner1 so loud as to attract the notice
 of persons in  the street4    ,ha6 he6 
he6 laughed a young lady1 hysterically1 
sinking into a  chair1 with her         
handkerchief to her mouth--what a droll 
body6    ,he-a1 he-a1 he-o-o-o1 more    
boisterously roared out a fun-loving    
chap1 who knew more about good living   
than good manners4 ,and so the  laugh   
passed round4 ,the cause of all this    

uproar1 was a merry  fellow1 who had    
made a rabbit out of one of the girl's  
handkerchiefs1 and was springing it from
 his hand against the wall4  ,he seemed 
to have a fair appreciation of the      
character of his  associates for the    
evening2 and though himself perfectly   
competent  to behave well in the best   
society1 chose to act the clown in this4
    ,in due course1 order was restored1 
more from the appearance of a  waiter   
with nuts and raisins1 than from an     
natural reaction4    ,name my apple1    
,mr4 ,perkins1--7don't smile1           
reader--it's a true  picture7--whispered
 a young lady to the young man sitting  
next her4    ,it is named4    ,name my  
apple1 ,mr4 ,collins1 said ,julia1 with 
a nod and a smile4    ,it is named4     
,and mine1 ,mr4 ,collins--,and mine1    
,mr4 ,warburton--,and mine1 ,mr4        
,jones4    ,the apples being eaten1 the 
important business of counting seed came
  next in order4    ,how many have you  
got1 ,julia8    ,six4    ,she loves6    

,who is it1 ,mr4 ,collins8 asked two or 
three voices4    ,mr4 ,warburton1 was   
the reply4    ,i thought so1 ,i thought 
so1--see how she blushes4    ,and in    
fact the red blood was mounting fast to 
,julia's face4    ,the incident escaped 
neither the eye of ,warburton nor of    
,perkins4 ,to  go through the whole     
insipid scene would not interest any    
reader1  and so we will omit it4        
,after the apples were eaten1           
hull-gull1--nuts in my hand1 c41  were  
played1 and then music was called for   
,miss ,simmons1 give us an air1 if you  
please4    ,indeed you must excuse me1  
,i am out of practice4    ,no excuse can
 be taken4 ,we all know that you can    
play1 and we must  hear you this        
evening4    ,i would willingly oblige   
the company1 but ,i have not touched the
  piano for two months1 and cannot play 
fit to be heard4    ,o1 never mind1     
we'll be the judges of that4    ,come1  
,miss ,simmons1 do play for us now1     
that's a good soul6    ,indeed you must 

excuse me6    ,but no excuse would be   
taken4 ,and in spite of protestations1  
she was  forced to take a seat at the   
piano4    ,well1 since ,i must1 ,i      
suppose ,i must4 ,what will you have4   
,give us ',bonny ,doon'--it is so sweet 
and melancholy1 said an                 
interesting-looking young man4          
',charlie over the ,water1' is          
beautiful--,i dote on that pong2 do     
sing it1 ,miss ,simmons6    ,give us    
,auld ,lang ,syne4'    ,yes1 or ,burns's
 ,farewell4'    ',oft in the ,stilly    
,night1' ,miss ,simmons--you can sing   
that4    ,yes1 ',oft in the ,stilly     
,night1'--,miss ,simmons1 said          
half-a-dozen  voices1 and so that was   
finally chosen4 ,after running her      
fingers  over the keys for a few        
moments1 ,miss ,simmons started off4    
,before she had half finished the first 
verse1 the hum of voices1  which had    
commenced as soon as she began to sing1 
rose to such a  pitch as almost to drown
 the sound of the instrument4 ,she      

laboured  on through about a verse and a
 half of the song1 when she rose from   
the piano1 and was proceeding to her    
vacant seat4    ,o no6--no6--no6 said   
half-a-dozen voices at once4    ,that   
will never do-we must have another song4
    ,indeed ,i can't sing to-night1 and 
must be excused1 said the lady  warmly1 
and so she was excused4 ,but soon       
another was chosen to be  victimized at 
the piano1 and will-ye-nill-ye1 sing she
 must4  ,simultaneous with the sound of 
the instrument rose the hum of  voices1 
which grew louder and louder1 until the 
performer stopped1  discouraged and     
chagrined4    ,that's beautiful6 ,how   
well you play1 ,miss ,emma6 and ,miss   
,emma was  forced to resume the seat she
 had left half in mortification4 ,all   
was again still for a moment4    ,can   
you play the ',harp and ,lute1' ,miss   
,emma8    ,no sir4    ,yes you can1     
though1 for ,i've heard you many a time1
 said a smart  young lady sitting on the
 opposite side of the room4    ,the     

blood mounted to the performer's cheeks4
 ,indeed you're mistaken  though1 half  
pettishly replied ,miss ,emma4    ,but  
you can play ',yankee ,doodle1' retorted
 the first speaker4  ,miss ,emma left   
the instrument in anger4    ,i'll never 
speak to the pert minx again as long as 
,i live1  whispered ,miss ,emma in the  
ear of a friend4    ,thus ended the     
musical exhibition for that evening4 ,as
 the spirit of  wine grew more active1  
the men became less formal in their     
attentions1 and the young ladies less   
reserved4 ,before the company  broke up1
 ,i almost blush to say1 that there was 
scarcely a lady  present who had not    
suffered her red-ripe lips to be touched
 by  those of every young man in the    
room4 ,and on all these proceedings1    
the parents of ,julia looked on with    
keen satisfaction6 ,they liked to  see  
the young people enjoying themselves6   
,then there were rambles by moonlight1  
during which soft things were  whispered
 in the ears of the young ladies4 ,these

 were the occasions  on which ,warburton
 loved most to steal away the fond      
confidence of  ,julia2 and1 by degrees1 
he succeeded in fixing her regard upon  
himself4 ,consent was asked of the      
parents1 and given2 and soon ,julia     
,forrester was ,mrs4 ,warburton4 ,it was
 only six months after the  marriage    
that a commercial crisis arrived2 one of
 those reactions  from prosperity which 
occur in this country with singular     
regularity1 every ten or fifteen years1 
and swept from ,julia's  father the     
whole of his property4 ,this sudden     
revulsion so preyed  upon his mind1 that
 a serious illness came on1 which       
hurried him in  a brief period to the   
grave4 ,the mother of ,julia soon       
followed him4  ,warburton1 ere this1 had
 neglected his wife1 and wrung from her 
many  a secret tear4 ,he had married her
 for the prospect of worldly gain  which
 the connection held out1 and not from  
any genuine regard4 ,and  when all hope 
of a fortune was suddenly cut off1 he as

 suddenly  appeared in his real         
character of a heartless and            
unprincipled man4    ,he held the       
situation of clerk1 at the time1 in the 
same store where  he had been for years4
 ,but immediately upon the death of his 
father-in-law1 a flood of demands for   
debts due here and there came  in upon  
him1 and not having where with to meet  
them1 he was thrown  into jail1 and     
obtained his freedom only by availing   
himself of the  law made and provided   
for the benefit of ,insolvent ,debtors4 
,his poor wife knew nothing of the      
proceedings against him1 until he  was  
lodged in the jail4 ,hour after hour had
 passed since the time  for his return  
to dinner1 and yet she listened in vain 
for his  well-known footsteps4 ,she felt
 strangely oppressed in feeling when    
the dim twilight came stealing sadly on1
 and still he came not home4  ,but when 
the clock struck nine1 ten1 eleven1--her
 distress of mind  became heightened to 
agony4 ,the question1 so often asked of 

herself1  ,where can he be8 could find  
no answer4 ,all night long she sat      
listening at the window1 and sunk into a
 heavy slumber1 just as the  grey light 
of morning stole into the window and    
paled the expiring  lamp4 ,from this    
slumber1 which had continued for nearly 
two hours1  she was aroused by the      
entrance of a servant1 who handed her a 
note1  addressed in the well-known hand 
of her husband4 ,tremblingly she  tore  
open the seal2 at the first words3      
,jail4    ,,dear ,,julia3    the note   
fell from her hand1 and she pressed her 
aching head for a  moment1 as if she    
feared that her senses would leave her4 
,then  snatching up the paper1 she      
read3--    ,yesterday ,i was sent here  
for debt4 ,i owe more than ,i can       
possibly  pay1 and ,i see no chance of  
getting out but by availing myself of   
the ,insolvent ,law1 which ,i am        
determined to do4 ,don't let it trouble 
you1 ,julia2 ,i shall not be here long4 
,to-morrow ,i shall probably be  at     

liberty4 ,good-bye1 and keep a brave    
heart1    ,h4 ,,warburton4    ,for some 
time after reading this letter1 a stupor
 came over her  senses4 ,utterly        
unprepared for such a distressing event1
 she knew  not how to act4 ,the idea of 
a jail had ever been associated in her  
mind with disgrace and crime1 and to    
think that her own husband was  in jail 
almost bereft her of rational thought4  
,slowly1 however1 she  at length        
rallied1 and found herself able to      
appreciate her  situation1 and to think 
more clearly on her course of action4   
,her first determination was to go to   
her husband4 ,this she  immediately did4
 ,when admitted1 she fell senseless in  
his arms1 and  it was a long time before
 she recovered her consciousness4 ,her  
presence seemed to move his feelings    
less than it annoyed him4 ,there  was   
nothing about his manner that sought    
affectionately her sympathy  and        
confidence--that which gives woman1 in  
situations no matter how  distressing1  

something so much like happiness to     
bestow4 ,he gave her  but little        
satisfaction as to the manner in which  
he became  involved1 and when1 after    
several hours1 she prepared to go home1 
at  his suggestion1 he told her that she
 must not come there again1 as  it was  
not a fit place for her4    ,if you are 
here1 ,henry1 was her reply1 the tears  
starting freshly  to her eyes--it is a  
fit place for me4    ,that's all        
nonsense and sentiment1 ,julia6 ,this is
 no place for you1  and you must not    
come again4 ,i shall be out in a day or 
two4    ,a day or two is a long--long   
time1--and the poor wife's voice        
trembled as she spoke4    ,it will soon 
pass away4    ,it will seem ages to me1 
and you in this dreadful place4 ,i must 
come tomorrow1 ,henry4 ,tell me who has 
imprisoned you1 and ,i will go  to him1 
and come to-morrow with his answer4 ,he 
cannot stand the  pleadings of a wife   
for her husband4    ,it's no use1 at    
all1 ,julia4 ,he is a hard-faced        

villain1 and will  insult you if you see
 him4    ,he cannot--he dare not6    ,he
 dare do anything4    ,dear ,henry1 tell
 me his name4    ,no6--no6--no6--,it's  
no use to ask me4    ,she had many times
 before suffered from his petulance and 
coldness2  but under present            
circumstances1 when she sought to bring 
him  sympathy and relief1 to be         
repulsed1 seemed as though it would     
break  her heart4 ,slowly and in tears  
did she leave the dreadful place that   
confined her husband1 and sought her    
home4 ,there she endeavoured to  rally  
her scattered thoughts1 and devise some 
means of relief4 ,her  first movement   
was to go to the employers of her       
husband4 ,they  received her coldly1 and
 after she had stated the condition of  
her  husband1 told her that they could  
offer no relief1 and hinted that  his   
conduct had been such as to forfeit     
their confidence4 ,this was a  double   
blow2 and she returned home with but    
strength enough to seek  her chamber and

 throw herself1 almost fainting1 upon   
her bed4    ,for hours she lay in a kind
 of nervous stupor1 the most fantastic  
and troubled images floating through her
 brain4 ,sometimes she would  start up1 
at the imagined sound of her husband's  
voice1 and spring  to the chamber-door  
to meet him4 ,but the chilling reality  
would  drive her back in tears4 ,where  
now were the crowds of friends that  but
 a short time since had hovered round   
her8 ,they were but  fashionable1       
soulless insects--the cold winds of     
adversity had swept  them away4 ,since  
the failure and death of her father1 not
 one of the  many who had called her    
friend had come near her lonely         
dwelling4  ,but she could not complain4 
,more than one friend had she deserted1 
when misfortune came suddenly upon them4
    ,she took no food through the whole 
of that dreadful day1 and could  find no
 oblivious sleep during the night of    
agony that followed4 ,on  the next day1 
just as she had determined to go again  

to the prison1  her quick ear recognised
 the foot-fall of her husband4 ,she     
sprang to  meet him1 with a gladder     
heart than she had known for many       
weeks--but his cold manner and brief    
words threw back upon her  feelings a   
sickening chill4    ,we must move from  
here1 ,julia1 said he1 after a few      
silent  moments1 and looked at her as   
though he expected objection as a       
matter of course4    ,i am willing1 if  
it is necessary1 ,henry4 ,i will go     
anywhere with  you4    ,her manner      
softened his feelings1 and he said more 
tenderly1    ,things are changed with   
me1 ,julia4 ,in expectation of something
  handsome from your father1 ,i have    
been imprudent1 and am now largely  in  
debt4 ,the ,messrs4 ,r4  ,l4 will not1  
,i am sure1 take me back into  their    
store1 and it will be hard1 ,i am       
afraid1 for me to get a  situation in   
town4 ,our furniture1 which ,i have     
secured to you1 is  all we have1 except 
about money enough to pay our quarter's 

rent now  due4 ,i see no wiser plan for 
us than to sell this furniture1 except  
enough for one chamber1 and then go to  
boarding4 ,it will bring a sum          
sufficient to pay our board and other   
expenses for at least one  year1 if we  
manage prudently2 and1 surely1 ,i can   
get something to do  in the mean time4  
,i am willing for anything1 dear ,henry6
 said his wife1 twining her  arms about 
his neck1 and laying her pale cheek to  
his4 ,the furniture  was accordingly    
sold1 and the reduced and humbled couple
 removed to  a boardinghouse4    ,as he 
had expected1 ,warburton found it hard  
to get employment4  ,finally1 after     
doing nothing for two months1 he        
accepted the  situation of bar-keeper at
 one of the city hotels4 ,julia pleaded 
hard with him not to go there1 for she  
feared the influence of such  a place   
upon him1 but he would listen to no     
argument4    ,his wife soon began to    
observe indications of a change for the 
worse  in his character4 ,he grew more  

pettish and dissatisfied1 and           
frequently acted towards her with great 
unkindness4 ,he was rarely1  if ever1 at
 home before midnight1 and then repulsed
 every  affectionate act or word4       
,several times he came in intoxicated1  
and  once1 while in that state1 he      
struck her a severe blow on the head1   
which caused an illness of several      
weeks4    ,at the end of a year1        
,warburton had not only become          
dissipated in  his habits1 but had      
connected himself with a set of         
gamblers1 who1  as he proved to be a    
skilful hand1 and not at all squeamish1 
resolved to send him on a trip down the 
,ohio and ,mississippi1 to ,new         
,orleans1 for mutual benefit4 ,to this  
he had not the slightest  objection4 ,he
 told his wife that he was going to ,new
 ,orleans on  business for the ,stage   
,office1 and would probably be gone all 
winter4 ,unkind as he had grown1 it was 
hard parting4 ,gladly would  she have   
taken all the risk of fatigue1 to have  

accompanied him with  her babe but four 
months old1 but he would listen to no   
such  proposal4 ,when he did go1 she    
felt sick at heart1 and1 as the  thought
 flashed across her mind that he might  
probably desert her1  helpless and      
friendless as she was1 it seemed as if  
the fever of her  mind would end in     
madness4    ,regularly1 however1 for    
several months1 she heard from him1 and 
each  time he enclosed her money2 but   
little more than was sufficient to  meet
 expenses4 ,in the last letter she      
received1 he hinted that he  might      
return home in a few weeks4 ,at the     
usual time of receiving a  letter1 she  
waited day after day1 hoping and almost 
fearing to  receive one--anxious to hear
 from him1 and yet fearing that he might
  have changed his mind as to his       
contemplated return4    ,week after week
 passed1 and there were no tidings4 ,day
 after day she  went to the post-office 
with an anxious heart1 which throbbed   
quicker and quicker as the clerk        

mechanically and carelessly turned  over
 letter after letter1 and at last       
pronounced the word none1  with         
professional indifference4 ,then it     
would seem to stop1 and lie  like a     
motionless weight in her bosom1 and she 
would steal away  paler and sicker than 
when she came4 ,at last1 her distress of
 mind  became so great1 that she went1  
reluctantly1 to the stage-office1 to    
inquire if they had heard from him      
recently4 ,to her hesitating1  anxious  
inquiry1 she received the brief reply   
that they knew nothing  of him4    ,but 
is he not in the employment of this     
office8    ,i hope not1 was the short1  
sneering reply of one of the clerks4    
,what do you mean1 sir8 she asked1 in an
 excited tone--he is my  husband4       
,the manner of the man instantly        
changed4 ,nothing1 ma'am4--,it was  only
 a thoughtless reply4 ,he is not1       
however1 in our employment1 and  never  
has been4    ,mrs4 ,warburton turned    
pale as ashes4 ,a chair was instantly   

handed to  her1 and a glass of water1   
and every kind attention offered4    ,at
 this moment a man entered1 who eyed    
,mrs4 ,w4 with a vulgar stare4  ,the    
person who had first spoken to ,mrs4 ,w4
 took him aside1 and after  conversing  
in whispers for a few moments1 turned to
 her and said  that he had just learned 
that her husband had joined a band of   
traders1 and was now on his way to      
,mexico4    ,how do you know8 was the   
quick reply4    ,this gentleman has just
 told me4    ,and how do you know1 sir8 
,i received a letter from him three     
weeks ago1 in which he stated  the fact 
to me4 ,he has been in my employment    
ever since he has been  away1 but has   
left it and gone to ,mexico4    ,when   
did he say he would return8 she asked1  
in a calm voice4    ,that is uncertain1 
madam4    ,she tottered out of the      
office1 and stole home with an enfeebled
  step4 ,forsaken6--forsaken6--was all  
the form her thoughts would  take1 until
 she met the sweet face of her babe1 and

 then her heart  felt warmer1 and not   
all forsaken4    ,poor thing6 how ,i    
pity her1 said the clerk in the         
stage-office1  when ,mrs4 ,w4 had       
retired4 ,her husband is a scoundrel1   
that's all ,i  know about it1 responded 
the gentleman-gambler1 who had sent     
,warburton out on a swindling           
expedition4    ,the more the pity for   
his poor wife4    ,i wonder if she has  
any property of his in her hands8       
queried the  gambler4    ,why8          
,why8--,why because ,i'll have my own   
out of it if she has4 ,i have his  note1
 payable in a week1 for money lent2 and 
if he has got a dollar  here1 ,i'll have
 it4    ,you'll not turn his wife out of
 doors1 will you8    ,will ,i8--and his 
face grew dark with evil                
thoughts4--,will  ,i8--yes6--what care  
,i for the whining wench6 ,i'll see her 
to-morrow1  and know what we have both  
to expect4    ,coulson6 said the clerk1 
in an excited but firm voice--,you shall
  not trouble that helpless1 unfortunate

 woman6    ,shall not8 ha6 ,pray1 ,mr4  
,sympathy1 and how can you hinder me8   
,look you to that1 sir4 ,i act1 you     
know1 not threaten4    ,the gambler's   
face grew darker1 but the clerk turned  
away with a  look of contempt1 and      
resumed his employment4    ,that night  
he sought the dwelling of ,mrs4         
,warburton4 ,he found her  boarding at a
 respectable house on--street4 ,he named
 his business  at once1 and warned her  
not to allow herself to get in the power
 of  ,coulson1 who was a gambler1 and an
 abandoned villain4    ,when he         
understood her real situation--that she 
was in debt for  board1 and without a   
dollar1 forsaken of her husband1 and    
among  strangers1 his heart ached for   
her4 ,himself but on the salary of a    
clerk1 he could give little or no       
assistance4 ,but advice and  sympathy he
 tendered1 and requested her to call on 
him at any time1  if she thought that he
 could aid her4 ,a kind word1 a         
sympathising  tone1 is1 to one in such a

 sad condition1 like gentle dews to the 
parched ground4    ,above all1 was his  
parting admonition1 beware of ,coulson6 
,he will  injure your character if he   
can4 ,do not see him4 ,forbid the       
servants  to admit him4 ,he will1 if he 
fixes his heart upon seeing you1 leave  
no stone unturned to accomplish it4 ,but
 waver not in your  determination4 ,and 
be sure to let me know if he persecutes 
you too  closely4 ,be resolute1 and fear
 not4 ,i know the man1 and have crossed 
his path ere this4 ,and he knows me4    
,early on the next day1 ,coulson called1
 and with the most insinuating  address1
 asked to see ,mrs4 ,warburton4    ,ask 
him to send up his name1 was ,mrs4 ,w4's
 reply to the  information of the       
servant1 that a gentleman wished to     
speak to her4    ,coulson1 was returned4
    ,tell him that ,i cannot see him4   
,to this answer he sent back word that  
his business was important and  urgent4 
,tell him that ,i cannot see him1 was   
the firm reply4    ,coulson left the    

house1 baffled for once4 ,the next day  
he called1  and sent up another name4   
,he is the same person who called       
himself ',coulson' yesterday1 said  the 
servant to ,mrs4 ,w4    ,tell him that  
,i cannot be seen4    ,i'll match the   
huzzy yet6 he muttered to himself as he 
left the  house4    ,it now became      
necessary for ,mrs4 ,warburton to rally 
all the energies  of her nature1 feeble 
though they were1 and yet untried4 ,the 
rate of  boarding which she was required
 to pay1 was much beyond what she  could
 now afford4 ,at first she nearly gave  
up to despair4 ,thus far  in life1 she  
had never earned a single dollar1 and1  
from her  earliest recollection1 the    
thought of working for money seemed to  
imply degradation4 ,but necessity soon  
destroys false pride4 ,her  greatest    
concern now was1 what she should do for 
a living4 ,she had  learned to play on  
the piano1 to draw and paint1 and had   
practised  embroidery4 ,but in all these
 she had sought only amusement4 ,in not 

a  single one of them was she proficient
 enough to teach4 ,fine sewing  she     
could not do4 ,her dresses had all been 
made by the mantua-maker1  and her fine 
sewing by the family sempstress4 ,she   
had been raised in  idle pleasure--had  
spent her time in thrumming on the      
piano1 making  calls1 tripping about the
 streets1 and entertaining company4     
,but wherever there is the will1 there  
is a way4 ,through the kind             
interference of a stranger1 she was     
enabled to act decisively4 ,two  rooms  
were procured1 and after selling various
 articles of costly  chamber furniture  
which still remained1 she was enabled to
 furnish  them plainly and comfortably1 
and have about fifty dollars left4      
,through the kind advice of this same   
stranger1 7where were all her  former   
friends87 employment was had1 by which  
she was soon able to  earn from four to 
five dollars a week4    ,her employment 
was making cigars4 ,at first1 the       
tobacco made her so  sick that she was  

unable to hold her head up1 or work more
 than half  her time4 ,but after awhile 
she became used to it1 and could work   
steadily all day2 though she often      
suffered with a distressing  headache4  
,mrs4 ,warburton was perhaps the first  
woman who made cigars  in--4 ,through   
the application of a third person1 to a 
manufacturer1 the work was obtained1 and
 given1 from motives of  charity4       
,she had been thus employed for about   
three months1 and was beginning  to work
 skilfully enough to earn four dollars a
 week1 and give all  necessary attention
 to herself and child1 when ,mr4--1 the 
manufacturer1 received a note signed by 
all the journeymen in his  shop1        
demanding of him the withdrawal of all  
work from ,mrs4  ,warburton1 on pain of 
their refusal to work a day longer4 ,it 
was an  infringement1 they said1 upon   
their rights4 ,women could afford to    
work cheaper than men1 and would ruin   
the business4    ,mr4--was well off1    
and1 withal1 a man who could brook no   

dictation1 in his business4 ,his        
journeymen were paid their regular      
wages1 and had1 he knew1 no right to say
 whom he should employ2 and  for any    
such interference he promptly resolved  
to teach them a  lesson4 ,he was1       
moreover1 indignant that a parcel of    
men1 many of  whom spent more money at  
the taverns and in foolish expenses1 in 
the  week1 than the poor forsaken mother
 of a young babe could earn in  that    
time1 should heartlessly endeavour to   
rob the more than widow  of her         
hard-earned mite4    ,i will sacrifice  
half that ,i am worth1 before ,i will   
yield to such  dictation1 was his only  
answer to the demand4 ,the foolish men  
struck1 and turned out to lounge idly in
 taverns and other places1  until their 
employer should come to terms4 ,they    
were1 however1 soon  convinced of their 
folly2 for but a few weeks elapsed      
before ,mr4 had  employed females to    
make his cigars1 who could afford to    
work for  one-third less than the       

journeymen had been receiving1 and make 
good  wages at that4 ,the consequence   
was1 that the men who had1 from  motives
 of selfishness1 endeavoured to deprive 
,mrs4 ,w4 of her only  chance of        
support1 were unable to obtain work at  
any price4 ,several  of them fell into  
idle and dissolute habits1 and became   
vagabonds4  ,other manufacturers of     
cigars followed the example of ,mr4--1  
and  lessened the demand for journeymen2
 and the result in this instance  was   
but a similar one to that which always  
follows combinations  against           
employers--viz3 to injure the interests 
of journeymen4    ,it was not long      
before ,coulson found out the retreat of
 ,mrs4  ,warburton1 and commenced his   
persecutions4 ,the note of her husband  
had fallen due1 and his first movement  
was to demand the payment4  ,perceiving1
 however1 at once1 that to make the     
money out of any  property in her       
possession was impossible1 he changed   
his manner1  and offered to befriend her

 in any way that lay in his power4 ,for 
a  moment she was thrown off her guard2 
but remembering the caution she  had    
received1 she assumed a manner of the   
most rigid coldness  towards him1 and   
told him that she already had friends   
who would  care for her4 ,the next day  
she managed to apprize the clerk in the 
,stage ,office of the visit of ,coulson1
 who promptly took measures to  alarm   
his fears1 for he was a coward at heart1
 and effectually  prevent his again     
troubling her4    ,little of an         
interesting nature occurred for about a 
year1 when she  received a letter from  
her husband at ,cincinnati4 ,he stated  
that  having despaired of getting along 
in the business he had entered  into on 
leaving--which had involved him in debt1
 he had left with a  company of traders 
for ,mexico1 and had just returned with 
a little  money1 with which he wished to
 go into business4 ,but that if he      
returned to--1 he would be troubled1 and
 all he had taken from him4  ,he        

enclosed her a hundred dollar note1 and 
wished her to come to him  immediately1 
and to leave--without letting any one   
know her  destination4 ,he professed    
much sorrow for having left her in so   
destitute a condition1 but pleaded stern
 necessity for the act4    ,mrs4 ,w4 did
 not hesitate a moment4 ,in four days   
from the time she  received the letter1 
she was on the way to ,cincinnati4      
,arrived  there1 she was met by her     
husband with some show of affection4 ,he
  was greatly changed since she had seen
 him1 and showed many  indications of   
irregular habits4 ,he appeared to have  
plenty of  money1 and took rooms for his
 wife in a respectable boardinghouse4   
,the improvement in his child pleased   
him much4 ,when he went away it  was    
only about five months old--now it was a
 bright little boy1 and  could run about
 and chatter like a bird4 ,after some   
hesitation in  regard to the kind of    
business he should select1 he at last   
determined to go into the river-trade4  

,to this ,mrs4 ,warburton gently        
objected2 because it would keep him away
 from home for months  together4 ,but   
his capital was small1 and he at length 
made his first  purchase of produce1 and
 started in a flat-boat for ,new        
,orleans4  ,poor ,mrs4 ,w4 felt as if   
deserted again when he left her4 ,but at
 the  end of three months he returned1  
having cleared four hundred dollars  by 
the trip4 ,he remained at home this time
 for two months1 drinking  and gambling2
 and at the expiration of that period   
had barely enough  left to make a small 
purchase and start again4    ,her       
troubles1 she plainly saw1 were just    
beginning again1 and ,mrs4  ,warburton  
almost wished herself back again in the 
city1 for which1  though there she had  
no friends1 her heart yearned4    ,her  
husband did not return1 this time1 from 
his river-voyage1 for  three months2 nor
 did he send his wife during that time  
any money4  ,the amount left her was    
entirely exhausted before the end of the

  second month1 and having heard nothing
 of him since he went away1  she feared 
to get in debt1 and1 therefore1 two     
weeks before her  money was out1 applied
 for work at a cigar-factory4 ,here she 
was  fortunate enough to obtain         
employment1 and thus keep herself above 
absolute want4    ,long before her      
husband returned1 her heart had fearful 
forebodings  of a second blighting of   
all its dearest hopes4 ,not the less    
painful1 were those anticipations1      
because she had once suffered4    ,one  
evening in ,june1 just three months from
 the time her husband  left1 she had    
paused from her almost unremitted       
employment1 during  the violence of a   
tremendous storm1 that was raging       
without4 ,the  thunder rattled around in
 startling peals1 and the lightning     
blazed  from cloud to cloud1 without a  
moment's intermission4 ,she could not   
work while she felt that the bolt of    
death hung over her4 ,for half  an hour 
had the storm raged1 when in one of the 

pauses which  indicated its passing     
away1 she started at the sound of a     
voice that  seemed like that of her     
husband4 ,in the next moment another    
voice  mingled with it1 and both were   
loud and angry4 ,fearfully she flung    
open the door1 and just on the pavement1
 drenched with the rain1 and            
unregardful of the storm1 for one more  
terrible raged within1 stood  two men1  
contending with each other in mortal    
strife1 while horrible  oaths and       
imprecations rolled from their lips4    
,one of these1 from  his distorted face1
 rendered momently visible in the vivid 
flashes  of the lightning1 and from his 
voice1 though loud and disguised by     
passion1 she at once knew to be her     
husband4 ,his antagonist was not  so    
strong a man1 but he was more active1   
and seemed much cooler4  ,each had in   
his hand an open ,spanish knife1 and    
both were striking1  plunging1 and      
parrying thrusts with the most malignant
 fury4 ,it was  an awful sight to look  

upon4 ,two human beings striving for    
each  other's lives amid the fury of a  
terrible storm1 the lightnings of  which
 glanced sharply upon their glittering  
knives1 revealing their  fiend-like     
countenances for an instant1 and then   
leaving them in  black darkness4    ,for
 a few moments1 ,mrs4 ,warburton stood  
fixed to the spot1 but1  recalling her  
scattered senses1 she rushed towards the
 combatants1  calling upon them to      
pause1 and repeating the name of her    
husband in  a voice of agony4 ,the      
result of the strife was delayed but an 
instant longer1 for with a loud cry her 
husband fell bleeding at her  feet4 ,his
 antagonist passed out of sight in a    
moment4    ,lifting the apparently      
lifeless form of her husband in her     
arms1  ,mrs4 ,warburton carried or      
rather dragged him into the house1 and  
placed him upon the bed1 where lay their
 sleeping boy4 ,she then  hurried off   
for the nearest physician1 who was soon 
in attendance4    ,the first sound that 

met the ear of ,mrs4 ,warburton1 on her 
return1  was the voice of her dear      
child1 eagerly calling1 ,pa6 pa6 wake   
up1  pa6--,and there was the little     
fellow pulling at the insensible body   
of his father1 in an 7sic7 extacy of    
infantile joy at his return4    ,pa come
 home6--,pa come home1 mamma6 ,and the  
little fellow clapped  his hands1 and   
shook the body of his father in the     
effort to wake  him4    ,the mother     
gently lifted her child from the bed4   
,his little face  instantly changed its 
expression into one of fear1 when he    
looked  into his mother's countenance4  
,pa's very sick1 and little ,charles    
must keep still1 she whispered to the   
child1 and sat him down in  the next    
room4    ,when the physician arrived1 he
 found that the knife had entered the   
left breast just above the heart1 but   
had not penetrated far enough  to       
destroy life4 ,there were also several  
bad cuts1 in different  parts of his    
body1 all of which required attention4  

,after dressing  them1 he left the still
 insensible man in the care of his wife 
and  one of his assistants1 with        
directions to have him called should any
  alarming symptom occur4 ,it was not   
until the next morning that there  was  
any apparent return of consciousness on 
the part of the wounded  man4 ,then he  
asked in a feeble voice for his wife4   
,she had left the  bed but a moment     
before1 and hearing him speak1 was by   
his side in  an instant4    ,julia1 how 
came ,i here8 ,what is the matter8 said 
he1 rousing up1  and looking anxiously  
around4 ,but overcome with weakness from
 the  loss of blood1 he sank back upon  
the bed1 and remained apparently        
insensible for some time4 ,but he soon  
showed evidence of painful  recollection
 having returned4 ,for his breathing    
became more  laboured1 under agitated   
feelings1 and he glanced his eyes about 
the  room with an eager expression4     
,after a few minutes he buried his  face
 in the bed-clothes and sighed heavily4 

,distinct1 painful  consciousness had   
returned4    ,in a few days he began to 
grow stronger1 and was able to sit up2  
and  with the return of bodily vigour   
came back the deadly passions that  had 
agitated him on the night of his return 
home4 ,the man1 he said1  had literally 
robbed him of his money1 7in fact1 won  
it72 had  cheated him out of every      
dollar of his hard-earned gains1 and he 
would have his life4    ,when hardly    
well enough to walk about1 ,warburton   
felt the evil  influence of his desire  
for revenge so strong1 as to cause him  
to  seek out the individual who1 he     
conceived1 had wronged him1 by  winning 
from him1 or cheating him out of his    
money4 ,they met in one  of the vile    
places in ,cincinnati1 where vice loves 
to do her dark  work in secret4 ,truly  
are they called hells1 for there the    
love of  evil and hatred of the         
neighbour prompt to action4 ,every      
malignant  passion in the heart of      
,warburton was roused into full vigour1 

when  his eyes fell upon the face of his
 former associate4 ,instantly he        
grasped his knife1 and with a yell of   
fiendish exultation sprang  towards him1
 like some savage beast eager for his   
prey4 ,the other  gambler was a cool    
man1 and hard to throw off of his guard4
 ,his  first movement was to knock      
,warburton down1 then drawing his       
,spanish  knife1 he waited calmly and   
firmly for his enemy to rise4 ,blind    
with  passion1 ,warburton sprang to his 
feet and rushed upon the other1 who     
received him upon the point of his      
knife1 which entered deep into  the     
abdomen4 ,at the same instant1          
,warburton's knife was plunged into  the
 heart of his adversary1 who staggered  
off from its point1 reeled  for a few   
seconds about the room1 and then fell   
heavily upon the  floor4 ,he was dead   
before the cool spectators of the horrid
 scene  could raise him up4    ,from    
loss of blood ,warburton soon fainted1  
and when he came to  himself1 he found  

that he had been conveyed to his home1  
and that  his weeping wife stood over   
him4 ,there were also others in the     
room1  and he soon learned that he was  
to be conveyed1 even in the  condition  
he was then in1 to prison1 to await his 
trial for murder4    ,in vain did his   
poor heart-stricken wife plead that he  
might be left  there until he recovered1
 or even until his wound was dressed2   
but  she pleaded in vain4 ,on a litter1 
faint from loss of blood1 and  groaning 
with pain1 he was carried off to prison4
 ,by his side walked  her whom no ill   
treatment or neglect could estrange4    
,three months he was kept in jail1      
attended daily by his  uncomplaining    
wife1 who supported herself and little  
boy1 with her  own hands1 sparing much  
for her husband's comfort4 ,the wound   
had not  proved very dangerous1 and long
 before his trial came on1 he was as    
well as ever4    ,the day of trial at   
length came1 and ,mrs4 ,warburton found 
that it  required her strongest efforts 

to keep sufficiently composed to        
comprehend the true nature and bearing  
of all the legal proceedings4  ,never in
 her life before had she been in a court
 of justice1 and the  bare idea of being
 in that1 to her awful1 place1 stunned  
at first  all her perceptions2          
especially as she was there under       
circumstances  of such deep and peculiar
 interest4    ,next to her husband1 in  
the bar1 did this suffering woman take  
her  place3 and that husband arraigned  
before4 his country's tribunal for  the 
highest crime--murder6 ,how little did  
she dream of such an awful  situation1  
years before1 when a gay1 thoughtless1  
innocent girl1 she  gave up in maiden   
confidence1 and with deep joy1 her      
affections to  that husband4 ,passing on
 step by step1 in misery's paths1 she   
had at  last reached a point1 the bare  
idea of which1 had it been  entertained 
as possible for a moment1 would have    
almost extinguished  life4 ,now1 her    
deep interest in that husband who had   

abused her  confidence1 and almost      
extinguished hope in her bosom1 kept her
 up1  and enabled her to watch with     
unwavering attention every minute       
proceeding4    ,after the indictment was
 read1 and the ,state's ,attorney1 in a 
comprehensive manner1 had stated the    
distinct features of the case1  which he
 pledged himself to prove by competent  
witnesses1 poor ,mrs4  ,warburton became
 sick and faint4 ,a clearer case of     
deliberate murder  could not1 it seemed 
to her1 be made out4 ,still1 she was    
sure there  must be palliating          
circumstances1 and longed to be         
permitted to rise  and state her        
impressions of the case4 ,once she did  
start to her  feet1 but a right         
consciousness returned before she had   
uttered a  word4 ,shrinking into her    
seat again1 she watched with a pale face
  and eager look1 the course of the     
proceedings4    ,witness after witness  
was called on the part of the state1    
each  testifying distinctly the fact of 

,warburton's attack upon the  murdered  
man1 and his threat to take his life4   
,hope seemed utterly  to fail from the  
heart of the poor wife1 when the        
testimony on the  part of the           
prosecution closed4 ,but now came the   
time for the  examination of witnesses  
in favour of the prisoner4 ,soon ,mrs4  
,warburton was seen upon her feet1      
bending over towards the witness'       
stand1 and eagerly devouring each word4 
,rapid changes would pass  over her     
countenance1 as she comprehended1 with a
 woman's quickness  of perception1      
rendered acute by strong interest1 the  
bearing which  the evidence would have  
upon the case4 ,now her eye would flash 
with  interest and her face become      
flushed--and now her cheek would pale1  
and her form seem to shrink into half   
its dimensions4 ,oh6 who can  imagine   
one thousandth part of all her          
sufferings on that awful  occasion8     
,when1 finally1 the case was given to   
the jury1 and after  waiting hour after 

hour at the court-house1 to hear the    
decision1  she had to go home long after
 dark1 in despair of knowing the result 
before morning1 it seemed hardly        
possible that she could pass  through   
that night and retain her senses4 ,she  
did not sleep through  the night's long 
watches--how could she sleep8 ,hours    
before the  court assembled1 she was at 
the court-house1 waiting to know the    
fate of one1 who now1 in his fearful    
extremity1 seemed dearer to her  than   
ever4 ,slowly passed the lingering      
minutes1 and at length ten  o'clock     
came4 ,the court-room was filled to     
suffocation1 but through  the dense     
crowd she made her way1 and took her    
place beside her  anxious husband4 ,the 
court opened1 and the foreman of the    
jury came  forward to read the verdict4 
,many an eye sought with eager          
curiosity1 or strong interest1 the face 
of the wife4 ,its calmness  was strange 
and awful4 ,all anxiety1 all deep       
interest had left it1  and as she turned

 her eye upon the foreman1 none could   
read the  slightest exhibition of       
emotion4 ,,guilty ,,of ,,murder ,,in    
,,the ,,second  ,,degree6 ,quick as     
thought a hundred eyes again sought the 
face of  ,mrs4 ,warburton4 ,it was pale 
as ashes1 and her insensible form was   
gently reclining upon the arm of her    
husband1 which had been  extended to    
save her from falling4    ,when         
recollection returned1 she was lying    
upon her own bed1 in her  own chamber1  
with her little boy crying by her side4 
,those who had1  from humane feelings1  
conveyed her home1 suffered the dictates
 of  humanity to die in their bosoms ere
 her consciousness returned2 and  thus  
she was left1 insensible1 with no       
companion but her child4    ,in due     
course1 ,warburton was sentenced to     
eight years imprisonment1  the first    
three years to be passed in solitary    
confinement4 ,during  the first term1 no
 person was to be allowed to visit him4 
,the  knowledge of such a sentence was a

 dreadful blow to ,mrs4 ,warburton4     
,she parted from him in the court-room1 
on the day of his sentence1  and for    
three long1 weary years1 her eyes saw   
him not again4    ,but a short time     
after the imprisonment of ,warburton1   
another babe  came into the world to    
share the misery of her whose happiness 
he  had1 in all his actions1 so little  
regarded4 ,when able again to go  about1
 and count up her store1 ,mrs4          
,warburton found that she had  little   
left her beyond a willing heart to      
labour for her children4  ,it would have
 been some comfort to her if she had    
been permitted to  visit her husband1   
but this the law forbade4    ,despair is
 never quite despair1 and once more in  
her life did ,mrs4  ,warburton prove    
this4 ,the certainty that there could be
 no further  dependence upon her        
husband1 led her to repose more         
confidently in  her own resources1 for a
 living1 and they did not fail her4 ,she
 had  long since found out that our     

necessities cost much less than our     
superfluities1 and therefore she did not
 sit down in idle  despondency4 ,early  
in the morning and late at night was she
 found  diligently employed1 and though 
her compensation was not great1 it  was 
enough to supply her real wants4    ,for
 two years had she supported thus with  
her own hands herself and  children4    
,the oldest was now a smart little      
fellow of five years1  and the youngest 
a fair-haired girl of some two summers4 
,thus far  had she kept them around her2
 but sickness at last came4 ,nature     
could not always sustain the heavy      
demands made upon her1 and at  last sunk
 under them4    ,there are many more    
cases of extreme suffering in this      
country than  persons are generally     
willing to believe4 ,these extreme cases
 are  among those whose peculiar        
feelings will not allow of their making 
known their real condition4 ,they are   
such as were once members of  some      
social circle1 far removed indeed from  

the apparent chances of  poverty4 ,their
 shrinking pride1 their yearning desire 
for  independence clings closer and     
closer to them1 and operates more and   
more powerfully1 as they sink lower and 
lower1 from uncontrollable  causes1 into
 the vale of want and destitution4      
,beggars with no  feelings1 and no      
claims beyond those of idleness and     
intemperance1  thrust themselves        
forward1 and consume the bread of       
charity1 that  should go to nourish the 
widow and the orphan1 who suffer daily  
and  nightly1 rather than ask for aid4  
,one to whom the idea of eating the     
bread of charity had ever been a        
painful and revolting one1 was ,mrs4    
,warburton4 ,so long as she was  able1  
she had earned with untiring industry1  
the food that nourished  her children4  
,but close confinement1 insufficient    
nourishment1  labour beyond her         
strength1 and above all1 a wounded      
spirit1 at last  completed the          
undermining work1 which threw down the  

tottering and  feeble health that had   
long kept her at her duties4    ,it was 
mid-winter when she was severely        
attacked by a  bilious-pleurisy4 ,for   
some weeks she had drooped about1 hardly
 able  to perform half her wonted       
labour--most of that time suffering from
  a hard cough and distressing pain in  
the side1 which was augmented  almost to
 agony while bending steadily1 and for  
hours over her work4  ,taking1 as it    
did1 all that she could earn to keep    
herself and  children in comfort during 
the winter1 she had nothing laid up for 
a  time of more pressing need2 and1 as  
for the last few weeks1 she had  earned 
so little as to have barely enough for  
necessaries1 when  helplessness came1   
she was in utter destitution1 ,her wood 
was just  out1 except a few hard1       
knotted logs2 her flour was out1 and her
  money gone4 ,when she could no longer 
sit up1 she sent her little boy  for a  
physician1 who bled her1 and left her   
some powerful medicines4  ,the first    

gave temporary relief1 and the latter   
reduced her to a  state of great bodily 
and mental weakness4 ,he did not call in
 again  until the second day1 when he   
found the children both in bed with     
their mother1 who was suffering greatly 
from a return of the pain in  her side4 
,the room was chilly1 for there was no  
fire1 and it was  intensely cold        
without1 and the ground covered with a  
deep snow4 ,he  again bled her1 which   
produced immediate relief1 and learning 
that  she had no wood1 called in at the 
next door1 where lived a wealthy        
family1 and stated the condition of     
their poor neighbour ,a child of  six   
years old stood by his mother while the 
physician was speaking4  ,the lady      
seemed much affected when told of the   
sufferings of the1  poor woman1 politely
 thanked the physician for making her   
acquainted  with the fact1 and promised 
immediate attention4    ,that evening   
there was to be at this house a large   
party4 ,extra  servants had been        

employed that day1 and all was bustle   
and  preparation4    ,sarah1 called the 
lady1 a few minutes after1 to her       
housekeeper--,sarah1 ,dr4 ,h--was here  
just now1 and said that the  poor woman 
who lives next door is sick and out of  
fuel4 ,tell ,john to  take her in an    
armful of wood1 and do you just step in 
and see what  more she is in want of4   
,yes1 ma'am1 responds ,sarah1 and       
muttering to herself some               
dissatisfaction at the order1 descends  
to the kitchen1 and addresses  a sable  
man-servant1 and kind of                
doer-of-all-work-in-general1 in  doors  
and out1    ,john1 ,mrs4--says you must 
take an armful of wood in to ,mrs4      
,warrington2 ,i believe that is the     
woman's name who lives next door4       
,who8 de woman whose husband in de 7sic7
 ,penetentiary8    ,yes1 that's the one1
 ,john4    ,don't love to meddle wid dem
 guess sort of folks1 ,miss ,sarah4     
',druder not be gwine in dere1 responds 
the black1 with a broad grin  at his own

 humour4    ,well1 ,i don't care whether
 you do or not1 responds ,sarah1 and    
glides swiftly away1 satisfied to do one
 part of her order and  forget the      
other1 which related to her going in to 
see the poor  woman herself4            
,mrs4--shifted off the duty on her      
housekeeper1 and  she contented herself 
by forgetting it4    ,little ,william1  
who was present with his mother when the
 doctor  called1 was1 like all children1
 a true republican1 and had often       
played with the child of the sick woman4
 ,he had seen his little  playmate but a
 few times since the cold weather set   
in2 but had all  his sympathies aroused1
 at the doctor's recital4 ,being rather 
more  suspicious of the housekeeper than
 his mother1 and no doubt for good      
reasons best known to himself1 he       
followed on to the kitchen1 and  was an 
ear-witness to what passed between ,john
 and the sub-mistress  of the mansion4  
,come1 ,john1 now that's a good fellow1 
said he to the negro1 after  the        

housekeeper had retired1 take in some   
wood to poor ,mrs4  ,warburton4         
',fraid1 ,massa ,billy1 'deed4 ',fraid  
of 7sic7 penetentiary--ha6 ha66  ha666  
,she can't help that1 though1 ,john4 ,so
 come along1 and take the wood  in4     
',fraid1 i'deed1 ,massa ,billy4         
,well1 if you don't1 ,i'll take it in   
myself1 and dirty all my  clothes1 and  
then somebody will find it out1 without 
my turning  tell-tale4    ,john grinned 
a broad smile1 and forthwith1 finding   
himself  outwitted1 carried in the wood1
 and left it in the middle of the       
floor1 without saying a word4           
,towards evening1 just before the       
company assembled1 little ,william1  not
 at all disposed to forget1 as every one
 else had done1 the poor  sufferers next
 door1 went to the housekeeper's room1  
where she was  busy as a bee with       
preparations for the party1 and         
stationed himself  in the door1 accosted
 her with--    ,miss ,sarah1 have you   
been in to see ,mrs4 ,warburton1 as ma  

told you1  to-day8    ,that's no concern
 of yours1 ,mr4 ,inquisitive4    ,but   
,i'd just like to know1 ,miss ,sarah2   
'cause ,i'm going in myself1  if you    
hav'nt been4    ,do you suppose that ,i 
have not paid attention to what your ma 
said8  ,i know my own business1 without 
instruction from you4    ,well1 ,i don't
 believe you've been in1 so ,i don't1   
that's all2 and  if you don't say yes or
 no at once1 why1 you see1 ,i'll go     
right in  myself4    ,well 7coaxingly7  
never mind1 ,billy1 ,i haint been in1   
,i've been so  busy2 but just wait a    
little bit1 and ,i'll go ,there's no use
 of your  going2 you can't do nothing4  
,i know that1 ,miss ,sarah1 and that's  
why ,i want you to go in4 ,but if  you  
don't go in1 ,i will1 so there1 now6    
,well1 just wait a little bit1 and ,i'll
 go4    ,the child1 but half satisfied1 
slowly went away1 but lingered about    
the passages to watch the housekeeper4  
,night1 however1 came on1 and  he had   
not seen her going4 ,all were now busy  

lighting up1 and making  the more       
immediate and active preparations for   
the reception of  company1 when he met  
her in the hall1 and to his1 ,look here1
 ,i say1  ,miss ,sarah1 she hurried past
 him unheeding4    ,the company at last 
assembled1 and the hours had passed away
 until  it was nine o'clock4 ,without1  
all was cold1 bleak1 and cheerless4     
,within1 there was the perfection of    
comfort4    ,little ,william had been   
absent for some time1 but no one missed 
him4  ,just as a large company were     
engaged in the various ways of passing  
time1 dancing1 chatting1 and partaking  
of refreshments1 the room  door opened1 
and in came ,master ,billy1 dragging in 
by the hand1 a  little barefoot fellow  
about his own age1 with nothing on but a
  clean1 well-patched shirt1 and a pair 
of linen trowsers4 ,without  heeding the
 company1 he pulled him up to the       
glowing grate1 and in  the fulness of   
his young benevolent heart1 cried out1  
,here's fire1 ,charley6 ,warm yourself1 

old fellow6 ,hurrah6 ,i guess  ,i've    
fixed ,miss ,sarah now4 ,and the little 
fellow clapped his hands  as innocently 
and as gracefully1 as if there had been 
no one in the  room but himself and     
,charley4    ,all was agreeable and     
curious confusion in a few minutes1 and 
scores  crowded around the poor child   
with a lively interest1 who1 an hour    
before would have passed him in the     
street unnoticed4    ,why1 ,willy6 what 
does all this mean8 exclaimed the       
father1 after  something like order had 
been restored4    ,why1 pa1 you see1    
this is ,charley ,warburton1 began the  
little  fellow1 holding the astonished  
,charley by the hand1 and presenting    
him quite ceremoniously to his father4  
,doctor ,h--came here  to-day1 and told 
ma that his mother was sick next door1  
and that  they had no wood4 ,so ma tells
 ,sarah to send ,john in with some wood1
  and to go in herself and see if they  
wanted anything4 ,so ,sarah goes  and   
tells ,john to go and take some wood in4

 ,but ,john he wa'nt going  to go1 till 
,i told him that if he didn't go ,i     
would1 and if ,i went  to carrying in   
wood1 ,i'd dirty all my clothes1 and    
then somebody  would want to know the   
reason4 ,so ,john he carried in some    
wood4 ,then  ,i watched ,sarah1 but she 
didn't go in4 ,so ,i told her about it4 
,and  then she promised1 but didn't go4 
,i told her again1 and she  promised1   
but didn't go4 ,i waited and waited     
until night1 and still  ,sarah didn't go
 in4 ,then you see1 awhile ago ,i       
slipped out the front  door1 and tried  
to go in to ,mrs4 ,warburton's4 ,but it 
was all so dark  there1 that ,i couldn't
 see anybody2 and when ,i called        
',charley1'  here1 his mother said1     
softly1 'who's there1' and ,i said 'it's
 only  little ,willy4 ,ma wants to know 
if you don't want nothing4' ',oh1 it's  
little ,willy--it's little ,willy6' says
 ,charley1 and he jumps on the  floor1  
and then we both came in here4 ,o6 it's 
so dark and cold in  there--do pa go in1

 and make ,john build them a fire4      
,during the child's innocent but feeling
 recital1 more than one eye  filled with
 tears4 ,mrs4--hung down her head for a 
moment1 in  silent upbraidings of heart1
 for having consigned a work of charity 
to neglectful and unfeeling servants4   
,then taking her child in her  arms1 she
 hugged him to her bosom1 and said1     
,bless you1 bless you1 my boy6 ,that    
innocent heart has taught your  mother a
 lesson she will not soon forget4 ,the  
father felt prouder  of his son than he 
had ever felt1 and there were few       
present who did  not almost wish him    
their own4 ,little ,charley was asked by
 ,mr4--if  he was hungry1 on observing  
him wistfully eyeing a piece of cake4   
,we haint had nothin' to eat all day1   
sir1 none of us4    ,and why not1 my    
little man8 asked ,mr4--in a voice of   
assumed  calmness4    ',cause1 sir1 we  
haint got nothin' to eat in the house4  
,mother  always had good things for us  
till she got sick1 and now we are all   

hungry1 and haint got nothin' to eat4   
,here1 ,sarah1 7to the housekeeper1 who 
came in at the moment7--no1  not you1   
either--do you1 ,emma1 7to his wife17   
give this hungry child  some nourishing 
food with your own hands4 ,he has a     
claim on you1 for  the sake of our      
little ,willy4    ,mrs4--was not slow in
 relieving ,charley's wants and then1   
after  excusing herself to the company1 
she visited1 with ,john and ,sarah1  the
 humble1 uncomplaining child of         
humanity1 who had been suffering1  so   
painfully1 in the next house to her     
comfortable dwelling4    ,the light     
carried by ,john revealed1 in the middle
 of the floor1 the  armful of wood1 in  
large logs1 almost impossible to kindle1
 which  the servant had thrown down     
there without a word1 or an offer to    
make a fire4 ,mrs4--'s heart smote her  
when she saw this evidence  of her      
neglect of true charity4 ,enveloped in  
the bed-clothes1 she  found ,mrs4       
,warburton and her little child1 the    

former suffering from  pain and fever1  
and the latter asleep1 with tears       
glistening on her  eyelashes4 ,the room 
was so cold that it sent chills all over
 her1 as  she had come in without       
throwing a shawl around her shoulders4  
,i am sorry to find you so sick1 and    
everything around you so cold  and      
comfortless1 she said1 addressing ,mrs4 
,warburton4    ,i don't feel so very    
sick1 ma'am1 only when ,i try to sit up1
 ,i grow  so faint1 and have to lie down
 again4 ,if my little things had        
anything to eat1 ,i wouldn't mind it    
much4    ,just then1 aroused by the     
voice of her mother1 the little girl    
awoke1 and began moaning and crying4    
,she could not speak plain1 and  her bed
 and mik1 mamma--,o1 mamma1 bed and mik1
 thrilled every  heart-string of        
,mrs4--1 who had never before in her    
life witnessed  the keen distress of a  
mother while her child asked in vain for
  bread4 ,she drew the child out of bed1
 and kissing it1 handed it to  ,sarah1  

whose feelings were also touched1 and   
told her to take the  little thing into 
her house1 and give it to the nurse1    
with  directions to feed it1 and then   
come back4    ,by this time1 ,john1     
rather more active than usual1 had      
kindled a  fire1 the genial warmth of   
which began already to soften the keen  
air of the room4 ,some warm drinks were 
prepared for ,mrs4 ,warburton2  and     
,mrs4--had the satisfaction to see her1 
in the course of half  an hour1 sink    
away into a sweet and refreshing        
slumber4 ,on glancing  around the room1 
she was gratified1 and somewhat         
surprised1 to see  everything1 though   
plain and scanty1 exhibiting the utmost 
order and  cleanliness4 ,the uncarpeted 
floor was spotless1 and the single pine 
table as white as hands could make it4  
,how much am ,i to blame1 was  her      
inward thought1 for having so neglected 
this poor woman in her  distress and in 
her poverty6    ,on returning to her    
company1 and giving a history of the    

scene she  had just witnessed1 the      
general feeling of sympathy prompted    
immediate measures for relief1 and a    
very handsome sum was placed in  the    
hands of ,mrs4--1 by the gentlemen and  
ladies present1 for the  use of ,mrs4   
,warburton4 ,rarely does a social       
company retire with each  individual of 
it so satisfied in heart as did the     
company assembled  at ,mrs4--'s1 on that
 evening4 ,truly could they say1 ,it is 
more  blessed to give than to receive4  
,the incident just related1 possessing a
 kind of romantic interest1  soon became
 noised about from family to family1 and
 for awhile it  was fashionable to      
minister to the wants of ,mrs4          
,warburton--whose  health continued very
 delicate--and to her young family4 ,but
 a few  months passed away1 and then one
 after another ceased to remember or    
care for her4 ,even ,mrs4--1 the mother 
of little ,billy1 began to  grow weary  
of charity long continued1 and to feel  
that it was a  burdensome task to be    

every day or two obliged to call in or  
inquire  after the poor invalid4        
,finally1 she dismissed the subject from
 her  mind1 and left ,mrs4 ,warburton to
 the tender mercies of ,sarah1 the      
housekeeper4    ,from a state of deep   
despondence to one of hope1 had ,mrs4   
,warburton  been raised1 by the timely  
aid afforded through the persevering    
interference of the little playmate of  
her son4 ,but she soon began  to        
perceive1 after a time1 that the charity
 was only spasmodic1 and  entered into  
without a real consideration of her     
peculiar case4 ,the  money given her was
 the best assistance that could have    
been  rendered1 for with this she       
obtained a supply of wood1 flour1 meal1 
potatoes1 and some warm clothing for her
 little ones4 ,but this would  not last 
always1 and the multitude of little nice
 things sent from  this one and that1   
were of but little service4    ,the     
month of ,march1 so trying to a weak and
 shattered constitution1  found her just

 well enough to venture out to seek for 
employment at  her old business of      
cigar-making4 ,she readily obtained     
work1 and  again sat down to earn for   
herself and children1 the bread that    
should nourish them4 ,but she was soon  
made to feel keenly that her  health was
 not as it had been4 ,a severe pain in  
the side was her  daily companion1 and  
she had to toil on1 often sick and      
faint1 from  daylight until long after  
others had sought the grateful repose of
  their pillows4 ,painfully alive to a  
sense of dependence1 she was  ready at  
any time to work beyond her strength    
rather than to eat the  bread of        
charity4 ,this kept her steadily bending
 over her work until  nature again      
became exhausted1 and she was forced1   
from direct  debility1 to suspend her   
labours for at least the half of every  
day4  ,as ,april came in1 with an       
occasional warm day1 her appetite       
gradually left her1 and she began to    
experience a loathing of food4          

,weakness1 headaches1 and other painful 
warnings of nature1 were the            
consequences4 ,her earnings were now so 
small1 that she with  difficulty        
procured enough of food for her         
children4 ,she knew that  if she would  
let ,mrs4--know her pressing            
destitution1 food and  other necessaries
 would be supplied2 but she shrank from 
telling her  wants4 ,finding1 however1  
that her strength continued to fail1    
until  she was unable to sit up but for 
a few hours at a time1 and that1 in     
consequence of her extreme weakness1 the
 nausea produced by the  tobacco was so 
great1 as to render it almost impossible
 for her to  work in it1 she made up her
 mind to let her boy go in to ,mrs4--1  
with a request to send her some little  
thing that she could eat1 in  hopes that
 something from her table might provoke 
an appetite4    ,mrs4--was sitting at   
her dinner-table1 which was covered with
 the  luxuries of the season1 when      
little ,charley came into the room and  

handed in his poor mother's request4    
,please1 ma'am1 mother says will you be 
so good as to send her some  little     
thing that she could eat4 ,she has no   
appetite1 and not eatin'  makes her so  
weak4    ,here's some pie1 ,charley1    
struck in little ,billy4 ,it's good1 ,i 
tell you6 ,eat it now2 and ma1 do send  
in ,charley's mother a piece1  too3 ,i  
know she'll like it4    ,but ,billy and 
his mother did not agree in this4 ,the  
latter thought a  little sago would be  
much better4 ,so she gave ,charley a    
paper in  which were a few spoonfuls of 
sago4    ,here is some sago1 mother1    
said ,charley1 on his return1           
,mrs4--says it will do you good4    ,now
 it so happened that1 from a child1 she 
had never liked sago4  ,there was       
something in it so insipid to her1 that 
she had never felt  an inclination to   
more than taste it4 ,particularly now   
did her  stomach loathe it4 ,but1 even  
if she had felt an inclination to taste 
the sago1 she had not1 at the time1 any 

way to prepare it so as to  make it     
palatable4 ,she did not1 however1 at the
 time1 send for  anything else4 ,she    
still had some flour and potatoes1 and a
 little  change to buy milk1 and on     
these her children fared very well4     
,healthy food does not cost a great deal
 in this country1 and ,mrs4  ,warburton 
had long before learned to husband well 
her resources4    ,on the next morning  
she tried to get up1 but fainted away on
 the  floor4 ,her children were still   
asleep1 and were not even awakened by   
her fall4 ,it was some time before she  
recovered sufficiently to  crawl upon   
the bed2 and there she lay2 almost      
incapable of thought  or motion1 for    
hours4 ,as feeble nature reacted again1 
and she was  able to think over her     
situation1 she made up her mind to send 
in  her little boy again to ,mrs4--1    
with an apology for not using the  sago1
 and request her to give her some little
 thing from her  table--anything at all 
that would be likely1 as she said1 to   

put a  taste in her mouth1 and induce an
 appetite for food4 ,the child          
delivered the message in the best way he
 knew how1 but some how or  other it    
offended the ear of ,mrs4--1 who had    
begun to be tired of  what she was      
pleased to call the importunities of    
,mrs4 ,warburton2  though1 in fact1 she 
had never before even hinted that she   
was in  want of anything4 ,the truth    
was1 ,sarah1 the housekeeper1 had heard 
something from somebody1 about ,mrs4    
,warburton1 and had been relating  the  
puerile scandal to ,mrs4--1 who1 instead
 of opposing the  tattling propensity in
 her servant1 encouraged it1 by lending 
to her  silly stories an attentive ear4 
,but the story was false1 from          
beginning to end1 as are nearly all the 
idle rumours which are  constantly      
circulating from one family to another1 
through the  medium of servants4    ,how
 did she do1 she had just been saying to
 ,sarah1 before ,i  befriended her8 ,it 
is a downright imposition upon my       

good-nature1  and ,i have no notion of  
encouraging idleness4    ,the fact is1  
ma'am1 chimed in the maid1 these here   
poor people1  when you once help 'em1   
think you must be a'ways at it2 they    
find it  so much easier to beg than     
work4    ,just at this stage of         
conversation1 the child timidly         
preferred the  humble and moderate      
request of his sick mother2 a request   
that  should have thrilled the heart of 
any one possessing a single human       
sympathy4 ,but it came at the wrong     
moment4 ,the evil of self-love was      
active in the heart of ,mrs4--1 and all 
love of the neighbour was  for the time 
extinguished4 ,she cast upon the child a
 look so  forbidding that the little    
fellow turned involuntarily to go4      
,here1 ,sarah1 said she1 in a half-angry
 tone1 send ,mrs4 ,warburton  a dried   
herring4 ,perhaps that will 'put a taste
 in her mouth4'    ,and a herring was   
sent6    ,it's a pretty pass1 indeed1   
said ,miss ,sarah1 as the child closed  

the door1 when beggars become choosers6 
,only half satisfied with herself1      
,mrs4--turned away and made no  reply4  
,how differently did she feel on the    
night1 when1 with her own  hands1 she   
ministered to the wants of this same    
suffering child of  humanity6 ,then her 
heart1 though melted even to tears1 felt
 a  bounding gladness1 from the         
consciousness of having relieved the    
suffering4 ,now it was heavy and sad in 
her bosom1 and she could not  hush the  
whispers of an accusing conscience4     
,little ,charley carried home the       
herring1 and laid it on the bed  before 
his sick mother4 ,his own little heart  
was full1 for he could  not mistake the 
manner of ,mrs4--for kindness4 ,mrs4    
,warburton  looked at the uninviting    
food1 and turned her head away4 ,after  
awhile1 it did seem to her as if the    
fish would taste good to her1  and she  
raised herself up with an effort1 and   
breaking off a small  piece1 put it     
languidly to her lips4 ,the morsel      

thrilled upon the  nerve of taste1 and  
she ate the greater part of it with a   
relish she  had not known for many      
weeks4    ,in the mean time the heart of
 ,mrs4--smote her so severely1 when  all
 at once she remembered having lost her 
appetite after a spell of  sickness1 and
 the difficulty with which she regained 
it2--how during  the day1 nothing could 
tempt her to eat1 while all night long  
she  would dream of rich banquets1 of   
which she eagerly desired to  partake1  
but which changed to tasteless morsels1 
when she lifted the  inviting food to   
her lips4 ,for a time she strove against
 her  feelings1 but at last gave up1 and
 ringing for the cook1 directed  her to 
broil a couple of thin slices of ham    
very nicely1 make a good  cup of tea1   
and a slice or two of toast4 ,when this 
was ready1 it was  sent in to ,mrs4     
,warburton4 ,it came just in time1 and  
met the excited  appetite of the        
faint-hearted invalid4 ,it was like     
manna in the  wilderness1 and revived   

and refreshed her drooping frame4       
,from this time she gradually regained  
her appetite and strength2 and  had the 
gratification of being able to earn with
 her own hands  enough for the support  
of her children4    ,this she continued 
to do until the expiration of the       
solitary  confinement term of her       
husband4 ,how wearily passed the long1  
long  days and nights1 as the time      
approached for her again to look upon   
the face that had been hid from her     
sight for three sorrowful years6  ,the  
long absence had only excited her       
affection for him4 ,not as the  dead had
 she thought of him1 but as of the      
living1 and of the  suffering4 ,her own 
deep poverty1 sickness1 and anxious     
concern for  her children she counted as
 nothing to his lonely endurance of     
life4    ,some weeks before the         
expiration of the first term of         
imprisonment1  she gathered together all
 her little store1 and having sold many 
heavy articles1 packed the rest1 and had

 them started for ,columbus1  the       
capital of the state4 ,she then took a  
deck-passage for herself  and children  
in a steamboat for ,portsmouth1 from    
which place she  determined to walk1    
carrying her youngest child1 a little   
girl of  nearly three years1 in her     
arms4 ,i will not linger with her1 nor  
trace her toilsome and lonely journey   
through strange places1  continued      
without a day's intermission1 until she 
at last came in  sight of the           
long-looked-for place4 ,after the       
time-worn state-house1  the next        
building that met her eye1 was the old1 
dark-looking  prison1 in which was      
confined her husband4 ,how gladly did   
her eyes  greet its sombre walls6 ,it   
was the dwelling-place of one1 for whom1
  in all his wanderings1 her heart      
retained its warm emotions of love4     
,suddenly1 like a parching wind of the  
desert1 came upon her the  thought that 
he might be dead4 ,for three long years 
she had not been  permitted to receive  

tidings from him1 and who could tell1 if
 in  that time1 the wing of death had   
not o'ershadowed him8 ,trembling1       
weary1 and sick at heart1 she made her  
way first to the prison-gate1  and      
there1 to her unspeakable joy1 she      
learned that he still lived4    ,for    
many nights previous to the day on which
 permission would be  granted her to see
 him1 sleep had parted from her eyelids2
 and when  the time did come1 she was in
 a high state of mental excitement4     
,morning slowly dawned upon her anxious 
eyes1 but seemed as if it  would never  
give place to the broad daylight4 ,at   
last the sun came  slowly up from his   
bright chambers in the east4 ,it was the
 day on  which she should again see her 
husband2 the long-looked-for1 the       
long-hoped-for4 ,tremblingly she stole  
out1 ere the day was an hour  old1 and  
ran1 not walked1 to the gloomy          
dwelling-place of her  husband4    ,for 
several days previous she had not been  
able to keep away from  the prison1 and 

the keeper1 who knew her errand1 had    
become much  interested in her case4 ,he
 received her kindly1 and made instant  
preparation for the desired interview4  
,for three years ,warburton had not     
heard the music of a human voice4  ,far 
away from the sight or sound of his     
fellow-prisoners1 he had  dwelt alone1  
visited only by the mute keeper who had 
brought his  daily food1 or otherwise   
ministered to his wants4 ,to his earnest
 and  oft-repeated inquiries if nothing 
was known of his wife and  children1 for
 whose welfare a yearning anxiety had   
sprung up in his  breast1 he was        
answered only by a gloomy silence4 ,he  
did not know1  even on the morning of   
his release from solitary confinement1  
that  the all-enduring companion of his 
better days had come to cheer his       
anxious eyes with her presence4 ,soon   
after daylight of this morning  the door
 of his cell turned heavily on its      
hinges1 and he was  brought out among   
his fellows1 and heard again the        

sweetest music  that had ever fallen    
upon his ear1 the music of the human    
voice4 ,a  stronger thrill of pleasure  
had never passed through his frame4 ,he 
felt as though he could remain thus shut
 out from the rest of the  world for    
ever1 so that he could see and talk with
 his fellow-men4  ,he did not then think
 of the keen delight that awaited him1  
for in  the first impulse of selfish    
gratification he had forgotten the      
being who loved him better than life4   
,an hour had not passed when he was     
again called for4 ,the door of a        
private apartment in the keeper's house 
was thrown open1 and he  entered alone4 
,there was but one being present3 a     
pale1 haggard  woman1 poorly clad1 who  
tottered towards him with extended arms4
 ,at  that moment both hearts were too  
full1 and their lips were sealed in     
silence4 ,but oh6 how eagerly did each  
bind the other in a long1 long  embrace6
 ,it seemed as if their arms would never
 be unlocked4 ,for one  hour were they  

left1 thus alone4 ,but how were years   
crowded into  that hour2 years of       
endurance--terrible endurance6    ,it   
seemed scarcely one-tenth of that short 
time1 when ,mrs4 ,warburton  was        
summoned away1 but with the kind        
permission to visit her husband  at the 
same hour every day4 ,slowly she passed 
beneath the ponderous  gate1 and still  
more slowly moved away1 thinking how    
long it would  be before another day had
 passed1 bringing another blessed       
interview4    ,the case of ,warburton   
and his faithful wife soon came to the  
ears of  the governor1 and he having    
expressed considerable sympathy for     
them1 the fact was soon made known to   
,mrs4 ,warburton1 who was  recommended  
to petition him in person for a         
remission of the  sentence4 ,the hint   
was no sooner given than acted upon1 and
 after a  delay of several months of    
hope and fear1 to the joy of her heart1 
she found her husband at liberty4    ,in
 some of his former business or gambling

 transactions he had  become possessed  
of a clear title to three hundred acres 
of land1  upon which was a log-cabin1   
situated about thirty miles eastward    
from the capital of the state1 and      
nearly upon the national road4          
,searching among his papers1 still      
preserved by his wife1 he found  the    
deed1 and as nothing better offered1 he 
started with his family  and but ten    
dollars1 to begin the world anew as a   
backwoods farmer4  ,the few articles of 
furniture which his wife had preserved1 
served  to render the dilapidated cabin1
 in which was not a single pane of      
glass1 sash1 or shutter1 barely         
comfortable4 ,it was early in the       
spring when they re-moved1 and though   
the right time for planting  corn and   
the ordinary table vegetables1 yet it   
would be months  before they would be   
fit to use4 ,in the mean time1 a        
subsistence  must be had4 ,the quickest 
way to obtain food ,warburton found in  
the  use of his rifle1 for wild turkeys 

and deer abounded in the forest4  ,he   
also managed to take a few dozen turkeys
 now and then to a  neighbouring town1  
and dispose of them for corn-meal1      
flour1 and  groceries4 ,in about a month
 he was enabled to sell one hundred     
acres  of his land for three hundred    
dollars1 one hundred in money1 and the  
balance in necessary things for stocking
 a farm4 ,he was now fairly  started    
again1 with a cow1 a horse1 and all     
requisite agricultural  implements4     
,mrs4 ,warburton did not feel satisfied 
in her own mind that this  sudden relief
 from daily pressing want would be a    
real benefit to  them4 ,she had learned 
to suspect the reformation which was    
effected  by the force of external      
circumstances1 while no salutary change 
in  the will was going on4 ,for some    
time1 however1 she had every reason  to 
be encouraged4 ,her husband was         
industrious1 and careful to make  the   
best he possibly could out of his farm1 
and was kind and  attentive to her and  

his children4 ,their garden1 as the     
summer wore  away1 presented a rich     
supply of vegetables1 and their corn and
  potatoes in the fall yielded enough   
for their use during the winter1        
besides several bushels for sale4       
,the winter1 however1 did not pass away 
without several indications  on the part
 of ,warburton of a disposition to      
indulge in the  pleasures of the bottle4
 ,there had been1 in the course of the  
summer1 a tavern erected1 about a mile  
from his dwelling1 on the  national     
road2 and here1 during the dull winter  
months1 he too  frequently resorted1 to 
pass away the hours1 with such persons  
as  are usually to be found at these    
haunts of idleness4    ,the income of   
this house1 as a place of accommodation 
for  travellers1 was very small1 for    
within four miles of it stood a  tavern 
and stage-house1 kept in a style that   
had made it known to  the travelling    
public4 ,it was simply a receptacle for 
the odd change  of the neighbours1 at   

times when they had an hour or two to   
spare  from business4 ,gradually1 its   
business increased1 and as gradually    
the farms of one or two individuals in  
the neighbourhood1 who were1  more      
frequently than others1 to be found at  
the tavern1 evinced a  corresponding    
decrease in their flourishing condition4
 ,fences that  never wanted a panel were
 now broken in many places2 and barns   
that  never admitted a drop of rain1 now
 leaked at a hundred pores4 ,once1      
there was an air of cheerfulness and    
plenty around their dwellings2  now1    
wives and children looked1 the former   
troubled and broken in  spirits1 the    
latter dirty and neglected4 ,where once 
reigned peace  and quietness1 existed   
wrangling and strife4    ,during the    
succeeding farming season1 ,warburton   
gave considerable                       
attention--cultivating his ground1 which
 in the fall yielded him an  abundant   
return4 ,still1 during the summer1 he   
visited the ,white  ,hall ,tavern too   

frequently1 and was too often under the 
bewildering  and exciting influence of  
liquor4 ,the next winter tended greatly 
to  complete the work of dissipation1   
which had been commenced a year  before4
 ,frequently he would come home so much 
intoxicated as to be  lost to all       
reason4 ,at such times he was not the   
stupid1  good-natured1 drunken fool that
 is often met with2 he was then a       
cruel1 unreasonable and exacting tyrant4
 ,his poor wife and children  did not   
only suffer from his wordy ill temper1  
but had to endure in  silence his blows1
 and often tremble even for their lives4
 ,when  sober1 an indistinct remembrance
 of his cruelties and other bad         
conduct1 instead of softening his       
feelings towards his family1 made  him  
moodily silent1 or cross and snappish if
 a word were said to  him4    ,the      
constant and almost daily drain of small
 change for liquor1 had  nearly         
exhausted all the money in the house    
long before the winter  was over4 ,the  

accommodating landlord seemed to        
discover1 as by  instinct1 this         
condition of things1 and encouraged     
,warburton to run  up a score4 ,he well 
knew that at any time it was easy to get
 the  payment out of a man who had a    
good farm1 well stocked4 ,not so much   
for the money to be made at the         
business1 as for the purpose of         
attracting more persons to his tavern1  
the landlord of the ,white  ,hall kept a
 small store4 ,at this store1           
,warburton1 long before the  winter was 
over1 had also made a pretty large bill4
 ,as if to atone  for his unkindness to1
 and neglect of his family1 he would    
rarely  return from his voluntary visits
 at the tavern1 without bringing  home  
something4 ,a few pounds of sugar       
to-day1 some cheese or fish  to-morrow1 
or some dried fruit on the day after4   
,the excuse1 that  such and such a thing
 was wanted1 was often made to get away 
to the  public house1 and thus scarcely 
a day passed without a dollar or two    

being entered against him on the books  
of the smiling landlord4    ,when the   
spring opened1 and his bill was made    
out1 much to his  surprise1 he found his
 account to be one hundred and fifty    
dollars6  ,after some two or three      
weeks' pondering on the matter1 during  
which  time he was cross and sulky at   
home1 two fine cows and one of his  best
 horses were quietly transferred from   
his pasture to the more  capacious one  
of the landlord of the ,white ,hall2 and
 thus his  account was squared with     
,boniface4    ,the discouragement       
consequent upon such a reduction of his 
stock1  tended to make him less         
industrious and less pleasant4 ,he was  
constantly grumbling about his expensive
 family1 and could not  afford to send  
his two oldest children to a school just
 opened in  the neighbourhood1 although 
the master offered to take them both for
  five dollars a quarter4 ,his wife1 he 
said1 could teach them at home4  ,and in
 this she was not neglectful1 as far as 

her time allowed4    ,how rarely does   
the drunkard1 when once fairly started1 
stop in his  downward course6 ,how      
similar is the history of each one6     
,neglect of  business--neglect of       
family--confirmed idleness--abuse of    
family--waste of property--and finally1 
abject poverty4    ,in less than three  
years from the day on which he breathed 
the air  again as a free man--free1     
through the untiring assiduity of his   
neglected but faithful wife1 he struck  
her to the ground1 and  unregardful of  
all the ties of nature1 left her alone  
with her  children1 in the wilds of the 
west1 after having made over house and  
farm to the land lord of the ,white     
,hall1 for fifty dollars and his  bill  
at the bar4    ,day after day did his   
poor wife wait and look for him to      
return1  until even hope failed1 and she
 at last1 with a heavy heart1  commenced
 the task of recalling her own energies 
in aid of the  little ones around her4  
,but she soon found her condition to be 

far worse than she had  imagined4 ,but a
 few days passed after her husband had  
left her  before the hard-hearted       
tavern-keeper came1 and removed         
everything  but the house in which she  
lived from off the place1 and then gave 
her notice that she must also remove1   
and in three weeks1 as he had  rented   
the farm to a man who wished to take    
immediate possession4    ,hope1 the kind
 and ever attendant angel of the        
distressed1 for more  than a week seemed
 ready to depart2 but at the end of that
 time1 a  faint desire to return to her 
native city began to grow into a        
resolution1 and by the time a second    
week had passed away1 she had  fully    
resolved to set out upon the journey4   
,but she had only twenty dollars1 after 
disposing of the few things  their      
rapacious creditor had left them1 and   
with this she had to go  a journey of   
nearly five hundred miles1 with three   
children1 the  oldest about twelve years
 of age4 ,but when once her mind is made

 up1  there are few things a resolute   
mother will not undertake for her       
children4    ,by persevering in her     
applications1 day after day1 to the     
wagoners  on the national road1 she at  
length so far prevailed on one of them  
as to let her and her children ride as  
far as ,zanesville1 for the  trifle of a
 dollar or two1 in his wagon4    ,in the
 true spirit of success1 she looked only
 at the present  difficulty1 reserving  
thought and attention for all succeeding
  difficulties1 whenever they might     
come4 ,in this spirit she cut  herself  
loose from her place in the west1 and   
started for--utterly  unable to say how 
she should ever reach the desired spot4 
,for the first day or two1 the wagoner  
held no conversation with her2  he had  
been unable to resist the promptings of 
his kind feelings in  favour of one who 
had asked him for aid1 although he had  
much rather  not have given her a place 
in his wagon4 ,by degrees1 however1 his 
temper changed1 and he occasionally     

asked a question1 or made a  passing    
remark2 and by the time he had reached  
,zanesville1 he had  become so          
interested in her case1 that he refused 
to take the  stipulated price1 and      
kindly offered to carry her as far as   
,wheeling1 and to--1 if he found it to  
his interest to go there4    ,the way   
thus providentially opened for her1 few 
obstacles remained1  and in the course  
of a few weeks she found herself again  
in the home  of her childhood1 the dear 
spot that had lived in her memory1 green
  and inviting1 for years4    ,but how  
changed was the poor sufferer6 ,but a   
very few dollars of her  money was left4
 ,the fatigue of travel4 ling so long   
and in so  uncomfortable a manner1 had  
gradually shaken the props of a feeble  
body2 and by the time she looked again  
upon the old1 familiar  places1 her form
 was drooping with sickness4    ,slowly 
she descended from the wagon1 received  
her children1 one by  one1 from the     
hands of the wagoner1 thanked him with a

 tearful look1  and tottered away4 ,but 
where could she go8 ,she had neither    
home1 nor  money1 nor friends--was sick 
and faint4 ,years before1 she had       
tripped lightly along the very street   
through which she now dragged  her weary
 limbs4 ,she even passed by the same    
house1 and heard the  light laughter of 
thoughtless voices1 from the same window
 from  which she had once looked forth  
in earlier years1 a joyful and          
light-hearted creature4 ,how familiar   
did that dear spot seem6 but  how       
agonizing the contrast that forced      
itself upon her6 ,little did  the merry 
maiden who looked out upon the pale     
mother1 with drooping  form and soiled  
garments1 who gazed up so earnestly     
towards her1  imagine1 that but a few   
years before1 that poor creature looked 
forth from that same window1 a          
glad-hearted girl4    ,scarcely able to 
act or decide rationally1 for her head  
ached  intensely1 and she was burning   
with fever1 ,mrs4 ,warburton wandered   

about the streets with her three        
children1 one a boy about twelve  years 
old1 the other a little girl about nine1
 and the third1 a  little one tottering 
by her side1 scarce two years old4 ,all 
at once1  as she turned her steps       
into--street1 her eye caught sight of   
the  tall poplars that indicated the    
home of the homeless4 ,i have no  home  
but this1 she murmured to herself1 and  
turned her steps  instinctively towards 
the dark mass of buildings that stood   
near the  present intersection          
of--and--streets4    ,where is your     
permit8 said the keeper1 as she         
falteringly asked  for admission4    ,i 
have none1 was the faint reply4    ,we  
cannot take you1 unless you bring a     
permit from one of the  commissioners4  
,i don't know any commissioner4         
,where are you from8    ,i have just    
come to town from the west1 and am too  
sick to do  anything4 ,i feel faint1 and
 unable to go farther4 ,can you not     
admit  me1 and let application be made  

to the commissioners for me8    ,the    
appearance of ,mrs4 ,warburton too      
plainly indicated her sick  condition1  
and the keeper thought it best to admit 
her for the  present4 ,a meeting of the 
commissioners was held on the same      
afternoon1 and a formal admission given4
    ,the first indication that ,mrs4 ,w4
 had1 that she was no longer at  liberty
 to choose or think for herself1 was the
 entire separation of  her children from
 her4 ,true1 she was soon too ill to    
attend to them1  but that would have    
made no difference4 ,after a dangerous  
illness of  many weeks1 during most of  
which time she was insensible to        
everything around her1 she was again    
able to droop about a little4  ,her     
first questions1 after the healthy      
reaction of body and mind1  were about  
her children2 her first request1 to see 
them4 ,but this  was denied4 ,they are  
doing well enough1 was all the answer   
she  could get4    ,but cannot ,i see   
,emma1 my little one8 ,do let me see    

her6    ,it is contrary to the rules of 
the institution4 ,you cannot see her    
now4    ,when can ,i see her8    ,i     
don't know1--and the nurse of the sick  
woman left her and went  to attend      
somewhere else1 utterly insensible to   
the keen agony of  the mother's heart4  
,was she not a pauper8 ,what right had  
she to  human feelings8 ,but a mother's 
love is not to be chained down to       
rules1 or circumscribed by the narrow   
policy of chartered  expediency4 ,as    
,mrs4 ,warburton slowly gained strength1
 a quicker  perception of her situation 
grew upon her1 and she soon determined  
to know all about her children4 ,in vain
 had she asked to see them2  but each   
denial only increased the desire1 and   
confirmed her  resolutions to see them  
and know all about them4    ,one day1   
when she could walk about a little1 a   
day on which she knew  the board of     
commissioners were in session1 she      
watched her  opportunity1 and when the  
nurse was attending in another part of  

the  room1 stole quietly out1 and soon  
made her way to the commissioners'      
room4    ,gentlemen1 a mother asks your 
indulgence1 was her appeal1 as the      
keeper checked her entrance4    ,let her
 enter1 ,mr4--1 said one of them4       
,what is your wish1 good woman8         
continued the first speaker4    ,i want 
to see my children4    ,her voice was so
 low and mournful1 and her pale face1   
which still  retained many traces of    
former beauty1 expressed so strongly her
  maternal anxiety1 that the hearts of  
all were touched4    ,they looked at    
each other for a few moments1 and after 
some  whispered words1 directed that she
 should be allowed to see her  children 
for half an hour each day4    ,the      
keeper now called their attention to    
certain of their  proceedings1 some     
weeks past1 and they found that places  
had been  obtained for two of them1 the 
oldest boy1 and the little girl1  scarce
 ten years old4    ,we have obtained    
good places for two of your children1   

madam2 the  other1 aged two years1 you  
can have under your own care1 while     
here4    ,and all without allowing me   
one word1 as to who should take them1   
or where they should go6 ,my poor little
 ,mary1 what can you do as a  servant8  
,they are well provided for1 madam4 ,you
 can now retire4    ,mrs4 ,warburton did
 retire1 and with a bleeding heart4 ,her
 little  ,emma was restored to her1 and 
was constantly by her side4 ,she had    
been two months in the alms-house1 when 
she was strong enough to  work1 and by a
 rule of he place1 she had to work two  
months1 to pay  for her keeping while   
sick1 before she would be allowed to go 
out1  and maintain herself4    ,slowly  
and heavily passed the hours for two    
weary months1 when she  presented       
herself for a release from imprisonment4
    ,where can ,i find my children8 she 
asked of the keeper1 as she was  about  
to leave4    ,it is against the rule to 
give any such information in regard to  
pauper children4 ,and in this particular

 instance1 it was the request  of both  
persons taking your children1 that you  
should not be told  where they were1 as 
they wished to raise them without being 
troubled  by foreign influence4    ,the 
mother attempted no remonstrance1 but   
turned away1 and homeless1  and almost  
penniless1 leading her little one by the
 hand1 again  entered the city where her
 happiest years had been spent4    ,as  
she passed down a street1 she saw on the
 door of an old brick  house1 the words 
,a room to let4 ,she made application1  
and engaged  it1 at two dollars a month4
 ,a pine table1 and an old chair1 she   
bought at a second-hand furniture store 
for a dollar2 and with the  other dollar
 she had left1 the pittance saved from  
the twenty  dollars she had when she    
left ,ohio1 she bought some bread1 dried
  meat1 milk1 c4 ,she had no bed1 and   
was for some time compelled to  sleep   
with her child on the hard floor4       
,the art of making cigars1 which she had
 learned years before1 and  which had   

more than once stood between her and    
want1 was again  brought into use4 ,she 
applied at a tobacconist's1 and obtained
 work4  ,giving all diligence1 day and  
night1 she was able to make five or  six
 dollars every week1 with which1 in a   
short time1 she gathered a  few         
comfortable things about her1 among     
which was a bed4    ,two months had     
passed since she left the alms-house1   
and still she  could gain no tidings of 
her children4 ,daily1 for an hour or    
two1  had she made search for them1 but 
in the only way she could devise1  that 
of wandering about the streets1 in hopes
 of finding them out on  some errand4   
,as the winter drew on1 she became more 
and more anxious  and concerned4 ,if her
 little girl1 who was always a delicate 
child1  should be in unkind hands1 she  
sickened at heart to think how much  she
 would suffer4 ,night after night would 
she dream of the dear  child2 and always
 saw her in some condition of extreme   
hardship4    ,one night she thought she 

saw little ,mary sitting on the         
curb-stone4  ,she went up to her1 and   
dreaming that it was very cold1 found   
her  bare-foot1 thinly clad1 and almost 
perishing4 ,the child threw her  little 
arms1 naked and icy cold about her neck1
 and as her  well-known voice sounded in
 her ears1 she awoke4    ,she slept no  
more through that night1 and soon after 
breakfast1  started out1 being unable1  
through the uneasiness of her mind1 to  
work4 ,without questioning the reason   
why1 she naturally wandered in  the     
direction indicated in her dream4 ,when 
near the place1 she was  startled by the
 piercing screams of a child that seemed
 in great  agony1 and there was entreaty
 and supplication mingled in the tones4 
,the voice was like the voice of her own
 child4 ,she knew it was her  own child2
 a mother's ear is never deceived4      
,darting towards the  spot1 she found a 
bucket of hot water spilled upon the    
pavement1  from which the vapour was    
rising in a cloud1 and glancing her eye 

down the alley1 she saw her little one  
half-dragged1 half-carried1  by the arm1
 by a tall1 masculine woman1 who seemed 
in a violent  rage4 ,following like the 
wind1 she reached the dwelling of the   
virago as she entered and dashed the    
child upon the floor4 ,just as  ,mrs4   
,warburton came up1 and was lifting it1 
the woman had obtained a  stout         
cow-hide1 and was turning to lacerate   
the back of the little  one1 as she had 
often done before1 her face red and     
expressing the  most wicked passions4   
,at once ,mrs4 ,warburton felt that only
 in retreat was their safety1  and      
catching up the child in her arms1 she  
darted out as quickly as  she had       
entered4 ,not more swiftly1 however1 did
 she go1 than  followed the enraged     
woman to whom this child of nine years  
old had  been bound to do the work of a 
woman4 ,finding herself gained upon by  
the person in pursuit1 she looked about 
for a place of retreat1 and  seeing     
,magistrate's ,office on a sign1 she    

darted into that lower  court of        
justice4 ,here she was safe from        
molestation1 until some  decision was   
made in the case1 by those deputed to   
act4 ,a crowd soon  gathered about1     
attracted by the strange sight of a     
woman flying  with a child in her arms1 
and another in hot pursuit4 ,the        
magistrate1 who was a humane man1 and   
held his office in a part of  his       
dwelling1 instinctively perceived that  
the mother and her child  needed        
kindness and consideration1 and had     
them1 after examination1  removed back  
into his dwelling1 and placed under the 
care of his  wife1 while he entered more
 fully into the merits of the case4     
,when ,mrs4 ,warburton was sufficiently 
at ease to examine her child1  she found
 her a pitiable object indeed4 ,her     
face1 neck1 and body  were dreadfully   
scalded1 and her back was in scars and  
welts all  over1 and in some places with
 the skin broken and festering4 ,it     
appeared1 from the statement of the     

child1 that the woman she lived  with   
had placed on her head a bucket of      
scalding water for her to  carry to a   
store1 which she was going to scrub out4
 ,the heavy weight  on her head caused  
her to lose her balance and fall1 when  
the whole  contents of the bucket were  
spilled over her face and neck1 and     
penetrated through her clothes to the   
skin1 in all directions4    ,of course1 
she was suffering the most excruciating 
pain4 ,medical aid  was called in by the
 magistrate1 and every attention        
extended to the  little sufferer1 who   
seemed to forget her pain in the        
consciousness  of her mother's presence4
 ,the inhuman wretch who had thus       
brutally  maltreated a mere child1      
enraged to a state of insanity in       
finding  herself thwarted in obtaining  
the child1 made an appeal to the city   
court1 then in session1 and had all the 
parties present4 ,it needed  but this to
 give ,mrs4 ,w4 uncontrolled possession 
of little ,mary4 ,the  condition in     

which the court found the child1 added  
to the touching  story of her mother1   
caused an instant cancelling of the     
indenture  by which the unfeeling woman 
claimed possession of her4    ,in a few 
days after1 ,mrs4 ,warburton found her  
boy1 who1 much to her  satisfaction1 had
 a good place1 with which he was        
pleased1 and was  learning a good trade4
 ,she was now fairly started again1 and 
as her  spirits revived1 her health     
became much improved4 ,month after month
  passed away1 and brought with it new  
sources of comfort1 new causes  for     
satisfaction4 ,of her husband1 she now  
thought with no affection4  ,it is true1
 earlier feelings would sometimes       
return1 but with no  force1 and after   
moving the waters of her quiet spirit   
for a moment1  would tremble into rest4 
,when a man once extinguishes his own   
self-respect1 he is a burden to         
society4 ,but when a husband and father 
descends so low1 he becomes a  curse to 
his family4 ,after abusing them1 and    

making their condition  so wretched that
 even he cannot share it1 he will       
forsake the wife  of his bosom and the  
children of his early love1 and leave   
them to  the tender mercies of          
strangers4 ,but let the mother gather   
her  little ones around her1 and by     
toiling early and late1 make their      
condition comfortable1 and the          
brutalized wretch will return and       
consume the food of his children1 and   
abuse them if they complain4    ,a year 
had passed away1 when early one evening 
in the fall of the  year1 a man pushed  
open the door of the room she occupied1 
and with  a well ,julia1 took a chair1  
and made himself at home without        
further ceremony4 ,though dirty and     
ragged1 with a beard of a week's        
growth1 and half drunk1 ,mrs4 ,warburton
 could not mistake the form of  her     
wretched husband4    ,o1 husband6 can   
this be you8    ,yes1 ,julia1 this is   
me4 ,i've come back at last4 ,i've tried
 hard to  make something for you and the

 children1 but it is no use1 fate is    
against me2 so here ,i am again1 poor as
 ever4 ,but give me something  to eat1  
for ,i'm hungry as a badger4    ,six    
years had passed away since ,warburton  
had returned1 and the  wretchedness     
which had been with him in his absence1 
he brought as  an abiding guest to the  
dwelling of his wife4 ,during that time1
 she  had endured sickness1 hunger1     
abuse1 and been nigh unto death2 but    
through it all she had come with a heart
 still unsubdued1 though  almost broken4
 ,for her children's sakes1 two more of 
whom had been  added in that time1 she  
had stood up and breasted the storm4    
,at last1 her miserable husband1 sunk in
 the lowest depths of  drunkenness and  
degradation1 died1 as he had lived4 ,it 
was the dawn  of a brighter day for     
,mrs4 ,warburton when the spirit of her 
husband  took its flight to the world of
 spirits4 ,her son was nearly free  from
 his trade1 and her oldest girl could   
assist her greatly in the  house1 as    

well as by earning something for their  
support4    ,content and health having  
taken up their abode with her1 we will  
leave her to fill up her allotted space 
in life unobtrusively and  peacefully4  
,the story of ,mrs4 ,warburton has been 
introduced as  another illustration of  
the ill effects which so often arise    
from  the want of watchfulness on the   
part of parents1 in regard to the       
characters of the young men who are     
allowed to visit and play upon  the     
affections of their daughters4 ,it also 
shows how unconquerable  is a mother's  
love4 ,here a weak1 foolish girl1 by    
strong trial1  becomes a woman with a   
strength of mind that nothing can       
subdue1  and1 as a mother1 overcomes    
difficulties from which most men would  
shrink in despair4