his habits of dissipation, and tried to make amends by providing for his family.

"My dear wife, how could you sing those verses in the presence of Parks ?" asked Holyday, one morning.

"I don't know; I am astonished at myself when I think of it. But I felt deeply injured by his treatment, and I thought then of no better way to express my feelings. Did you think it out of place ?"

"Oh no! I think he deserved it."

“Well, now, my dear husband, why not sign the pledge that you will never drink another drop of intoxicating liquor?" she asked, with her arms tenderly thrown around his neck.

"Olivia, if you knew the strength of my appetite, you would not wonder that I hesitate to promise to do so. It is right, dear Olivia, you should feel deeply on this subject; but I am afraid you will never see me a reformed man."

"Oh, John, don't talk so. How can I live if you go on as you have done for a few years past? I must save you from a drunkard's grave," she replied, as she drew him convulsively to her.

"Dear Olivia, I appreciate your feelings," said Holyday, as the tears rolled down his face. "I esteem you for your tender solicitude over me, and for all your kindness in overlooking my faults; but you must make up your mind to give me up." "Why do you talk so, my husband? reformed; and is there no hope in your case?"

Others have been

"You have no idea of the difficulties in the way of my reformation. I have many associates; wherever I go, I see them; they use all their influence to get me to drink. And there, too, is the landlord's influence: how is it possible for me to get out of the ditch, when there are so many ready to push me back? I have felt for a long time I should like to reform, and have often resolved I would; but the temptation that everywhere meets me

has been too strong for my feeble resolution. I believe that I shall never be able to reform until we get a law to prohibit the sale of liquor."

“Oh, my dear husband, don't give up in despair. I beg of you, for my sake and your innocent children, and for the sake of yourself—Oh, do make an effort to escape from the grasp of the destroyer. I will do all I can to assist you, whatever it may be. As for your associates, you need not see them; you can keep away from their influence."

"Your reasoning, Olivia, is very good. I am half tempted by your eloquence to follow your advice."

"Oh, will you, John?" she asked, with a bright and animated

countenance.

"I will try it, my dear Olivia," he replied, drawing her to him, and kissing her.

This pledge brought happiness to Holyday's family. Willie and Alice both, though young, seemed to understand what had been done, and shared largely in their mother's joy.

For a number of weeks Holyday was sober, and seemed anxious to break up all his habits of dissipation, and again be a kind and affectionate husband and father. He spent most of his time about the house, where he would be in no danger from intemperate associates or the landlord's powerful temptation.

His wife, thus encouraged, resumed her music, and taught with a degree of skill which she never before possessed. She fancied that the tones of her piano were far richer and sweeter than ever before. Her soul seemed to swell with a full tide of happiness. The daystar of hope had dispelled the long night of gloom.

Several months after there came an election. The parties were nearly equally divided; this caused the excitement to run high, and induced each to exert all the influence they possessed to carry their points. Holyday had been in his day something

of a politician, and wished to attend, especially to secure the Maine-Law candidate.

"I am afraid, my dear, to have you go," said his wife.

"Why are you afraid, Olivia ?”

"Will you not put yourself within the influence of your old associates? and will they not try to get you drinking again?” "I will take care of that. I feel strong. I think I shall be able to withstand their influence."

"I am really afraid to have you go, my husband."

"I think, Olivia, I ought to go. Mr. Aiken is putting up, and I understand, if he is elected, he will vote for the Maine-Law. And since Jenks and Parks are doing all they can to defeat him, I think it would be wrong for me not to go."

"Well, can you not go and put in your vote and come right back ?"

"I can do that," he replied, as he left the house.

He little understood his weakness, and the power of the landlord to draw him back again to his cups. He had not been out more than ten minutes before he was prevailed upon, not only to drink, but to vote for the liquor candidate. In a few hours he was reeling in the streets. About twelve o'clock at right he was assisted home by two individuals, for he was so much under the influence of drink that he had very little use of his limbs.

"'Liv'a, you-see I-I'm a leetle under the weather. But never mind, 'Liv'a, 'lection comes on-on-only once a year, you know. Found old friends, lots on 'em; and I had to drink with all on-'em, which was a leetle too much for me in my present sitiwation," he stammered out.

"Oh, John! John! I was fearful this would be the result. Oh, why did you go? Oh, dear me! why must it be so?" exclaimed his wife, wringing her hands.

From this time he continued to drink and steal his wife's earnings, and went so far as to take her silver spoons, and sell

them to Jenks for whisky. Every little thing that he could find about the house that he could dispose of went to gratify his unnatural appetite.

Several weeks after the election, he became involved in a street brawl, and received dangerous wounds about his head and chest. He was picked up and carried home perfectly insensible. Doctor Finlay spent the whole night in dressing his wounds. Among others, Scribner did what he could for the unfortunate man and his afflicted family.

"Oh, Mr. Scribner," said Olivia, "how often I have thought of the passage you quoted at our party!"

Who hath

"I quoted several; to which do you refer ?" "The one showing the effects of wine-drinking: woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.' I have thought of it many times. You are the only one who was there who has escaped the dreadful effects spoken of in that passage," said Mrs. Holyday, with much feeling.

"I

was fearful this would be the consequence, Mrs. Holyday; and that was the reason why I refused to drink with you that night."

"I see now, Mr. Scribner, where I have missed it. I have brought it all on myself, and I must bear it. If I had taken a different course, my husband might not have been a drunkard. O my God, is it possible I have been the means of changing that fair and noble countenance into this bloated, bleeding, mangled mass of flesh?" she exclaimed, wringing her hands as she bent over his disfigured form.

"Oh, 'Liv'a, take away-away!" Holyday exclaimed, raising himself up in bed. "There, don't you see? Now on this side: Oh, do, 'Liv'a; that dog-oh, oh! take him away! This bed is on fire. Fire! fire fire! Water! wa-ter! Water! water! Oh, why do you

let me lie here and burn up? There, now, who is that? What are you after, you-you!" He fell back upon the bed, and remained insensible for some time; but at length recovered, only to make matters worse, alas! than before.

CHAPTER VIII.

DARK SCENES.

"Think, while thou swallow'st the capacious bowl,
Thou let'st in seas to sack and drown thy soul;
That hell is open, to remembrance call,

And think how subject drunkards are to fall."

"Death lies on her like an untimely frost,

Upon the sweetest flower of all the field."

SOME days after the election was over, several of Jenks's regular customers met at his tavern. While talking over their morning drams, Mike Emerson said, "Have you heard from Holyday's this mornin'?"

'Why? What is there that you are interested in ?” replied Sam Laraby.

"If reports is true, they had something of a time there last night, I should reckon," said Mike.

"What kind of a time?" asked Mose Whipple.

"It seems to me you're mighty ignorant jist now," said Nate Fleming, who sat leaning back in his chair, with his hands in his pockets, and a short pipe in his mouth.

posted up better on town business?"

66

Why don't you keep

"Well, if you are better informed than your neighbours, I wish you would tell me what was done there last night."