FullReads

“Down he went to the Harmony House;–I was there when he came in. It would have done your hearts good to have seen with what delight he sipped the new beverage,–and to have heard him say, as I did, to Graves;–‘I had half resolved to join the temperance society this day,–but your Sub-Treasury has entirely shaken my resolution. I shall never be able to do it now in this world, nor in the next either, if I can only get you in the same place with me to make Sub-Treasury.’ And then he laughed with great glee. One, of course, did not satisfy him, nor two, nor three. Before dinner-time he was gloriously drunk, and went staggering home as usual. I could not resist the inclination to see a little of the fun when he presented himself to his wife, whose fond hopes were all in the sky again. Like a bird, she had sung about the house during the morning, her heart so elated that she could not prevent an outward expression of the delight she felt. As the hour drew near for her husband’s return, a slight fear would glance through her mind, quickly dismissed, however;–for she could not entertain the idea for a moment that his newly-formed resolution could possibly be so soon broken.

“At last the hour for his accustomed return arrived. She heard him open the door–and sprung to meet him. One look sufficed to break her heart. Statue-like she stood for a moment or two, and then sunk senseless to the floor.

“Other matters calling me away, I staid only to see this delightful little scene, and then hurried back to the Harmony House, to see if the run was kept up. Customers came in a steady stream, and crowded the bar of our worthy friend, whose heart was as light as a feather. I saw at least half a dozen come in and sip a glass of Sub-Treasury, who I knew had not tasted liquor for months. I marked them; and shall be about their path occasionally. But the best thing of all that I saw, was a reformer break his pledge. He was, years ago, a noted drunkard, but had been a reformed man for four years. In that time he had broken up several grog-shops, by reforming all their customers, and had got, I suppose, not less than five or six hundred persons to sign the pledge. I had, of course, a particular grudge against him. It was an exceedingly warm day, and he was uncommonly thirsty. He was reading the paper, and came across the ‘Sub-Treasury’ advertisement.

“‘Ha! ha! What is this, I wonder?’ he said, laughing; some new trick of the enemy, I suppose.’

“‘Look here, what is this Sub-Treasury stuff, that Graves advertises this morning?’ he said, to a young fellow, a protege of mine, who was more than a match for him.

“‘A kind of temperance beverage.’ I put it into the fellow’s head to say.

“‘Temperance beverage?’

“‘Yes. It’s made of lemonpeel, and one stuff or other, mixed up with pounded ice. He’s got a tremendous run for it. I know half a dozen teetotallers who get it regularly. I saw three or four there to-day, at one time.’

“‘Indeed!’

“‘It’s a fact. Come, won’t you go down and try a glass? It’s delightful.’

“‘Are you in earnest about it?’

“‘Certainly I am. It’s one of the most delicious drinks that has been got up this season.’

“‘I don’t like to be seen going into such a place.’

“‘O, as to that, there is a fine back entrance leading in from another street, that no one suspects, and a private bar into the bargain. We can go in and get a drink, and nobody will ever see us.’

“‘Well, I don’t care if I do,’ said the temperance man, ‘for I am very dry.’

“‘You’re a gone gozzling, my old chap,’ I said, as I saw him moving off. ‘I thought I’d get you before long.’ Sure enough, the moment he took the first draught his doom was sealed. His former desire for liquor came back on him with irresistible power; and before nightfall, he was so drunk that he went staggering along the street, to the chagrin and consternation of the teetotallers; but to the infinite delight of your humble servant.