OR,
WINE ON THE WEDDING-NIGHT.
"WHAT will you take, Haley?"
"A glass of water."
"Nonsense! Say, what will you take?"
"A glass of water. I don't drink anything stronger."
"Not a teetotaller? Ha! ha! ha!" rejoined the young man's companion,laughing in mingled mirth and ridicule.
"Yes, a teetotaller, if you please," replied the one calledHaley.--"Or anything else you choose to denominate me."
"You're a member of a temperance society, then? ha! ha!"
"No, I am not."
"Don't belong to the cold-water men?"
"No."
"Then come along and drink with me! Here, what will you take?"
"Nothing at all, unless it be a glass of water. As I have just said,I drink nothing stronger."
"What's the reason?"
"I feel as well--indeed, a great deal better without it."
"That's all nonsense! Come, take a julep, or a brandy-punch withme."
"No, Loring, I cannot."
"I shall take it as an offence, if you do not."
"I mean no offence, and shall be sorry, if you construe into one anact not so intended. Drink if you wish to drink, but leave me infreedom to decline tasting liquor if I choose."
"Well, you are a strange kind of a genius, Haley--, but I believe Ilike you too well to get mad with you, although I generally take arefusal to drink with one as an insult, unless I know the person tohave joined a temperance society,--and then I should deem the insulton my part, were I to urge him to violate his pledge. But I wonderyou have never joined yourself to some of these ultrareformers--these teetotallers, as they call themselves."
"I have never done so,--and never intend doing so. It is sufficientfor me to decline drinking, because I do not believe thatstimulating beverages are good for the body or mind. I act fromprinciple in this matter, and, therefore, want no externalrestraints."
"Then you are determined not to drink with me?"
"O, yes, I will drink with you."
"Cold-water?"
"Of course."
"One julep, and a glass of Adam's-ale," said Loring, turning to thebar-keeper.
They were soon presented, glasses touched, heads bobbed, and thecontents of the two tumblers poured down their respective gullets.
"It makes a chill go over me to see you drinking that stuff," Loringsaid, with an expression of disgust on his face.
"Every one to his taste, you know," was Haley's half-indifferentresponse.
"You'll be over to-night, I suppose?" said a young man, stepping upto him, as the two emerged from the "Coffee"-house--precious littlecoffee was ever seen there.
"O, yes,--of course."
"You'd better not come."
"Why?"
"Clara's got a bottle of champaign that she says she's going to makeyou taste this very night."
A slight shade flitted quickly over the face of Haley, as the youngman said this. But it was as quickly gone, and he replied with asmile,
"Tell Clara it's no use. I'm an incorrigible cold-water man."
"She'll be too much for you."
"I'm not afraid."
"You'd be, if you were as well acquainted with her as I am. I neverknew that girl to set her head about anything in my life that shedidn't accomplish it. And she says that she will make you drink aglass of wine with her, in spite of all your opposition."
"She'll find herself foiled once in her life," was the laughingreply; "and so you may as well tell her that all her efforts will bein vain, and thus save further trouble."
"No, I won't, though. I'll tell her to go on, while I stand off andlook at the fun. I'll bet on her, into the bargain, for I knowshe'll beat."
"So will I, two to one!" broke in Loring--
"Don't be so certain of that."
"We'll see," was the laughing response, and then the young menseparated.
Manley, the individual who had met Loring and Haley at thecoffee-house door, was the brother of Clara, and Haley was heraccepted lover. The latter had removed to the city in which all theparties resided, some two years before, from the east, and hadcommenced business for himself. Nothing was known of his previouslife, or connections. But the pure gold of his character soon becameapparent, and guarantied him a reception into good society. All whocame into association with him, were impressed in his favour.Steadily, however, during that time, had he persisted in not tastingany kind of stimulating drinks. All kinds of stimulating condimentsat table, were likewise avoided. The circle of acquaintances whichhad gradually formed around him, or into which, rather, he had beenintroduced, was a wine and brandy-drinking set of young men, and hewas frequently urged to partake with them; but neither persuasion,ridicule, nor pretended anger, could, in the least, move him fromhis fixed resolution. Such scenes as that just presented, were offrequent occurrence, particularly with recent acquaintances, as wasthe case with Loring.
Within a year he had been paying attention to Clara Manley, ahappy-hearted young creature, over whose head scarce eighteen brightsummers had yet passed. Esteem and admiration of her mind andperson, had gradually changed into a pure and permanent affection,which was tenderly and truly reciprocated.
Wine, in the house of Mr. Manley, was used almost as freely aswater. It was, with brandy, an invariable accompaniment of thedinner-table, and no evening passed without its being served around.Haley's refusal to touch it, was at first thought singular by Clara;but she soon ceased to observe the omission, and the servant soonlearned in no case to present him the decanter. George Manley,however, could not tolerate Haley's temperate habits, because hethought his abstinence a mere whim, and bantered him upon itwhenever occasion offered. At last, he aroused Clara's mind intoopposition, and incited her to make an effort to induce her lover todrink.
"What's the use of my doing it, brother?" she asked, when he firstalluded to it. "His not drinking does no harm to any one."
"If it don't, it makes him appear very singular. No matter who ishere--no matter on what occasion, he must adhere to his foolishresolution. People will begin to think, after awhile, that he's somereformed drunkard, and is afraid to taste a drop of any kind ofliquor."
"How can you talk so, George?" Clara said, with a half-offended air.
"So it will appear, Clara; and you can't help it, unless you laughhim out of his folly."
"I don't wish to say anything to him about it."
"You're afraid."
"No, I am not, George."
"Yes, you are."
"What am I afraid of?"
"Why, you're afraid that you won't succeed."
"Indeed, then, and I am not. A mere notion like that I could easilyprevail on him to give up. I should be sorry, indeed, if I had notthat much influence over him."
"You'll find it a pretty hard notion to beat out of him, I can tellyou. I've seen half a dozen young men try for an hour by all kindsof means to induce him to taste wine; but it was no use. He wasimmovable."
"I don't care;--he couldn't refuse me, if I set myself about it."
"He could, and he would, Clara."
"I don't believe a word of it."
"Try him, then."
"I don't see any use in it. Let him enjoy his total-abstinence! ifhe wishes to."
"I knew you were afraid."
"Indeed, I am not, then."
"Yes, you are."
"It's no such thing."
"Try him, then."
"I will, then, since it's come to that."
"He'll be too much for you."
"Don't flatter yourself. I'll manage him."
"How?"
"Why, I'll insist on his taking a glass of that delightful champaignwith me, which you sent home yesterday."
"Suppose he declines?"
"I won't take his refusal. He shall take a glass with me."
"We'll see, little sis'. I'll bet on Haley."--And so saying, theyoung man turned away laughing at the success of his scheme.
That evening, towards nine o'clock, as Haley sat conversing withClara, a servant entered the room as usual with bottles and glasses.George Manley was promptly on his feet, to cut the cork and "pop"the champaign, which he did, while the servant stood just beforeClara and her lover.
"You must take a glass of this fine champaign with me, Mr. Haley,"the young tempter said, turning upon him a most winning smile.
"Indeed, Clara--"
"Not a word now. I shall take no refusal."
"I must be--"
"Pour him out a glass, George."
And George filled two glasses, one of which Clara lifted, with thesparkling liquor at the height of its effervescence.
"There's the other; take it quick, before it dies," she said,holding her own glass near her lips.
"You must excuse me, Clara. I do not drink wine," Mr. Haley said, assoon as he was permitted to speak, in a tone and with a manner thatsettled the question at once.
"Indeed, it is too bad, Mr. Haley!" Clara responded, with ahalf-offended air, putting her untasted glass of wine back upon thewaiter,--"to deny me so trifling a request. I must say, that yourrefusal is very ungallant. Whoever heard of a gentleman declining totake wine with a lady?"
"There certainly is an exception to the rule to-night, Clara," theyoung man said. "Still, I can assure you, that nothing ungallant wasmeant. But that you know to be out of the question. I could not berude to any lady, much less to you."
"O, as to that, it's easy to make fine speeches--but acts, you know,speak louder than words"--Clara said, half-laughing--half-serious.
The servant had, by this time, passed on with the untasted wine;and, of course, no further effort could be made towards driving theyoung man from his position. His positive refusal to drink, however,under the circumstances, very naturally disappointed Clara. Heobserved the sudden revulsion of feeling that took place in hermind, and it pained him very much.
As for her, she felt herself positively offended. She had set herheart upon proving to her brother her power over Haley, but hadsignally failed in the effort. He had proved to her immovable in hissingular position.
From that time, for many weeks, there was a coldness between him andClara. She did not receive him with her accustomed cordiality; butseemed both hurt and offended. To take a simple glass of champaignwith her was so small a request, involving, as she reasoned, noviolation of principle, that for him to refuse to do so, under allthe circumstances, was almost unpardonable.
Affection, however, at last triumphed over wounded pride, but notuntil he had begun, seriously, to debate the question of proposingto her a dissolution of the contract existing between them.
Everything again went on smoothly enough, for there was no furthereffort on the part of Clara to drive her lover from his resolution.But she still entertained the idea of doing so--and still resolvedthat she would conquer him.
At last the wedding-day was set, and both looked forward to itsapproach with feelings of pure delight. Their friends, without anexception, approved the match; and well they might, for he was a manof known integrity, fine intellect, and cultivated tastes; and she ayoung woman in every way fitted to unite with him in marriage bonds.
Finally came the long anticipated evening. Never before was thereassembled in the old mansion of Mr. Manley a happier company thanthat which had gathered to witness the marriage of his daughter,whose young heart trembled in the fulness of its delight, as sheuttered the sealing words of her union with one who possessed allher heart.
"May kind heaven bless you, my child!" murmured the mother, as shepressed her lips to those of her happy child.
"And make your life glide on as peacefully as a quiet stream," addedthe father, kissing her in turn, scarcely refraining, as he did so,from taking her in his arms and folding her to his bosom.
Then came crowding upon her the sincere congratulations of friends.O, how happy she felt Joy seemed to have reached a climax. The cupwas so full, that a drop more would have overflowed the brim.
A few minutes sufficed to restore again the order that had reignedthrough the rooms, and the servants appeared with the bride's cake.All eyes were upon the happy couple.
"You won't refuse me now, James?" the bride said, in a low tone;but with an appealing look, as she reached out her hand and lifted aglass of wine.
There was a hesitation in the manner of Haley, and Clara saw it. Sheknew that all eyes were upon them, and she knew that all hadobserved her challenge. Her pride was roused, and she could not bearthe thought of being refused her first request after marriage.
"Take it, James, for my sake, even if you only place it to your lipswithout tasting it," she said, in a low, hurried whisper.
The young husband could not stand this. He took the glass, while theheart of Clara bounded with an exulting throb. Of course, havinggone thus far, he had to go through the form of drinking with her.In doing so, he sipped but a few drops. These thrilled on the nerveof taste with a sensation of exquisite pleasure. Involuntarily heplaced the glass to his lips again, and took a slight draught.
Then a sudden chill passed through his frame as consciousnessreturned, and he would fain have dashed the glass from him as apoisoning serpent that was preparing to sting him, but for thecompany that crowded the rooms. From this state he was aroused bythe sweet voice of his young wife, saying, in happy tones--
"So it has not poisoned you, James."
He smiled an answer, but did not speak. The peculiar expression ofthat smile, Clara remembered for many years afterwards.
"Come! you must empty your glass with me," she said, in a momentafter. "See! you have scarcely tasted it yet. Now--"
And she raised her glass, and he did the same. When he withdrew hisown from his lips, it was empty.
"Bravo!"--exclaimed Clara, in a low, triumphant tone.
"Now, isn't that delightful wine?"
"Yes, very."
"Did you ever taste wine before, James?" the bride laughingly said--
"O, yes, many a time. But none so exquisitely flavoured as this."
"Long abstinence has sweetened it to your taste."
"No doubt."
"Clara has been too much for you to-night, Haley," George Manleysaid, coming up at this moment, and laughing in great glee.
"He couldn't refuse me on such an occasion"--the bride gailyresponded. "I set my heart on making him drink wine with me on ourwedding-night, and I have succeeded."
"Are you sure he hasn't poured it slyly upon the floor?"
"O, yes! I saw him take every drop. And what is more; he smacked hislips, and said it was exquisitely flavoured."
"Here comes the servant again," George said, at this moment. "Come,James! let me fill your glass again. You must drink with meto-night. You've never given me that pleasure yet. Come!--As well behung for a sheep as a lamb." Thus importuned, Haley held up hisglass which George Manley filled to the brim.
"Health and happiness!" the young man said, bowing.
Haley bowed in return, placed the glass to his lips, and took itscontents at a draught.
"Bravely done! Why, it seems to go down quite naturally. You werenot always a total-abstinence man?"
"No, I was not."--While a slight shadow flitted over his face.
"Welcome back again, then, to a truly social, and convivial spirit!After this, don't let me ever see you refuse a generous glass."
"What! An empty wine-glass in the hand of young Mr. Incorrigible!Upon my word!" ejaculated old Mr. Manley, coming up at this moment.
"O, yes, pa! I've conquered him to-night! He couldn't refuse to takea glass of wine with me on this occasion!" the daughter said, ingreat glee.
"He must take one with me, too, then."
"You must excuse me, indeed, sir," Haley replied--rallying himself,and bracing up into firmness his broken and still waveringresolutions.
"Indeed, then, and I won't."
"O, no. Don't excuse him at all, pa! He drank with me, and then withbrother, and now to refuse to drink with you would be a downrightshame."
"He has taken a glass with George, too, has he? And now wants to beexcused when I ask him. Upon my word! Here, George, tell the servantto come over this way."
The servant came, of course, in a moment or two, with the wine.
"Fill up his glass, George," the father said.
Haley's glass was, of course, filled again.
"Now, my boy!--Here's a health to my children! May this night'shappiness be but as a drop to the ocean of delight in reserve forthem." Drinking.
"And here's to our father! May his children never love him less thanthey do now." Drinking in turn.
"Thank you, my boy!"
"And thank you in return, for your kind wishes."
"That wine didn't seem to taste unpleasantly, James?"
"O, no, sir. It is rich and generous."
"How long is it since you tasted wine?"
"About three years."
"Are you not fond of it?"
"O, yes. I like a good glass of wine."
"Then what in the world has made you act so singularly about it?"
"A mere whim of mine, I suppose you will call it. And perhaps itwas. I thought I was just as well without it."
"Nonsense! Don't let me ever again hear of this foolishness."
And then the old man mingled with the happy company.
"Come, James, you must drink with me, too," the mother said, alittle while afterward.
Haley did not seem unwilling, but turned off a glass of wine with anair of real pleasure.
"You must drink with me, too," went through the room. Every littlewhile some one, with whom the young man had on former occasionsrefused to drink, finding out that he had been driven from hiscold-water resolutions, insisted upon taking a glass with him. Suchbeing the case, it is not to be wondered at that a remark like thisshould be made before the passage of an hour.
"See! As I live, Haley's getting lively!"
"I think that 'rich and generous wine' is beginning to brighten youup a little," Mr. Manley said, about this time, slapping hisson-in-law familiarly upon the shoulder?
"I feel very happy, sir," was Haley's reply.
"That's right. This is a happy occasion."
"I never was so happy in my life! I hardly know what to do withmyself. Come! Won't you take some wine with me. I drank with you alittle while ago."
"Certainly! Certainly! My boy! Or, perhaps you would try a littlebrandy."
"No objection," said the young man. And then the two went to theside-board, and each took a stiff glass of brandy.
"That's capital! It makes me feel good!" ejaculated Haley, as he sethis empty glass down.
Cotillions were now formed, and the bride and groom took the floorin the first set. Clara felt very proud of her husband as she leanedupon his arm, waiting for the music to begin, and glanced aroundupon her maiden companions with a look of triumph. But she soon hadcause to abate her exultation, for when the music struck up, and thedancers commenced their intricate movements, she found that herhusband blundered so as to throw all into confusion. The reason ofthis instantly flashed upon her mind, for she knew him to be acorrect and graceful dancer. He was too much intoxicated to dance! Her woman's pride caused her to make the effort to guide himthrough the figures. But it was of no use. The second attempt failedsignally by his breaking the figures, and reeling with a loud,drunken laugh, through and through, and round and round theastonished group of dancers, thrown thus suddenly into confusion.
Poor Clara, overwhelmed with mortification, retired to a seat, whileher husband continued his antics, ending them finally with an Indianwhoop, such as may often be heard late at night in the streets, froma company of drunken revellers,--when he sought her out, and cameand took a seat by her side.
"Aint you happy to-night, Clara! Aint you, old girl!" he said, in aloud voice, striking her with his open hand upon the shoulder. "I'mso happy that I feel just ready to jump out of my skin! Whoop!--Nowsee how beautifully I can cut a pigeon's-wing."
And he sprang from his seat, and commenced describing the elegantfigure he had named, with industrious energy, much to the amusementof one portion of the company, but to the painful mortification ofanother. A circle was soon formed around him, to witness hisgraceful movements, which strongly reminded those present who hadwitnessed the performances, of a corn-field negro's Juba, or thedouble-shuffle.
"Come," old Mr. Manley said, interrupting the young man in hisevolutions, by laying his hand upon his arm.
"Come! I want you a moment."
"Hel-lel-lel-lo, o-o, there! What's wanting? ha!" he said, pausing,and then staggering forwards against Mr Manley. "Who are you, sir?"
"For shame, sir!" the old man replied in a stern voice. "Come withme, I wish to speak to you."
"Speak here, then, will you? I've no se-se-secrets. I'm open andabove board! Jim Haley's the boy that knows what he's about!Who-o-o-oop! Clear the track there!"
And starting away from the old man, he ran two or three paces, andthen sprang clear over the head of a young lady, frightening heralmost out of her wits.
"There! Who'll match me that? Jim Haley's the boy what's hard tobeat! Whoo-oo-oop, hurrah! But where's Clara? Where's my dear littlewifie? Ah! there--No, that isn't her, neither. Wh-wh-where is thelittle jade?"
The whole of this passed in a few moments, with all the drunkengestures required to give it the fullest effect.
Poor Clara, at first mortified, when she saw what a perfect madmanher husband had become, was so shocked that her feelings overcameher, and she was carried fainting from the room. O, how bitter washer momentary repentance of her blind folly, ere her bewilderedsenses forsook her.
As for Haley, he grew worse and worse, until the brandy which hecontinued to pour down, had completely stupified him, when he wascarried off to bed in a state of drunken insensibility; after which,the company retired in oppressive and embarrassed silence.
Sad and lonely was the bridal chamber that night, and the couch ofthe young bride was wet with bitter, but unavailing tears.
On the next morning, those who first entered the room where Haleyhad slept, found it empty. Towards the middle of the day, a letterwas left for Clara by an unknown hand. It ran thus:
"DEAR CLARA--For you are still dear to me, although you have robbedme of happiness for ever, and crushed your own hopes with mine. Foryears before I came to this place, I had been a slave tointoxication--a slave held in a fearful bondage. At last, I resolvedto break loose from my thraldom. One vigorous effort, and I wasfree. There yet remained to me a small remnant of a wrecked fortune.With this I abandoned my early home, and fixed my residence here,determined once more to be a man. Temptations beset me on everyhand; but while I touched not, tasted not, handled not, I knew thatI was safe. But alas for the hour when you became my tempter! O,that the remembrance of it could be blotted from my memory for ever!When, for your sake, I raised that fatal glass to my lips, and thesingle drop of wine that touched them thrilled wildly through everynerve, I felt that I was lost. Horrible were my sensations, but yourtempting voice lured me to sip the scarcely tasted poison; I did so,and my resolution was gone! All that occurred after that is onlydimly written on my memory. But I was a madman. That I can realize.When drunk, I have always acted the madman. And now we part forever! I am a proud man, and cannot remain in the scene of mydisgrace. My property I leave for you, and go I know not, and carenot, whither--perhaps to die, unlamented, and unknown, and sink intoa drunkard's grave. Farewell!"
This letter bore neither name nor date. But they were not needed.
Five years from that sorrowful morning Clara sat by a window in herfather's house, near the close of day, looking dreamily up into theserene and cloudless sky. Her face was pale, and had a look ofhopeless suffering. Five years!--It seemed as if twenty must havepassed over her head, each burdening her with a heavy weight ofaffliction. O, what a wreck did she present! Five years of such alife! Who can tell their history? She was alone; and sat with herhead upon her hand, and her eyes fixed, as if upon some object. But,evidently, no image touched the nerve of vision. Presently her lipsmoved, and a few mournful words were uttered aloud, almostinvoluntarily.
"O, that I knew where he was! O, that I could but find him, ifalive!"
A slight noise startled her, and she turned quickly. Was it avision? Or did her long-lost husband stand before her, the shadow ofwhat he had been?
"Clara! Dear Clara!"
In a moment she was clinging to him with a trembling, eager,convulsive grasp. Tenderly did he fold her in his arms, and presshis lips to hers fervently.
"Clara! Dear Clara!"
"My own dear husband!" was all she could utter, as she sank like ahelpless child on his bosom.
For four years from the night of his wedding, Haley had been acommon drunkard, with no power over himself. On the brink of thegrave, he was rescued, signed a pledge of total abstinence, and sethimself eagerly to work to elevate his condition. One year hadsufficed to efface many sad tokens of his degradation, but timecould not restore the freshness to his cheek, nor the light to hiseye. Then he returned and sought his bride, who still mourned himwith an inconsolable grief. A few months produced a happy change inboth. But they cannot look back. Over the past they throw aveil,--the future is theirs, and it is growing brighter andbrighter. May its clear sky never be darkened!
THE END.
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