, hesitatingly.

"Pure domestic wine, some of Col. Wilson's best, ho presented it to me
just before I left home, and gave me his word it was unadulterated,"
said Edward, with great assurance.

"Col. Wilson's wines are justly popular," said Mrs. Hanford, sipping
the beverage; but it is whispered that the Colonel uses alcohol in
their preparation."

"O, very likely," said Edward carelessly. "I have no doubt of it, but
this he assured me was unadulterated. Have some, Mr. Hanford?"

"I don't care if I do. It is really very fine," he said, returning the
cup, "quite stimulating, but I prefer a little brandy to any other
stimulant; it takes right hold."

"You surely don't drink brandy!" exclamed the young wife, anxiously.

"Only a little, occasionally, when I need it to keep the cold out. O
never fear, my dear," he continued observing the look of concern upon
his wife's countenance. "I'm a good temperance man, but not a
teetotaler; that is drawing the reins rather too tight."

Meantime, Edward had offered the driver a drink, but the man shook his
head; "No, thank you," said he, "I'd rather not take any."

"Not take any!" said Edward, "why, sir, it will do you good."

"I'm not sick," said the other.

"But you are cold," said Edward, mistaking his modest demeanor for
bashfulness.

But the earnest and decided shake of the head by which he refused the
second invitation, signified more than words that he was an adherent
of the total abstinence principles.

"What a simpleton," said Edward to himself, as the individual by his
side shiveringly gathered up the reins and drove on.

But the individual's ruminations were of quite a different character,
and something after this wise: "Shiver away, old man, it is better to
shiver than to drink." Be it known that for many years this grey
headed man had without measure, poured down the alcoholic fire. When
at length overcome by it, a good Samaritan had discovered him lying
sick by the wayside, and had humanely assisted him to rise, and had
set him upon the beast commonly known as "Total Abstinence," upon
which he had ridden with great comfort and safety up to the time of
our story. Moreover being satisfied that the animal was of good parts
and _sure-footed_, he was not at all inclined to exchange the faithful
old creature for any of the best bloods belonging to the domestic wine
family. He had not forgotten that apparently harmless little
hobby-horse whose _cognomen_ was Lager