son looked into the
mother's face, he plainly saw that she was filled with grief and
anxiety; and his heart smote him for he really loved and revered his
mother; but he resolved to appear as if he had observed nothing amiss,
and, taking his hat to leave, he said quite cheerfully, "well mother
what are your commands?"

"Edward I have a request to make of you," replied Mrs. Sherman with
some feeling in her tone.

"Speak, mother dear," said he, falling pleasantly into his seat.

"It is my request, Edward, that you do not provide wine, or any other
stimulant for our New Year's entertainment."

"What, not coffee, mother?" said Edward laughingly.

"You know very well what I mean," said Mrs. Sherman with a faint
smile.

"Of course it shall be as you wish," said he more seriously, "but
really, mother, I think you are too strict. I am afraid our friends
will have a mean opinion of our hospitality."

"They will, of course, understand that we are principled against the
use of intoxicating drinks.

"As a beverage," chimed in Edward with a touch of irony in his tone.

Mrs. Sherman looked hurt, and Edward repented again. "Mother," said
he, "forgive me, I did not intend to wound you. Let us drop a subject
upon which we cannot agree.

"But, Edward, I cannot bear that we should differ. I have always
endeavored to instil correct principles into the minds of my children,
and now, just as they are on the threshold of what might be a useful
life, I find the tares which an enemy had sown beginning to spring up.

"But mother, you know I do not approve of indulging to excess any more
than you do. It is only the total abstinence principles to which I
object, and even Louise says she can see no harm in an occasional
social glass."

"Does Miss DeWolf say the same," said Mrs. Sherman fixing her eyes on
Edward.

"I do not know, I am sure," replied Edward nervously twirling his hat,
"I have never had any conversation with her on the subject."

"Miss DeWolf is orthodox, I am prepared to testify," exclaimed Louise,
tripping into the room, and, before any question could be put as to
the cause of her sudden return, she gratuitously gave the information.

"A man had a fit or something," she said, "and I must forsooth, lose
my ride, for the doctor's motto is business before pleasure; a very
good motto when I am not concerned, but if the man could only have
been taken an hour or two later, it would have been a great
accommodation. Howe