g approvingly
on Flora.

"Do you really think the example good?" I asked eagerly.

"'Most certainly, my dear Miss DeWolf, my wife would have acted
precisely the same. She did not approve social drinking, but one in my
position acquires the habit almost from necessity. My associations are
mostly with a class that expect it of me. I do not care for it
myself, but I do not like to appear unsocial.'

"'Nor do I,' chimed in Miss Marsden, sipping her glass.

"'We tempt and are tempted on every hand,' said Mr. Marsden
thoughtfully. 'Society demands the social glass and we yield to its
demands, and why? Because we have not the moral courage to do
otherwise.'

"We have! I exclaimed, we have! you have, your sister has, the Captain
has. You have never tried. You have never fully realized whither it
tended--I have. Shall I tell you?

"At any ordinary time I would not have drawn the heart rending picture
of the consequences of social drinking which I was then inspired to
do. It was as if a frightful panorama of ruined fortunes, and ruined
families was passing before me and I described all I saw and when the
view became too painful, too revolting for words, I bowed my head and
wept.

"'For heavens sake, say no more,' cried out the Captain.

"Flora flung her arms around my neck, and mingled her tears with mine.
'What shall we do?' she asked plaintively.

"'We might draw up a total abstinence pledge and all put our names to
it,' said Sir. Marsden quite cheerfully.

"After some pleasent discussion, his suggestion obtained favor, and
was carried out without delay, and in half an hour's time we were all
pledged to total abstinence from intoxicating drinks. The matter was
duly explained to Flora, and she added her mark with an air of
consequence quite amusing.

"Nor was that all; the enthusiastic little missionary stated that she
knew of several wery nice sailors who would like to put their names on
the paper, for she had seen them drink something out of bottles. She
was accordingly permitted to present this pledge to her particular
friends, who, it transpired, included the whole crew.

"I was much affected by a little scene which I witnessed in
connection with her labors. A weather-beaten old sailor, whose only
fault was his uncontrollable appetite for rum, read the pledge
carefully, and, shaking his head quite hopelessly, handed it back. 'I
can't agree to that, little pet,' said he, 'I can't abstain, I'd give
the world i