e. In our
early married life even this was not our custom, for several reasons,
two of which I will name: We were members of the old temperance
society, which, however, did not forbid the moderate use of wine; but
to be consistent with the spirit of our pledge, we used it only when
some friend dined with us, whom we supposed was so accustomed to it,
that he could not dine with comfort or pleasure without it. We did at
one time introduce claret, as an every-day drink at dinner. We had
been South for the first time, where the use of this mild wine is a
universal practice, especially in New Orleans and Mobile. My husband
and sister became quite fond of it, and so did our little Lizzie, who
was then only five years old. Her father, consequently, purchased a
cask for home use, had it bottled and sent to the house. But we found
that our "cold water" brothers became quite excited after drinking it,
one saying--"Sister, I felt like walking over the tops of houses,
yesterday, after dinner." Another complained of the wine flying up
into his face, making it so red, and all three appearing a little more
merry than usual. Their good brother-in-law, never having known what a
selfish feeling was, thought this may be the first step towards giving
these boys a taste for drink, and determined at once to forego personal
gratification in the use of a beverage which he really enjoyed, and
felt all the better for. Next day, by order, the wine was not brought,
as usual, to the table. No remark was made about it, until one of "the
boys" asked the servant to hand it. My husband then in his ordinary
modest cheerful way, explained the reason why the wine was not there.
From which time we relapsed into our previous habit of offering a glass
of sherry or madeira, only when politeness suggested it. But by the
time our daughter was grown up, these brother-sons of his were men,
with their habits formed, and capable of judging for themselves, and he
no longer felt it incumbent upon him to be over strict.

"Let every one be fully persuaded in his own mind." "To his own
Master he standeth or falleth." The religion of Jesus Christ is
designed for all nations and people, whatever may be their peculiar
views, tastes, or vices, and while it cannot exist in a corrupt heart
--and when that has been changed, savingly touched by the Holy Spirit,
the true light will shine out of it--yet we should all be careful not
to measure other Christians in our