My Mother's Gold Ring

14 MY MOTHER’S tions. “Whither are you all going?” said the holy man. My husband, who had always appeared extremely humble, in presence of the minister, and replied to all his inquiries, in a subdued tone of voice, answered, with unusual firmness, “ To jail, reverend sir.” “ To jail!” said he, “ ah, I see how it is ; you have wasted your substance in riotous living, and are going to pay for your improvidence and folly. You have had the advantage of my precept and example, and you have turned a deaf ear to the one, and neglected the other.” “Reverend sir,” my husband replied, galled by this reproof, which appeared to him, at that particular moment, an unnecessary aggravation of his misery, “ reverend sir, your precept and your example have been my ruin ; I have followed them both. You, who had no experience of the temptations, to which your weaker brethren are liable, who are already addicted to the temperate and daily use of ardent spirits, advised me never to sign a pledge. I have followed your advice to the letter You ad­

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