Sowing and Reaping - A Temperance Story | Page 8

subject
of temperance. I think you must have written these lines that I have
picked up somewhere; let me see what they are,----
"Tell me not that I hate the bowl, Hate is a feeble word."
"No Jeanette, I did not write them, but I have felt all the writer has so
nervously expressed. In my own sorrow-darkened home, and over my
poor father's grave, I learned to hate liquor in any form with all the
intensity of my nature."
"Well, it was a good thing you were not at Mrs. Glossop's last night, for
some of our heads were rather dizzy, and I know that Mr. Romaine was
out of gear. Now Belle! don't look so shocked and pained; I am sorry I
told you."
"Yes, I am very sorry. I had great hopes that Mr. Romaine had entirely
given up drinking, and I was greatly pained when I saw him take a
glass of wine at your solicitation. Jeanette I think Mr. Romaine feels a
newly awakened interest in you, and I know that you possess great
influence over him. I saw it that night when he hesitated, when you first
asked him to drink, and I was so sorry to see that influence. Oh Jeanette
instead of being his temptress, try and be the angel that keeps his steps.

If Mr. Romaine ever becomes a drunkard and goes down to a
drunkard's grave, I cannot help feeling that a large measure of the guilt
will cling to your shirts."
"Oh Belle, do stop, or you will give me the horrors. Pa takes wine
every day at his dinner and I don't see that he is any worse off for it. If
Charles Romaine can't govern himself, I can't see how I am to blame
for it."
"I think you are to blame for this Jeanette: (and pardon me if I speak
plainly). When Charles Romaine was trying to abstain, you tempted
him to break his resolution, and he drank to please you. I wouldn't have
done so for my right hand."
"They say old coals are easily kindled, and I shall be somewhat chary
about receiving attention from him, if you feel so deeply upon the
subject."
"Jeanette you entirely misapprehend me. Because I have ceased to
regard Mr. Romaine as a lover, does not hinder me from feeling for him
as a friend. And because I am his friend and yours also, I take the
liberty to remonstrate against your offering him wine at your
entertainments."
"Well Belle, I can't see the harm in it, I don't believe there was another
soul who refused except you and Mr. Freeman, and you are so
straightlaced, and he is rather green, just fresh from the country, it
won't take him long to get citified."
"Citified or countrified, I couldn't help admiring his strength of
principle which stood firm in the midst of temptation and would not
yield to the blandishments of the hour. And so you will not go out with
me this morning?"
"Oh! No Belle, I am too tired. Won't you excuse me?"
"Certainly, but I must go. Good morning."

"What a strange creature my cousin Belle is," said Jeanette, to herself
as Miss Gordon left the room. "She will never be like any one else. I
don't think she will ever get over my offering Mr. Romaine that glass of
wine, I wish she hadn't seen it, but I'll try and forget her and go to
sleep."
But Jeanette was not destined to have the whole morning for an
unbroken sleep. Soon after Bell's departure the bell rang and Charles
Romaine was announced, and weary as Jeanette was, she was too much
interested in his society to refuse him; and arraying herself in a very
tasteful and becoming manner, she went down to receive him in the
parlor.

Chapter VII
Very pleasant was the reception Jeanette Roland gave Mr. Romaine.
There was no reproof upon her lips nor implied censure in her manner.
True he had been disguised by liquor or to use a softer phrase, had
taken too much wine. But others had done the same and treated it as a
merry escapade, and why should she be so particular? Belle Gordon
would have acted very differently but then she was not Belle, and in
this instance she did not wish to imitate her. Belle was so odd, and had
become very unpopular, and besides she wished to be very very
pleasant to Mr. Romaine. He was handsome, agreeable and wealthy,
and she found it more congenial to her taste to clasp hands with him
and float down stream together, than help him breast the current of his
wrong tendencies, and stand firmly on the rock of principle.
"You are looking very sweet, but rather