Page:Tale of the Rebellion of 1745, or, The broken heart (1).pdf/14

                  14

THE ADVENTURES

OF

TWO TEE-TOTALLERS.

A shout time ago, a couple in town, who indulged too freely in the use of spirits, became sensible of the miseries which their favourite beverage en- tailed on them. One night when the husband came home drunk, his wife said to him, “Johnny, ye maun gi’e o’er this drinking, or we'll be ruined a’ thegither, ye mann join the tee-totallers." “Will ye join wi’ me Jenny?” “Deed will I.” “Come awa’ then, and well strike the airn while it’s hot.” Off they went and joined the tee-totallers, and their affairs began to mend. But the new-year came, and Jenny proposed that they should have a wee drap in the house—no for themsel’s, but for “ony frien’ that might drap in.” “Are ye gaun to break through, Jenny?” “Only for a wee.” “Aweel lass, I'se join ye.” Off they went to- gether, with a child in the wife’s arms, to lay in their new-years stock. As a little bit of reward at having kept their vows so well, and sticking to their resolution, they partook of a few gills to- gether; and by the time they arose to go home, the pavement was rather narrow for them. Besides the wee drappie for the use of chance callers, one carried two stones of meal, the other the child, and