Page:The Homes of the New World- Vol. II.djvu/126

Rh distress. One morning, when Hawkins, ill both in body and mind, after the carouse of the foregoing day, awoke in his bed, he desired Hannah, as usual, to go out and get him some brandy. But the girl would not go. She besought him earnestly; “Dear father,” she said, “not to-day—not to-day, dear father!” and she wept bitterly. The father in extreme anger bade her leave the room.

He got up, and with staggering steps crawled down to the usual place. Here, in the meantime, an extraordinary scene had occurred, one which is difficult to explain excepting by a mysterious and higher intervention.

The drunken companions were already there with their filled glasses in their hands, when one of them said, “It is very foolish of us though, to sit here and ruin ourselves merely for the good of !” meaning the master of the public-house. The others agreed.

Some one of them said, “Suppose that from this day forth we were not to drink another drop!”

One word led to another. The men hastily made an agreement and drew up a paper, in which they bound themselves, by oath, to a total abstinence from all intoxicating liquors.

When Hawkins therefore entered the public-house, he was met by his companions with the temperance pledge in their hands, and by the cry from all, “Sign it! sign it!”

Astonished, overpowered, almost beside himself, he added his name to that of the others. Without having asked for a drop of brandy he now hastened home, as if from a new sort of carouse. He found his wife and his daughter together. He threw himself upon a chair, and could only ejaculate,

“It is done!”

His paleness and his bewildered aspect terrified them; they asked him what he had done.

“I have signed the pledge!” exclaimed he at length.