do for me."

So Mrs. Stewart commenced the daily use of alcoholic stimulants, and
finding their effects to be beneficial to body and mind, and knowing
little or nothing of the subtle danger that lurked in the poisoned cup,
each domestic emergency that arose was ere long met in the fictitious
strength afforded by the ready stimulant.

Years passed away, and the children, whose ceaseless demands upon their
mother's patience and love had well-nigh exhausted her strength, grew
into girlhood and boyhood.

One morning the family was seated at the breakfast table when the
servant brought in a letter enclosing a bill with the familiar signature
of a well-known firm of brewers. The husband's brows knitted as he
glanced down the items.

"It seems to me, Eliza, that we use too much ale and wine for a private
family. Why, we consume more and more, and I only take the same quantity
that I did years ago. It's more than I can stand!" he said, looking
across at his wife, who was listlessly sitting at the head of the table
with her coffee untasted before her. She answered sharply:

"I can't help it, John; I shouldn't take it if I didn't need it, and you
might know that nothing else has kept me alive for many a year."

"I don't complain of stimulant in moderation, my dear; but I cannot
believe that an extensive use of alcohol can benefit a delicate
constitution," replied Mr. Stewart. His wife was not inclined to let the
matter drop.

"You seem to forget that the children take their glass of ale too, and
that makes some difference in the amount we use."

"Well, I object to strong, healthy boys and girls touching stimulants;
it is expensive and quite unneedful."

"But, papa, we like it so much; you mustn't stop our supplies," cried
several youthful voices.

"I must, and I will, my dears; you have not your mother's plea of
ill-health to urge, and from this time I shall not expect you to take
alcohol as a daily beverage. I have no objection to lemonade or some
other non-intoxicant taking its place, for that will be much less
expensive, and besides, I have lately come to the conclusion that young
people, at least, are likely to be harmed by the stimulus of ale or
wine."

"You are very absurd, John. What harm could come to our boys and girls
by taking half a glass of ale at dinner and sometimes at supper?"
testily asked Mrs. Stewart.

"Why, Eliza, you know that a taste formed in childhood is held with
greater tenacity than any