rvice. "The reward of virtue is perpetual drunkenness!"
exclaims the half mythic Musaeus; "_Crucem hanc inebriari_," the Church
has responded. It has a flavor as of Paradise when a woman brims over
with some fine excitement,--and that among godless, unrepentant men.

"The storm has not prevented the accomplishment of our purpose," said
Miss Hurribattle, pleasantly; "we have this day made our protest against
the most dangerous form of evil."

"One of the most obvious forms, certainly," I replied; "we might not
quite agree about its being the most dangerous."

"I must demand all those republican virtues which should be the fruit of
our New-England liberty,--I must be strictly consistent."

I jestingly pleaded the familiar proverb about fools and dead men, and
observed that there was great obscurity surrounding the real sources of
evil in our social life.

"I once thought as you do," said the lady; "but, from my constant
association with philosophical minds like those of Mrs. Romulus and Mr.
Stellato, much has been made clear to me. They have devoted their lives
to the study of modern civilization, and are skilful in the nice
adaptation of remedies to all public disorders."

"How long have you known these two persons?" I asked.

"They came to Foxden about a month ago. I had then organized the
Temperance movement among the school-children, and devised a scheme for
furnishing employment to drunkards who would make an effort to reform.
But these more worthy guides of humanity soon reduced matters to first
principles. They showed that all Moderate Drinkers and the Church which
sustains them must be exposed and denounced. They have done a great
work, as you see. Only a few people in Foxden have dared to stand
against them. Deacon Greenlaw, one of the most obstinate cases, has just
yielded to their persevering treatment."

The rain at length stopped.

Many persons who had appeared in the procession straggled in, looking
rather sheepish. The singing, indeed, had failed; but the supper was in
prospect.

Stellato was at high-pressure, and ready to lead his adventurous
Gladiators into the very camp of the enemy. Mrs. Romulus, wholly above
the prejudices of the toilet, would stay and bear him company.

Miss Hurribattle, not having cast out that "clothes-devil" against which
the old theologians used to warn her sex, wished to return to her
boarding-house. It being by this time dark, or nearly so, I offered to
see her home