Show I 1 I 1 I 1 ON HE BRINK 0 I 1 A temperance SKETCH cir 01 I 1 I 1 I 1 have known arthur gravely well and intimately A part of hie his story came to my knowledge through my own observation and a pan part he told me himself arthur came of an old well defined and respectable stock with just aist enough of 0 aristocratic pride inherited from bis his projectors to give him refinement and self reliance at an early age he be was left an orphan and received most of hie his education under the care of an ancle uncle when he was one and twenty he was admitted to the employ of a banker named der lain and ery very poon foon took a position of trust and responsibility miscibility in the house A year later he took for his vile V ife fann fanny summerton Summer loii one ozie of the fairest an and y sweet et of barthly areas urea tires lie ile had bad loved her lotif long and truly and her love in return ha had been single and devoted thus was as life opening for arthur gravely with bright and happy promise romise lie ile bad friends whichever way he turned his business prospects were of the very best beet and bis his home was an earthly paradise one enemy and one enemy alone at tills this time stood in arthurs path his wife did not see it then she I 1 loved him so fondly and so trustingly 1 that she could not bee see a fault 4 k A few of arthurs friends feared d danger anger and one of them mo more re bold than thin the ret rest re t spoke to him warn I 1 egly but kindly but he turned wa away ray f from oln the warning with a sneer of dension derision the months and the years ears went on 1 from 22 to 28 bix six years 5 ears of married life six eix years il of blessing so far as the outer oute r things of life can cie blessing inthe ID the bank i arthur ha bad assumed a place very ery ii near to the head and bis his salary was I 1 munificent from early youth arthur gravely had bad found the wine cup among the symbols of lifes social phase he bad kept wine wine in his own bouse house be I 1 had bad need used it upon bis his sideboard side board and upon his table and he be had partaken partaker par taken freely abinad in the earlier years it was as wine wine and only wine of the best and direst later stronger liquors were required to keep up the tone at the age of eight ard and twenty there had come an undue flush upon arthurs 1 cheek and there were blotches blotcher blot ches in the eye which ought not to have I 1 I 1 been there he lie now took brandy before bei I 1 breakfast and through the day be was forced to supply fuel to feed V a fire which else might have c consumed on all bodily comfort As yet 1 I 1 be he had never been helplessly intoxicated he ile was confident in in his own I 1 strength it alas I 1 forthe for alie man thus failing I 1 he ile knows not that his po powers era of under I 1 stat ding are dying out as the body I 1 fades and per peri rhee febes I 1 at length mr called arthur into his private closet and told 41 him that be he was going to suspend business I 1 1 I I 1 have I 1 money 1 n r enough said mr Van derlam and n ei I 1 know th that a t my I 1 close application to basins s is I 1 s wear ini ine upon me I 1 am aril growing in years and need rest I 1 think of going to 1 europe and of closing up your business yes I 1 but sir air there is no need of that if it you on will trust trust the bank under the guidance of some capable and responsible ible agent with your name at its head it go prosperously op on and you could go away upon your t trip rip I 1 at w will 11 1 11 A cloud came upon the bankers face and be he shook bis his head 41 it it is too late he said at some time I 1 will tell you more shortly after this in pr proceed oce as of t closing up his bu burkness buni nesa mr la in sent arthur to a distant city to make some important settlements arrived at b bis is destination the tho young man called upon the corret correspondents of the he bank ard having made preliminary arrangements be found himself with a few day days up dpn n his hands which be might employ in pleasure on the very evening of his arrival he be had fallen in in with john hatton and william roberts two friends and classmates class mates of earlier ealier years he lie was startled when he lie saw them they were evidently going down bill m were ere 0 drinking to excess yet they were gentlemen e it lemen find and arthur joined them fleppe he spent nt a first and a second night in in their company compan 7 on this second night for the first time in in bis his life arthur gravely drank to a state of helpless stupefaction he lie awoke on the next day feeling fling sad and humiliated when he met bis his companions in a private parlor connected with their sleeping apartments a hot bawl of brandy between them A spirit iri t of tr rue u e friendliness rame came upon alm him when be saw the marks of the destroyer so deeply fixed upon tle n ions of his boyhood I 1 cotna boys 11 said he be this wont do yon you are going down they regarded win curiously and asked him what hat h be e meant I 1 he ile told them what he be meant they were in a dangerous way you von forget old boy sud slid hatton hatto I 1 to L that you are in the came same bot boat if we took passage before you it is no lees so eure sure thit that our route now is is the fame dont preach arthur ti try y a wt b t of hot brandy 0 there are moments in a life time great crises crises i when lien the events of the I 1 past flash before the mind as upon a magic mirror when a man I 1 i in 12 a brief instant recalls every sali nt J point of bis his earthly carter carcer such a 1 moment was the present to arthur I 1 gravely i 1 let it alarie be he eaid paid solemnly 1 1 I tell you jack and you will that y you ou are going down you cant last much longer at this rate well retorted roberta roberts with an attempt to laugh it appears to me that what is is sauce for the goose is cauce fauce for the gander you better try to let it alone your yourself relf it I 1 try irwill it will you tryst try it he be asked wit M it you try it demanded hutton hatton 1 I will if 3 ou on will join me DOB DONE I 1 and they did it they joined hands and promised promie ed one another that they would be true and steadfast A new surprise was in store for arthur gravely he ile found upon cutting 0 off IT hie his spirituous liquors that bis his body weakened and that hie his hands shook as though with palsy ho ile applied to a physician for help fortunately he applied to a man of sense and understanding can you rive give me something Bom ething to r steady my nerves and restore my appetite arthur asked after be he had frankly stated his case this show shows s you i on my dear al sir said the physician into what a dangerous anar state you had fallen I 1 can give you something iome thing to steady your nerves but it would not help you in the end if you will be brave and true you will come out all right in a very few days arthur sad sa d he should not go bick back he ile wanted no stimulant no more of that toe I 1 oe trial tr iala was a severe one and it may have been a blessed thing for arthur gravely that it wag was so ile felt more heroism in in the conquest and be he also saw more clearly how deeply the evil habit babit h bad ad become fixed upon him on the morning of the f fourth 0 arth day of his trial he awoke w with ith an appetite for food and waa vias able to eat a hearty bre keast lib his was a new man from this time forth ane physicians had given him certain hygienic directions which he followed implicitly and thus be held hold fast upon bis his health as it came back to him and on this fourth oay la arthur saw hatton and roberts they had kept the faith and had bad been unexpectedly p 08 p e red an excellent opening in ou business siness bad been presented and ac cepter on the fifth day the business which had brought gravely from home was c concluded on c eluded and he set out on his return and the last struggle had passed hie ilia nerves had bad become 5 steady teady his appetite had bad started up as it if by magic magie his cheek had grown fair and the white of bis big eye was growing clear and pearly again he ile reached his own city in in he be morning and went first to the bank and a return of bis business air had glanced quickly and eagerly into his face when he lie first entered and a wonder wonderous 0 us change lame came up upon on the ban bankers kerls manner as the bu business biness proceeded something outside the business in in hand was evi evidently on ou hie big mind arthur did not dot reach his home until time for dinner but he lie had rent sent a wy from the bink bank with vord ord that he should be there fanny ill darling ia I 1 0 im so glad to see you back ill something made the wife even happier than she had thought as she rested within her hu eubands bands embrace but in the sudden joy ehe she could not sae it she could only feel a great warmth like the glow of heaven ai arthurs kiss came sweet an beet and pure to her berlis lips As they ei entered I 1 the dinine room arthur saw the decanter of wine near jus plate I 1 te T lake ate it away fanny he lie eaid said smiling jf if you yon want it hereafter for a medicine keep it for myself I 1 shall not want it not ot want it Art arthur bur 1 I have done with it forever he lie spoke solemnly with a danli n eps that was strong and reliant and the wite wi e saw whence had come the great warmth to her heart beart saw I 1 it t in the pure cheek and in the clear eye as ebe had caught it in the sweet breath arthur my husband she whir as though hardly daring to trust her own senses is is it true do you mean forever while I 1 love darline darling god giving giving me strength and rea on 11 fanny was upon the opposite side of the table slie she tried to speak but her voice failed her she turned white then she pressed her band hand for an instant upon her heart and then as the crimson flood onie once mere bounded on ite its course she covered her tier face and sank down weeping like a child arthur was by her bide side in a moment fanny I 1 my wife I 1 what is is it she looked up and cau caught bis his startled gaze through her tears with a quick movement ehe she threw her arme arms arund his neck and pillowed billowed pill owed her head upon his bosom 0 0 arthur I 1 bless you I 1 besa bless you yot 1 I 1 I 1 could die for joy il if I 1 did not feel fee 1 that I 1 could find more joy in living now for you ill I 1 here was a new revelation arthur gravely now learned how his sweet wife nife bad had suffered without daring to complain how the worm bad gnawed at her heart beart saw it all the more clearly lucause he lie baw in this thin present time ber her surpassing eing joy and ecstasy stasy et not ot many words were spoken this wag as mt the tune time for such a heart moving them thern and as they eat the meal aithur arthur told of hia his trip to the distant city after dinner arthur went out to carry a budget to a neighbor and when left alone fanny bat sat down dow n and crded again for joy and eo sir found her he ile bad stopped in passing to do an errand mrs gravelot gravel jt what has happened what ie Is wrong wrong ehe she repeated lo 10 looking 0 king up rip 0 sir it ie is for joy I 1 ain am crying in gad and then she told him the source of the new newfound found happiness that bad opened n ed to her mr r listened stoned li and after a deal of thought he slowly eaid said w m ith his hand upon his dannys fair head dear child you may rejoice rejoice without fear if arthor haa has pledged his honor to the tire new life be sure he will keep the faith ill 1 most alost of the afternoon arthur abent at the bank and as be he sat at a t the table in tile private office waiting for the banker a feeling of sadness and regret came upon him it would be hard to leave the old place and it might be along long time before he could find another eo so pleasant plea ant nt it was toward evening when mr came in looking flashed and self satisfied 1 I have kept you waiting arthur but I 1 have been busy I 1 have a most mos t important change in my pro gramme ah ali and you are not going away yea yes I 1 shall go to europe but I 1 shall not give up the banking burille bu pinos ls I 1 have found a new man one safe reliable and competent who I 1 think will take my business while I 1 am lib absent sent mr cried the youna young man frankly I 1 am glad of this for I 1 know I 1 shall be able to persuade you to let me keep my place in your employ the banker chook his head arthur trembled and started to speak tut tnt not your present place arthur know that you are my new man if you will take charge of my business I 1 shall not let it go from me and I 1 shall leave it in your hands knowing that both it and und you will wil I 1 cioper pi oper what say you mr I 1 W ihl my mv boy I 1 have seen your wife I 1 found her lier crying g for f or joy and whence she sh told me whence vy her joy came I 1 knew there was joy for me alro alo to the new man I 1 gave my entire confidence and in his hands I 1 fear not to my name and my honor it ai as arthar gravelis Grav Gra clys turn torn now to weep and he lie could no mere help belp it thau than he could have helped the great flood of peace and blessedness that flowed in upon his heart my dear deir de ir boy sad the banker banker afterward after warde I 1 1 did not speak to you in in the other limes times as perhaps I 1 ought I 1 knew know how aou treated others who did speak and I 1 fo I 1 had intended to fp ak however bafo before rei I 1 went away and if possible to get you a good place lace but it is all done now god cas dices and keep you and now looking back arthur gravely lees tees how near upun upon the fearful b ink he stood from hie position of wealth and honor and love be he can see the dark pit from which he lie escaped and he lie tees hundreds upon hundreds pinking in into to it yearly lie helps the falling failing cavon fat tion in the 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