"I would make it an insuperable objection," the elder of the two
said, in a decided tone.
"But surely there can be no harm in his drinking a glass of wine or
brandy now and then. Where is the moral wrong?"
"Do you wish to be a drunkard's wife?"
"No, I would rather be dead."
"Then beware how you become the wife of any man who indulges in even
moderate drinking. No man can do so without being in danger. The
vilest drunkard that goes staggering past your door, will tell you
that once he dreamed not of the danger that lurked in the cup; that,
before he suspected evil, a desire too strong for his weak
resistance was formed."
"I don't believe, aunt, that there is the slightest danger in the
world of Edward Lee. He become a drunkard! How can you dream of such
a thing, aunt?"
"I have seen much more of the world than you have, Alice. And I have
seen too many as high-minded and as excellent in character as Edward
Lee, who have fallen. And I have seen the bright promise of too many
girls utterly extinguished, not to tremble for you. I tell you,
Alice, that of all the causes of misery that exist in the married
life, intemperance is the most fruitful.
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