Intolerant Teetotallers.

I f

can bear the ills, and crosses of life with tolerable composure, and to speak of many of those who indulge too freely, as if they were the most depraved of men, as is sometimes the fashion, I think to be folly; as many are fit objects for the deepest compassion. Thus, I can call to mind several teetotallers who are worthy and estimable men, yet who are destitute of any toleration, who in the course of their practice of prudence, and attention to business during a long course of years, have amassed considerable sums of money, to which their cool heads have mainly contributed, who make not the least allowance for their impulsive brethren, who are placed by the accidents of fortune in more trying circumstances.

Several of these are fond too of society, and "given to hospitality" by which they are cheered and amused at comparatively small cost to themselves; for these entertainments do not cost much money, when no wines or liquors of any sort are placed upon the table, and in some instances it has been highly amusing to me, to see upon these moderately festive occasions the uneasiness of a stray toper who has been barred from his glass, by the rule of the house, in this somewhat ungenial society, but who had accepted the invitation with his eyes open, and knowing what to expect.

One old friend of mine that I can call to mind, with whom I was on terms of close intimacy some years ago, had a younger brother named Samuel, in a much poorer worldly position than himself, who was very much addicted to free living, who could scarcely get through the good dinner that was set before him without his accustomed glass or

12 "Hard water, soft water, hot water, and cold water."

two of ale with it, and to such men, enforced abstinence is very unwelcome. The little passages betwixt this pair of

worthies, have often highly diverted me.

"Come Sam," the elder brother would say, putting on an air of exuberant hospitality and welcome, and cheerfully rubbing his hands in pretended excess of cordiality"Come Sam! What'll you take to drink to-day. There's hard water, soft water, hot water, and cold water. Take your choice, my boy, this is Liberty Hall you know, but let me recommend the cold pump water. There's a splendid tap just now-fresh on-" and he would clap his hands till the room resounded again, and any one could see with half an eye, that he was serious in his offer, so far as it went, and that his brother was welcome to a hogshead of the sparkling crystal liquor (as brewers call it), if he liked.

Poor Sam would grin a sickly smile and hardly relish this chaff, and say something about having a hot cinder in it, to give the water a flavour; but he always used to take himself off very early, and was seldom seen by tea time, for "the cup which cheers," &c., had no charms for him, who used to sing an old drinking song, in which something occurs about "when clattering comes the tea-urn in, and all our joys are done," though of the two men, I scruple not to say, that Sam would have helped a distressed friend with greater cordiality and liberality, than his more fortunate and wealthy brother, who was fond of his money.

I must therefore remark here, that having no fellow feeling with those who drink for drinking's sake, I feel the deepest sympathy, and commiseration, for those who

Objects of Sympathy.

13

feel that, constitutionally, they stand in need of stimulants upon particular occasions, when the troubles and trials of life press heavily upon them; and as of these I have had my full share, and have laboured under every species of temptation, which I have sometimes been able, and sometimes unable to resist. Some of the circumstances attending these, I will briefly narrate, and the steps I resorted to, to overcome habits, which, at one period, threatened the welfare of both body and soul.

14

Drunkenness in the Streets on Sunday Mornings.

CHAPTER II.

LEGISLATIVE INTERFERENCE IN THE SALE OF INTOXICATING DRINKS. SABBATH REST. TAKING REFRESHMENS UPON LONG COUNTRY WALKS. SHENSTONE'S LINES IN AN INN WINDOW.

WHEN

HEN I was a lad, and first came to London with my parents, they resided in the suburbs, and at times, when I used to walk home early upon a Sunday morning, so as to have a long day with them, from the place of of business in which I had been placed, I have seen both men and women laying helplessly drunk upon the pavement, who had obtained their liquor at publichouses which had been kept open nearly all night, at which they had been drinking; and the sight of a drunken woman with dishevelled hair and clothing, and total want of decency, was very shocking to the youth of that day, circumstanced like myself, who could not help being attracted to such a sight by a sort of repellant curiosity hard to describe. For, to most of them, however men might have chosen to have brutalized themselves, there was something inexpressibly revolting to see one of the same sex as their mothers in such a debased condition! The Legislature, however, shortly after interfered, and publichouses were not allowed to be kept open after Twelve

Legislative Interference in the Sale of Intoxicating Drinks. 15 o'clock on Saturday nights. This was a highly necessary step to prevent the desecration of the early Sabbath, but of late, the question of much more stringent regulations for the sale of drink has been debated.

Legislative Interference in the Sale of Intoxicating Drinks.The aspect of Legislative Interference with the liberty of selling intoxicating liquors demands attention and consideration; whether it may be under the form of Permissive Bills or otherwise; and it is very questionable whether undue compulsory deprivation would effect the object that it is sometimes credited with being able to attain; as there would be no preventing those persons desirous of drinking, from laying in a stock to be consumed during the hours of prohibition. Of necessity it would be the means of stopping a good deal of casual drinking, but whether it would do what Sir Wilfrid Lawson, and others of a similar way of thinking to himself, is extremely questionable. It is said that in Glasgow and other Scotch towns, where the strict observance of the Sabbath is carried to great excess, an enormous amount of quiet drinking is steadily carried on upon Sundays, many persons making a regular habit of taking more whiskey upon that day than any other.

A proper check upon the sale of liquors, is, indeed, strictly indispensable on the score of morality and public decency, so that such hours be fair and reasonable. But, to Englishmen, paternal legislation, that oversteps proper bounds, is intensely disagreeable.

I can call to mind an instance in my own experience in connection with what may be termed "Experimental Leg