"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 other, and this taste for stimulant, which I am sorry to see the children possess, may not always permit them to remain satisfied with a glass or so daily; for, I was reading not long ago, that the tendency of alcohol is to create a morbid craving which may become that insatiable thirst for drink which has ruined thousands of men and women who were once children as promising as those who sit round our table. I wish I had been as wise years ago; they should never have known the taste of it." So saying, Mr. Stewart left the table. A chorus of voices was raised as the door closed. "It's too bad!" "A great shame!" "Lemonade, indeed!" and other exclamations were uttered expressing disapproval of the father's action. Mrs. Stewart had not been careful of late years to uphold her husband's authority in the household, and the unfilial remarks passed without rebuke, she merely adding: "You'll have to mind what your father says, you know, or we shall all get into trouble." A few hours after, when the elder children were at school, the youngest, a bright boy of seven, came to her side and said: "Shall I get your wine, mamma?" "You are mamma's dear boy to remember her lunch time. Yes, bring it out, though it is quite early."