"It is my request, Edward, that you do not provide wine, or any other stimulant for our New Year's entertainment." "What, not coffee, mother?" said Edward laughingly. "You know very well what I mean," said Mrs. Sherman with a faint smile. "Of course it shall be as you wish," said he more seriously, "but really, mother, I think you are too strict. I am afraid our friends will have a mean opinion of our hospitality." "They will, of course, understand that we are principled against the use of intoxicating drinks. "As a beverage," chimed in Edward with a touch of irony in his tone. Mrs. Sherman looked hurt, and Edward repented again. "Mother," said he, "forgive me, I did not intend to wound you. Let us drop a subject upon which we cannot agree. "But, Edward, I cannot bear that we should differ. I have always endeavored to instil correct principles into the minds of my children, and now, just as they are on the threshold of what might be a useful life, I find the tares which an enemy had sown beginning to spring up. "But mother, you know I do not approve of indulging to excess any more than you do. It is only the total abstinence principles to which I object, and even Louise says she can see no harm in an occasional social glass." "Does Miss DeWolf say the same," said Mrs. Sherman fixing her eyes on Edward. "I do not know, I am sure," replied Edward nervously twirling his hat, "I have never had any conversation with her on the subject." "Miss DeWolf is orthodox, I am prepared to testify," exclaimed Louise, tripping into the room, and, before any question could be put as to the cause of her sudden return, she gratuitously gave the information. "A man had a fit or something," she said, "and I must forsooth, lose my ride, for the doctor's motto is business before pleasure; a very good motto when I am not concerned, but if the man could only have been taken an hour or two later, it would have been a great accommodation. However," and she glanced archly at her brother, "I should then have lost the opportunity of eavesdropping, and consequently of giving in my testimony in favor of my future sister-in-law." "Thank you, I suppose you obtained your information of my future brother-in-law." "No matter how I got it, but I'm fully prepared to prove that the young lady's principles are severely 'touch not, taste not, handle not.' We have a great work before us, Ned, for they will not easily be persuaded to our opinions I can assure you." "I do not wish to influence my friends to think just as I do," said Edward, proudly. "Well, somehow you have managed to make me think as you do, for you know I was once as strict as mother." "I hope you have not changed your views on my account, Louise." "No, not exactly, Ned, yet, I must confess, your arguments have had great weight with me." "I would advise you to reconsider, and think independently," said Edward rather sharply.