"John!" and the wife spoke with a sudden energy, while her countenance lighted up with a strange gleam. "John, I cannot bear this much longer! I feel myself sinking every day. And you--you who pledged yourself--" Here the voice of the poor woman gave way, and covering her face with her hands, she bent her head upon her bosom, and sobbed and wept hysterically. The drunkard looked at her for a moment, and then turning hurriedly, passed from the room. For some moments after the door had closed upon her husband, did Mrs. Jarvis stand, sobbing and weeping. Then slowly returning to her chair near the window, she resumed her, work, with an expression of countenance that was sad and hopeless. In the mean time, the poor wretch who had thus reduced his family to a state of painful destitution, after turning away from his door, walked slowly along the street with his head bowed down, as if engaged in, to him, altogether a new employment, that of self-communion. All at once a hand was laid familiarly upon his shoulders, and a well-known voice said-- "Come, John, let's have a drink." "Jarvis looked up with a bewildered air, and the first thing that caught his eye, after it glanced away from the face of one of his drinking cronies, was a sign with bright gold letters, bearing the words, "EAGLE COFFEE-HOUSE." That sign was as familiar to him as the face of one of his children. At the same moment that his eyes rested upon this, creating an involuntary impulse to move towards the tavern-door, his old crony caught hold of his coat-collar and gave him a pull in the same direction. But much to the surprise of the latter, Jarvis resisted this attempt to give his steps a direction that would lead him into his old, accustomed haunt. "Won't you drink this morning, Jarvis?" asked the other, with a look of surprise. There was evidently a powerful struggle going on in the mind of the drunkard. This lasted only for a moment or two, when he said, loudly, and emphatically-- "No!" And instantly broke from his old boon companion, and hurried on his way. A loud laugh followed him, but he heeded it not. Ten minutes' walk brought him to the store of a respectable tradesman. "Is Mr. R--in?" he asked, as he entered. "Back at the desk," was the answer of a clerk. And Jarvis walked back with a resolute air. "Mr. R--, I want to sign the pledge!" "You, Jarvis?" Mr. R--said, in tones of gratified surprise. "Yes, me, Mr. R--. It's almost a hopeless case; but here goes to do my best." "Are you fully sensible of what you are about doing, Jarvis?" "I think I am, Mr. R--. I've drunk nothing since yesterday morning, and with the help of Him above, I am determined never to drink another drop as long as I live! So read me the pledge and let me sign it." Mr. R--turned at once to the constitution of the Washington Temperance Society, and read the pledge thereunto annexed: