Publisher's Synopsis
A poor brokendown drunkard returned to his dilapidated domicile early on New Year'smorn. The great bells of the churches were jarring the creamy moonlight which lay abovethe soggy undercrust of mud and snow. As he heard their joyous peals, announcing thebirth of a new year, his heart smote his old waistcoat like a remorseful sledge-hammer."Why," soliloquized he, "should not those bells also proclaim the advent of a newresolution? I have not made one for several weeks, and it's about time. I'll swear off."He did it, and at that moment a new light seemed to be shed upon his pathway; his wifecame out of the house with a tin lantern. He rushed frantically to meet her. She saw the newand holy purpose in his eye. She recognised it readily-she had seen it before. Theyembraced and wept. Then stretching the wreck of what had once been a manly form to itsfull length, he raised his eyes to heaven and one hand as near there as he could get it, andthere in the pale moonlight, with only his wondering wife, and the angels, and a cow or two, for witnesses, he swore he would from that moment abstain from all intoxicating liquorsuntil death should them part. Then looking down and tenderly smiling into the eyes of hiswife, he said: "Is it not well, dear one?" With a face beaming all over with a new happiness, she replied: "Indeed it is, John-let's take a drink." And they took one, she with sugar and he plain.The spot is still pointed out to the traveller. The Late Dowling, Senior.My friend, Jacob Dowling, Esq., had been spending the day very agreeably in hiscounting-room with some companions, and at night retired to the domestic circle to ravelout some intricate accounts. Seated at his parlour table he ordered his wife and childrenout of the room and addressed himself to business. While clambering wearily up a columnof figures he felt upon his cheek the touch of something that seemed to cling clammily tothe skin like the caress of a naked oyster. Thoughtfully setting down the result of hisaddition so far as he had proceeded with it, he turned about and looked up."I beg your pardon, sir," said he, "but you have not the advantage of my acquaintance.""Why, Jake," replied the apparition-whom I have thought it useless to describe-"don'tyou know me?"