It may be treacherous, it may lay up a store of future woe; but it insures present happiness, and that is sufficient.

When I have traversed the streets a houseless wanderer, driven with curses from every door where I have solicited alms, and with blows from every gateway where I have sought shelter,--when I have crept into some deserted building, and stretched my wearied limbs upon a bulk, in the vain hope of repose,--or, worse than all, when, frenzied with want, I have yielded to horrible temptation, and earned a meal in the only way I could earn one,--when I have felt, at times like these, my heart sink within me, I have drank of this drink, and have at once forgotten my cares, my poverty, my guilt.
Old thoughts, old feelings, old faces, and old scenes have returned to me, and I have fancied myself happy,--as happy as I am now." And she burst into a wild hysterical laugh.
"Poor creature!" ejaculated Wood.

"Do you call this frantic glee happiness ?" "It's all the happiness I have known for years," returned the widow, becoming suddenly calm, "and it's short-lived enough, as you perceive.

I tell you what, Mr.Wood," added she in a hollow voice, and with a ghastly look, "gin may bring ruin; but as long as poverty, vice, and ill-usage exist, it will be drunk." "God forbid!" exclaimed Wood, fervently; and, as if afraid of prolonging the interview, he added, with some precipitation, "But I must be going: I've stayed here too long already.

You shall hear from me to-morrow." "Stay!" said Mrs.Sheppard, again arresting his departure.