Love's Labour Not Lost

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1863 edition. Excerpt: ... chapter. xv. " Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ."--Gal. vi. 2. It is related that a French officer, in a cavalry combat in Spain, raised his sword to cut down Sir Felton Harvey; but seeing that he had only one arm (the other having been lopped off in a bloody fight), instantly stopped, brought down his sword before Sir Felton in the usual salute, and rode past. This was a noble trait of character, worthy of the days and spirit of Bayard. It was some such feeling which actuated Mrs. Ernestone on going to chide a man who had broken his pledge, and induced another to do the same, seeing him so wretched and so grieved at what he had done, to pity and to sympathize instead of blaming. And very sincere was her pity when she heard that the custom of paying men on Saturday night was the cause of his poverty and his fall. On her return to the Hall, she found Francis Eanton and his sister Edith, the former having come to see her before he returned to Dublin. The subject of total abstinence was on every one's lips. In the drawing-rooms of the rich and in the kitchens of the poor the topic was spoken of. Sometimes more sneers than good sense were bestowed on the question; but even that is a more hopeful sign than silence: just as a curl of the lip or an angry movement of the arm in a person apparently dead is an indication of life. Francis Ranton thought--like, indeed, a good many others--that when in Mrs. Ernestone's company he ought to say something about temperance. His first remark, therefore, was--" How did you like Mr. Gough last night?" " If I had not been a total abstainer before, I certainly would have become one before I left the meeting. When we see anything to be right, and that sense and conscience approve...