奥里森·马登/OrisonMarden
"I'llsignitafterawhile," adrunkardwouldreply, whenrepeatedlyurgedbyhiswifetosignthepledge; "butIdon'tliketobreakoffatonce, thebestwayistogetusedtoathing." "Verywell, oldman," saidhiswife, "seeifyoudon'tfallintoaholeoneofthesedays, withnoonetohelpyouout."
Notlongafter, whenintoxicated, hedidfallintoashallowwell, buthisshoutsforhelpwerefortunatelyheardbyhiswife."Didn'tItellyouso?" sheasked." It'sluckyIwasinhearingoryoumighthavedrowned." Hetookholdofthebucketandshetuggedatthewindlass; :"Lookhere, you'redoingthatonpurpose, Iknowyouare." "Well, now, Iam." admittedthewife." Don'tyouremembertellingmeit'sbesttogetusedtoathingbydegrees? I'mafraidifIbringyouupsudden, youwouldnotfinditwholesome." Findingthathiscasewasbecomingdesperate, , butwarnedhimthatifeverhebecameintoxicatedandfellintothewellagain, shewouldleavehimthere.
, , bloodthirstynature, , , hisferocioustigernaturewasroused, andherusheduponhismastertotearhimtopieces.
Sometimestheappetitefordrink, whichwasthoughttobeburiedyearsago, isrousedbythetasteorthesmellof "thedevilinsolution," andthewretchedvictimfindshimselfahelplessslavetothepassionwhichhethoughtdead.
