And Mrs. Eldridge left the room to look after her domestic duties.  But she could not push from her mind certain uneasy thoughts which her son’s suggestions had awakened.  During the morning an intimate lady friend came in to whom Mrs. Eldridge spoke of the intended party.

“And would you believe it,” she said, “that old-fashioned boy of mine actually proposed that we should have coffee instead of wine and brandy.”

“And you’re going to adopt the suggestion,” replied the lady, her face lighten up with a pleasant smile.

“It would suit my own views exactly; but then such an innovation upon a common usage as that; is not to be thought of for a moment.”

“And why not?” asked the lady.  “Coffee is safe, while wine and brandy are always dangerous in promiscuous companies.  You can never tell in what morbid appetite you may excite an unhealthy craving.  You may receive into your house a young man with intellect clear, and moral purposes well-balanced, and send him home at midnight, to his mother, stupid from intoxication!  Take your son’s advice, my friend.  Exclude the wine and brandy, and give a pleasant cup of coffee to your guests instead.”

“O, dear, no, I can’t do that!” said Mrs. Eldridge.  “It would look as if we were too mean to furnish wines and brandy.  Besides, my husband would never consent to it.”

“Let me give you a little experience of my own.  It may help you to a right decision in this case.”

The lady spoke with some earnestness, and a sober cast of thought in her countenance.  “It is now about three years since I gave a large party, at which a number of young men were present,—­boys I should rather say.  Among these was the son of an old and very dear friend.  He was in his nineteenth year,—­a handsome, intelligent, and most agreeable person—­full of life and pleasant humor.  At supper time I noticed him with a glass of champagne in his hand, gayly talking with some ladies.  In a little while after, my eyes happening to rest on him, I saw him holding, a glass of port wine to his lips, which was emptied at a single draught.  Again passing near him, in order to speak to a lady, I observed a tumbler in his hand, and knew the contents to be brandy and water.  This caused me to feel some concern, and I kept him, in closer observation.  In a little while he was at the table again, pouring out another glass of wine.  I thought it might be for a lady upon whom he was in attendance; but no, the sparkling liquor touched his own lips.  When the company returned to the parlors, the flushed face, swimming eyes, and over-hilarious manner of my young friend, showed too plainly that he had been drinking to excess.  He was so much excited as to attract the attention of every one, and his condition became the subject of remark.  He was mortified and distressed at the occurrence, and drawing him from the room, made free to tell him the truth.  He showed some indignation at first,