The tried and the tempted

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1854 Excerpt: ... Don't you see that snake coiling himself up there, just ready to spring upon me V I started to my feet in alarm, glancing towards the corner of the room as I did so. But I saw nothing. 'It has been after me all the evening, and will be on me yet!' continued my husband, shrinking away. 'There!' he suddenly screamed in an agony of terror, and darted from the room. I followed him up stairs, and tried my best to convince him that there was no snake in the house--that I had seen nothing. I wanted to get him to bed, and at last persuaded him to lie down. But he soon jumped up in terror, saying that the snake was in the bed. And so it has been ever since, Mr. Sefton, and he is getting a great deal worse. He says now, that the devil is after him, and he wants to see you. Won't you come and see him?" "Certainly, I will, Mrs. Lyon," was the unhesitating reply. "But he needs a doctor more than a minister, I am thinking, and must have one." Mr. Sefton, after leaving word where he was going, put on his hat and cloak, and went with the woman. He found the poor broken down inebriate in even a worse condition than his wife had described him. "You must go for a doctor immediately. I will remain with your husband until you come back," he said to Mrs. Lyon. The wife departed, and the minister was alone with the poor wretch labouring under that frightful disorder, the drunkard's mania. About twenty minutes after Mr. Sefton left his home, the carriage of Mr. Wayland drove up, and the rich merchant stepped from it, and stood at the door of the minister, a suppliant for a favour that no other man on earth could give him, a favour that all his money could not purchase. His child had aroused up, and asked for her kind spiritual guide. She was con...