THE PLEDGE.
Reading edition
[Whether the following is a real or a supposed case we know that in this fallen world of ours there have been many sadder scenes than the one depicted; for "who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? Who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine…. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder."—Prov. 23: 29-35.]