"Ay, do," chimed in his wife; "doesn't Scripture say, `If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink:' and I'm sure you must be both hungry and thirsty if you haven't tasted since you came from the pit."
Poor Johnson could not speak. When he was sober he was a feeling man, and a sensible one too. Alas! his sober times were few, but he _was_ sober now. The tears overflowed his eyes, and he brushed them hastily away as he drew his chair near to the bright little circle of happy healthy faces. He ate and drank for a while in silence, and then said with a faltering voice,--
"Ned, you're a true Christian. I'll never say a word against you behind your back any more."
Brierley held out his hand to him, and the other grasped it warmly.
"I'll tell you what," said Ned, in a cheery voice, "I'd give a good deal, Thomas, to see you a total abstainer; it'd be the making of you."
"I mustn't; Alice wouldn't let me. I can't; the drink's more to me nor meat, and clothes, and everything. I durstn't, for my old pals at the `George' would chaff me to death with their jeers and their jokes. I couldn't face them for shame."
"Oh, Thomas," cried Ned, "what a slave the drink's made of you:-- mustn't! can't! durstn't!--what! ain't you a man? haven't you got a will of your own?"
"No, Ned, that's just it; I haven't a will of my own: the old lad's got it off me long since."
"Ay, but, Thomas, you must get it back again," exclaimed Brierley's wife; "you must go to Jesus, and he'll help you."
Johnson fidgeted uneasily in his chair; at last he said,--
"I can't do without my beer; I haven't strength to work without it."
"You've taken plenty of it, I reckon," remarked Ned, "and you don't seem to thrive much on't."
"I've taken too much," said the other, "but I can't do without a little."
"You can't do _with_ a little, I fear. It's first only a pint, and then it's only a quart, and then it's only a gallon, till at last it's only a fuddled head and an empty pocket. Come, join us, Thomas; take the first step boldly like a man, and then just pray for grace, and you'll not fear what other folks can do to you."
"But I shall never get through my work without a drop of beer to wash dust out of my throat and spirit me up," persisted Johnson. "I feel like another sort of man when I've had my pint."