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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 5, 9 March 1866, Page 2

When they had got all their glasses full, dear unconscious mamma sat down with a self-contented smile, waiting for the approbation and enlogiums which she expected they would overwclm her with. As soon as Mrs. L-ckl-y had taken one cherry and a spoonful of the wash, all the rest followed her example. Dear mamma observing that Mrs. L-ckl-y made a wry face after it, said, "I'm afraid the brandy is too strong for you, but you needn't be afraid of it, my dear, a bottle of such would not hurt you. Now really I shall begin to think you do not like it if you don't finish it." On which Mrs. L-ckl-y answered — " its very nice, I'm sure," and then the poor thing put another spoonful to her lips. Dear mamma then tried to prevail upon some of the other poor things to try some more, but they all excused themselves. On which Edward fancying something was wrong, took a glassful himself —and had no sooner tasted it than, instead of swallowing it like a gentleman, he spit the whole in the fireplace, declaring he had never in all his life tasted .such beastly trash. Whereupon dear mamma, believing he only said so to annoy - her, took a glassful likewise, and scarcely had she tasted it than she gave a scream, and the poor dear soul spluttered it out of her mouth agaiu, exclaiming, " Oh, that drunken Mary, she's drunk the brandy, and filled the bottle up again with filthy cold tea and unripe cherries." —The greatest Plague of Life.