THE HILL OF DREAMS
was some consolation in trying to convert the parish to total abstinence, or, as they curiously called it, temperance. Old women were warned of the sin of taking a glass of beer for supper; aged labourers were urged to try Cork-ho, the new temperance drink; an uncouth beverage, styled coffee, was dispensed at the reading-room. Mr. Dixon preached an eloquent 'temperance' sermon, soon after the above conversation, taking as his text: Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees. In his discourse he showed that fermented liquor and leaven had much in common, that beer was at the present day 'put away' during Passover by the strict Jews; and in a moving peroration he urged his dear brethren, 'and more especially those amongst us who are poor in this world's goods,' to beware indeed of that evil leaven which was sapping the manhood of our nation. Mrs. Dixon cried after church:
'Oh, Merivale, what a beautiful sermon! How earnest you were. I hope it will do good.'
Mr. Dixon swallowed his port with great decorum, but his wife fuddled herself every evening with cheap sherry. She was quite unaware of the fact, and sometimes wondered in a dim way why she always had to scold the children
117
