The story opens with Alfred Melton attempting to persuade his cousin and her fiancé, Augusta Elmore and Edward Howard, to sign a temperance pledge and swear off alcohol. They at first refuse noting their already temperate lifestyle and their basic philosophy of "let every man mind his own business". However, Alfred eventually convinces Augusta to sign on behalf of her husband, agreeing to watch over him. Very soon Augusta and Edward are happily married, mostly keeping to themselves and engaging in intellectual pursuits such as singing and reading in their home.
After some time the Howards begin to socialize more outside the home and engage in more "excitement". Eventually, the two have children and Augusta is unable to leave the house as frequently. During this time Edward succumbs to temptation and begins drinking more and more heavily, having to be carried home one evening by friends. Unfortunately, even Augusta's pleas cannot save him at this point and he begins to travel extensively, involving himself in risky business ventures which eventually leave him bankrupt.
Once all has been lost the Howard family moves to a new city where they are unknown so that they may fade into the background. For some time they live in poverty until one day Augusta's brother Henry arrives in an attempt to save her. She resists at first, but eventually leaves, an act which does cause a slight moral upturn in Edward.
One day, on an errand, Augusta visits the home of Mr. L, who is also being visited by Mr. Dallas. Mr. Dallas finds out that Augusta is married to Edward, whom he is familiar with, and he hatches a scheme to save the Howard family. When he first approaches Edward to offer help, Edward resists, feeling that he is already too lost. However, he eventually breaks down and agrees to move to the home of Mr. Dallas and attempt a reformation. At first his stay is characterized as imprisonment by Mr. Dallas, but this is necessary since Edward is suffering from terrible fevers and delirium. Before long, Edward is recovered and rejoins Augusta to raise their happy family.
Publication historyedit
The story was originally published as "The Drunkard Reclaimed" in 1839 in the New-York Evangelist. It was republished in several gift books fore being collected in Stowe's compilation The Mayflower, and Miscellaneous Writings (1843).[1] The Evangelist published several of Stowe's earliest works, mostly lighter pieces, but "The Drunkard Reclaimed" was her first addressing a serious social issue. In 1845, the magazine published her first work using the theme of slavery, titled "Immediate Emancipation".[2]
Referencesedit
^Mattingly, Carol (editor). Water Drops from Women Writers: A Temperance Reader. Carbondale and Edwardsville, Illinois: Southern Illinois University Press, 2001: 208. ISBN0-8093-2399-0
^Koester, Nancy. Harriet Beecher Stowe: A Spiritual Life. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2014: 88. ISBN978-0-8028-3304-4
External linksedit
"Let Every Man Mind His Own Business", The Christian Keepsake and Missionary Annual, 1839
May 04, 2024
every, mind, business, harriet, beecher, stowe, short, story, temperance, fiction, genre, published, 1839, contents, plot, summary, publication, history, references, external, linksplot, summary, editthe, story, opens, with, alfred, melton, attempting, persuad. Let Every Man Mind His Own Business by Harriet Beecher Stowe is a short story in the temperance fiction genre It was published in 1839 Contents 1 Plot summary 2 Publication history 3 References 4 External linksPlot summary editThe story opens with Alfred Melton attempting to persuade his cousin and her fiance Augusta Elmore and Edward Howard to sign a temperance pledge and swear off alcohol They at first refuse noting their already temperate lifestyle and their basic philosophy of let every man mind his own business However Alfred eventually convinces Augusta to sign on behalf of her husband agreeing to watch over him Very soon Augusta and Edward are happily married mostly keeping to themselves and engaging in intellectual pursuits such as singing and reading in their home After some time the Howards begin to socialize more outside the home and engage in more excitement Eventually the two have children and Augusta is unable to leave the house as frequently During this time Edward succumbs to temptation and begins drinking more and more heavily having to be carried home one evening by friends Unfortunately even Augusta s pleas cannot save him at this point and he begins to travel extensively involving himself in risky business ventures which eventually leave him bankrupt Once all has been lost the Howard family moves to a new city where they are unknown so that they may fade into the background For some time they live in poverty until one day Augusta s brother Henry arrives in an attempt to save her She resists at first but eventually leaves an act which does cause a slight moral upturn in Edward One day on an errand Augusta visits the home of Mr L who is also being visited by Mr Dallas Mr Dallas finds out that Augusta is married to Edward whom he is familiar with and he hatches a scheme to save the Howard family When he first approaches Edward to offer help Edward resists feeling that he is already too lost However he eventually breaks down and agrees to move to the home of Mr Dallas and attempt a reformation At first his stay is characterized as imprisonment by Mr Dallas but this is necessary since Edward is suffering from terrible fevers and delirium Before long Edward is recovered and rejoins Augusta to raise their happy family Publication history editThe story was originally published as The Drunkard Reclaimed in 1839 in the New York Evangelist It was republished in several gift books fore being collected in Stowe s compilation The Mayflower and Miscellaneous Writings 1843 1 The Evangelist published several of Stowe s earliest works mostly lighter pieces but The Drunkard Reclaimed was her first addressing a serious social issue In 1845 the magazine published her first work using the theme of slavery titled Immediate Emancipation 2 References edit Mattingly Carol editor Water Drops from Women Writers A Temperance Reader Carbondale and Edwardsville Illinois Southern Illinois University Press 2001 208 ISBN 0 8093 2399 0 Koester Nancy Harriet Beecher Stowe A Spiritual Life Grand Rapids MI William B Eerdmans Publishing Company 2014 88 ISBN 978 0 8028 3304 4External links edit Let Every Man Mind His Own Business The Christian Keepsake and Missionary Annual 1839 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Let Every Man Mind His Own Business amp oldid 1051307766, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
