Miriam Smith then went on to provide details of how she and her sisters came to sign the abstinence pledge, promising to forgo the use of “fermented spirits.” All but the eldest sister had committed herself to this path. “We tried to persuade the one given to drink to give it up. She was married and in a good position. Over and over again she signed the pledge and tried to keep it. Over and over again she was tempted and fell.”
