Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1842-10-26
The Drumkard's Bible.

A FRIEND TO TEMPERANCE.
The DrHnkard's Bible.
"Mr President" said short, stout man,
with good -humored counenance, and ford
complexion, rising as the last speaker took his
seat,--"l have been tavern-keeper."
At this announcement there was a movement
through the whole room, and an expression Of
increased interest.
"Yes, Mr.. President" he went on, 81 have
been ,avern-keeper, and many glass have
sold to you and TO the Secretary there, and to
dozens of others that | see here" glancing
around upon the company.
"Thal's fact" broke in the President-ma-
ny gin.ioddy and brandy-punch have taken
at your bar. But times are changed now, and
we have begun TO carry the war right into the
enemy's camp And our war has not been un-
successful, for we have taken prisoner one of
the rum sellers bravest generals! But GO on,
friend W, lie, us have your experience"
"As to my experience, Mr.. President" the
ex-tavern-keepcr resumed, sin rum-selling and
rum-drinking-fo have done good deal Of
both in nv day.-lhat would be rather too long
a story TO tell tonight, and one that had much
rather forget than relate. Il makes me trembe
evil | have DONE | therefore usually look
ahead with the hope of doing some good to my
fellow men.
sBut there is one incident that | will relate.
For the last FIVE years hard-working mechan-
ic, who had wife and several small children,
came regularly, almost every night, TO my tav-
ern and spent the evening in the bar-room. He
came to drink, Of course, and many dollar OF
his hard earnings went into my till. AT last he
became a perfect sot-working scarcely one
fourth of the time, and spending all he earned
in liquor His poor wife had 10 take in wash
ing to support herself and children, while he
spent his lime, and the little he could earn, at
my bar But his appetite for liquor was so
strong, that his weeks earnings were usually
all gone by Tuesday or Wednesday, and then
had 10 chalk up score against him, TO be
paid off when Saturday night came. The score
gradually increased, until it amounted TO three
or four dollars, over his regular Saturday nights
nav, when | refused 10 sell him any more IL
ouor until it was settled. On the day after |
had refused TO sell him, he came in with a neat
mourning breast-pin, enclosing some hair-no
doubt, lhought-ofa deceased relative. This
he offered in payment Of what he owed. ac-
cepted it, for the pin | saw at once was worth
double the amount of my bill. did not think,
or indeed care about the question, whether he
was the owner or not; wanted my own, and in
my selfish eagerness 10 get my own, hesita-
led not to take little more than my own.
81 laid the breast-p pin away, and all things
went on smoothly for while. But he gradu.
ally gol behind again, and again cut off the
supply OF liquor This time he brought me a
of
dlesicks. | took them and wiped off the score
against him. AT last he brought large fami-
ly bible, and | took that ,oo--thinking, nc
doubt, l could sell ii for something.
"On the Sunday afterwards, having nothing
to do---lor | used 10 shut up my bar on Sunday
thinking it was not respectable to sell liquor on
that day---I opened this poor drunkard's family
Bible, scarcely thinking of what was doing
! The first place that turned TO was the family
record There it was stated that on certain
day he had been married 10 Emily
had known Emily when | was young mar
VERY well, and had once thought seriously o.
offering myself to her in marriage. | remem
bered her happy young face, and suddenly
seemed TO hear The tone OF her merry laughter
"Poor creature!" sighed involuniarily as {
thought Of her present condition crossed my
4 rnind--and then with no pleasant feelings
turned over The next leaf There was the re
cord of The birth Of four children; the last has
been made recently, and was in the mother'
| hand.
Il never had such a strange feeling as nov
came over me. felt that | had no business
with .ths book But tried 10 stifle my feel
tings, ard turned over several leaves quickly
[ suffered my eyes TO rest upon an open page
these words arrested my attention:
"sWine is mocker, strong drink is raging
whose is deceived thereby is not wise
This was just the subject that, under lh'