The North-Carolina standard., 1843-05-31
LAZY BILL SMITH.
CHAPTER 1.


perhaps, to the Fates.
1t shall not be so this time. 1 will write only
five chapters-and these shall be short-at least
one of them. So it endeth.
CHAPTER II.
don't say that Bill Smith was the LATEST man
that ever lived, but he was decidedly the LATEST
that ever saw. And will venture to say, fur
ther, that his match could not be found in all
Pepperelboro. There was where he lived
there he lives now.
Well, Bill was toper-for that man never
existed who was too lazy to drink. Of course,
he was not one of the real tear-down and drag
cut sort but then he drank hard, and was gene
rally pretty boozy tolodrdS erening; for he was
too lazy to get drunk very early in the day.
One evening, just about two years and three
months ago, he was very drunk. The night
was cold-the wind blew fercely, and the light
swept wildly the ground, and added
terror to old Boreas. That night, Bill was full
two miles from his own miserable hovel, snug "
ensconced behind some old boxes and barrels
in one corner of filthy rum shop-How he
came there-so far from home-I do not know,
but we will guess, that he happened on board
some farmers wagon or sleigh, that passed his
house, and he was too lazy to get out till the
hicle stopped at the little grocery. But at any
the night wild, and the rumseIler wanted to
shut up his groggery.
"Bill you must clear OUT said the runsellcr.
Bill made no answer.
81 say, Bill, You must clear out--go home"
Bill began to snore-he was sleepy, and tired
to boot, he always was.
"Halio, Bill say, como, crawl out and 60
home, its most nine o'clock !
"Wait awhile = said Bill ''dou't be in hurry
there's nothing gained by hurrying."
"But L must shut up Bill, and go home
There's nothing doing here, and l can't afford
the frewood." !
Bill reused up little--not much, but little, |
and winked. Perhaps he would have said some
thing, but Just then the door opened, and stran-
ger walked in. lie had rode long distance,
and seeing light in the 'rummy,' had called to |
enquire how far it was to public house.
"Just two miles and half,'' said old Boozle,
the rumseller; sand here's chap that's going
e'namost tllere-lives right on the road.''
Bill reused up little more /; perhaps there
was chance to ride, and it would not do to lose
it.-After little more ceremony, that may be
imagined, and with little assistance that Bill ac-
tually needed, the two got into the sleigh, and
rode off.
Il s'pose l live here said Bill, when the
sleigh,had got few rods past his house. The
stranger reined up his nag and Bill got out.-He
had begun to get sober, and would have thanked
the gentleman for his ride but he was really too
lazy, and so he jostled slowly back to his own
door, raised the latch and went in.
CHAPTER III.
There was quite sir in Pepperelboro the !
next day. A stranger had como to town. and it I
was pretty generally rumored that he was to de-
liver temperance lecture that evening in the p
village school house. Here and there, little q
groups were gathered together, talking the mat f
ter oFer-for it was indecl something new to G
have temperance lecture there; the oldest in Fl
habtants couldn't remember the like of it. Bills u
appetite and an itching TO ascertain who and u
what the stranger was, urged him as far as +,
the tavern where he arrived about noon. Of Fl
course he made one of the group there, who talk e.
ed about the stranger and his business though ~
precious little did he do towards making up the II
NJ
Are you goin' to jine the new Pledge, Bill % cl
sked an old coVey, as he entered the bar-roorn lC
Blii didn't know exactly what answer to make, tt
md so, true to his nature, he made none at all. al
"f1oW Is 1t, uncle Simon,' continued the same st
oice, addressing another of the loungers.. ssare
'ou goin to jine the Thornpsonians to night? 3 al
hey say it's all the go, down the city, fl
"The IHompsonianS," said uncle Simon; 81 &C
ont know-they allow steaming it, Isuppose.' sl
Old Simon was the wit of the town, and of eff
curse this sally produced laugh. to
"Not devil Bit" answered a square rugged, bl
ouble-breasted fellow, who had stood in corn dc
r of the room all the while. 'I've seen 'em &C
Id hearn em lectur too, but they don't hold to be
eamin' any way l know nor they amt Iiy
hompsonians neither" kn
"What are they, Sam?'' asked uncle Simon. tn;
''They are WGshingtontans," said Sam, sand an
ey don't hold to drinkin' drop ofiquor-" an
"A Afore Jtolks," added Simon, with emphasis he
d here was another laugh. gu
Bill heard all this, but he took no part even the
the laugh, for he was too lazy. Towards i'm;
5ht the company dispersed, the greater portion er
them to meet again at the school house. Bill sw
a chance to ride, and so went to the school 1 &
use too. ho1
The lecturer was there, and in good time be- reg
n his discourse. He dwelt long on the evil ty,
nsequences of intemperance; and among other ion
ings, showed that it uniformly produced lazi sigl
ss-the worst kind of laziness-even a disre- bef
rd of those duties, on the performance of yot
lich depends cleanliness health and happiness mis-
Bill heard the whole and winked The otbor Y