The Columbian fountain., 1845-12-13
ISCELLANEOUS.
ONE OF THE SMITHS.
CHAPTER /.

i8 eH5 CHAPTERI. "4aH
always write stories in hurry. The
truth is, do not begin till am driven to it,
and may add, that once begun, might
never end, but for getting tired.-On hur-
ry, like a wild horse in the harness, till
completely exhausted, ! am forced to Law
down the pen, and leave my hero, perhaps,
to the Fates. ~ a
1t shall not be SO this time. will write
only five chapters-and these shall be short
at least one of them. SO here it end
eth a 1l
| don't say that Bill Smith was the LATEST
man that ever lived, but he was decidedly
the LATEST ever saw. And will venture
to say, further, that his match could not be
found in Pepperelbro. There was where he
lived--there he lives now. WAR
Well Bill was toper--for that man me-
yer existed who was too lazy to drink
Of course he was not one of the real tear
down-drag-out sort; but then he drank
hard, and was generally pretty boozy to-
,oards epeuiag for he was too lazy to get
drunk very early IN the day. Ea
One evening, Just about two years and
three months ago, he was very drunk
The night was cold-the wind blew fierce
ly, and the light snow swept wildly over
the ground, and added terror to the howl
iugs of old Boreas. That night, Bill was
full two miles from his own miserable ho-
vel, snugly 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 will guess,
that he happened on board some farmers
wagon or sleigh that passed his house and
was too lazy to get out till the vehicle stop
ped at the little groggery
"Bill you must clear out" said the rum
seller. ~ u0
Bill made no answer. ,
81 say, Bill, you must clear out--go
home.n
Bill began to snore-he was sleepy, and
tired to boot; he always was.
g Halo, Bill say, come crawl out and
90 home It's most nine O'Clock"
@Wait awhile," said Bill, g don't be in a
hurry-there's nothing gained by hurry
ing" ''i
. But must shut up, and go home
There's nothing doing here, and | can't af-
ford frewood."
Bill reused up little-not much, but a
little and winked Perhaps he would have
said something, but just then the dooropened,
and stranger walked in.--He had rode a
long distance, and seeing light in the
rummy' had called to inquire how far it
was TO public house.
aJust two miles and a half,n said old
Boozle, the rumseller, sand here's chap
that's going e'enamost there-lives right on
the roadp
Bill reused up little more; perhaps
there was a chance to ride, and 1t would
not do to lose it, After a little more cere-
mony, that may be imagined, and with
little assistance that Bill actually need
ed, the two got into the sleigh and rode
Off
~I s'pose 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 ne
iolted slowly back to his own door, raised
the latch and went III.
CHAPTER III
There was quite stir in Pepperelbro the
next day. A stranger had come to town,
and it was pretty generally rumored that he
was to deliver temperance lecture that
evening in the village school house. Here
and there, little groups were gathered to-
gcther, talking the matter oyer--ior indeed
| it was something new to have temperance
lecture there the oldest inhabltant couldn't
remember the like of it. Bills appetite, and
itching to ascertain who and what the stran-
ger was, urged him as far as the tavern,