Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1852-01-17
For The rrssn,.n.
What Does It Meau9

y
can give me the Interpretation thereof You
may try.
was musing on the awful evils produced
by the use Of Intoxicating drinks in our com
munity. and pondering the question, what
means can be employed to save our young
men at least, from the gulf on whose verge
some Of them already tread?
As mused. me thought was suddenly
carried, in the body or out Of the body, 10 The
street, in front Of Mr.. soakum's grocery. With
the outside of this den was already familiar,
and had often seen as passed by, crowd OF
our veil known tipPlers entering and gather
ing around the counter while Mr. Soakum
supplied their wants On this occasion feIt
impeled by some irresistible power to enter.
and behold the inside Of this burial-plaee Of
industry. character, hopes aud affections.
seated myself upon an empty whisky bar
rel in the corner. At frst was almost over
powered by the mingled fumes of tobacco,
strong drinks, and bad breaths. But when
had recovered little was still more over
COIGG Wish OSAuR SeSaA Az SdOA =
place. l was somewhat relieved however.
when I found that no one noticed my pres
ence; and soon discovered that was invisi-
6te to every eye. Having recovered my COM
posure began to look around. l quickly
perceived that being invisible myself, had
also the power of seeing things that were in
visible to the rest Of the company. The FIRST
thing that attracted my attention, was the at
traction which had been made in Mr.. Soak
um's advertisement. This l had often seen in
the streets, and in the papers; and now dis
covered the same bill posted on the wall di-
rectly before me- But it had undergone a.
marvellous change. The black letters of the
old advertisement were family visible, but
over them in letters of liquid fire, there was
another bill which seemed intended to be a
parody or the FIRST Il reads as follows. The
amazing capitals. striking exclamation points,
DC, cannot give:
Attention every man who loves whisky. bran
dy, gin, rum and strong beer, better Than
character, happiness, home, friends, wife,
children, or salvation. This is the place for
you.
Mr. soakum has just purchased a new
stock of poison for body and soul. Heis
prepared to supply his customers by the
barrel, gallon, quart, pint or drink
He warrants every article he sells to do
its business thoroughly.
His whiskey will bring family to beg
gerry in SIX months TO two years. His bran
dy is strong enough to dive wife and
i.
night
All his liquors 10 short. will destroy health,
character, and happiness in the speediest
manner.
Mr. Soakum would refer to all his old
customers who are still alive, and to the
; grave yard for the rest"
j Having carefully studied this wonderful bill,
l began to examine the apartment farther
And now for the FIRST tine noticed, seated
directly on the top of the stove, persona5e,
whom / took to be the prince of darkness him.
self. His position little surprised me, flor it
, was a cold winter night and the stove was ve-
ry hot,) until remembered that wheE at
home, be inhabited still hotter place The
heat did not seem to disturb him in the least;
] on the contrary, every now and then, be would
reach down one of his hoofs TO the draft Of the
stove, where the heat was much greater, as if
his toes were cold His Internal majesty was
quite invisible to Mr.. Soakum's customers ;bus
with his 6rey-eye he seemed 10 watch them
with peculiar satisfaction. And when the
door opened for the entrance Of new custom
! er, the grim features Of his dark majesty would
relax into a broad grin of pleasure his tail
would curl round and round, and it really
q seemed as though he would start to embrace
: them.
y On looking about still more carefully, saw
that each decanter, demijohn, and keg, had
sitting beside it, a little imp, whose business it
i seemed to be to represent the liquor within.
These little imps were continually chattering
to themselves or their companions But as
they were invisible to Mr.. Soakum's custom
. ers, so their talk was inaudible to them. By
e drawing little nearer could hear what they
t. said distinctly The tipplers, loungets, and
: loafers, having warmed their toes and fingers,
began to call each for his fayorite drink.
"Mr. Soakum," says-the first. this Is cold
;, night. let us have something warm "a glass
y of whisky. if you please"
"Yes. yes" says the whisky imp. 'that'll
warm you You'll want neither bread nor
IS meat As for the wife and children, if they
c won't take whisky for fire and food, let 'em
= Istarve."
"I'll take glass of brandy, MIR. Soakum, "
y says a second.
n Good muttered the brandy imp. "that'll
Y burn your vitals. It's got poisen enough in il
= = to kill dog. Take couple of glasses more
before you go home, and then let the wife and
; children fee." And he grinned from ear to
IS ear with pleasure.
C "Let US have glass fwine. Mr.. soakum,'
says third.
Right" shouts the imp of the wine-cask
as he jumps onthe top iti-right; excellen
p wine-made in New York-not drop of the
st juice of the grape-seen it made myself
d drugs. dye-stutfs. and plenty of alcohol"
" Come, Mr. Soakum," says fourth, "a cur
!, of strong-6eer."
The imp of the beer-barrel, bloated, red
a faced, appoplectie looking little satan, shook
a his sides with laughter r;-"Excellent," F" said he
;s as soon as he could catch his breath, excel
r