Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1852-02-20
a Select CaGe.
From Arlhus's Temperance Tales.
THE PLEDGE.

Il want a quarter of dollar. Jane
This was addressed by miserable crea-
ture, bloated and disfigured by intemper-
ance, to woman, whose thin, pale face,
and heart-broken look, told but too plainly
that she was the drunkard's wife.
Not j quarter Of dollar, john
Surely YOU will not waste quarter of 4
dollar Of my hard earnings, when YOU
know that can scarcely get food and de-
cent clothes for the children ?
As the wife said this, she looked up into
! her husbands face with q sad, appealing
expression.
| must have quarter, Jane was the
firm reply.
%, John ! remember our little ones.
The cold weather will soon be here, and
] have not yet been able to get them shoes.
If You will not earn anything yourself,
do not waste the little my hard labor can
procure. Will not sixpence do Sure
/ Iy that Is enough for YOU to spend for
Nothing will do but a quarter, Jane,
I and that | must have. if steal il = was
the prompt and somewhat earnest reply.
Mrs. Jarvis laid aside her work mechan-
cally, and rising, went to 4 drawer, and
from a cup containing single dollar in
small pieces, her Iittle all, took out a quar-
ter OF a dollar, and turning to her hus-
band, said, as she handed it to him
Remember, that YOU are taking the
bread out Of your children's mouths =
Not SO bad as that, hope, Jane the
drunkard replied, as he cluched the mon
ey eagerly; something like a feeble smile
fitting across his dlsligured and distorted
countenancc.
Yes, and worse = was the response.
in a saddet tone than that in which the
! wife had at first spoken.
! How worse, Jane p
John . and the wife spoke with sud
den energy, while her countenance lighted
up with a strange CLEAN. John, | can
not bear this much longer feel myself
sinking every day. And you-you who
/ pledged yourself
Here The voice OF the poor woman
gave way, and covering her face with her
hands, she bent her head upon her bosom,
and sObbed, and wept hyslerically
The drunkard looked at her for a mo-
mcnt, and then turning hurriedly, passed
from the room. For some moments after
! The door had closed upon her husband.
did Mrs. Jarvis stand, sobbing anu weep
ing. Then slowly returning TO her chair
near the window, she resumed her work,
with an expression Of countcnancc that
was sad and hopeless.
In the meantime, the poor wretch who
had thus reduced his family to a state OF
painful destitutlon, after turning away
from his door, walked slowly along the
street with his head bowed down, as if
/ engaged in, to him, altogether new en-
plovment, that Of seli-communon. All at
once hand was laid famillarlv upon his
shoulders, and well known-yocc said
Come, John, let's have a drink
/ Jarvis looked up with bewldercd air,
and the first thing that caught his eye,
after it glanced away from the face of one
OF his drinking cronies, was a sign with
bright gold letters, bearing the words,
/ " EAGLE CoFFEE-HoUsE." The sign was
as familiar to him rs the face of one Of
/ his children. At the same moment that
his eye rested upon this, creating an in
: 'CAhiA'dlJ itL1PhkSb w iliO|C bON alNAo tit
tayern-door, his old crony caught hold of
his coat-collar, and gave him pull in the
same direction, But much to the surprise
of the latter, Jarvis resisted this attempt
to give his steps a direction that would
lead him into MS old accustomed haunt.
( Won't you drink this morning, Jarvis ?
asked the other with look Of surprise.
There was evidently powerful strug-
gle going on in the mind OF the drunkard.
This lasted only for a moment Or two,
when he said, loudly, and emphatlcaliy-
NO
And instantly broke from his old boon
companion, and hurried on his way.
A loud laugh followed him, but he heed
ded it not. Ten minutes walk brought
him to the store Of . respectable trades
man.
is Mr.. R-- in?' he asked, as he
entered.
Back at the desk was the reply of a
clerk.
And Jarvis walked back with resolute
air.
Mr., R, want to sign the pledge =