Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-03-03
WASHING SHEEP.

WASHING SHEEP.
We take u that this is a pretty good
total abstinence siorv-lf any one has
seen il before, let him read it and laugh
al it cgain:--
ga year or two since, when the SUBJ
jec, of temperance was being freely dis.
cussed, the citizens of little town in the
western part OF Massachusetts, called a
meeting to talk over the matter. There
had.never been temperance society in
The place, but after some little discussion,
it was voted TO form one. They drew
up pledge of total abstinence. and a
greco that if any member of the Society
broke il. he should be turned out.
Before the pledge was accepted, Dea
con D. arose and said he had one ob.
jeciion 10 it; he thought that i'hanksgiv-
ing Day ought TO be free for the members
to take something, as he could relish his
dinner much better at this festival if he
took glass of wine.
Mr.. u though. that The pledge was
not perfect. He DIDN'T care any thing a.
bout thanksgiving, but his family always
made a great account Of Christmas, and
he couldn't think of setting down to din
ner then without some thing to drink
He was willing to give it up on all other
days, and in fact, that was the only time
when he cared any thing about it.
Mr.. B next arose and said he a.
greed with the other speakers, except the
!ime. He didn't think much of Thanks
giving or Christmas, though he liked a
little any time. There was one day,
however, when he must have il, and that
was the Fourth ofJuly. He always cal.
cu!ated upon having a "reg'lar drink" on
that occasion. and he would'n, sign the
pledge if it prevented him from celebra-
ting Independence.
Squire l., an old farmer, following
Mr.. B. He was not in the habit OF
taking any thing often. but must have
some when he washed his sheep. He
would sign the pledge if it would give
him the privilege of imbiblng when he
washed sheep. Why, he considered il
dangerous for him to keep his hands in
cold water without something to keep
him warm inside.
After some consideration it was con-
cluded that each member Of the Society
should take his own occasion to drink-
Deacon D. on Thanksgiving. Mr..
l., Christmas, etc. Then the pledge
was signed by large number, and the
Society adjourned in fouIishing condi-
,ion, after voting that i, should be the du
ty of the members to watch each other
to see that they did not break the pledge.
The next morning Deacon D
walked into his mex, ,neighbor's yard, who,
by the way, was Mr.. l.. the sheep
man wondering, as it was bitter cold
morning, whether L. was up yet
lie met his neighbor coming out of the
house, and, to his surprise, gloriously
crunk. or to use a IT odern phrase "buin-
ing very beautiful kiln"
"Why L-!' exclaimed the aston
ished Deacon, "what does this mean sir?
You have broken your pledge, and dis
graced our Society and the temperance
cause"
"Nol-hic as you knows on-hic-
Deacon" said L.. IL hav'nt--hic
broken ,he-hic--pledge, Deacon"
Certainly you have, sir, and shall
report you TO the Society. You agreed
not TO drink except when you washed
sheep. You cannot make me think that
you are going to wash sheep such a
cold day as this"
"F-follow me--hic--Deacon."
l. started for the barn, and the
Deacon followed. On entering the door.
the Deacon saw large wash tub stand
ing in the floor with an old ram lied to it,
the poor animal was shaking dreadfully
with the cold. and bIeasing pisyfuIly.
'Hic--,here, Did Deacon said L.,
pointing to The sheep. with an air of tri-
umph, "that old--hic--ram has been
washed s-sIx times notwithstanding
and l-hic-ain't done with him--hic--
yet"
1t is hardly necessary to say that the
Deacon vanished.