Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-08-11
CHAPTER N,


of vile New England rum. .#
Happily the filthy stuff did not take
effect OH his brain till the Job was done
The pig pen was cleaned out, but jim
was in condition which better fitted
him to occupy il than the neat. white
hoored kitchen of his cottage. But jim
did not realize this unpleasant truth, ant
leaving his shovel and hoe in the stye
staggered to the house.
He was sight TO behold as Mrs
Scr0ggins told The minister. The iot
he had just completed was essentially
a dirty one, and Jim, as we have remark
et, being prudent, had prepared himself
TO perform it without. any detriment to
the neat garments he ordinarily wore
lie was dressed in a ragged suit of old
clothes, and on his head rested shock
ing bad hat with the crown stove in and
The brim half torn off. As the liquor
began to fiddle him, he moved it over
from lis perpendicular position, so that
il rested quite jauntily on one side of his
head. ... ... ..
Jim settled himself heavily in a chair
( by the cooking stove, looked silly, and
seemed disposed TO address himself to
slumber, his usual resort when ineDria
! ted. .......-. ...
Mrs. Scroggins was mad at first, for it
was only the day before that Jim, for the
hundredlh time, had promised never to
drink another drop, not even in case of
sickness. ~. ..... .... "a. ..
But what was the use of getting mad
with such poor, silly, imbecile thing
as he was al that moment. He was no,
in a condition to appreciate regular
matrimonial blow up, as she wisely re-
solved to reserve The vials of her wrath,
TO be poured out at more convenient
season. 81. -..... .-... ....
She looked u, him and thought Of los
ing the little place-of penury, degreda-
ton and the poor house. A verv lucky
thought arose, like the Phoenix from the
flames, out OF the contemplation of the
dark picture; and after few moments
deliberation, she put on her bonnet and
cloak, and hurried over to the village
not half mile distant. =.
For week previous young daguer-
reo,ypist, with portable saloon-a kind
of overgrown omnibus-had been de-
lighting the villagers by giving them the
semblance of their faces, at prices vary.
| ing from nine shilings to three dollars
head, depending on the value of the
case. .-.. ..
All The people in the town had been
daguerreotyped, anG the omnibus man
was the most popular person in the viii
lage. All the danes and mdidens had
been taken. and every Jonathan and Je-
hial who could boast OF Susan, Ruth
or Sally. was taken, with her by his side
in the picture, his arm thrown lovingly
around her neck. and looking unut,erably
affectionaie.
But Mrs. Scroegins was not sen,imen.
tai; she had gotten over all that long be-
fore Jim took 10 drinking. She propos-
ed 10 put the skill of lhe daguerroiy pist
to more practical use than tina, OF get
Ting the good will of lover.
She entered The saloon, aud though
her heart did beat little at the degreda.
tion of exposing her domestic matters
10 an entire stranger, she demeaned her.
self with all The firmness becomiDg the
trying occasion. ...s
Fortunately for her all the people in
town lad "been taken and il was dry
time with the artist. In as few words
as possible she stated the case TO hlm,
and the young gentleman readily prom
lsed co operation.
Taking his apparatus under his arm.
he accompanied Mrs. Scroggns TO the
cottage where Jim was sleeping off the
effects of the cilIainous New England
rum.
The inebriate sat in precisely the same
position in which his wife had lett him.
lie was asleep in high backed chair.
which KEEP, his head up, SO that every
thing was favorable to the sitting.
In a trice Jim Scioggins' old hat. rag
ged clothes, long beard, dozing, drunken
expression, and all, was transferred to
the plate.
But the picture did no. suit the artist;
he thought one taken when the sitter
was awake would be more correct rep.
resen,alion. Mrs. Scroggins though, so
too, aud when the daguerreoty pist had
pu, in new plate, she walked him up.
What dye wan.!' asked Jim with a
yawn.
Wake up!' and the lady gave him a
smart pinch, which opened his eyes, Civ
ing outthe true expression of the drunk
ard.
The arts, was prompt, and the second
edition OF Jim Scroggins was on the
plate in an instant.
The original, not being required for
further use, was suffered TO sink away
and complete his KNAPP.
The pictures were put into frame,
and Mrs. Scroggins produced her mon-
ey.
Nothing, ma'am, shall not charge
you anything.
But, sir, am able 10 pay
The artist shook his head, resolutely
refusing to touch her money. Of course
Mrs. Scroggins was grateful, and gave
the artist an invitation 10 take tea with
her, which he accepted. In the course
4 II Al. l.