The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1853-01-13
washing sheep.


washing sheep.
=. The following story is decidedly rich. III
any one has read it before, let him read and
laugh again:
"A year or two since, when the subject of
temperance was being discussed freely, the
citizens of little town in the western part
of Massachusetts, called meeting to talk
over the matter. There had never been a
temperance society in the place, but after
some little discussion, il was voted to form
one. They drew up a pledge of total abstin-
ence, and agreed that it any member of the
society broke it, he should be turned out.
Before the pledge was accepted, Deacon
ID. arose and said he had one objection to it;
he thought that Thanksgiving day aught to
be free for the members totahe something,
as he could relish his dinner much better at
this festival if ne took glass of wine.
Mr.. l.. though that the pledge vas no. per-
feet. He Didn't care any thing about Thanks
giving but his family always made a great ac-
count of Christmas, and he couldn't think of
sitting down 10 dinner then without some
thing to drink. He was willing to give it up
OH all other days, and, in fact, that was the
only time when he cared any thing about it.
Mr.. d. next arose, and said he agreed with
the other speakers, except the time. He
didn't think much of Thanksgiving or Christ
mas, though he liked a little any time
There was. one day, however, when he must
have it, and that was the Fourth of July
| He always calculated upon having a ''reg' lar
drink" on that occasion, and he wouldn't sign
( the pledge if it prevented him from celebrat-
! ing Independence.
Squire s., an old farmer, followed 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 il
would give him the privilege of imbibing
when be washed sheep. Why, he consider.
ed it dangerous for him to keep his hands in
cold water without something to keep hin
warm inside.
i After some consideration it was concluded
that each member of the, society shou d take
his own occasion to drink Deacon ID. OF
Thanksgiving, Mr.. L., Christmas, etc. The
pledge was signed by a large number, and tn,
society adjourned in furnishing condition af
ter voting that it should,be the duty OF tn,
nemberes to watch each other to see tina
they not break the pledge.
The next morning Deacon ID. walked int
his next neighbor.s yard, who by the way
was Mr.. L., the sheep man, wondering as
was bitter cold morning., whether't1:, wa
up yet. He met his heghbor coming out G
n muse, and, to bis surprise, gloriouslv drunk
&. or to use a modern phrase, burning a very
!, beau iFul kiln" 49,
HI "Why L..!'' exclaimed the astonished ID q
con, what does this mean, sir! You hav
broken your pledge. and dssraced our socier
and the temperance ceus,."
.'Not-hic--as you knows on-hic-De;
a con-" said l.. ISL Observation-Disclosures tn
o -hic pledge, Deacon. .a4 80
"Certainly you have, sir, and shall repor
e you to the society. Yoa agreed not TO drin
: except when you washed sheep. You cal
5 not make me think that you IRE going
J. wash sheep such a cold day as this"
It .F-iollow me-hic-Deacon." $50.
is l.. Started for the barn, and the Deaec
ID followed. On entering the door, the DeacC
is saw 4 large wash-tub standing in the flo
an old r,rn lied to it, the poor animal sha
SO ing dreadiuiIy with the cold. and bleating pi
bt fully.
I'd "Hic-;here, D-d-dcacon." said L., poin
fe ing to the sheep with an air of triumph, 9Th
ID o'd--aic ram has been washed s-six tim
ed ihis-hic--Inorning. and I-hic-ant dol
with hm-hic-yet.
g. Iiis hardly necessary to say that the De
e. con raIzzled. lTHAMAR.