Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1853-04-27

CHAPTER ii.

\ --e--+
The filthy stuff happily did not take effect
on bis brains, till the job was done. The
| pig-pen was cleaned on. but Jim was in
condition which better fitted bin to occupy
| it, than the reat, white aoored kitchen Of bis
cottage But Jim did not realize this I'M
| pleasant truth. and leaving his shovel and hoe
in the sty. staggered into the house.
He was sight to behold" as Mrs
Scroggins told the minister. The job be had
got completed was emiaeatly nasty one. and
Jim, "a we have besere remarked, being q
prudent man. had prersred himself to per-
form i. without ans detrimens to the neat
garments be ordinarily wore.
He was dressed 10 suit Of ragged clothes,
and on his head rested shocking bad hal"
With the crown stove in. and the brim half
torn off. As the liquor began to fuddle him,
he had moved it over from its perpendicular
post ton so that it rested jauntly on one side
Of his heap.
Jim settled himself heavily 10 chair by
the cooking stove, looked silly. and seemed
disposed to address himself to slumber--h:s
usual resort when inebriated
Mrs Scroggins was mad at frAt for it
was only the day before, that Jim, for the
hundred and first time, bad promised never to
drink another drop, not even il case of sick
hess
| But what was The use Of being mad with
such poor, silly imbecile being, as he was
at that moment. He was not 10 condition
to appreciate regular matrimonial blow up,
aud she wisely resolved to reserve the vials
of her wrath to be poured out at more con-
venient season.
She looked at him, aud thought Of losing
the little place--of pennry. degradation, mis-
cry aud the poor house lucky thought
rose, like the phenix from the flames. out Of
the contemplation fthc dark picture, and af-
ter few minutes deliberation, she put on
her bonnet and cloak, and hurried over to the
village, not halt mile distant
For the week previous, a young dagner-
reotypst with portable saloor--a kind Of
ovsrgrown omnibus--hkd been delighting the
villagers, By giving taom the semblance of
their faces, At PRICES vssyiag from nine sbil,
liugs to three dollars bead, depending upon
the value of the case,
| All the people in town had been daguer-
reotyped, and the omnibus man was the most
popular person ia the village All the danes
and maidens were taken and every Jonathan
and Jehiel who could boas. of Susan, Ruth,
or Sally, was taken, with her by his side in
the picture, bis arm thrown lovingly round
her neck, and beth looking unutterably afiec.
tionate.
] But Mrs. Scroggins was not sentimental !;
she had gotten over all that, long before Jim
took to drinking, She proposed to put the
skill Of the daguerreotypist to more practi
cal use than that Of getting the good will of
lover
She entered the saloon. and though her
heart did beat little at the degradation Of
exposing her domestic matters to an entire
stranger, she demeaned herself with all the
frmness becoming the trying occasion.
Fortunately for her. all the people ia town
bad been taken, and it was dry time with
the artist, In as few words as possible, she
stated the case TO him, and the young man
readily promised bis cooperation.
Taking his apparatus under his arm, be
accompanied Mrs. Scroggins to the cottage,
where Jim was sleeping of the effects of the
villauous " New England"
The inebriate sat in precisely the same po-
siton in which bis wife had left him. He
was asleep in high back chair, which kept
his head up so that everything was favorable
for the sitting.
In trice, Jim Scroggins, old hat, ragged
clothes, long beard, dozy, drunken expression,
and all, were transferred to the plate.
But the picture did not suit the artist he
thought one taken when the sitter was awake.
would be more correct representation.
Mrs. Scroggins thought so too, and after the
daguerreotypist had putin new plate, she
walked him up.
"What d'you WANT growled Jim.
"Wake up p and the lady gave him a
smart pinch, which opened his eyes, giving
to the incbriate, the true expression of a
drunkard.
The artist was prompt, and in an instant
the second edition Of Jim Scroggins was on
the plate.
The original not being required for further
use, was suffered to sink away and complete
his nap.