Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-02-09
joined in the wild chorus which the chopper
every now and then pealed out 7q'g aNaa
g Never candles at nigh.

alqaaq aii Never home was so sweet N a7abs1
sv he,4e9 AS our woodland retreat ,- -
So where could we ever be happy but here =
d They drove rapidly, and talked mirthfully,
and soon reached their destination, the ball
room of the ,CloSernook tavern, in which that
night political speech was to be made. Il
was late and raining when the meeting broke
up, and portiea of the assembiaae adjourned
to the bar-room,, to waitfor the rain to slack.
and to talk off their excitement and prejudice.
| zsWell, boys said our Jehu who was
moved to the highest pitch Of his best humor
by the politicians speech, which chanced to
'meet his ideas exactly, 81 feel as if little
drop of something would do me good and
besides lwant you to jine me in drinking the
health of the apple-cutters. Here!' he con-
tinued, exhibiting bottle to the circle about
him, 'who of you will take off the head of this
"Lady Anne ~ ~ s... NJ isfdsir- nr WV
But one bottle did not suffice, nor two,
nor three; the spirits of the company rose
higher and higher strong and stronger
drinks were called for--the wood-chopper
protesting that he could stand treat as well
as another, and especially urging the liquor
upon his friend Zeb, topping off each proffer
with, Darn the expense, old rfeller; drink,
and forget your sorrows, aud Molly into the
bargain. Zeb declined at first, replying that
he dida't care anything about Molly but it
would not do he was asked if he feared to
vex the proudly, and had so surrendered his
manhood to her caprice. At last he yielded
to the current so strongly set against him, and,
swearing great oath, drank off more brandy
than might safely be taken by the most habit
ual tippler. But it is not necessary that
linger on that dreadful night Alas, for poor
Zebl it was night that for him never had
any ending. discs aro foE Boon r7ad -ad
The sun was struggling up, and the mists
were rising out Of the ground like hot steam,
when the wood-chopper again drew up his
cart before the old farmhouse and arousing
his companion from the straw in which he lay
In fevered and maddened sleep, assisted him
" NAS 6AVuuu3 OdluuCltS lllLu VII HIS lGGI DIS
one might a little child, and steadying him as
he tried to wall1-for he staggered feebly one
way and the other, telling the chopper he
didn't care darn who saw him, that he was
just as good as any man, and that Molly Blake
was the prettiest girl in the world, and he
would fight anybody who said she was not.
Come, Zeb,' said his companion, 'have
more pluck; don't talk SO like fool , and
passing his arm around him, he continued, 'be
like me-be a man y And with such en-
couragement, he brought his friend as near
the house as he dared ; and left him to make
his entrance alone. s,-r.r f..-r --.ff- .f
Zebulon Sands, said his father, meeting
him at the door, and giving the severest ex-
preston to a naturally severe countenance,
ARE you not ashamed to show your face to
me? wish you had died before L saw this
day. don't want to see nor speak to you,
he continued, still you can behave yourself
better. Ruth stood by, speaking not a word,
but looking her contempt and indignation,
while Zeb staggered against the wall, and
with downcast eyes picked the straws out of
his hair and from off his coat. He heard her
laugh derisively, saw her turn away, and
when he called her, she did not come-per-
hapS she did not hear him. In moment all
the imbecility of drunkenness was gone--he
knew what he had done, and felt self-con-
domination bitterer than thousand curses.
The rain came on again after an hour or
two, and continued throughout the day, and
Zeb, creeping into the barn, listened to its
falling on the roof, half wishing that some
dread accident would come upon him whereby
a reconciliation with his father and sister
might be brought about. But hour after hour
went by, and the dull and dreary beating OF
the rain was all he heard no CLEAN of sun
shine broke the gloom that was about him /;
no voice but the still reproving one of con-
science, met his listening ear SO the day
faded, and the night fell. At last, worn down
physically, and exhausted mentally, he slept,
waking not till the break Of day. The rain
had ceased, and the wind was whistling chilli
ly from the north. He remembered what his
father had said to him, and the contemptuous
laugh of his sister rang in his ears. If they
had looked kindly on him, his heart would
have been melted he would have asked their
forgiveness, and perhaps never again have
yielded to temptation, made even stronger by
his transient weakness. But they had met
him with no kindly admonitons, and he had
too much pride to seek an opportunity of
humbling himself; so giving one sorrowful
look to the old farmhouse, he pulled the torn
hat over his eyes, thrust his hands in his
pockets, and in few minutes the hills Of
home were lost to him forever s s.7f ls.b
Zeb whistled as he went, not for want of
thought, but to drown it, and he walked fast,
in a vain endeavor to get away from himself
The sun was scarcely risen, when he found
himself in the suburbs of the city, friendIess
and penniless / need not describe his efforts
to find employment of course he understood
but the work to which he had been used, and
his rustic manners and anxious credulity made
him liable to constant impcsitions.
aai sLas CHAPTER III. i
II Well, Ruthy, wonder if Zeb has found
better place ! said Mr.. Sands, one evening,
about fortnight after the young man had
gone to seek his fortune.