Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1854-03-30


idol of her imagination. from the first da V
OF their meeting in N. She had
thought and dreamed of him as something
superior to common mortals; but now her
craven image was cast down How were
the mighty fallen She was too well
versed in the tokens of inebriation to be
deceived by Healy's artful excuse for a
moment; and yet, how could she believe
that one she had placed so high in her
Ideal visions was a drunkard
Mary soon wiped away her tears, and
/ sat thinking of all she aud her family had
suffered, and what the families of all the
thirty thousand drunkards in the land
must suffer from this terrible scourge
and then she fcrvently wished she could
have the privilege Of setting fire t, all the
liquor In Chrlstendom. And then she
wondered if it were possible for her to dc
anything to stay the progress of intem-
perance. She knew that women, as we'll
as men, were exerting great influence IN
some parts of the country, and she knew.
too, that her mother and herself had been
instrumental IN her fathers reform. and
why could she not influence others.
Her reverie was broken by a call to
supper, so she descended to the supper.
|
| room.
Capt Leedsy liked Mary, and had al
ways treated her with the greatest
respect and not wishing to forfeit her
good opinion now, he began to make ex-
cuses about the lodger.
Well, if | could have my way said
his wife, would have no more liquor
bought and sold here, and no more
drunken fellows lodge in our house One
is IN danger every day of their lives of
having the house set on fire, or being as
saulted as Miss Aston was yesterday |
do wish. Mr.. Leedsy, you would stop sell
ing liquor
We must have a living some way
said the Capt rather sharply. and there
is more to be made by that than all my
other trade put together; and beside
that if we don't sell it, Gray yson will and
we should be as much plagued by it as we
arc now
%, no, not near as much; we should
not be Obliged to keep the drunken vaga
bonds then and we could have clearer
/ consclenccs, too
Uy conscience is clear enough said
the Capt. growing vexed Il never turn
PCNi AtAiOhS cot- uDOh p4tltr COlu HlrulS
as Grayson does much more the rich
ones who are able to pay for their lodgings
like the one here now
| hat, is he rich p
Yes Jack kean says that he is richer
than any man In this town
But how comes it that he is such sot2'
20, he's not a regular sot but having
got into rather dissipated habits at college
he, with others, have been suspended, anc
that is the reason he is touring arounc
with these fellows
We'll, if [ was his father, I'd tie hin
up at home
He has no father, and his mother can
always tie him to her apron strings any
more than you can our mischievous Barry
who isn't half as big said the Captain
looking smilingly at his son, bright boy
of ten.
Then it's hard case. after all. and |
pity his poor mother, let her be as rich as
she may for how | should feel, few
years hence, to see my son in that young
mans condition and how do l know but
what he may be if we live as we do now
much longer
\ sudden gloom seemed to settle upon
the Captains face at these words. and for
some minutes neither of the pair spoke
thinking, it may be, of the probabilities OF
such ia tie for their child but their re.
heetions were interrupted by the little
fellow himself
You needn't be afraid mama, that I
shall ever want to get drunk and lie in
the ditch like old Jenny and Phobe for
| don't like the strong stuff that makes
'cm SO. All [ want is the sugar that
some of the folks leave in the bottom of
the glasses aud that is so good, wish
every body would leave some don't you,
Miss Mary p
No, my boy said Mary, seriously,
wish, rather, that there was never any
thing of the kind to tempt little boys and
girls, and form a taste that sometimes
leads to their ruin
Mary sat down to the table with the
determination Of expostulating with the
Captain upon his nefarious business, but
the turn Mrs. L. had given the conversa-
ton precluded. in her judgment, all inter
ference, till Barry addressed her; and
now the dialogue was broken off by the
arrival of messenger with a summons
for the Captain and his wife to visit his
] lUUllSE, HuO lldu DCSil taken uIHgCEOuSif
i'll, and was not expected to live till morn
ing. After some preliminary arrange
ments, they obeyed the summons, leaving
Mary the children, and the lodger, in the
care of Charley Lee. the man Of all work,
good natured, honest fellow, who could
plant potatoes or chop wood. tend babies.
or sell rum in the absence of his master
! Mary, we may be sure, slept but little
that night under such circumstances !:
and as soon as she heard any one stirring
IN the morning, she reused little Kate
went down, and with her help. prepared
the breakfast and then sent IN Lee to see
what had become of Dana.
lie found him sitting up. pale and de-
jected, with only a dim remembrance Of
/ his last nights revol,
/ Miss Aston wishes to know If YOU
will come out to breakfast q said Lee
/ Miss Aston | did not dream. then
Bat where am II And how came |