Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1855-07-06
A Tavern Scene from Life.

up, is everywhere advancing. lNCoG
A Tavern Scene from Life.
Lizze Lcsic-'lit,le Lie she WAS call
ed, Il girl Of ten years-had drunken
father She once heard her mother say,
to sympaihsins neighbor, 80, if they
wouldn't sell him liquor, there would be
no trouble He's one Of the best men
when he doesn't drink He never brings
liquor into the house; and he tries hard
enough to keep sober, but he cannot pass
jerks tavern" Lizzie pondered these
words awhile, and it occurred to her that
the remedy for the trouble which was break
ing her mothers heart was simple enough
it was only to get jerks to promise that
he would sell her father no more liquor.
So the child missionary threw her apron
over head, and, uuobserved aud alone,
made her way to the tavern. A few mo-
ments before, a stranger had stopped at
the door, and going in, had called for
glass Of water, drank it with relish and
spoke so emphuically in praise Of the
simple beverage, that the landlord chose to
take offence at what he termed a temper
ance lecture his annoyance being increas-
ed by the fact that it was listened to with
interest by several ofhi customers, among
them the father of ''little Lizzie" In the
very flush of jerks indi.naion-but in
Mr.. Arthur's turn to speak, and We will
let him describe the scene that followed,
in his own language:
At this moment child stepped into the
uar-room. Her little face was flushed ,aud
great beads of perspirltion were slowly
moving down her crimson cheek. Her
step was elastic, her manner earnest, and
her large, dark eye bright with an eager
purpose. She glanced neither to the right
nor to tie left, but walked up to the land
lord, aud lifting to him her sweet young
face, she said in mes that thrilled every
heart but his:
"Plea,e, Nr jerks, don't sell papa any
more liquor
"Of home with you, this Instant ex-
claimed jerks, the crimson Of his face
deepening to dark purple. As he spoke
he advanced towards the child, with his
hand lifted up in a threatening attitude.
"PIease don't, Mr.. Jenks,' persisted
the child, not moving from where she
stood nor taking her eyes from the land
lords couuteDauce " Mother says, if you
wouldn't sell him liquor, there'd be no
trouble. He's kind and good to us all
when he doesn't drink.
"OG, say shouted jerks, now mad
dencd beyond selfcontrol; and his hand
was about descending upon the little one,
when the stranger caught her in his arms,
exclaimius, as he did SO, with deep emo
tlon :
God bless thee, child No, no, preci-
Gus one :" he added, don't fear him. Your
petition must prevail. lie cannot say nay
to one of the little ones, whose angels do
always behold the face of their Father IN
Heaven. "God bless the child :" added
the stranger in checking voice. 40,
that the father, for whom she has come on
this touching errand, were present now
If tLere were anything of manhood yet left
in his nature, this would awaken it from
its palsied sleep"
"Papa, o, papa"' now cried the child,
stretching forth her hands. In the next
moment she was clinging to the breast OF
her father, who, with his arms clasped
tightly around her, stood weeping his tears
with those now raining from the little
ones eyes.
What an impressive stiffness pervaded
the room. jerks stood subdued and be-
wildered, his state of mental confusion
scarcely enabling him to comprehend the
full import of the scene; the stranger look
ed on wonderingly, yet deeply affected
Quietly, and with moist eyes, the two or
three drinking customers, who had been
lounging at the bar, went stealthily out,
and the landlord, the stranger, and the
father and his child were left the onl J In
mates Of the room.
"Come, Lizzie, dear. This is no place
for US" said Leslie, breaking the deep ST.
lence. "We'll 90 home"
And the unhappy inebriate took his
child by the hand and led her towards the
door. But the little one held back.
"Wait, papa, watt" she said. ale
hasn't promised yet. o, wish he would
promise".'
"PrOmise her, in Heavens name" said
the stranger.