American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1855-09-15
CHAPTER III.


Jim was cleaning out the pig-pcn,
aud as the operation was rather dissa-
greeable ono he had fortified his ol.
factories by drinking an inordinate
quantity of vile New England rum
The filthy stuff. happily did not take
effect on his brain ill the job was done.
The pig pen was cleaned out, but Jim
| was in condition which better fitted
him to occupy it than tho neat white
doored kitchen of his cottage. Bot
Jim did not realize this unpleasant
truth, and leaving his shovel and hoe
in the sty, staggered to the house.
'He was sight to behold as Mrs.
Scroggins told the minister. The Job
he has just completed was essentially
a dirty one, and Jim as we had remark
ed, being prudent. he had prepared
himselfto perform it without any detri.
ment to the neat garments he ordina-
rily wore. He was dressed in rag
ged suit of clothes, and on his head rest
ed a shocking bad hat, with the crown
slowed in, and the brim halftorn of. -
AS the liquor began to fuddle him, he
moved it over from its perpendicular
position. so that it rested quite on one
side ofhis head.
Jim settled himself heavily in a chair
by the cooking stove, looked silly, and
seemed disposed to address himselft to
s!umber, his usual resort when inebria-
ted. Mrs. Scroggins was mad at first
for it was only the day before that Jim
! for the hnndredth time, had promised
never 10 drink another drop, not even
in case of sickness. But what was the
use Of getting mad with such a poor
silly imhecile thing as he was at the mo.
ment. He was not in q condition To ap.
preciate regular matrimonial blow-u
and she wisely resolved to reserve the
walls of her wrath to DO poured ont mt
more convenient season. She looked
at him, and thought of losing the little
Iplace--of penury, degradation, and the
poor house. A lucky thought arose
like the Phnnix from the flames. out of
tho contemplation Of the dark future;
and after a few moments deliberatiop.
she put on her bonnet and cloak, and
hurried over to the village not half a
mile distant. For a week previons a
lyoung daguerreotypist, with portable
saloon-a kind ofovergrown omnibus
had been deligh,ing tho villagers by
giving them the resemblance of their
faces, at prices varying from nine shil-
iings to three dollars head. depending
on the valuo Ofthe case. All tho peo.
pie in the, town had been daguerreo.y-
ped, and the omnibus man was the
| Iap IL
the danes and the ma;dens had been Ia :
ken, and Jonathan and Jehial who could
boast ofa Susan, Ruth. or Sally,
was taken with her by his eide in the
picture, his arm thrown lovingly around
her neck, and looking unutterably afI'ec-
tionate.
! But Mrs. Scroggins was not sentimen.
tai; she had got over all that long be-
fore Jim took to drinking. She propo.
sed to put the skill Of the daguerreoty
! pist to more practical 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 en-
tire stranger, she demeaned herself
with all the firmness becoming the try
ing occasiou. Fortunately for her, all
the people in the town had been taken,
and it was dry time with the artist.
In a few words as possible, she stated
the case ohim, and the young gentleman
readilypromised cooperation. Taking
ms apparatus under his arm, he accom-.
panied Mrs. Scroggins to tho cottage
where Jim was sleeping off tho effect of
the villainops New England The in.
ebriate sat 10 precisely the same posi-.
ton in which his wifo had left hE.-
he was asleep in high backed chair
which kept his head up, so that every
thing was favorable to the sitting.
In a ,rice Jim Scrogqines old hat RAG.
ged clothes, long beard, doing, drunk.
en- expression, and all wore transferred
to the plate. But the picture did no,
suit the artist, ho thought one taken
when the sitter was awake would be n
more correct representation. Mrs.
Scroggins thought so too, and when
the daguerreotypist had put in new
plate she walked jim up.
What dye want g asked jim, with a
yawn.
Wake up ! and the lady gave him
a smart pinch, which opened bis eyes.
giving out tho true expression of the
drunkard.
Tho artist was prompt, and in an in
al NJ r q l..