The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-04-25
Little Lizzie

drink. nc never D'WSs ifuN 50"
house and he tries hard enough, know
10 keep sober, but he cannot pass jerks
tavern"
Mrs. Leslie was talking with symPa-
,hizins usiehbOr, who responded by saying
tina, she wished the tavern would burn
down, and that fjr her part, she didn't feel
any too good to apply fire to the place her
SELF Mrs. Leslie sighed, and wiped away
the tears with her checked apron.
"Itis hard, indeed, il H." she murmur-
ed, "lo see man like jerks growing rich
er and richer every day Oa, Of the earnings
Of p,o, working men, whose families are in
wal, of bread. For every sixPelcc that
goes over his counter, some one is made
poOrer-lo some heart is given thrOb Ol
pain"
lis downright shame" exclaimed
the neighbor, Indignantly. "IfI had my
way with the lazy, gOOd-lor-nO.hing fellow,
I'd see that he DID something useful, If it
wa. to break stone on the road. Were it
my husband, instead Of yOurs, that he en-.
ticed in TO his brr, depend Oa't, he'd &c,
himself into trouble
While this conversation was going on. a
little girl not over ten years Of age, sat list
enins atientively. After awhile, she went
quietly from the room, aud throwing her
apron over her head. took her way, IunOb-
served by her mother, down tho road.
Where was Lizzie going! There was a
pi'pose in her mlnd-she had started on
mission. 20. If they would'nt sell him
liquorw These elrnes:, fearful words Of
her mother had ill her thoughts. II Mr,
jerks wOuld'n eel her father anything to
drink, there would be no more trouble"
How simple, how direct the remedy. She
would 80 to Mr. jerks, AMI AK him 40, to
let her father have any more liquor, and
then all will be well again. Arlles', inno-
ceut child and this was her mission.
The tavern KEEP, by jerks, the lazies,
man IL Mllanyille--he was too lazy 10 work
and therefore went to tavern keeping
Stood nearly quarter Of mile from the
poor tenement occupied by the Le.lies.-
Toward This point nader a hot, sultry sun
lirle Lizzie made her way, her mind so fill
cd with its purpose, tia, she was uncoR-
ssiouS Of heat or fatigue.
Not long before u traveller alighisd at the
tavern. After giving directions TO have his
horses fed, he entered the blr-rOon, and
went up to where jerks stood, behind the
cOuGl'r.
"Hre something to drink :" inquired
the landlord.
I'm take a glass Of water, il you
please"
jerks could no, hide the Indifference al
once felt towards the stranger. Very DELHI.
crately no set pitcher AMI glass upon
the couuivr, and then larncl partly away.
The stranger poured out foil iumblcr Of
water, aud drank j, OF with an mir of salts
faction.
GOOD water, tina: Of yours, landlord, !"
said he.
1lsiIr was returned, somewhat uncOur-
taously.
~ call it good water, don't you g.
{" Never drink water by i,,eCn As jerks
sid this, he wiuked TO one Of his custom
rrs, who was lou1cins in The bar. "ln
fact, is's 50 !onI since drank any water
tha, forget how i: tastes. Don't you,
LsslicW u
The man to whom this was addressed,
was rot 20 far lost to shame as jerks. Tie
b.ushcd AID looked conGGsel, as he repIi- /
cl:
II might b, better for some ofus, iF We
had no, lost our relish for pure water"
- true word spoken, my friend ~ said .
tie Stranger, tuning 10 the man, whose .
swollen visasc and patched, rhread-barc
ga-men's, TOO plainly told Tho story Of his
sad lie. "Water, pure wafer, bright
wafer that.is my motto. It never swells
the face nor innames the eyes, no mars the
countenaucc. IL attendants Sge health,
thhN and happiness. II lakes not away
the eh,IJreu's bread. nor tie ,oiliDg wile's
garments. Water ii, is one Of Gods j
chieIesl blessings Our rJieud, the land
lord here, says ho has forgotten how it
iasle' aud you have lost all relish for The
rohc.hins daughl! Al, lhi, is sad con.
fession-onc which angels nigh, weep to
heat"
There were two or three Gus omsTs ia the .
bar besides Leslie, 10 whom this was adj .
dressed and all oilhem-ia spiic Of the .
landlords angry and snecrins eOuulenauce
treated The stranger with attention aud ,
respect. Seeing this, jerks could MT Te.
strain himself; so coming irOn behind lis
bar, n, advanced lc his side, and laying
his hand quite Iudcly on his shoulder, s'it.
ia peremptory manner:
"S.c here my friend! IfyOu are ubOu,
making temperance lecture, YOU can I'D.
journ 10 the town Hall OF Methodist Chapel"
The stranger novel aside pace or two,
20 tia, the hand OF jerks IN Ugh, fall from :
his po.-on, and then sid mildly:
"rhcre mus, be something wrong here,
iiaman may not speak in praise Of water, 7
without givias oiIence.n
81 said you could adjourn your lecture !"
The landlords face was now Gery red, and /
he spoke with insolence and passion.
30. well, as you are president Of the .
meeting, suppose we must let YOU exercise .
an arbitrary power OF Judgement" said the
stranger, goOd-humnrVdly. "Id:dnt think !