Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1857-12-24
PRINTED AND lpylglh1s1z11g1D D-
THURSDAY, DECEMBER "a, 1857

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destroys it. In like manner, if in the lar.
ger body there be one member who takes
his share of life from the whole, and gives
back nothing but a poisonous principle,
whose effect is disease and death, surely he
cannot be called a good member--nor hon
est, nor honorable
And pray, Mr. Mildman, asked the
tavernkeeper, with warmth, where will
! you lind, in society, such an individual as
you describe?
The minister paused at this question
and looked his companion steadily in the
face Then raising his long, thin finger to
give force to his remark, he said with deep
emphasis-
Thou art he man !"
Me, Mr.. Mildman mel exclaimed the
tayernkeeper, in surprise and displeasure.
GU surely cannot. be in earnest
l utter but solemn truth, Mr. Mud
dler: such Is your position in society =
You receive food, and clothing, and com
forts and luxuries of various kinds for
yourself and family from the social body.
and what do you give back for all these !?
\ poison to steal away the health and hap
piness of that social body You are far
worse thaa perfectly dead member-you
exist upon the great body as a moral gan
creme, Reflect calmly upon this subject.
20 home, and in the silence Of your own
chamber, enter into unimpassioned and
solemn communion with your heart. Be
honest with yourself Exclude the bias of
selfish feelings and selfish interests, and
honestly define to yourself your true posi-
ton
But, Mr. Mildman -'
The two men had paused nearly in front
OF Mr.. Muddlers splendid establishment.
and were standing there when the tavern
keeper commenced reply to the minister's
last remarks. He had uttered but the first
word or two, when he was interrupted by
pale, thinly-dressed female. who held a
little girl by the hand. She came up be-
fore him and looked him steadily in the
face for a moment or two
Mr.. Muddler, believe, she said.
Yes, madam, that is my name,' was his
reply
i have come, Mr.. Muddler, the woman
then said, with an effort to smile and affect
polite air, to thank you for present |
received last night
'Thank me, madam There certainly
must be some mistake ! never made YOU
a present. Indeed, | have not the plea
sure Of your acquaintance
You said your name was Muddler, |
believe? ?
Yes, madam, as I told you before, that
is my name
Then you are the man. You made my
little girl, here, a present also, and we have
come with our thanks
You deal in riddles, madam Speak
out plainly
AS | said before, the woman replied,
with bitter irony in her tones, have come
with my little girl to thank you for the pres
ent we received last night; present of
wretchedness and abuse
[ am still as far from understanding YOU
as ever, the tavernkeeper said-'I never
abused you, madam. | do not even know
you
But you know my husband, sir. You
have entlced him to your bar, and for his
money have given him poison that has
changed him from one Of the best and
then, owe all the wretchedness have
suffered, and the brutal treatment | shared
with my helpless children last night. 1t
is for this that have come to thank YOU
Surely, madam, you must be beside
yourself / have nothing to do with your
| husband
Nothing to do with him ? the woman
! exclaimed, in an excited tone Would to
/ heaven that it were 50 Before you OPEN
ed your accursed gin palace, he was sober
man. and the best and kindest of husbands
but, cnticed by you, your advertisement
and display of fancy drinks, he was tempt
! ed within the charmed circle Of your bar
room. From that moment began his down
fall and now he is lost to selfcontrol--lost
to fecling-lost to humanity
As the woman said this, she burst into
tears, and then turned and walked slowly
away.
TO that painful illustration of the truth
of what haXe said the minister remark
ed, as the two stood once more alone, Il
have nothing to add May the lesson sink
deep into your heart Between you and
that woman's husband existed regular
business transaction Did it result in a
mutual benefit Answer that question to
| your own conscience
How the tavernkeeper answered it, we
know not. But if he received no benefit
from the double lesson, we trust that others
may and in the hope that the practical
truth we have endeavored briefly to illus
trate, viii fall somewhere on good ground
we cast it forth for the benefit of our fel
low-men.
nn-A man should never put fence O
words around his ideas, because many whC
would otherwise pive him q fair hearino.