Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1857-04-18
STATE DEMOCRAT,

Davempsps. April ~. 1897.

In the pretty village Of Haddon6ell
n. j., some years ago, there resided Al
old fellow who was iamiliarly known
town and country round As "Old Joe
lie had no particular occupation excep,
doing "chores" or errands-nor pal.
tlcular location. lie ate wherever lac
could gets bite, and slept where,c,
he could find a lodging place. Joe was
regular topper, and jersey lightning
had no more effect on his Insides than
quarters at the lower tavern, for there
were two IN the town. lie would
sleep and dozc away the afternoon on
an old bench, in the corner Of the bar
room, but was always awake When
there was any drinking going on.
When he was not aske, TO drink, he
would slip up to the bar, and dram the
glasses Of the few drops lett III thom.
Onc afternoon DR. iolrs, the village
physician WAS ia the tavern mixing up
a preparation. lie placed a tumbler
half full of aquaiortis on the bar. and
turned round To niN up soinc other in
gradients. A few moments after, he
had occasion 10 use the poisonous dr"g,
when he found to his dismay, that the
tumblcr had been drained TO the last
drop.
MIR. Wiggins,' exclaimed the do
tor in alright to the landlord, what
has become OF the aquafortis put on
the bar few minutes ago.
Il don't know" replied the landlord,
unless Old Joe, slipped in aud drank
it."
In this suspicion they were soon
confirmed, for the ostler said hc had
seen old Joe swsllow the fatal draught.
The doctor. knowing that he must Ger
iainly die after the dose, instituted
search at once After some hours
spent in looking through the barns;
ont houses, and woods, for three miles
around the village Joe, was abandoned
to his fate. 1t was cold night, and as
the village topper, assembled around
the blazing hickory fire in the bar
loom, nothing Was tho't Of or talked
ot, but the unfortunate end OF poor cd
Joe. Some four day, had elapsed aud
nothing was heard from poor oid Joe, /
the, all came to the conclusion that l.e
MAS a goncr The doctor. about this Z
time, bad occasion To- visit patient
some eight miles distant; what was
his surprise when about five miles from
the village, to see OlI Joe in front OF
"A farmers house splitting wood.
why, Joe, said the doctor riding
up to the fence, Il thought YOU was
dead and buried before this"
why, what made you think that,
Doctorl" said Joe, leaning On his axe
handle
Didn't YOU drink that dose | left
OH Wiggins' bar, a few days since.'
YES" replied Joe, half ashamed to
own it.
DO YOU know whst it was an'
swered the doctor.
No" returned Joe.
why, it WAS aquaiortis-enough to
kill dozen men,"
well. now doctor, do YOU know
that | tho't there was something queer
about that darned stuff, ton after
drank it. every time that ! hlowed my
hose, | burned hole in my pocket
CoNvEksioN.--Mrs. Mary Cove
Nichols and her husband, OF Free
Love notoiiety, and the daughter,
young lady of some eighteen years Of
age, have publicly recanted the errors
Of their past lives and have united with
the Roman Catholic Church at Gin
cinnati. While We think the public
have much cause to rejoice that Mr..
and Mrs. Nichols have embraced the
Christian faith, we shall be greatly
il the Church to which they
have been admitted Shall have An eannl