The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-09-21
effects of liquor, did he not =
80 I'm told was the reply.
well, did you sell him liquor 2

well, did you sell him liquor p
What il didl II hadn't somebo
dy else would. And what business is it
OF mine il he chose to kill himself with
it, I'd like to know 2 You will learn
that better than l can tell you on the
las: day. calmly rejoineG the interlocu.
tor, and went on his way. Returned the
corner, and was soon out of sight and
hearing.
'Now,' said Mr.. Jones, lust listen 10
that fool. But come in, boys, it's my
treat
SO in they GO, and the rum seller pours
out the liquid fire to his sdmiring friends.
They turn off their glasses.
Toll, toll
If them bells would stop their noise =
said the rumseller Il Just wanted TO
say | never killed poor Tom, did |, boys q
No said an old topper, who took bran,
dy. 1t wasn't you that killed him, Dick;
II was your liquor. He, he, ae = And
the crowd here laughed but at that time,
rumble, rumble, went the wheels of the
hearse right in front of the grogshop.-
How unfortunate They had put Toms
horse in the shafts Of the bearse to draw
his master to the grave. But the dumb
beast had learned, by long practice, TO
stop at post before the groggery door,
aud when they came to the place, in spite
OF ali the drivers exertions, he turned a.
side from the middle o. the street, and
stopped stock still at his old stand. An
involuntary shudder ran through the pro
ceSSion.
The drinkers came to the door, and
one or two, seeing the difficulty, went 10
tho drivers assistance, but the rum seller
urked behind in his den.
During the brief delay occasioned by
the stubborn animal, woman's face, ev-
identity red with weeping, was protruded
from window III n carriage next 10 the
! lIearse.
'ls he here I she asked.
is who there, ma'am 2 said a Young
man, stepping forward.
why, Mr.. Jones, mean
Yes, ma'am, he is inside here. Hal
loo, Jones' lie proceeded, turning toward
the shop door, come out here; there's q
lady wants to see you.
Jones came out reluctantly. WAS it
me you wanted, ma'am .
Are you Mr.. Jones 2
That's my name, ma'am.'
Are you Dick Jones y
Yes, ma'am, that's what they mostly
call mo-
We'll, Dick Jones, I've heard of you
| often, bui have never seen you before to
know you, sir. But now know you, sir.
Ill not forget that face, either that nose
and chin, and those eyes, think can
recollec, them till the judgment day, sir.
You'll have to answer for this Dick Jones,
that YOU will J And uttering q fearful
scream she wrung her hands in agony,
and fell back on the carriage seat. A
burst OF sympathetic grief arose from the
followers OF tile hearse even the hearse
driver wiped his eyes.
Jones was much relieved when the pro.
cesslon moved on again the rolling of
the carriages and the measured tread Of
the footmen passed by, and the streets
was once more silent. WELL said he, in
a soliloquizing way, Il am right sorry for
Tom, but his was an uncommon case
one Of thousand
But hold, Mr.. Rumseller What right
have you 10 kill one
One Of a thousand 2 You ought to
have said. one Of a thirty thousand, that
die from intoxication every year in our
happy country. Only some eighty or
eighty five such funerals day, Sabbaths
included. AS to weeping fathers and
mothers, sisters and brothers, and starved
and degraded children, beggarly and bro
ken hearted wives, I'll have you count
them fer yourself
A bysiander remarked, Il am told his
body turned very black before they got
him into the coffin
Alb, yes his body is shut up in drum
kard's grave. Al the last trump it shall
awake to shame and everlasting contem,
pt But bis soul, where ia it now Rum
seller, where is it, say Where is your
victims soul And where is II to be for
ever and ever
Toll, toll !
And does Jono still 60 unhung Un
hung He goes at large =; he is legslized
in the traffic the strong arm Of the law
protects him in it. How long, o Lord,
holy and true, dost thou not Judge and
ayenge this blood =
Rattle, rattle go the c!ods upon the
coffin the mound is shaped /; the citizens
return home; and the 'rumseler goes on
in his black trade. You meet him daily
in tho street, ,-English Paper.