The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-05-25
On ah JsmpIars Column
From the Home and School Journal -
MOUNT yERDANT PAPERS. n
BY ACTON fLoY. 80 y

TEMPERANCE MkkIlNG IL. TAVERN. |
In the springtime of ls49 l was
threading my way along the course of .
winding river which rolls its tide along
the borders OF Westland, when the clouds
began 10 gather dark and lowering over
head and the distant tones of thunder
told plainly Of coming storm. Soon
the lightnings began to glare wildly in
the heavens. / flew on Jehu-like seeking
shelter from the coming storm. / turned
a sharp bluff and came down upon
cluster of houses which passed for vii
lagc. II might have served as the sub
jet of another poem like Goldsmith's
Deserted Village. 1t was one Of those
towns which abound on the rivers Of West
land, where no church or school-house is
to be found. Hats were stuffed in brok-
en- windows; pendant clapboards ratified
as if affrighted at the distant tempest.
saw sign post, and soon alghted by
its side, and after some time and trouble
drew forth the landlord who put away my
horse. With saddle-bags on my arm /
entered the old fashioned Bar Room. As
soon as opened the door the miasmatic
fumes rising from whiskyed stomachs,
told the nature of the den | had entered.
Twas in drunken revel house. Irish
men and Dutchmen, Englishmen and
Suckers, with one live Yankee composed
the motley crowd. There was but one
man among them; lie like myself had
been driven in by the storm. / was no
sooner in than a Hibernian, we'll pleased
to see me, muttered out:
"An me friend its wet day, isn't it,
faithg'
at is going 10 be wet" observed.
"Well, sir" continued Pat otis our
custom here to have a trate from the
stranger, and il yc phase we will drink
health TO ye."
~ never drink any, and discourage it
in Others"
"Och an yer q teetotaller, are YER
was in for conversation; there was
no getting around it.
avail" said Yankee, ave are tempe
rance men too, and we 90 in for the Maine
Law; we mean to destroy the liquors as
fast as we can by drinking them up"
az reckon" said Sucker" ave had
better hold temperance meeting, and
these two new corners will make speech
es for US"
"Well, that will work first rate said
Pat, "and if they spake here we will an
swer them with knock down arguments,
sure"
"I reckon" said Sucker, eve will leave
out the knock DOM part; and now Col.
YOU must be Chairman" said he, address
ing the landlord who had just come in,
"and well have speech and song, and
song and speech"
"Agreedw cried all.
"Agreed; but you must let me sing
half the songs" cried l.
avail, guess that will do" drawled
out Yankee.
snow for a speech, new comer," said
Sucker, addressing me.
"But," l observed, "we'll get ques-
ton first" and l gave: RESOLVED chat
whisky is an indispensable creature of
God"
The resolution took, as / knew it void.
had ends in view. l was TO deal with
hard customers and tried to be equal.
"And now, man, for a speech from
yourself" said Pat, looking at me.
90, but you have got the affirmative,
and your side must speak FIRST" said l.
Yankee, who had been in q debating
school down East, here interrupted. ale
has. us my boys; we are on the affir-
native sure enough and must speak first;
that was the rule where come FROM"
Our chairman was by this time nearly
asleep, and amid the jabber of men there
was no proceeding until we had new
president. There was an Englishmar
there who was such swill-tub he could
never mako himself drunk. Since he wa:
the most sober of the lot, l said, "See
our president is asleep; move the mar
in the broken chair be president" In he
went with acclamation. This aroused the