Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-12-03
miscellaneous
From Arthur y ROrre Magazine
LITTLE LIZZIE

brings liVsos toto the house; and he tries hard
enough, | know, to keep sober. but he cannot pass
jerks tavern"
Mrs. Leslie was talking with u sympathizipg
n~eighbor. who responded BY saying that she wish
cd the tavern would burn down. and that, for her
part, she didn's feel any too good to apply fire to
the place herself. Mrs. Leslie sighed, and wiped
away the tears with her checked apron.
at lie hard, indeed it is." she murmuted, ito
see a man like Jerks growing richer and richer
every day out Of the earnings of poor working
men. whose families are in want Of bread. For
every coin that goes over his counter, some one is
made poorer-to some heart is given a throb Of
pain"
"It's downright shamel' exclaimed the neigh
Dor, Indignantly "if l bad my way with the Ia
~. good.for-nothing fellow I'd SEQ that he did
something useful. if it was to break stone on the
road. Were it my husband. instead Of yours. that
he enticed into his bar, depend on it, he'd get
himself into trouble"
While this conversation was goins on. a little
girl, not over ten years old, sa: listening atten-
lively. After a while, she went quietly from the
room, and. throwing her apron oser her head,
took her way. unobserved by her mother, down
the road.
Where was Lizzie going? There was a purpose
In her mind-sho had started on a mission. 20,
it they wouldn't sell him liquor" These earnest,
fearful words of her mother had 6lied her thoughts.
If Mr.. jerks wouldn't sell her father anything to
drink. there would be 10 more trouble" How
simple. how direct the remedy She would g to
MIR. jerks, and ask him not to let her father have
any more liquor. and then all would be we'll again.
Artlees. innocent child And this hor p,is.
sion.
The tavern kept by jerks, the LATEST man in
Milanville-he was too lazy to work, and there
fore went to tavern-keepi ng-stood nearly a quar-
ter a mile from the poor tenement occupied BY the
Leslies. Toward this point, under a hot, sultry
sun, Lizzie made her way, her mind go filed with
its purpose that she was upconcious of heat or
fatigue.
Not long before, q traveller aligbted at the tav-.
ern. After giving directions to have his horses
fed, he entered the bar room, aud wen. up to
where jerks stood behind the counter.
slave something to drink 2" inquired the land
lord.
"1n take a glass of water, if you please"
jerks could not hide the indifference at once
felt towards the stranger. Very deliberately he
set a pitcher and a glass upon the counter, and
then turned partly away. The stranger poured
out a full tumbler of water, and drank it Of with
an air of satisfaction.
"Good water, tina. Of you're, landlord" said he
ais it?" was returned, somewhat uncourteously.
. call it good water, don't sou :"
"Never drink water by ITSELF" As jerks said
this, be winked to one of his customers, who was
lounging on the bar. "In fact, it's SO long since !
drank any water, that / forget how it tastes
Don't you, Leslie 2"
The man to whom this was addressed was no
so far lost to shame as jerks. He blushed and
looked confused, as he replied
at might be better for sons of us, il we had mol
lost our relish for pure water" 81"
"a true word spoken, my friend !' said the
stranger, turning to the man, whose swollen Wis
age, and patched, threadbare garments. too plain
~ told the story of his sad life. water, pure
water. bright water that is my motto. 1t never
swells the face, nor infames the eyes, nor mare the
countenance. Its attendants are health, thrift
and happiness. 1t takes not away the children's
bread, nor the toiling wife's garments. Water {! it
is one of Gods choicest blessings! Our friend,
the landlord here, says he has forgotten how i,
tastes and you have lost all relish for the re-
f~resbing, invigora,ing d~raught! Ab, this is a sad
confession-one which angels might weep to
hear!"
There,were two or three customers at the ban
besides Leslie. to whom this was addressed anG
ell Of them-in spite of the landlords Angry aaI
soseripg eoantenance-treated the stranger will
attention and respect. Seeing this, jerks coulC
not restrain him self SO coming from behind hi
bar, be advanced to his side, and. laying his han,
quite rudely on his shoulder, said, in a premptor,
manner:
"See here, my friend! if you are about to max
q temperance lecture, you can adjourn to the Tow
Hall or Methodist Chapel"
The stranger moyed aside a pace or two. so tina
the hand Of jerks might fall from his person, an
then said mildly:
'sTbers must be something wrong here, III ma
may not speak 10 praise of water, without giviu
ofense.1
Il said you could adjourn your lecture !" tt
landlords face was now fiery red, and he spoil
with insolence and passion.
20. we'll, as you are president of the neetin
suppose we must let you exercise an arbitrar
power Of Judgment" said the stranger good b
moredly. 81 didn't think any one had such
dislike Of water as to consider its praise an
solt"
AT this moment a child stepped into the b
room. Her iitie face was flushed, and gre
beads of preparation were slowly moving doy
her crimson cheeks. Her step was elastic. h
manner earnest. ard her large dark eyes brig
with an earnest purpose. She glanced neither
the right q r left. but walking up to the landlor
lifted 10 him her sweet young face, and said,
Lones that thrilled every heart but his:
-Pfsass, Mr.. Jerks. don't sell papa any mo
liquor !"
OF home with you this instant!' e~xclaias
jerks, the crimson of his face deepening to q da
purple. ,sAs he spoks he advanced toward I
child. wish his spli&ted hand in q thresteaing at
tude. ~r~A
'Plssss. doat, Mr.. jerks persisted the chill