Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1860-09-21
Wringlng their NeCks.

t'Good morning, neighbor Pluckins.
''Good morning, Mr.. Warren, returned
Tom Pluckins, who, though it was only
eight clock, was a little over the bay. r
eve are going to have meeting at tie
hall to night, continued John Warren
"A meeting ~ repeated Tom looking
rather vacant. s' -H H"a.sl ..# rli
-l."Yes, a temperance meeting you know"
81 know some fanatics" Ease,
''No. | think nos- J" ..- ....-........ .....
People that don't mind their own brs--
mess" 10
"But you know, neighhor Pluckins, the
Lord said to Cain, where is thy brother
Abel? We are to understand from this
Look here, Mr.. Warren DO you think
Gains brother Abel was off on a tight
when the Lord asked that question?". 7fat
"Of course know better" a et
Then Gains brother Abel has nothing
to do with the matter. Let every man
mind his own business them's my senti-
ments." '
Tom spoke with emphasis, and evident
ly intended to annihilate the other. r..
"We should be very happy to see you
at The meeting tonight, ........ -..... F..
81 suppose you would; bat you see my
mother always learned me to keep out Of
bad company, so can't 60"
Mr.. Warren laughed and Tom Naxed ell
oquent. .= s- a.... a.. -.
"What is temperance man, Mr.. War
ren?'' he asked, 49,.
"Why, one who tries to save himself
and his fellow men from certain destruc-
ton" ri "a, r.H-1 eds .z s.a L-r ..a r
''No sir, that's not temperance man;
nothing of the sort. A temperance man
is one that don't mind bis business; one
that feeds on water Cruel and cold pota-
toes one that is mean, dirty and contemp-
ible. / amt one of them sort dvn't poke
my nose into your affairs, Well change
| the subject, Mr.. Warren" -.
'.But you will come to the meeting ?"
'sNo, sir, won't 90 to the meeting. [
have too much self-respect for that. Mr..
Warren, your hens come into my garden
do theyl''r ......f f..
"They have learned bad tricks from you,
You never see my hens over in your lot.
That's because set them a good exam-
pie. POO 0s.a.aa-laaF -ar ....H
"I'lI endeavor to teach mine better.
'.No use, Mr.. Warren, unless you set
them a better example. Hens is like
human critters They like to see the
preaching and the practice go together"
Mr.. Warren deemed it prudent not to
argue the matter any further. Tom Pluck
ins was too much for him. He carried too
many guns for him when he was a. little
sprung; though he seldom INDUCED in wit
when he was sober " 'f a-s-el. T
Bv the afternoon of that day, Tom was
sharp as needle. As he continued to l,n-
bibe, he continued to grow witty, at last a
little ugly. In the evening he held forth
at the grocery store in the village, while
the Hon. Mr.. Waterspree to1k the op-
posite side of the question at the Town Hall.
Tom Pluckins was particularly down on
Mr.. Warren, his next door neighbor. a trm
and consistent advocate Of total abstinence,
who often crossed Toms path, and had
come to be thorn in the existence of the
/ topper .asiauaat, aaf uFrfaas sat o Tsf
Atthe grocery Tom was eloquent in his
denunciation of the temperance man. He
called him all sorts of hard names. and de-
clared that bis hens did not know any
more than himself. ti aa ."-s..s @.ri
e "Them hens, like their master. Is nui-
sanoe. They come into my garden when
they have no business to come, just as
their master pokes his nose into my affairs
Now, fellow citizens, can cure them hens !;
| can't cure the master, for be is a harden
ed sinner. / can wiring them hens necks,
/ should like to wiring their masters neck
but suppose that wouldn't do. . ~
Tcm continued, eloquently setting forth
bis own magnanimity and bis neighgbors
meanness He was determined to abate
the nuisance of the hens in the most sum-
mary manner, and stated his purpose to
destroy them that very night. Of course
his fellow topers commended bis purpose,
for the destruction of a dozen hens belong
ing to temperance man, was regarded as
a noble and chivalrous deed
1t was eleven O clock when Tom reach
ed home. 1t was very dark and bis head
was turned round. His neighbor's prem
ises and his own seemed to be strangely
mixed up, but he vowed the destruction Of
them hens, partly to abate the nuisance,
and partly as wholesome lesson to Mr.
Warren, and be was resoloyed not to sleep
till he had done the deed:
He then got over the fence with some
difficulty, and then stopped to plan the at.
~ HuEiH concluded on Fourth PAGE