The Portland daily press., 1865-08-12
THE BUNCH OF RAGS.

ne Was urdW0 llLO bl6
| terrible snare, he had been am afectionate son
and brother; and friends counselled and minis
ters preached, and every means was tried to re-
claim him, but all efforts seemed lost. Tom
/ was bound hard and fast in the invisible
chains of the mocker. His family all mourned
him as lost; and many silent tear his sister
| let fall on his tattered garments as she sat
darning and patching them. aie
| Tom was infatuated, all agreed, but for all that
he was favorite, from the mansion to the
meanest hut in Airlie; and some good people
prayed for poor Tom Hail.
"Ahi these rents will not darn again p
| sighed Jennie, as she turned over Toms rag
| ged raiment. NIL.
In Toms better days he had pride, and it
was sad change when he did not care who
saw him out at the elbows Yftfs
But somehow Jennie could not find it in her
heart to abandon the brother she still loved I:
and so Toms tattered habiliments were taken
up again and made the most of.
kindness may win him back" said Jennie,
when he came home the worst he was met in
| peace if in sorrow sssl dfa ~.
just when the trees were beginning to bud,
with the promise of spring, Tom came home
one afternoon looking thoughtful. He was
sober, after long run. .isa8sa -a4esss
In the last rays of the setting sun his sister
was trying to cover some old darns. Tom sat
down beside her, and silently watched the pa
tient fingers for some time.
"Thats tiresOme work, Jennie" he said.
His sister held up her seam before him.
"Why that's bunch of ragsw laughed
Tom. 1904
eyes, Tom, and a bunch of rags would be
the best sign-board that publican could hang
across his door" said Jennie sadly.
Tom made no reply; he looked at the rags
in silence.
Next morning Tom went back to his work,
and continued steady for two or three weeks.
He looked at the Rainbow, but didn't 90 in.
"Hallol what's up with Tom Halp?' won
dered Sinclair, as he filed up a glass of Toms
fayorite whiskey for another customer at the
counter.
Sinclair was not the only one astonished at
the change.
Every day Tom went to his work, and every
night he came home sober; and after time
he appeared at church on the Sabbath. The
people began to believe Tom was in earnest,
and really meant to reform.
"The angel has come at last whispered
Florence, and bright drop fell on Dicks gold
en- head. i ilai- saarss f..sal8 -aG "
"Had Tom really become a tetotaller," won
dered Sinclair, when a whole month passed
without visit to the Rainbow.
Well, it seems so, for nothing stronger than
water had passed his lips in the shape of drink
since that night on which his sister had shown
him the bunch of rags s e
"I'Il have talk with Tom, and will learn
how he got off the scent, though" Sinclair re-
solved. hT Moafssa
Z An opportunity came sooner than he expect
ed. In the beginning of the summer terrific
thunder storm passed over Airlie, and amongst
general devastation, Sinclairs signboard was
shivered to atoms. Tom happened to be pass
ing The Rainbow next morning, and stopped
to glance at the old mark. fiaf bf
"Fine work here" remarked Mr.. Sinclrir,
who was standing in the door, @the storm has
done for us; and have got to get a new sign
board" IS
as it SO bad as that" said Tom.
"Yes, The Rainbow is in shivers,7 said Mr..
Sinclair, ta 2 l.eee i.f3s
@Then you win want a new signboard," said
"Of course; isn't that what Pm telling
you?" Hsx 8toa
as it to be The Rainbow again ?" asked
Tom. sas .sef
81 suppose So, answered Mr.. Sinclair, aun-
less you can give US new idea, Tom, he con-
tinued laughingly. t's
q think CAM said Tom, 4but must go
home first" 'so3 II5
Don't forget though" said Mr.. Sinclair.
II won't be long," cried Tom, and with
brisk step he walked down the street.
"Hallo, Tom, what's your hurry?' cried a
friend, as Tom came slap up against a corner.
@Oh, Sinclair's signboard was destroyed last
night, and am going to help him with new
one,' answered Tom with smile, which was
Numerically opposed to his new principles.
20 hol that's it, 7 resumed his friend, "but
perhaps it would be well for Airlie, if The
Rainbow was never set up again. .isD
Tom was out of hearing.
A better sign than The Rainbow Mr. Sinclair
did not expect to get; he was only joking with
Tom Hall, and he raised his eyebrows when
Tom made his appearance, with a bundle un-
der his arm, and requested him to look at the
new sign-board. af lisa sll
"I didn't think you'd catch me up" laughed
Mr.. Sinclair, "but step in, Tom, and let us see
your idea." 4eds4fa afs8x xHI
Tom gravely united the bundle, and held up
bunch of rags before the publican's astonish-
ed eyes. IS h HiHae a9aa
"What do YOU mean, Tom ~ asked Mr. Sin
clair, feeling confident that Tom had lost his
senses. sas A1
You want new sighboard- don't you?'
said Tom. 45dtat
"Well, what has bunch of rags got to do
with that ?" said Sinclair
"Ask yourself, sir, if bunch of rags is not
| the best sign-board that can hang across a
publican's door?" said Tom, and his lip quiv-
| cred.
''Was it that bunch OF rags thatmade you
teetataler, Tom? said Sinclair, more confused
than he liked to own. ia43t't -
It was Gods means, / think, sir" answer
ed Tom; "and, perhaps, poor wretehes, seeing
the end OF drink may bless you for that sign
| board" axtr
Tom walked away to his work, and Mr. Sin
clair went back to his counter, but all day that
| bunch of rags troubled him. He was kind
hearted man, and believed himselfa christian,
and heidi not like the idea of being consider
ed the cause of misery and rags. To a man
of his disposition it was painful in the ex-
| treme: and he could not help feeling angry
| when poor, shivering, ragged wretches came
in, and laid down the payment of glass;
| When he lifted their money, he felt as if he
| were stealing their means.
1t was a busy day, but every new conner
seemed more wretched and far worse off than
the last served We were thankful when
night came. f4af1 a 'a ~
The last customer was a woman literally
hanging in tatters. A little infant sat on her
arm. 1t lifted the rag that covered Its ma
ked limbs, and looked piteously at him. :.
4 go home and put clothes on your chnd,
said Mr. Sinclair, finging the money back the
Woman laid down. s
~, ~ have nothing but rags" said the woman.
iom is right" said Mr.. Sinclair, as he lock-
ed the door, "the end of drink is misery and
rags, ana the man who has taste for that sort
board"
mat same summer Mr.. Sinclair went into
the tea trade, in which he made a handsome
fortune Tom Hall is now famous en-
gineer. 8 4
Board on Pe0hc's Island.
| 1rxrTEa a,fsscriber is nrenarad fo aceo,,,oo,.