The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-03-29
John Waggoner's Recruit.


bsagl I'm going tc put tin print.
I an plain nan in most respects, but
Ia one respect am little peculiar. In
respect to keeping sober Under circun,
stances that make other fneh drunk,
never met any man like me. The vicious
monarch the Temperance Society is op-
posed to, has no terrofs for John Waggo-
nef, I presume you may have heard Of
that Are eating Southern chsp-mhas was
his name ?--who used to boast in Wash
ington before the war that he twas berr
ihsensible to fear" He must have been
an awful BOBBY, if he didn't tell hbA
that's my opinion of him. Whether ]
was born insensible' to fear Of 'sKing Al:
ehy, the serpent" L don't just remem-
Der. At any rate it's fact that liquor
can't fuddle me q bit-nct a bit. Bui
bless your heart, that I never thought a
Dragging matter. I've got a swill tub
down at the farm that will hold more Ii
quor than any man / ever saw.
When was in the army vas teeto
tier in principle. Every man has his own
bit of influence in this world, and 1 never
gave any comrade of mine chance to
say that he drank because John Waggoner
drank. I don't believe wkiskey makes a
soldier brave, even though it may make
him reckless. A good soldier takes
care of himself-that's my experience
He don't go to war to be killed, he goes
to fight. Give the enemy fts, and look
ont for Number One all the same, is my
motto.
IF don't hate mean man ain hot
acquainted with my own sentiments
Since I was boy it has always been a
source of pleasure to kick a mean t1arl=-
morally or phisically-wbeneyer the good
Lord sent me favorable opportunity
I've seen many ihsah man in my day
I've seen man that was so mean that he
abused his wife till she got divorced from
him, and then tried to get her to be his
mistress. But in my humble opinion
I've been soldier, sir, and faced my
country's foes under fre-theres nc
meaner style of man living than tbs fel-
low who tries to make dirty money b3
dealing in substitutes.
t read the papers pretty carefully, ant
don't skip the advertisements. I have
got deal OF gbod out of advertisement
at different times. Last week I fend al
advertisement of substitute broker whc
is named Miggs, in the city. Plenty 9th
efs like him there were, to be sure; bu
my way of dealing with swindler is tt
pick out one of the swindlers and giy'
him handling. I picked out Miggs
and went to town to see what the prospec
might be for handling him.
The first man I met was Joe Smith
and told him I'd got little job to do
and wanted his help. Joe knows me.
"All right" says he. I" What is j
John?"
I" Do you know a chap named Miggs?
Substitute swindler?" says he.
Yes; C. E. Miggs."
7 "Guess I dol He's been trying to ge
me to sell myself to him cheap" @
"For SUBJ"
| ayes
"Yeu don't sayl Come, this is jus
the talk Find me Miggs, will you? I'r
substitute r.
!" Pooh! You amt going to let enc Q
! those dirty sharks gobble you up an
make hundred dollars out of you, ar
you John j.
i "He won't make more than that out @
me, any how. All I ask of Jou is to Sc
him on. Tell him to get me drunk, an
I am his man. will bep'
"Oh, see p John you are geo
egg. Here's my hand"
i He was straight off, and 1 waited o
the corner for him. Pretty soon he cam
back with Miggs--a lean chap, with sor
eyes and terrible voice. He was dress
ed in shiny broad-cloth suit, and wore
blue vest with regulation buttohs
could have knocked him down for that.
"Mr Miggs," said Joe, +" let the intft
duce my friend, John Waggohef, frcl
J the country. I want you to show hi
the elephant, Miggs. Mr.. Miggs know
the city like book, John. He'll tax
care of you. Come round to my hous
morrow, and I'll be more at leisul
f, than am to-day
, Joe went off, and left Miggs and
standing on the corner. "You're m
game countryi' Oh, am n thought
) but l looked peaceful.
Smiths good fellow, amt he?" p
; ped Miggs.
! Yes said t, " he's we'll enough, b,
he's too darned particular for me. 3
don't never drink With feller, and
. there is any thihg l like it is.not tea.''
: "Ho he hep squeaked the sor