The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1867-07-18
oites, lteraur Agriculture 5cn lloraIp @euea 1ntesenr
STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY, PA, JULY is. 1867

children amt half clothed, and things
are growing worse instead of better. =
What sort of an example are you settin'
to your boys? How do you think they'll
grow up? My soul, John, if you don't
stop drinking, we shall all go to the poor
house together"
John Nudgkins scratched his head. -
This speech had completely taken him
aback. He had braced himself for tor
rent Of abuse, intending to hear it pa
tiently through, and then go and get
something to drink, but he had no excuse
yet for flight, SO he sat still and mute. =
And the wife, seeing what a strange ef
feet her words had produced, continued,
in the same strain:
"John, only think how much better
off We might all be if you would only stop
drinking. Do you ever think of it?'
"John caught at the idea which had
often foated through his mind, but which
he never had the courage to present to
his wife. He caught it, framed it for his
speech, and then, with some shrinking,
as though he expected the pent up tor
rent to follow its delivery thus presented
it:
Polly Nudgkins, I'll tell you what I'll
do Just as long as you'll go without
looking cross look or speaking cross
word, I'll go without drinking drop of
rum. There! I'll stick to that swear
willv'
"John Nudgkins, you're fool''
" l s'pose [ am. At any rate | won't
deny it,"
Aud with this, John picked up his
rimless hat and started for the door,
John, come back here?"
John stopped and looked at his wife
There was anger UPON her face, but doubt
and perplexity were striving to overcome
it. With mighty effort Polly lifted her
self above the angry tide.
"John Nudgkins, are you in earncst?"
Polly Nudgkins, am"
"And will you keep your word? ?"
will, as true as preachin'"
You won't drink another drop of
rum till | look cross look, or speak a
cross work ?"
L won't, so help me Jerusalem"
Give me your hand, John. There
now go out and leave me alone. The gar
den wants weedin', and you might be do
ing that, while I'm fixing up the house" I"
Three glasses of the best old Jamaica
could not have brought such glow to
Johns face as did those few words his
wife had spoken. She had spoken to him
of his neglected garden, and had done it
kindly. He could not remember when
such a thing had happened before.
John Nudgkius was five and thirty
years of age, and was house carpenter
by trade. His father had been hard
drinking man and profane man, and John
had been brought up without any regard
to moral or religious education. Very
fortunately for him, considering the in
hnences that surrounded his childhood
and youth, was naturally kind hearted
and honest, 50 he instantly went clear of
any vices that bcset his path, but his as
sociations we're low, and he did not rise
above them
Polly Nudgkins had once been Polly
Perkins Her father died when she was
quite young = died from the effects of
strong drink = and Polly had been
brought up by hard working, cross
grained mother, who treated her children
as though they were so many animals,
loving them III her way, but never show
ing that she regarded them as possessed
of tender hearts and important souls. If
Polly had good qualities of disposition
| they had never been nourished by her
mother, but her muscles were trained Wig
orously, for she was brought up to work.
The elder Nudgkins and MIR. Perkins
had once been boon companions, and thus
John and Polly became intimate in child
hood. John grew up to be good look,
! ing man, and Polly grew up to be bux-
ON lass, and in time John proposed and
was accepted.
Some women said that Polly was fortu.
nate. They said so because John was
free hearted and handsome They did
not know how very far short of making a
good husband these qualities might come
The people had said John had gained
a prize in his wife. They judged her as
they would an OK or horse = she was q
worker
Aud John and Polly were married. :
John was free hearted still, and Polly
worked. But John did not make any
change in his old habits, and Polly brough,
to the married life the same influence that
had surrounded her at home AS soon a.
the cloud came she became cross aud pet
ulant; AMI when things grew worse she
went on to be morose aud tyranical. She
did not know better because she had ncv
er been taught to do any better. She did
not strive to improve herself because she
saw no OCCASION; and as for studying the
great problem of life, it was something
that had never entered her mind. She
saw her husband going down hill - going
from bad to worse aud she felt that she