Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-11-21


mind who-you know, sir,
"' What Patterns boots Surely
you don't mean those
- No others, sir, II isn't because that
! haven't got pair and as he spoke he
held up one one of a very good pair
but because feel like fading out of my
fright, aud want. another dose to hold
me quiet
90 You may have them, and welcome,
Bill, said |, and couldn't forbear laugh.
ing at the recollection; you striped EN-
OIL pretty quick the last time you had
them on however you shall have them
If you fancy them
"'There you're wrong, sir he replied,
with an earnestness that was startling.
1T is no fancy. 1t is because hate 'em
that | want EN- and what Is more, | |
want EN- TO wear 'em. Nothing weaker |
than them horrid things is strong en-
ough to hold me back from the drink. |
Good resolutions won't do tall that |
my wife can beg and pray Is not equal
TO it. I've kept it of for three weeks
now but you don't know what I've
suffered. 1t is worse than hungering for
bread, is thirstiDg for gin, when once
you've made 1t your food. 1t haunts
me. 1t peeps out at me in trimming
measures and in tempting wide. mouthed
glasses from the dark corners OF the
shop. sweat OF 1t the harder / work,
and its trickling down my face drives
me mad, almost. l go TO bed nights
only TO dream OF 1t. For the Lords
sake, let me have the boots; shall
never be able to make strong stand
against temptation until have them
! on.'
"Of course you have had no hesitation
! in giving him what he desired, after such
an appeal 2" remarked.
"Ot course; got them out for him
at once. There they are, my lad, said
I. IF they only do half as much good
as you imagine, they would be cheap st
8 hundred dollars
$50 he took them, thanked me heart
lily, and away he went. No one knew
his strange fancy but myself, and | re-
solved to say nothing about 1t. IF
am not mistaken, thought TO myself,
the whole neighborhood will hear OF It
soon enough : for sitter he was gone it
occurred to me, and caused me no little
uneasiness, that unhiDged as the mans
mind evidently was, his wearing of the
detestable boots would provide the fin
ishing stroke' and presently we should
hear Of drunken Bill Herd being an in.
mate of lunatic asylum.
"But am glad to tell you that was
mistaken - altogether mistaken. His
hunger for drink was so violent, and the
dread of its effects so torturing, that the
remedy he chose Against it proved not q
bit too strong. Feeling uneasy about
him, kept my eye on him, and saw
that he stuck TO his purpose manfully
l met him as though by accident the
next day, as he was returning from
work, and he touched his cap Cheerfully
at the same time glSnCing down at his
feet, which were inCased in the boots.
saw him many day after that, through
! six months, till one Monday morning, 8
healthy and respectable man, he made
his appearance here with parcel In his
hand.
81 thought that I should fud yor
alone, sir said he. l hoped so. I'vC
brought back the boots. l can do with
out 'em at last, do hope and believe,
And then he went on to tell me OF TIT
struggles he had endured, and In which
aided by the boots. he had contrived L
come off victorious. Once said he
that was three weeks after you were 81
kind as to let me have 'em-I had WORT
them every day, and felt so strong IL
, my mind that I thought l would Civ,
, my feet holiday; so l brushed M
other boots and put'them on, and wen
off to work. But somehow l cOuldn'
r settle down to my tools. AS | STOPPED
, to the shoeing, the boots that | had 81
. nearly slipped in~seemed to mock m
, and say, You'll be ct 1T again befor
nightfall.' And 80 | believe that
should, had | not, as It were, taken tn
devil that was tempting me neck ant
, crop and bundle him. out. How strony
, are you Are you not strong enough
to walk to the corner and have just on
drink, and out again What sort o
, man are you, II you are not stronl
I.enough for that? How do you know
that you are cured till you are tested
. 80 felt the old 'un coming over me.
didn't hesitate minute then, but put
ting my tools aside, : ran home ever,
step, and got into my Egly, make.sur
boots again. But that's a long tim
ago, and l think that Il am all RICH
now
'1''Don't make too sure, tBnl," said I.
- don't mean to, sir, else I shOulC
have burnt my make.sures, or throw
'em away; as it is, bring em back 70
you TO nina for me, If you will be s,
kind-at the same time hoping ant
praying that I may never want en-
"And I don't suppose that he eve
will, remarked the sergeant in conclu
sion, "for it's over year ago since h,
pulled them off, and now he is risius
man, with shop of his own