Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1867-06-21
JACK SPROUTS CONVERSION.

he swo'e quite number OF oaths, for he was
very angry. II was nothing wonderful for
Jack Spronght to swear, even 10 the presen G
Of his wife, for he was sad y given to the
habit OF using profane language. AND yet
Jack was kind husband aud indulgenf fa-
ther, an honest, industrious man, an accom-
modating neighhor and he possessed many
other excellencies Of character which might
have made him valuable member Of socie-
ty had IL not been for certain loose habits
which had marked his course from childhood.
His parents had been careless and profane
before him; his father had been rough Gus.
toner, SO Jack naturally came up in the track.
But he was good looking, kind hearted. 80.
cial and genial, and so he gained for wife
one Of the very best maidens of our town.
and one Of the handsomest
Master Freddy Sprout, aged FIVE years,
stood by his mothers ide, with sadly begrim-
ed and tear-stricken fee, aud his story was
that Soloman Gordon had whipped him with
o sick; and the boys leg still bore few
slight tokens OF the castigation. Two boys had
come home with Master Freddy. and their tale
had corroborated that which the sufferer had
given. Freddy, with some of his paymates,
he'd been throwing stones at Mr.. Gordon's 3
dy, had bit the animal, causing him to howl
with pain. OF course a stone thrown by
such tiny hand could not have Inflicted
much injury upon the canine brute, but Sol
omon Gordon loved his dog, and when lie
saw what bad been done he caught Master
Freddy and gave him thrashing. for, be it
known, Solomon Gordon was just such a man
as was Jack SIrout; warm hearted, generous
and neighborly but rough, uneducated, self
| willed aud impulsive.
"Dear Jack pleaded his wife, "don't go
out now." '.Let me alone, Abby No man
shall strike child of mine without having
TO strike me. shall go and see SOL Gordon,
and I'll give him such licking as he wont
forget in "a burg And Jack closed the SEN
tence with terrible oath.
mo, no, Jack---don't go. What good will
It do2 Wait till you are COOL" "Pshaw |
20 away, Abby. There is not power enough
ON earth to save Sol Gordon from drubbing
and I'll give it TO him before the sun goes
down."
! And ss Jack Sprout looked at the moment,
he gave awful evi ience that he was physi-
cally able to make good his words; for a
more magnificent structure of framework
and muscle was not to be found in that town.
"Dear Jack" cried his wife, taking her hus-
band by the arm, "oh, do listen to me one
onaht no, 20 ha ~ ,hrown .,onos n, cordar's
do1 w, Lno,y So,on,or snd h;, ,,;f, co,
evsrv,b;rg bv Tho j;,tle animal and bs would
NOT hail az the hovs If ,bsv d;d moi nls,ne
nim IF Won 90 and i;nd Gordon az ynn are
now Won W II, onIv make a had matter worse
o. wish YOU would drop It."
Jack only shook his head, and smiled one
of those smiles which are terrible on the face
of an angry man.
40, Jack, if Won would try the effect of
kindness upon Solomon Gordon. He is a
good man at heart Jack interrupted his
wife with n decisive sneer. "D.n't aupb a,
me. Jack. | tell YOU il would be better TO
do so. than 10 resort to blows. If you were
attacked, | should not blame Won for fighting
to protect yourself, but this is not case that
calls for your strength of muscle. There is
higher and noblcr strength that You can
use now" "Oho,' uttered Jack, 'you are
preaching. You are giving me some of your
Sunday School lessons. But don't want
Fem. You may experience religion as much
as you please, but you mustn't preach the stuff
to me-"
"Jack," spoke his wife with stern so,em-
nifty, shave been worse since ! began to
take an interest in religion e. "No, Abby,
YOU were good always. "Then why will
YOU not listen to me 7 IF you will stay with
me now-if you will wait til your anger i:
lcooed--and then 90 and speak kindly tc
Solomon Gordon. / give YOU my solemn
pledge that you will II you"
~, ,, A, -, ,.. III. .;e, an, II,
had su,orn ,ha, ha ,,o,Ja ,hrasI' S,J Cordon
81 ~. ,,,o,,,J - III. ,.ora us ,.n,r.,
'... =, ~ ho;,;. 80, oa h. - Ell,
s,.h;no ,o 40, his h. nas On ,hs ,,on yho A, r.
"a 90 s,.;Le III r.. Co. Frada, ,,,.s nj, me-,
"a ..'. h,o'' AZ, ia 49, LA on k;,
ah;d.s hcav had naaaa a rsst oe Grs On hi,
h.a., c. H.. M, h;s NC, a,.,,, t,o,, hi,,
"a h,,.;s, e., ~. 30. .,.,,o,;n, ,h.
e.. - '' A'
-, c,, .;,, .,ah,
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~. -, a., - ~ ,..,,s ha.. 80, a.
M: - IT, IT, -, c. ,ho,rn 81,
'. -, Ia, III, 80 ,,a,,
u," -
d., T,, Co... ,u.,;, j., ., ,,or
-r,,, - ~ -. ~ 80, o., oh;oo, :,
-, Ls .s,,.oahaa ~ ia,
rs, ., ~ ;a, ,',I ,ha Z. ~
W. "ah S "a IVA a,;., ~ -, .,' anS ,no hos
} ,"n;n~ s,r,.ard ho s,,nd ,ha, a hov had rsI
Ian s,or, ono of I, "a nro;se,ina ,in,hsrs INF,
the water. He looked over the railing, ant
saw the little fellow lust coming to the sur
face of the ioaming. boiling fiood--a curl,
headed hoy Just about the age of his ow
darling Freddy, stretching forth his tiny arm
in dispair. II was a terrible place that see,h
ling, roaring pool, where the great waters o
the great river came pouring down from owe
the high dam; but Jack did not hesitate -
He forgot his enemy-forgot everything bu
the danger OF the little one and only stop
ping 10 kick OIL his heavy boots, ana throw