Buchanan County bulletin and guardian., 1868-08-07
SsIett.o i,Jistellanp.


| From the Little Corporal.
PACL PUfFERsK rEMPERANCE
| MEETING.
BY JULIA u. TIAYeR,
"Halloo what's the fun ?' said Tom vii.
| son, as Le hastened across the common, in
| compliance with gesture iom w alter Gum.
"Hush n said Walter I" do you sec that
thing lying over there Inder the big ma
pie p
81 see dirty bundle Of rags" answered
Tom, softly.
I" IIumph! and what's inside the bundle,
Tom ? Make that out, il you can"
cts Paul Pufier. astrue a. live" cried
Tom "And precious sot be is. Dead
drunk, I'll warrant. AID what is he hug
sing 80 close, Waltz b4by-or q kitten
or a-pshaw it's his dd dsmijohn. Ha
ha | hn !" laughed Tom, holding his sides /;
show be loves the cratar,' Walt"
"Now," said Walter, keep quiet, and
see what old Puffy will dc, when be wakes
up and finds bis 'bsby gone"
what! Walt, ysurs'nN going to-"
Yes, that's just what I'm going to-" said
Walter, resoluteIy. "Why not, pray tell 7
II saw a man with razor at his throat,
wouldn't I snatch il away, double quick
Nov, here's poor fellow with no more sense
than dead dog, and dose Of poison di,
rectly under his nose. Ill tell you what,
Tom, there's death and destruction in that
old demUohn, and shall consider myself
the beneiactor Of mankind, III make away
with il So here goes !"
Tom held his breath, while Walter crept
softly up to The sleeper, who was too thor.
oughly stepped in the contents Of the bottle
to Be aware Of it, abstraction. They watch.
ed him . moment, in silence then, with
hasty steps, turned toward the margin cf .
pond that lay at . little distance. Making
stone fast TO the wicker handle of the dem.
John, Now" said Walter, swinging il back
and forth 70 gain momentum,
Ons--two-thYee-
The bum-be--bee--
The roos-ter-crows-
And--away she goes"
Thug, went the bottle, nearly into the
middle. of the pond while, the cork being
out, it gave one OF two gasps for air, then
sunk, leaving only bubbe on the surface.
The water broke into rippIes of quiet laughs
ter, but held its secret close.
The two boys, with slight tinge Of re-
morse for the daring theft, sat down in the
shsde OF willows, from which one began to
fashion . whistle the other, with hands
clasped over his knees, Was wrapt III thought.
At last, Walter broke the sileRce.
~ say, Tom, was that shabby trick, or
not r.
Rather" said Tom, coolly, consider.
isg that your father sells him the liquor"
IL never thought of that replied Wall
ter, his brow ansA;sg crimson my father
does sell ii, and We live on the profits. We
| have fine house and furniture, aud . grand
piano while Paul Puter, and others like
him, have rags and dirt and disgrace ; and
| their families have abuse and starvation. 1t
isn't very even trade, is it, Tom? y, l
hate it from the bottom of my soul.n
.'Fie T. said Tom, what need you care
If your father didu't do it, somebody else
| would"
1 "Just wha, father says; !" replied Walter
| "but my mother is good, Christian woman,
| aud she's down on the whole thing. She
says she would rather have her children beg
CARS, than to see them enriched by such o
traffic. I've promised her, soIemnly, that
will never have anything to do with it. Ths
truth is. Tom, I'm sworn enemy to King
Alcohol, aud if were only mau-fact is
I've great mind 70 do something, aow."
"And who says you haven't done some
thing" cried Tom come T. and giving q
last look At "old Puffy" who still clasped
his darling demjohn, in dreams, they turn
ed homewards.
Mr. Gum was highly respectable liquor
dealer, Wholesale and retail, 10 the beauti
| ful village of Maplewood.
His establishment, with it large assort'
ment OF liquors, its shining rows Of glasse:
and decanters, its neatly sanded floor, and
the pretty boque, Of flowers that graced the
] center table, on summer morning, had q
| cosy and pleasant aspect.
Mr.. Gum was, also, in his way, strictly
honest man. His brandies were the purest
his wines the choicest, his business transact
| ions the most honorable.
II - well>to-do customer presented him,
| self, he did the best he could for him ran
sacked the cellar for the rarest beverages
WAS polite, friendly, agreeable; and strove
| to overcome any unpleasant memories Of O
neglected home or forsaken workshop.
| For al this kindness, be accepted, as long
as il was to be had, money after that, jews
elry, at one quarter its ,alue-a wife's lock,
ct, or wedding ring the well-saved ward,
robe OF better days; or, these failing, Q
mortgage, perhaps, on the little house and
los, already 90 stripped Of every appearance
| Of decency and comfort, as to be scarcely
worth his acceptance.
But there was q point where bis disposi-
tion to oblige his thirsty friends ceased; il
was when the mortgage was foreclosed and
his victims beggared.
Did you ever see fat, yillainoos spider,
Turing simple flies into his msshcs, and then
sucking their life blood?
just 20 was Mr.. Gum. Many . man,
| prosperous and happy, had gone into his
den, and come out, 30 to speak, stripped oi
al that makes life blessing.
Many youth, full Of promise, had step>
ped in there to take social glass with .
! friend, and come out with character wreck>
| ed, and hopes blightsd. Many lad, from
sucking cider through . straw, outside the
door, had gone on until he drained the very
dregs Of voc and ruin.
But il is time We had Mr.. Gums opinion
Of oil this.
"Let me sce = said he, to himself, pacing
back and forth, with his hands behind him
twenty five years ago commenced busi>
ness one year more, aud shall be satisfied
to close out the concern. Light up, Jenk,
ins, and make it look as cheerful as possi-
tlc. We must try and get back some Ct our
old customers. There's Pu.er hasn't been
around these six weeks wonder what's be-
come Of him! and Joel Grinders do you
know anything about himr p
Dead" said Jenkins, shortly, giving the
gas IN extra tIrn.
Dead how's that 7"
Delirium trelnens, sic; was down there,
myself; never want to see another sach i
sight. Goodness! he thought all the ieuds
of darkness were after him p
Mr.. Gum was silent; and, to judge from
| the expression OF his countepance, his ths'ts
were anything but pleasant.
At this moment some QUE touched his sl-
bow, aud, turning around, he beheld little
pale, pinched face, with plecocious look oI
suffering stamped upon it. A child's voice
whined,
Please, sir, l want loaf of bread-rm
| hungry and mother said | should ask YOU