Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-01-02
gu 0riginal storg.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer
the DEFoRMED TRANSFORMED.
A TEMPERANCE STORY.
BY CLAUDE FORESTER.


BY CLAUDE FORESTER
ssI haveno faith, whatever, in your promises OF
amendment Again and again have you told me
the same thing, and again and again have your re-
solves been broken." And the speaker turned i'm
patiently away and addressed himself to one Of the
workmen in another part Of the shop.
"But, sir" said the applicant, timidly following
the wealthy manufacturer; you will, at least give
me one more trial I have no objections to work
for you week or so for nothing"
'sMr. Simmons" said the gentleman addressed,
IT have already stated that am not in need of
your services; and, now-to make matters per-
fectly plain-I will add, that I would not employ
you upon any terms"
The poor fellow looked up into the face Of the
Individual before him; then, in husky tone Of
voice, said, as he grasped the handle of the half
open door: II will not tresspass upon your time
and patience much longer, Mr.. Madison; but, with
your permission, would merely say"
ssWith my permission you add nothing whatev-
er to what has already been said, harshly inter
rupted Mr.. Madison.
Mr.. Simmons walked rapidly out of the Office,
slamming the door violently behind him.
"Who is that fellow?" asked young man, dain-
tily placing his pen behind his ear, and compla-
Gently twirling his moustache.
'Tom Simmons" replied MIR. Madison. IAN
excellent mechanic he is, too, poor fellow, It he
would only remain sober long enough to complete
job. Four years ago he was foreman in this
shop but, somehow or other, he took to drink,
and I was compelled to discharge him, much
against my wishes as well as my interests. Three
times since then he has applied to me for work,
protesting to be cured Of his folly; and upon each
occasion have I forgiven the past and taken him
into my employment again. 1t seems utterly i'm
possible, however, for the poor fellow to give up
drinking; so have been compelled to give him a
final discharge
Perfectly right, I am sure," said the book
keeper, seating himself beside the stove, and les-
urely watching the steam arising from his wet
boots.
IT do not pretend to dictate" said third party,
.timidly advancing from behind the desk and warm
ing his fingers against the roaring stovepipe, but
would it not be noble and generous thing to give
poor Tom another trial7''
Mr.. Madison started let the cigar fall from
his fingers, and looked wonderingly over his spec
tacles upon the flushed cheeks of his assistant book
keeper.
'sAllow Mr.. Madison to conduct his business
according to his own judgment, if you please,
said the head keeper, with side look, which
he intended should be particularly savage.
''Since you take upon yourself the advocacy OF
Toms cause, pray what have you to urge in his
o,l,od NJ Madison
'He is poor, abandoned wretch, sur, and eve
rybody have made up their minds to keep him
down. said the assistant book-keeper. with
the exception of yourself, sir, there is not man
in the city who has offered to employ him since he
took to drink. His feelings have been wantonly
and most outrageousy wounded on all hands, and
he has been thwarted and discouraged in every at
tempt to redeem his character and regain his for
mer position"
ssHe has nobody but himself to blame for all
this" said Mr.. Madison. 'You know very well
what high estimate have always placed upon
his abilities, and how repeatedly have endeayor-
ed to retain his services and thereby advance his
interests. He has it in his power to earn hand
some living and yet, in spite of all my efforts to
prevent it. persistently drinks away his money and
reputation, to the neglect Of his employer busl'
ness"
ssBut, sir, think how much his poor wife and
children must suffer this terribly cold weather.
For their sake would it not be generous thing to
give Tom employment?
"Why, Edwin, you surely do not know what
YOU are talkingabout, said MIR. Madison. "You
know as well as do, that Toms earnings would
not add anything to the comfort Of his family
Every cent of it would find its way to the pocket o.
the rascally grog-seller and only serve as an add
tional encouragement to the outrageous and rum
GUS traffic. No man has right to employ hab
itual 9runkard A thousand times better to lei
him starve himself into common sense than to fur
nish him with the means of working out his OWL
damnation with greediness. No, no; I am deter
mined to do nothing more for Tom Simmons!'
Was Mr.. Madison too severe? The reader has
only to think of man. in full health, with splendid
abilities, with lucrative situation and gradually
amassing competency-a man, having in his pos
session a beautiful home, virtuous, afectionate
wife and fond children; occupying in society and
the church prominent and respectable position
suddenly cut himself assunder from all these whole
some restraints and plunge madly into vice and
dissipation, bringing ln1amy anu osgrace upon MN
self and blig ght and ruin upon all with whom he is
connected.
such man deserves immediate confinement II
the nearest lunatic asylum. He is as much mad
man as the poor wretch, with glaring eyes anc
cbattering teeth, who clanks his chains behind thf
Grated doors of yonder prison house of granite.
Such man was Tom Simmons
He had held, since lis apprenticeship, one O
.ho most lucrative situations in the largest manu-