Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1869-06-03
Now, put one foot before the other,

| liuS ICCU "hlSh way W w, vi WndG
to do, and Tom didn't move along
in good style. "Something's got to
be done, boys-quick, too; for he's
getting bad" And poor Tom, get
ting every minute more limp and
hopeless, unconsciously resigned
himself into their hands, that they
might do whatever they pleased
with him. A grocer's large wheel
barrow was brought into requisi-
ton, and, with his. head dropping to
one side, and his legs dangling over
the end Of the uncomfortable vehi-
Gle, poor Tom rode to the door of
his fathers house. Father was out,
and the friends lifted the poor lad
up stairs and laid him out on sofa,
where he slept and snored as only
those who are under the influence of
strong drink do sleep and snore.
The sleeping and the snoring go
on for while, and pa comes home.
The room where the favorite closet
is, is the same to which Tom had
been carried, and is the first room in
the house which the old gentleman
visits. AS he goes to unlock the
closet, he sees and hears the slum
bering and snoring Tom. Shall he
be angry, or shall he pity him ? He
hardly knows which. Never was so
embarrassed in his life. His own
son-evidently drunk. Drunk by
his fathers example. No! stop a
moment. "Was 1 ever drunk -
Did he ever see me in this condi-
ton 70 'No, he didn't; the young
rascal ? He ought to be thrashed.
Needs lesson now at the begin
ming, and perhaps he will never do
it again. l will thrash him, big as
he is. Here, Tom! Wake up there,
sir! What's the meaning of this
Give an account Of yourself, STRIP
But it is hard work to wake the
poor boy out of his drunken sleer.
Let him sleep on, old gentleman,
and he will give you an account Of
himself when he wakes up. You
will take your little nip meantime,
will you? And do you notice any
diminution on the amount Of brandy
in that bottle as you take it out Of
the closet? Not particularly. You
do not scrutinize very closely as
you quietly withdraw it from the
closet and as quietly put it back
again.
| Well, after while the alcohol
goes out Of the boys brain, and he
begins to be himself again. But it
is slow and stupid work. Poor fel-
low! 1t would be rediculuous were
it not so sad.
"Where am I, and what's the mat
ter 90
''Matter enough responds the
old man, in no very mild tones
You are drunk, sir! That's what's
the matter!'''
ID drunk? ? Odd druk did
tyou-hic-say, d d-d-ad %
''Yes, sir; you've been lying here,
in my house, dead drunk Drunk
as fool Now, what have you to
say for yourself!''
"Sa-a- a-cy? VIII h -y--f act is
hic-fact is-hic-d -d-d a-d, Ill
g-g-o-t it-hic-out-out y-your
BIB -hottle-hic-h b. bottle !"
"Out of my bottle! Oh, God
And is my son drunk, for the first
time, out of his own fathers bottle :?
Oh, God! forgive him and forgi, e
me !''
And the old man rushed to the
closet, took his brandy bottle, and
. his gin bottle, and his wine bottle,
and dashed them down on the stone
floor Of the fire. place, and said
"God help me never to touch liquor
again and God help poor Tom p
And then he put his arms round
poor Toms neck and cried like a
badly.
5 Poor old man The fetters
: were upon him, and the shaking of
: them off was not the work of mo
, ment, nor was it the easy work that
t the dashing down of few bottles,
3 in moment of terrible remorse, lin
r dicated. The habit was one of too
long standing to be rid of so speedi-
r ly. And after few days the crav-
t ing for stimulus carried its poor
2 slave to the ''Importer of Genuine
: Liquors. and the key of the closet
5 was again turned on a few bottles OF
} genuine" poison for 'private'' con-
= sumption.
: And poor Tom? His first drunk
] was not his last. A few tears of
contriton. A few resolutions made
e in his own strength-broken in his
i own weakness. A few strivings to
5 do better chilled by the reflection,
: Father does it--why shouldn't I p
S and poor TOMS regular habit was to
e get drunk.
e Poor boy He went into the
{ army. Forced marches and eX-
q posure in all sorts Of weather were
l too much for constitution under
! mined by habitual intoxication, and
l kept up by the abominable liquid
, fire supplied by the suffers. Tom is
J, gone.
Toms father survives him. Too
!. .. late to save Tom, he saw the error OF
his own ways. God heard his earnest
cry for deliverance from the de
stroyer, and the temperance sermon
preached by poor Toms life and
:, death took such a hold on the old
=. mans saddened heart, that for
!, three years before his death not one
= drop Of strong drink weit down his
. throat.
My boy, beware of your first
. :, ''drunk." Don't touch u drop ol
: = poison, no matter who sets you the
example.