Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1870-02-23
A VILLAGE BAR ROOM

Is IS, l was travelling from Ithaca
to Buffalo, in New York State, by stage,
intending to reach my home in season
to partake of the annual Thanksgiving
dinner with fond and loving friends, at
the old homestead. It was bitter cold
morning when we set out, and the roads
were frozen hard, there having been a
considerable mud only few days be
fore.
The first night We put up at Danville,
and on the following morning when !
aWOze, I found that the earth WAS not
only covered with SHOW, but that the
snow was falling fast After an early
breakfast wa set ont again on wheels,
but at the end of eight miles we Were
forced to take runners, the SHOW clOggiHg
up so that the wheels would not run
When night came we found ourselves
obliged to stop at a small village only
twenty miles from where We set out in
the morning.
A good supper was provided at the inn,
and the place had the appearance Of COM
fort. We had just set down to supper
when the wind began to blow furiOusly,
and we could see by the dim light without
that the snow was being Whirled and
driven about in a furious manner. There
was a fire in the small sitting-ToOm, and
thither we passengers, six of Us adjourn
ed. We sat there and cOnVeTsed until
near nine O'clock; and then ] went out
into the bar room to smoke a cigar pre-
vious to retiring.
In the bar-rOOm, ! fUnnd bright wood
fire burning, and some dozen people were
sitting there, smoking and drinking
This was long before the introduction of
Maine laws. Several of the company
Judged to be teansteTS; a rough, hardy,
goOd-natured set, who were enjoying
themselves hugely over a big mug of
flip ? Then there were several whom l
found to be Villagers-men who lived
near the inu-a set of village politicians
and newsmOngers, who made the bar
room their place Of social evening meet
ing.
l had lighted my cigar, and had tax
en- a seat near the fire, when ] noticed q
buffalo skin on one end of the settee Op-
pOsite to where ! sat, and | was conf
dent there was a human being beneath
Il. I supposed it might be stable hand
who had beep at work hard, or was eX-
posed to be up most o. the night, and
was now getting a little sleep. 1 was
looking at the buffalo robe, and thus
meditating, when I heard a low, deep,
if. and in a few moments more the robe
was thrown upon the floor, and the man
who had TepOsed beneath came down
upon the top of it, and there he lay for
some moments like a dead man. l had
lust started up, when four of the villag-
ers hastened to his assistance. They
lifted him to his feet, and after consider
able effort he managed to stand up.
Nv God /! what a thrill struck to my
heart when | saw that face. Itwas one
of noble features; brow high and am
vIv developed, over which clustered
mass Of dark. glossy ringlets; the face
beautifully propOTtiOneds and each sep
parate feature most eXquisitely ctisellpd.
But what an expression rested there
nqV
Fhe great dark eyes had Il vacant, idi-
otic stare the face Was pale rs death,
and the lips looked dry and parcled, and
much djseOlored. His clothes were torn
and sOiled, and one of his hands bloody.
He was surely not more than five and
thirty, and his appearance would at once
Indicate man of more than common
abilities. but the demon had him and
had made him something now below
the brute.
"How dye feel now, George asked
one of the men who had gone to his as
sistance.
But he only groaned in reply, and he
was soon persuaded To lie down again,
being told that he'd soon feel better As
soon as he was on the settee once more,
and the buffalo over him, the men re-
turned to their seats.
who is that chap, asked one of the
teamsters, looking towards the villagers
who had been assisting the unfortunate
man.
That's George LocilIaud, rptHrned a
stout. honest looking man.
Does he belong here -
Yes. Didn't ye never hear of him"
The teamster replied that lie had not.
'Well) resumed the fat man, its too
bad. I declare It's. LOckland might be
one of the first men i'm town if he'd
mind to; but you see he will drink and
the worst Of it is he makes fool of
3limself, He laH't touch it without do
ing lust as he's been doing NOW. He
started here as Il lawyer, and smart
one he is too. Why, he can argue old
Upton right ont of his boots. But We
zee he's lost all his customers now. They
darn't Trust him with business, cause
he amt sHrG Gf ever doing IL. He's got
one of the heautifulcst little wives you
ever saw; and one of the handsomcst
children. But, poor thing Ipfty 'em
Then there's another thing; rum oper-
ates differently on him nom Whist it does
on almost everybody else, but it seems
to eat him up inside. You see how pale
he looks-Woll, he'g always 80 when he's
on one Of these times. lie can't CAT
nothin', and don't 'sposc he'liput q bit
OF TODD into nis stomach for a week to.
.,tr,ug