Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-07-28
From Hearth and Home.l
JethrO TROOPS Night Thoughts,
BY JOHN THOMAS.

4
lScESE.-Room in clearinghouse in New York.
TINE, IL p. NJ, Sunday night. Jethro discovered
sitting on the side of his bed his hat mashed
down over his eyes, his clothing arranged. his hair
disarranged. his eyes blOod-shot. and his coun-
tenance wearinsan uncertain, dissatisfied express
sion. From time to time, he drinks eagerly from
wash-pitcher, as though there was great thirst
on him
Sunday in New York ant the same
thing as Sunday 10 Mllbank. Ugh!
what stomach I've got and how un
steady the bed is. | never observed
this rotary motion before in beds. 1
don't like it. l wish il would stop, and
let me get in decentIy, but it won't.
What a day I've had! Jack Armsby
called this morning, in as gorgeous style
as he was when | saw him in Mllbank.
He had on all his good clothes, and the
entire assortment of jeweIry which so
captivated me then. He doesn't wear
this rig week days, because the subordi-
mates in the house don't get salary on.
ough to support the same style, and it
isn't right for the principal men to so
dress as to lead them beyond their
means. But on Sundays, he don't see
them nor they him, and he can indulge
his taste in such matters.
We commenced the day with a cigar,
something had never enjoyed before
but once. paid for the cigars. What
prices they do get for cigars in New
York, though! When the elegantly at
tired individual behind the silver plated
show case asked me what sty,e of cigar
smoked, my eye happened TO fall upon
sign bearing the word Partagas, u
and said " Pariagas" Jack looked a
little surprised, and when received only
forty cents in change for a dollar, ]
looked surprised likewise. Thirty cents
for a cigar, and that on salary of So
per week! Why, in MilIbank, Lawyer
Adams and Muslin the storekeeper are
regarded as wild and extravagant be
cause they smoke cigars which cost ten
cents each.
When we got further down the street
and Jack int;mated il would be well en-
ough to take something" l made haste
to invite him, for really did not know
what to take, and / desired him to lead.
He assenteG gracefully, and nominated
milk punch as his beverage, and l OF
course took the same. The drink was
delightful in the mouth, but oh! the
bitterness in the soul when The cost
thereof was made to me. The bar-mau
with diamond pin as large as a lima
bean, brushed that dollar into bis draw.
err as | would chuck copper into an or.
gan grinders box. Thirty cents for ci
gars and fifty cents for a drink! One
dollar and sixty cents gone, and the day
not commenced.
What delightful sensation milk punch
produces! 1t didn't seem to affect Jack
particularly, but it did me. The mo.
mcnt the fluid was swallowed, remorse
for the cos. thereof vanished. The de.
lightful- warmth that diffused itself all
through my system obliterated all care
for cost or consequences, and l felt ms
never felt before. / awoke in the morn
ing somewhat discouraged and dispirited
and to some extent doubtful as to wheth
er had done wisely in coming to New
York, but all that fesling vanished.
felt confident that my pathway was clear
and that L should certainly attain al
that | bad hoped for. felt rich. /
had my weeks salary in my pocket, and
a little over three dollars which | brought
from home, and that seemed to me &c
be mint of money. insisted on pay,
ing the stage fare, TO which Jack assen
ted. l paid the ferry, and when We
reached the EIysian Fields in Hoboken
/ was in frame of mind to insist OF
more milk punch. i thought the beyer
age cheap at any price, aud one followed
another rapidly. Jack swore he would
stand by me through thick ard thin, ant
l actually wept as l thought what Q
friend ] had in him.
The third time we took milk punch,
remember l shook hands with him, a
the sight of which four young men
dressed very much like Jack. Uttered ant
winked at each other, and edged NJ
toward rs. Ordering Lano,ber mill