Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-03-25
TIRE BUNCH OF RAGS.

THE BUNCH OF RAGS.
| Every body liked Tom Hall, and every.
body was sorry tor him. Ii was sad to see
such a fine young man victim 10 drunken
ness, and Tom had fallen into the mocker's
power unwlttingly, it seems.
| A new spirit shop had b, en- opened close
on the foundry AT winch he worked, and he,
| along wita others, was IN the habit OF going
IN tor u glass of ale. When the cold wealth
er set i'll se took something stronger, and he
imagined that spirits agreed with him. Tom
went on, and the liking for strong drink it,
creased and grew stronger, until al all hours
he might be seen staggering out OF the
"Rainbow,' dizzy and slupii.l with the
| drugs OF The intoxicating cup.
| Toms was a very sad case, for he belong
ed to very respectable family, and had
been reiigiously trained, and until he was
drawn into the snare he was an alleclionate
sou and brother, and friends counseied and
ministers preat he'd, and every means tried
to reclaim aim, but AL effort seemed lost
| Tom was bound hard and fast i'll the invis-
Bile chains Of the mocker. His family
mourned him as lost, and many a silent tear
his sister let fall on his taltered garments as
she sat darning and atchiug them.
Tom was infatuated, all agreed but for
all that he vas a tavorlte, from the mansion
to the meanest hut in Airlie, and sJme good
people prayed Tor poor Tom Hall.
| "Ah, these rents will not darn again!'
sig he'd Jeannie, as she turned over Tom 5
ragged raiment.
la Toms better days he had pride, and it
was sad change when he didn't care who
| saw him ''out III tie elbow
But somehow Jeanne could not find it in
her heart to abandon the brother she still
loved, and so Toms lattered hablliments
were taken up again and made the most
| of.
"Kndness may win him back said Jean
ME, AID when he came home at the worst
he was met in leace, if in sorrow.
just when the trees We're beginning to
bud with The promise OF spring, Tom came
| home looking thoughtful. He was sober
after long run.
In the last rays Of the setting sun his sis
ter was trying to cover some Old darns.
Tom sat down beside her. aud silently
watched the patient fingers tor some time.
|
His sister held up her seam before him.
"Why, that is bunch of rags laughed
Tom.
"Yes, Tom ana bunch of rags would
be the best slgn-bolrd that n publican could
hang across hi. door, SAID Jeannie, sadly.
Tom made no reply. He looked at the
rags in silence.
Next morning Tom went back TO his
work, and continued steady for two or three
weeks.
He looked at the 'Rainbow," but didn't
go in.
Halo! what's up with Tom Hall p won
dered Sinclair, as he filed up a glass OF
Toms tavorte whisky for another customer
at the counter.
Sinclair was not the only one astonished
at the change.
Every day Tom went to his work every
night he came home sober, and after a lime
he appeared at church on the Sabbath
Then people began to believe Tom WAS in
earnest, and really meant to reform.
"Has Tom Hall really come a teetotal-
er?' wondered Sinclair, when a whole
month had passed without visit to tie
Rainbow Well it seemed SO, for moth.
ing stronger than water had passed his lips
in the shape of strong driuk since that night
on which his sister had shown him the bunch
OF rags. "I'll have ak with Tom and
learn how he got off the scent, though Sin.
clair resolved.
An opportunity came sooner than he ex-
pected. In the beginning of summer ter
rifle thunder storm passed over Alrlie, and
among general devastation, Sinclair's
sign-board was shivered to atoms.
Tom happened to be passing the Grain
bow next morning, and stopped to glance
up at the old mark.
"Fine work here" remarked Mr.. Sinclair
who was standing in his door; "the storm
done for US, aud III have t. gel new sign
board"
"Is it so bad as that p said Tom.
"Yes the Rainbow is i'll shivers,' said
Mr.. Sinclair.
"Then you'll want new signboard," said
Tom.
"Of course isn't that what l am telling
you?"
as it to be the Rainbow again 2" asked
Tom.
Il suppose so" answered Mr.. Sinclair
unless you eau give a new idea, Tom, con-
,inued he, laughing
IL think i can returned Tom; "bu'
must 90 hume first
Don't forget, though" said Mr.. Sinclair
"You're a stranger, nowadays, by the by
Tom"
II won't be long" cried Tom, and with q
brisk step he walked down the street.
"Hallo, Tom what's your hurry!" cried
IA.
ner.
"Oh Sinclairs signboard was destroye ed
last night, Gnd | am going to him with a
new one" answered Tom with smile, which
was Numerically opposed to lis new prin
ciples.
..Oho that's il, is it ?" resumed his friend
"But perhaps it would be as well for Airie
il the Rainbow was never set up again"
Tom was out OF hearing.
A better signboard than the "Rainbow,
Mr.. Sinclair did not expect TO get; he was
only joking with Tom Hall, and he raised
his eyebrows when Tom made his appear
ance, with bundle under his arm, and re-
aues,cd him to look at the new signboard.
IL did not think you would catch me up
bu, step in, Tom, and let me see your idea
Tom grayey united his bundle, and held
up bunch off rags before the publican's
astonished eyes.
"What do you mean, Tom r asked Mr.
Sinclair, feeling confident Tom had lost his
senses.
"You want new signboard, don't you ?
said Tom.
"Wel, what has bundle of rags got to
do with that ?" said Mr. Sir clair
ASK yourself, sir, il II bunch of rags is
not the best spnboard that can hang across
the publcan's door, said Tom, and his liz
quivered.
"Was it that bunch Of rags that made you
a tee,oaler, Tom p said Mr.. Sinclair, more
confused than he liked to confess.
at was Gods means, | think, sir" an
swerel Tom, "and, perhaps poor wretches
seeing there the end Of drink, may bless yor
for the signboard."