Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-03-17

| ~ssNs
throw grandfather's old carcass into
the heap
4 don't dezactly see the hic-pint,
only pint Of rum but I'll hic-'sent !;
won't fuse responded the third.
Yes. yes echoed the next, in q
mandlin, singing tone oh golly how
jolly feeling is stealing all over ;
moreover, I'm blissfally, wistfully, lner-
rily, thoroughly drunk but you know,
and you see, / will go, and I'll he up
on the strong side, in the my-jaw ri-tee'
'Ho-ho-hold your tongue, you foo
foo-fool,' interrupted the fifth. 'Ye-ye-
, yes, Char-Charles, we'll chee.chee-
cheer-f-f-fally agree to tha-that.'
Somewhat Of an inducement truly
replied the irresolute Charles. At most
it will only be suffering in good
cause.
Mistaken man will you do evil that
good may come! Where now is your
good angel before whom the tempter
was to fy?
Where are Hosford, and Mike, and
Jerry!
The latter, unused to such baccha-
nalian revelry, had retreated to his
couch in the loft, where he lay covered
up, head and ears trembling from
fear that the drunken men would make
him drink, as they had threatened.
Hosford and Mike were away to the
north size of the pond. on a visit TO an
other camp.
Had either been near, to arrest that
hand, as it was slowly and hesitatingly
raised to his lips. Charles would have
been saved But the fatal glass was
drained, and the fallen man turned tow
ard his bed, saying as he ascended
the ladder; i have fulfilled nv part
Of the contract see to it, that YOU do
not break yours
Whether the liquor was drugged or
not, We cannot say but, in few min
utes, the fumes of the subtitle fluid were
rushing to his brain !; all his good reso-
lntions were swept away like FROST
work before the furnace.
A wild. delirious sense Of delight
drowned all other feelings; shame was
banished; and again he stood among
his companions. glass in hand.
Come, boys said he. we NAV as
well make night Of it, now We have
begun. Its Christmas and you know,
we've pledged ourselves not to taste
another drop Of liquor this winter.
immortal Tom. Moore;
Wen wreath the bowl
With flowers of soul,
The brightest wit can find us:
Wen take flight
towards Heaven, tonight,
And leave dull care behind us
About midnight, one Of the compa-
ny started up, and declared his deter
mination to visit the camp on the op-
posite side of the pond that night, in
order, as he expressed it, to raise the
verv deuce with Hen. and Mike Two
Of the others, who c-uld yet stand,
volunteered to accompany him.
Having filed their pocket TASKS.
they started out, singing
ga teetotalcr's oldest daughter
Went down to battle in river water:
She tumbled in, heels over head.
| And went to the bottom like junk oflead
Oh, if the river had all been rum.
| How Jolly drunk she'd ha' become
Charles sat few moments, then
taking up lis overcoat and hat. went
out after them. The three remaining
men, too drunk to climb the ladder, fell
asleep under the table; and silence
once more reigned in camp.
The next morning, the weather hav-
ing relaxed somewhat its severity, Hos
| ford and Mike set out ON their return
When about half fway across the pond
they suddenly stopped to gaze at some
dark looking objects, far ahead on the
ice. There was something peculiar in
the appearance Of those dark objects,
which particularly arrested the atten-
tion Of the advancing men. They We're
stationary. Wolves or foxes would he
in motion. What could they be:
They simultaneously uttered an ex-
clamation of horror.
'Holy virgin protect us but its some
poor crathcrs froze to death on the ice =
Il fear you are right, answered Hos
ford; but what can it mean, 50 near
the camp
They quickened their pace to run
and, on coming up, Hosford exclaimed.
Great Heaven! it IS Smith, Kent. and
Colby, dead frozen stiff
Aud here said Mike picking up the
empty TASKS, is the miserable cause
iv it all!
Poor kint, poor Sam Kint the best
friend l had the only man in camp.
who would quarrel word wild me
Och hone och hone! and Mike brush
ed away tears Of genuine sorrow with