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


We'll, he's took TO drink more ur less
ever -cuce he came from college; but it's
about a wear that he's been right down
hard al it. Ge see folks began To find
out how slack he was i'm his business.
and they wouldn't give him any Jobs of
consequence to do. ] '~DOse that sort %
set him a gOiu' in this fashion. And a.
for this drunk, | should say he'd been on
it a fortnight. He's got down now -
low rs he can get and live, and I gUe~S
he'd get sober in a day OF two
But where does he get his liquor -
asked the qUe-tiOner.
'You must ask Mike FiugaI that qucS-
ton, was the others answer.
All eyes We're turned up to the land
lord who now stood behind the bar He
was evidently troubled at this turn, and
he moved uneaSily upon his high stool.
Mike Fingal, spoke the teamster, do
you sell that man rum -
Yes, I do the fellow replied, with an
effort. Don't I sell you the same when
YOU call for it"
But aren't a poor drunkard, and you
know it. That am't no excuse. Mike,
] shouldn't think you'd do it.
But when he wants rum he's bound
TO have it, and if I didn't let him have
it somebody else would the host said.
Now that's odd, energetically pursu-
ed the teamster. On the same ground
you might take a pistol and 20 out and
rob folks, because if you didn't some
body else would, But that isn't here or
there. The thing is [ don't see what
kind Of heart you can have to do it.
The conversation was here Interrupted
bv a sound from the street. The wind
,r-,. .fsTT 1,gvr-1irnDr 1a1afly~ anl flon s.1nV-
was driving against the window, but
above the voice of the storm came the
WailinU of some one in distress. 1t was
surely the cry of Il child for help. We
were all upon our feet in moment, and
the lantern was quickly lighted. My
hat was already on my head-Or my cap
rather-and I went out with the rest
All went but the landlord and his wretch
ed customer who occupied the settee. 1t
was some moments before / could see at
all, the snow came driving into my face
50 but I soon managed to turn my head,
and then went on. The wind, as it
came sweeping out through the stable,
had piled up huge bank of snow across
the street, and in this bank we found a
female with a child in her arms. She
seemed faint and frozen, but vet she
clung to her child. The man who car
ried the lantern held it up to her face
The features were half covered with
snow, but the mOmentary glare of the
lantern was sufficient to reveal to me
face Of more than ordinary beauty.
Heavens . uttered the man, as he
lowered the lantern, and caught the wO-
man in his arms; Kate LOckland, is
this yOu?' But without waiting for her
reply, he turned to the rest Of US and
cried. Here take the child, some Of
YOU, and pll carry the mother
The child was quickly taken, and ere
many minutes we were back in the bar
room with our burden. The two were
taken to the fire, and the snow brushed
from them.
Who's them" asked the host.
Only Kate Lockland and her child
answered the fat man.
What dye bring EN- i'm here fOr?' the
host uttered angrily. why didn't We
take 'em to your own house, Jim Drake?
Cause my own house is too far
The host was coming around the bar,
and his eyes was flashing with mingled
shame and anger, but before he got fair
Iy out, the stout, buTly teamster who
had said 50 much, started up.
Mike Fingal,' he uttered, In tones
such as only q man confident of his own
physical power can command, don't We
put a finger ON that woman. Don't We
DO it. If We do I'll crush We as I would
a piZen spider"
Fingal looked the speaker in the eye
for moment, and then, mutteTing some
thing about a mans havinga right to do
as he pleased in his own house, he skunk
away behind his bar again.
Inow turned my attention to the wo-
man and her child. The former was
surely not vet thirty years Of age, and
She was truly a beautiful wOman-Only
she was pale and wan, and her eyes
were swollen. She tTembled feaTfUlly, /
and ] could see her bosom heave as she |
tried to choke the SObs that were burst !
ing forth. The child was girl about |
four years old. She olung close to her |
mother and seemed fTeightCned into a (
of her cold fingers and feet |
Kate LOckland, what in Heavens /
name are ye doin out this nightu asked /
Jim Drake.
'Oh, I was trying to find your own
house, Jim Drake, for I knew you'd /
give me a shelter. But I got lost in the /
snow. I wouldn't have cried out in front |
Of this place, but my poor child did
Jim Drake have We seen George? Oh, /
God have mercy on him! Poor dear I
George He don't know We are freez- |
ing and starving in our own home No /
'uel-nO food nO-nO.'
She stopped and burst into tears, and .
in a moment more George LockIand /
.eaped to his feet.
who called me - he cried gazing
wildly around. {
Kate sprang up instInctively, but ere she I
reached her husband she stopped. The .
man saw her; and for a while stood riv- [
ated to the spot. Soon he gaZed around /
upon the scene about him, and gradually |
a look of intelligence relieved the utter
blank Of his hitherto pale and maniac
face.
NO fuel no food he whispered, gaz-
mercy, Who was It said these words
Where am I?'
George? GeOrgeu cried the wife, now
rushing toward and flinging her arms
about her husbands neck, Don't YOU
know meg
kate No fire there's ftreP
'Ay, George LOckland,' said jim
Drake, now starting up; this aren't
your own home, Don't yc know where
We are -
Again the poor man gaZed about him,
lHdas a fearful shuddeT cOnvulsed his
rame and his hands invOluntarily clos
ed over his eyes, l knew that the truth
lad burst upon him.
''No fuel no foda!n he groaned.
go siT,n whispered the wife, catching
Drake convulsively by the arm, "take
Is away from here. Do"
ttBut you're cold Kate
"NO, no, no. Its only little way to .
'Our house, shall die herew
will you 90 home with me, George p
lin asked of the husband.
"Auywhere ~ gasped the poor man.
80, my God no fuel no fOsd Kate
Eate are you hurt ~
But the wife could not speak, and rs
Don as possible the fat old villager had
he lantern i'm readiness and half dOz-
N went 10 help him.
"COme" he said "Lead George one
If you. You take kate-yOu are stOuter
han land III take the little one"
'his last was spoken to a stout teamstcr
md he took the wife in his arms as
hoUgh she had been an infant
sItIs only q few steps, said Drake as
ne started to 90. "l'll send your IAN
ern back, Mike Fingal." "
And with this the party left the bar
Dom. ] went to the window and saw
hem wadiug OIL through the deep snow
md WHOM they we're nut Of sight ! pass
ID away. The host came out and began
o explain matters; but was sick enough
lready, and with an aching heart | left
he roam,
ON the following morning ] came !
to- lie. r.E 1s,F. 4