Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1870-04-09
A Isaneh efasss.

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Everybody liked Tom Hall, Rnl
everybody was sorry for him. u
was sad 10 see such fine yOunl
man the victim Of ofdrunkehRes., an'
, Tom had fallen into the mOuker'
power unwittingly, il seems,
A new dram-shOp had been open
ed close TO the foundry at which h'
worked, and he along with others
was In the habit of going in tor
glass Of ale. When the cold wealth
or set il, no took something stronger
aud he imagined il agreed with hi'
spirits.
Time went on, and tho liking fol
strong drink Increased and grew
stronger, until at all hours he might
be seen staggering out Of the "Rain
bow" dizzy and stupefed with the
poison Of tho Intoxicating CUP.
Toms was a very bad case, for he
belonged TO a respectable family
and he had been drawn into snare
no was an nffectionate son and
brother; and frinds counseled, and
ministers preached, and every means
was tried 10 reclaim him, but all Of.
fort seemed lost. Tom was bound
hard and fast In the invisible chains
ofthc mocker. His family mourned
him rs lost, and many silent tear
his sister let fall on his tattered gar
ments, rs she sat patching and darn
ing them. :.
Tom was infatuated, all agreed ;
but for all that he was q favorite,
from the mansion 10 the meancst
hut IN Arlio and some good people
prayed for poor Tom Hall. ~.
"Ah, these rents will not darn
again." said Jennie, as she turned
over Toms ragged raiment, - y.
In Toms better days he had had
prido, and it was such n sad change
when no didn't care who saw him
"out at tho elbows"
But somehow jennie could not
find it in her heart to abandon the
brother she still loved; and so Toms
tattered habiliments were taken up
again, and mado the most of.
"Kindncss may win him back"
said Jennie, and when he came homo,
at the worst he was met with words
of peace, if in sorrow.
Just rs the trees were beginning
to bud with the promise of spring,
Tom came home, looking thought
full. Ho was sober after long run.
In the last rays of the setting sun,
his sister was trying to cover some
darns. Tom sat down beside her,
and silently watched tho patient
finger for somo time. -,
"That's tiresome work, Jennie"
he said.
His sister held up her scam be-
fore him.
"Why, that's a bunch Of rags"
laughed Tom. -.-.''
"Yes, Tom and a bunch of rags
would be the best sign that a pub.
lican could hang across his door,"
said Jennie, sadly. '''"i. >. ,
Tom made no reply; he looked
ut tho rags in silence. ggg %
Next day, Tom went back to his
work and continued so far two or
thrco weeks, He looked at sthc
"Rainbow," but didn't 90 in.
"1fallo! what's up with Tom
Hall ?" wondered Sihclnir, as he FILL
ed up II glass with Toms f,vorite
whisky for another customer at the
counter. ,.,s L...,
Sinclair WIS not the only one that
was astonishcd at tho change
Every day Tom went to his work
every night he catno homo soberi
and utter time he appeared at
church on the Sabbath. Then pco-
| pic began to think Tom was In enrn-
est and meant to reform.
".rhO angels CUmu at lust" whis-
pered Florence, and bright drop
fell on Dicks golden hair.
"Had Tom Hall really become a
teetotaler?" wondered Sinclair,
when a whole month had passed
without visit to tho Rainbow
"Well, it seemed so, for nothing
stronger than water had passed his
lips in the shape of drink since the
night when his sister had shown
him the bunch of rags. o.
"I'll have n talk with Tom and
learn how he got off the scent,
though" Sinclair resolved. An op-
portunity camc sooner than he cx-
pccted. ''.
In the BEGINNING of the summer
a terrific thunder storm passed over
Arlie, and among the general devas-
tation the "Rainbow's" signboard
was shivcred to atoms.
Tom happend to be passing the
"Rainbow" the next morning, and
stopped to take glance up at tho
old mark. 80. = -.
"Fihe work here" remarked Mr..
Sinclair, who was standing in his
door; "tbe storms done for us, and
III have to get new sign board" |"
ais it so bad as that3" said Tom.
"Yes the Rainbow is in shivcrs,"
said Mr.. Sinclair. ~ioJ
Then you'll want new sign
board" said Tom.
"Of course; isn't that what I'm
telling you3'
, lis III III It 70 Ioe the Rainbow again ?"
asked Tom. - - -nraT
"I suppose so, answered Mr.. Sin
clair, sunless you can give us a new
idea, Tom" continued be laughing
ly. , 60 -. q,
II think 1 can," said Tom, "but /
must go home first"
"Don't forget, though" said Mr..
Sinclair; you're a stranger now-h-
days, by -the-by, Tom sTG !.
IL won't be long" cried Tom, and
with brisk step he walked down