The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-10-25
A Temperance Story.

"a ''S'@i-AAi w AAiOOANJ hhOh ~
w years Of age, married the hand
soonest girl in the town of Westerley.
lie was carpenter, was always steady
and industrious, and everybody consid-
cred it an excellent match when he and
Ellen Anderson were bound together in
the tic Of matrimony.
Ten years Of almost perfect happiness
to the young carpenter and his wife passed
away, and then sickness and sorrow came
upon them, and William commenced to
drink in the hope of drowning his
troubles.
His wife, with tears in her eyes be-
sought him to give up the vile habit, aud
again and again he promised to do so,
but his promises were always broken, his
resolutions forgotten, and he continued
to travel in the downward road to power
ty and destruction.
The " Travellers Home" was the high
sounding name given to a little tavern a
short distance from Watson's House
The Loafer's Home,' or the Gate to
Ruin, would have been more appropri-
ate. 1t was there Watson took his first
drink-of the avcursed poison, and there
he continued to spend the small pittance
he earned while his wife aud children
were suffering for want of food and cloth
ing.
Watson grew worse and worse. No
person, Of course, would hire a man who
was drunk almost all the time, and in
consequence he soon found himself al
most penuiless. He was ieered and
scofled at by the boys Of the village, and
was known everywhere as drunken
Bill"
One day he entered the ''Traveler's
Home" and called for whiskey telling
the landlord he had no money, but would
pay him in a few days.
You can't get the whiskey here with
out the money" said the landlord. Il
dou't trust anybody
But. pleaded the poor inebriate, Il
am almost dying for a drink. Let me
have one, only one, and I'll pay you to-
morrow"
"No, say don't you hear ?" thun-
dered the landlord "Get out Of my
house. You've had too much whisky
here already.
All the Watson pride that had been
alwost drowned out by the liquid fire was
now fully aroused. The words of the
landlord brought again into life all the
noble impulses of his heart. He straight
ened himself up and looked with with
ering scorn into the face Of the landlord
"John Raymond" he said, I am in
your accursed rumshop for the last time
/ am degraded being, but you are one
Of the vilest men. You hava no whisky
for me now No, but while the money
lasted it flowed freely and you were glad
to see me come to your bar. John
Raymond | am going to show you that l
can be a man. [ have been a fool, but
by the help of the Lord | will be so no
longer Ifmy life is spared will be rich
and respected again. Go on, if you will,
in your infamous work bring others
down as you have brought me, and then
when their money is gone drive them
from your door Go on, John Raymond
and you will receive your reward"
Watson went Immediately home and
informed his wife that he had taken his
last drink. He hada will now; he would
show the world that mauliness, was not
altogether gone from him, and he would
regain his former position in society.
His wife wept tears of joy when
she learned his good resolution, and she
prayed every day that he might be
strengthened in his hours of temptation,
and be enabled to keep in the right path.
John Raymond became tipler then Il
hard drinker, and now he fills a drunk
ards grave. The " Travellers Home" is
no longer grog-shop, but has been
transformed into comfortable dwelling,
and is now owned by William Watson.
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