Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1871-12-23
TIE DRUNK4RD'S DREAM.
EI NARY A. L. LESTER.

|; was Christmas Eve, and the shad-
ows were falling fast and gray in the
snow-clad country, and that gentle hush
that seems to peryade the air on Christ
mas-tide, was setting over all things;
bat in the great city all was light, and
hustle and confusion. Crowds oi gail!
dressed people thronged The brilliant
ly lighted stores and streets.
From one Of the workshops on B
street, came among others, one who by
his dress was evidently fireman. He
was in the prime Of life, but alas the
rum tiend had set bis mark upon his
victim. His eyes had that Dlcarcd,
vacant expression that stamps those
VINO drain the poisonous cup to the
dregs, while his bloated face, tat;er,d
garments and shutting tread, all told
the sad taie. Although among the
other workman, he seemed not Of them,
and many glance Of contempt, ana
few of pity were cast on him as his tel-
lows hurried away a few words float
back to his ear, as he shuHrd along be
hind a couple Of his co-workers.
Whatever did the boss moan hy
bringing that drunken dog for an assis-
tant fireman ? asked the lirst speaker
Hes picked him up in the gutter, I'll
warrant You.
yes, replied his companion quietly,
Barton did find him in the gutter, and
lot Of yiIIainous boys were pelting him
with mud, ana Ike the man that he is,
he Just helped him out, and brought
him to the factory, and when he was
sober set him to work. You know its
one of his hobbies to Try aud reclaim all
the drunkards he can.
The men turned off into one Of tie
side streest, but the man Of whom they
had been talking shutlled along untn
he came TO one OF those miserable alleys,
where sin and shame dwell in hideous
companionship together.
Into this alley he turned, walked 4
few steps, and then stopped short be
fore one Of those low groggcr!cs that
always iufcst such streets, ike huge
spiders waiting to cnmare the weak ana
unwary.
The man stopped and looked long
ingly into the brilliantly lighted win
dows, his days wages, and few dollars
extra, the gift Of his generous-hearted
friend, were in his pocket.
He moved toward the door but stop.
ped He thought he heard voice say:
Herbert Lyle, You promised your
friend, Boss Johnson, that you would
1t liquor alone, and tomorrow take tie
pledge Your place is Al lone with
your family, who ale hungry and cold
enough, warrant.
Yet still he fingered, and at last open
ell the door and went in. Truly his
good angel must have covered her face
and wcpt for this mans folly.
The place was very full, and the man
Lyle, Che had been gentleman once)
took a seat by the fire, to wait until
there was 4 vacant place at the bar.
lie began to nod soon,but he thought
he aroused himself and went 10 the oar
UDae there, nc IUor all selt-restraint and
poured down glass after glass of liquid
poison, until he was half maddened, and
went reeliHg home to his suffering fam
lily. Up, up the fights Of rickety stairs
he went until he reached the miserable
garret he called home.
What q mockery Of that tender word
seemed that cold and cherries garret
No fire cleaned in the rusty crate: but
the winds swept through the broken
roof at the two little shiyering children,
who huddled together under an old
ragged quilt, were trying to fud in
sleep short respite from cold, and hun
ger.
And she, the wife-Heayen pity the
woman who lives to see her happiness
turned to dust and ashes, as this woman
had done YOU would never haze dream
ed she was once beauty. Want, aud
care and sorrow had robbed her bloom,
and she crouched beside her freless
hearth, striving in vain to hush the
starving babe at her breast needless that
in It's frantic efforts for substance it was
drinking her very life blood
Memory was busy leading this poor
creature back to her girlhood, when the
drunkard stumbled over the Threshold.
She looked at him silently, and drew
her babe shudderingly, closer to her
heart.
Her silence angered him. He was
mad with drink. One blow, and she
was lying dead at bis feet, and her lit
tie ones were awake and calling for her
to awaken. Then came the gaping
crowd, the inquest, the weary houTs