Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-12-01
SELECTED STORY
WALTER GORDON'S RESOLUTION
BY uoRATIo ALGER, JR.

Step by step, Walter Gordon had sunk
from position Of responsibility to that Of a
confirmed inebriate. When he first com
menced visiting the tavern at which liquor
was dealt out, be did SO with a feeling of
shame, which led him to 90 at time when
he was likely to meet few persons.
But as the habit grew upon him, be be-
came more and more reckless Of public opin
ion. Gradually his income from his bust
ness-he was a arpenter-diminlshed =
people being afraid to trust him with COM
missions, for they would propably have to
wait longer time than was convenient.
Walter was married man. At the age
of twenty-fve he had united himself to an
estimab!e girl, who, though she brought
him little in the way Of worldly goods proved
an excellent wife
They had not been married ten years, and
had one child, boy Of six the sole fruit Of
their union. Charlie Gordon was bright,
rosy checked boy, with merry ways. that
might have gladdened any fathers heart
OF course their worldly circumstances had
been sepsibly affected by Mr.. Go.don's
course, Dollar by dollar. the little hoard
in the savings bank, had dwindled away =
Next commenced the diminution of their
domestic comforts It cost Mrs Gordon a
long fit Of weeping, when one day the land.
lord Of the village tavern, rough man. with
neither principle nor refinement, drove ur
to the door. and on her opening it, an.
nounced that he would take the sofa.
"The sofa !" exclaimed Mrs Gordon in
amazement.
Certainly! Hasn't your husband told
you about it?''
''What should he tell me p inquired the
wife. not yet suspecting the truth
a"He's sold it to me- said the landlord
looking shamelaced, in spite Of his brazer
ehrontery.
'And without saying word to me abou
it?"
'.Tbat's his affair, not mine"
"What induced him to sell it? How
much did you give him for it p
"He was owing me a debt-a matter o
fifteen or twenty DOLLARS muttered the land
lord
land this debt was for rum, / suppose,
said Mrs Gordon, bending her eyes search
irgly upon the landlord, like an accusing
~ririt
"Well, and suppose it vas. | suppos
it's debt for all that"
sYou can take the sofa," said Mrs. Cor
don sit is in that room. But warn you
John Glover, that the riches which you ar
fast accumulating will bring you no happi
ness. Running the souls and bodies 0
your fellow-men is great price to pay fol-
wealth"
"Wben want to hear preaching, cal
go to church." muttered the landlord. lit
tie uneasy in his conscience at the words G
his victims wife, calous as be had become
| A month afterwards the Gordons move
from the comfortable house which they ha
hitherto occupied, to miserable old build
ing which had not been tenanted for Ion
time and ought to have been pulled down
But it had fallen into the hands of job
Glover, the tavern keeper before referre
| to, and he had persuaded his victim to hiI
it.
Sad days succeeded the removal. FRS
the physical discomfort Of living in such
miserable she'll was not small It's aforde
scanty protection against the wind and RAN
and this discomfort was increased by the d
fciepcy Of suitable furniture. All that WI
good had gone the same with the sofa. N
carpet was left and but single stove.
they were obliged to live, during the co
season, in one room. Walter Gordon, no
!. ever, was seldom at home It had lor
since lost all its attractions for him, and
was generally to be found in the bar-roou
where the landlord was gracious, and b
drunken hilarity and jest were applauded
the company. 1t was not quite time for Il
= landlord to break with him. That be wou
It defer till his victim was completely RUNE
and there was no prospect Of his squeezil
j. any more money Out Of him.
1t One night, Walter Gordon had remain
J. in the bar-room longer than usual. He
manned until all his companions had slipp