New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-08-13
THE STORY OF JONES.
From the Chicago Times.
BY PoLIUTo.

From the Chicago Times
l knew Jones many years ago. He was
then a wild sort of achap, who wouldn't go
home till morning, and who often rhythmi
cally would request the landlord to fill the
flowing bowl until it doth run over. He
was right wicked young man, who would
play draw poker at ten cents ante on Sun
day afternoons, would stare very inquiring-
~ and knowingly under every woman's
hat, and play billiards at dollar a game, ),
push and crotch barred
A jolly, riproaring, tearing youth was
Jones, and who was having all the fun he
could out of good constitution, exuberant
spirits, fine looks and very substantial
salary.
He was so liberal that the men all liked
him, and just bad enough in reputation to
set the women to taking a profound inter
est in him. 1t is remarkable trait in
lovely womau-or great many of her
that, while she will accept on sight any
thing which disparages woman, she de-
clines to do anything of the kind in the case
of man. Insinuate that Young Tearaway
is dangerous man among women, and she.
won't accept a word of it. The only way
she will believe it is to find it out herself.
Jones was scooting about here and there
IN the waters of pleasure, when, one day,
he bit at something that was put invitingly
under his nose It proved to be bait. A
little later, and poor Jones was thrashing
duU GdSpfUS Ou ldutLs udfIu2 Dccu ucA-
trously landed by matrimonial angler of
the female persuasion.
Poor Jones gave us all a nice bachelor
supper. He was depressed, but he bore up
bravely. AS | shook hands with him about
cocf-crow the next morning, it was the last
time / ever saw him in single life. -
il.
Poi few DAYS ago there came into my room
sleepy-looking individual, with heavy
jowls and a promising paunch. AS he took
of his hat, / noticed that the top of his
head was of the marblefront style of build.
The paunchy, sleepy, bald individual was
an entire stranger to me.
He grasped me warmly, not to say con-
vulsively, by the hand.
'Old boy, God bless you, how do you dor
he calculated feryently, but with a certain
nasal style suggestive of prayer-meeting
oratory.
"WeHs I'm obliged to you, but-but-
you'll pardon me, if can't say / know
you"
Don't know me Don't know me, your
old friend Jonesg'
What Moses Jones 2"
"Yes, Moses Jones, old Mese, jolly old
Mose-that is, as was" and here he checked
himself suddenly, and groaned.
''Well, old fellow, Pm delighted to see
you'll Seems to me you have changed some
what. Not so much hair, more abdomen,
and all that sort of thing. Where have
you been, and what have you been doing
all these years ~
ats long story" said JONES' lugubri
ously. "But say, isn't there quiet place
where we can go and have a chat "
There seemed a suggestion of Old-time
thirst in Jones' manner, and so l said
There's a saloon around here, with q
quiet back room"
"Any side entrance ~ interrupted Jones'
ooh, yes that's all right. Come along
fI'll 60" said Moses "A lemonade would
do me good. I'm thirsty"
An hour later, we had progressed. An
initiatory course of lemonade had been sue
ceeded by flask of dry Verzenay. Jones
eyes had resumed some of their old sparkle.
There was some color in his tallowy cheeks,
and he seemed to have grown ten years
younger.
at is long story" said Jones, just after
we had commenced on the second bottles
"but / think I'll tell it. Soon after / got
married felt SO good over it that also got
religion"
''The d. you didi'
"Fact by the statue of truth itself. Now,
my story hasn't got anything romantic or
thrilling in it, but is a commonplace
affair, which may interest you, and it may
not"
"Well, go on, anyhow"
81 rather got snapped up at revival one
evening. / used to go with my wife, who
is very pious, you know, and, as / said, one
night they coralled' me. There was good
deal said about buying without money and
without price; and the thing seemed SO
cheap and so lovely that / concluded to
take some of it."
"How did it agree with you7n
s"It was uphill work at first. I'd catch
myself thinking when the preacher was a
little dull, Of how much of raise would
stand on two pairs At other times, when
things didn't go right, would frequently
start - you, but which always man.
aged to switch off into God bless you, be-
tore the thing got too far"
THE old Adam was still strong in you,
] see"
''oh, feartully strong. And then the
prayer meetings and other things used to
worry me. The church sisters are always
SO conrso blessedly innocent and affection
ate. very often when some prosy deacon
was ieading off in prayer, would catch
myseif thinking that a young sister across
the aisle had very artistic ankle, and so
Natural, and scarcely to be prevented in
young man of your ardent disposition.
What did you do in such cases %
"Oh, just shut my eyes and 90 to praying
like house on iire. But, tell you, the
W0uIuH Hohutf. But 90 ahead.
Why didn't you tell your wife how ankles
and things affected you, and Get her
womanly advice and cooperation.
For reply Jones looked at me incredu-
lously for three minutes, then gave a long
whistle, and finally calculated most en-
phatically:
mot much p
took in the situation, and said nothing
Jones, after a desperate wrinkling Of his