The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1871-02-09
An Ange1 in a Saloon.

One afternoon in the month of
June, 1870, lady in deep mourning,
and followed by child, entered one
of tine fashionable saloons in the city
of N. The writer happened to be
passing at the time, and impelled by
curiosity followed to see what would
ensue. Stepping up to the bar and
addressing the proprietor, who hap
pened to be present, she said:
''Sir, can you assist me? l have no
home, no friends, and am unable to
work"
He glanced at her, and then at the
child, with mingled look of curiosi-
ty and pity. Evidently he was some
what surprised to see a woman in such
a place begging, but without asking
any questions gave her some change,
then turning to those present, he said:
Gentlemen, here is a lady in dis
tress, can't some of you assist her a
little ?" They all cheerfully acceded
to this request, and soon a purse of
two dollars was raised and placed in
her hand.
MADAM" said the gentleman who
handed her the money, "why do you
NOnAC III caAOpLlS IL ISL u DIOACE
place for a lady; and why are you
driven to such a step ,"
Turning her mOurnful, yet express
i've eyes upon the speaker, with an ex-
preston shall never forget, she re-
piled:
"Sir, I know it isn't proper place
for me to be in, and you ask me why
/ am driven to this step. will tell
you in one short word" pointing to a
bottle behind the bar labeled whisky
''tlIdt is what has driven me to this
WHISKY. was once happy and sur
rounded by all the luxuries that
wealth could procure, with fond and
indulgent husband. But in an evil
hour he was tempted, and not pos
sessing the viii to resist that tempta-
ton, fell. and in one short year my
dream of happiness was over, my hap
by home forever broken and desOlat-
ed, and the kind husband and wealth
some called mine, lost, lost, never to
return, and abby the accursed wine
cup. You see before you only wreck
of my former self, homeless and
friendless, with nothing left me in
this world but this little child" And
weeping bitterly, she affectionately
caressed the golden curls that shaded
face of exquisite loYeliness. Regain
ing her compOsure, and turning to the
proprietor of the saloon, she cOntinu-
ed:
'Sir, the reason I occasionally en-
ter a place like this is TO implOre those
who deal in the deadly poison to de-
sist, to stop a business that spreads
desOlatiOn, ruin, poverty and starva-
ton. Think one moment of your
own loved ones, and then imagine
them in the situation l am in. l ap-
peal to your better nature, appeal to
your heart, for I know you possess a
kind one, to retire from a business so
ruinOus to your patrons. Did you
know that the money you receive in
exchange for the vile stuff you sell
across this bar, is the same as taking
the bread from the mouths of the fam
ishing wives and children of your Gus
TONERS? That it strips the clothes
from their backs, deprives them Of all
the comforts of life, and throws un-
happiness, misery, crime and desOla-
ton into their once happy homes
Oh, sir, implore, beseech and pray
you to retire from a business you blush
to own you are engaged in before your
fellow men, and enter a business that
will not only be profitable to yourself,
but to your fellow creatures also.
Please excuse me if have spoken too
plainly, but could not help it when
I thought of the misery and unhappi-
ness it has caused me-"
Madam, am not offended" (" he
answered, in a voice tremulOus with
emotion, ''but thank you from my
heart for what you have said"
Mamma said the child, taking
her mothers hand, "here's a gentle
man who wants me to sing Little
Bessie for him. Shall 1 do it?
HYes, darling, if they wish you to-"
They all joined in the request, and
placing her in chair, she sang in a
sweet, childish voice, the following
beautiful song: