The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-08-20
BUY YOUR OWN CHERRIES.
A Good Temperance Story.

TT WAS about three o'clock one scorch-
Il ing hot, Saturday afternoon in July,
when John Lewis, the carpenter laid down
his hammer on the bench, put his hand in
his pocket, and drew out few coppers,
"Just the price of pint" as he said to
himself; SO he resolved to step across the
road to the "Golden Eagle" and have
some ale to slake his thirst. Just as he
opened the "bar" door, what should
he see on the polished counter, but plate
of beautiful ripe cherries, the sight of
which made Johns mouth water SO freely,
THAT, ere he knew exactly what he was
doing, he had stretched out his hand to
take few, when the shrill voice Of the
landlady called out:
"You touch EN- If you dare, sir"
"John was startled; but before he could
reply, she added:
"The idea of taking such liberties /
should like to know what you are thinking
,about%'
"Well, missus, was only going to take
one or two to whet my WHISTLE
"You had better not try it on" she re-
piled with warmth.
"Why not; you won't mind my having a
few, will you? l am so thirsty, and they
look so tempting" said John, thinking she
was joking.
"No sir, not one. I have just bought
'em as treat for my children; they are a
fine sort, and very dear"
"Well, just let me try one."
"No, not one ~ she answered, with de-
termination in every look; "if you want
any, go and buy your own cherries p"
"Well, was going to have pint of your
best" replied John; but l think I'll take
your advice, and go and buy some cherries
instead" and turning round, he walked out
of the shop.
The landlady saw in moment she had
made a mistake and called loudly for John
TO come back. This only made him quick
-en his steps to get away as fast as he could.
d" swell, I've done it now," she said as
taking up the plate of cherries, she passed
into the bar-parlor; "what a stupid was,
not to let him have just or two. He is
too good a customer to lose without an ef-
fort so ! must look out for him when he
comes to pay his score, and coax him; he
must be won over again il possible" She
thus tried to calm down her feelings while
these thoughts passed through her mind.
AS she was thus planning his ruin, he
was far down the street, looking out for a
shop where fruit was sold. AS soon as he
caught sight of some cherries, he called
out:
".Here, master, left me have three pen'-
orth of those cherries, will you?"
eyes, sir said the man, and soon placed
in his hand the cherries in q paper bag,
with which John at once returned to the
workshop. All this had taken place in q
few minutes, and the events had come Sc
quickly one upon the other that he had
had hardly time to feel the full force of the
treatment he had received. But when lie
had opened the bag of cherries on the
bench, and put one in his mouth, its sweet
ness seemed to bring back the sour words
of the landIady with such additional force
that they seemed to "stick in his throat. "
AS he swallowed the juicy fruit, each seem
ed to repeat the landlady's words, "Buy
your own cherries"
yes, that viii, said John to himself,
''if this is the way you serve fellow, after
spending many a pound with you; and nov
to begrudge me even paltry cherryp'
And striking his hammer ON the nail, az
he muttered he'words, its sound seemed To
answer back to him, "Buy your own cher
ries."