The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-01-23
Walter Gordon's Resolution.

that Of a confirmed inebriate. When he
first commenced visiting the tavern at which
liquor was dealt out, he did so with feel
ing of shame, which led him to go at a
time when he was likely to meet few per-
sons.
But as the habit grew upon him, he be-
came more and more reckless of public
opinion. Gradually his income from his
business---he was arpenter--diminished
people being afraid to trust him with COM
missions, for probably they wonld have to
wait a longer time than was convenient.
Walter was married man. At the age
of twenty-five he had united himself to an
estimable 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 the union. Charley Gordon was
bright rosy-cheeked boy, with merry ways
that might have gladdened fathers
heart.
OF course their worldly circumstances
had been sensibly affected by Mr.. Gordon's
course. Dollar by dollar, the hoard in the
savings bank, had dwindled away. Next
commenced the diminution of their domes-
tic comforts. 1t cost Mrs. Gordon long
fit of weeping, when one day the landlord
of the village tavern, a rough man, with
neither principle nor refinement, drove up
to the door, and opening it announced that
he would take the sofa.
"The sofa ~ exclaimed Mrs. Gordon in
amazement.
Certainly Hasn't yonr husband told
you about it P'
"What should he tell me ?" inquired
the wife, not suspecting the truth.
" He's sold it to me-" said the landl ord,
looking shame-faced, in spite of his brazen
effrontery.
"And without saying word to me about
it ?"
"That's his affair, not mine"
"What induced him to sell it? How
much do you give him for it ?"
He was owing me debt-a matter of
fifteen or twenty dollars" muttered the
landlord.
"And this debt is for rum, l suppose"
said Mrs. Gordon, bending her eyes search
ingly upon the landlord, like an accusing
spirit.
"Well, and suppose it was. l suppose
it's debt for all that"
"You can take the sofa," said Mrs.
Gordon; " il is in that room; but warn you
John Glover, that the riches which you are
fast accumulating will bring you no happi-
ness. Running the souls and bodies of your
fellow-men is great price to pay for
wealth."
"When want to hear preaching can
go to church," muttered the landlord, a
little uneasy in his conscience at the words
of his victims wife, callous as he had be-
come.
A month afterwards the Gordon's NOV
ed from the comfortable house which they
had hitherto occupied, to miserable old
building which had not been tenanted for a
long time and ought to have been pulled
down. But it had fallen into the hands of
John Glover, the tavern keeper before re-
ferred to, and he had persuaded his victim
to hire it.
Sad days succeeded the removal First,
the physical discomfort of living in such a
miserable shell was not small. 1t afford
ed scanty protection against the discomfort
was increased by the deficiency of suitable
furniture. All that was good had gone the
same as the sofa. Not carpet was left,
and but one stove. So they were obliged
to live, during the cold season, in one room.
Walter Gordon, however, was seldom at
home. 1t had long since lost all it's attrac-
tions Tor him, and he was generally to be
found in the bar-room, where the landlord
was gracious and his drunken hilarity and
jests were applauded by the company. 1t
was not quite time for the landlord to break
with him. That he would defer till his
victim was completely ruined, and there
was no prospect of his squeezing any more
money out of him.
Ohe hlBhb Nater Noiuoh h"u lcihaiheu
in the bar-room longer than usual He re-
mained until all his compaions had slipped
off one by one, and he was alone. He
would have gone had he not fallen into a
drunken stupor, which left him, half in
sensible say, for events proved that he
was not wholly so.
At this time q stranger entered the room,
and wished to speak to the landlord apart.
81 have no fire elsewhere said the
landlord. You can speak freely here"