The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-06-24
For The Bloomfield Time
Minnie Baxter.
A Temperance Story.
BY S. B. TRosTLE.


a widow and her daughter, the heroine of
this sketch.
William Baxter was man of good
standing, and man of many noble quail
tiles, when he married Miss Eva johnson.
He was esteemed by his companions for his
honesty, uprightness and his gentlemanly
bearing.
For few years after their union every
thing went as merry as marriage bell.
But ah ! the time is coming when that
demon intemperance, is stealing into
that happy home, bringing poverty, re-
morse and shame.
William was a blacksmith by trade, and
his walk to and from the shop, led past
hotel, where many of his companions were
won't to assemble. They had tried.various
means to induce Baxter to join them, but,
for long time without success. But one
evening as he was on his way home from
his shop while passing the hotel he was
met by one of his companions, who thus
accosted him
"Say, Baxter, won't you come along in
and have something TO drink? it is too
hard, working all day as you do without
having something to freshen you up in the
evening. Come now and oblige."
"No, thank you," replied Baxter, "I
don't drink, besides feel better without
it."
"But just come this once" said his
friend, "and if it hurts you will pay the
doctor"
Being thus persuaded, he entered the
tavern and "had something to drink. {"
The next evening was the same thing, and
he continued to go on until he became a
confirmed drunkard.
He with his companions, met night
after night at the hotel, where they engaged
in swallowing the poison which was taking
away their wit, their senses and the money
out of their pockets, which should have
been used in supporting their families,
which were in an almost starving con-
dition, taking their souls down to perdition,
down TO the lowermost hell ! o! if men
would have courage to resist the first temp
tation, there would be far less sin and suf-
fering in the world.
But we must return to our story. Will
liam Baxter did not meet his wife with a
smile and a kiss as he did in days before,
but on the contrary, angry words and
sometimes even curses fell from his lips.
All, what a sorrowful time this was to poor
Eva. She often sat up until eleven, twelve
and sometimes one o'clock, waiting anx-
iously for, yet dreading, her husbands
coming. rf sft5
One evening, as she sat thus, she saw
four men coming slowly up the street,
carrying shutter, on which was stretched
the form of man.
Why does she shudder? Why does hel
heart sink withing her? Can you moi
guess? She has recognized the out stretch
ed form as that of her husband.
In quarrel with wretch like himself
he was struck on the head with poker
knocked senseless and almost lifeless to the
floor.
For four long weeks did she sit by the
bedside Of the sufferer and attend to hi
every want but there was no earthly hope
for him. He died.
Soon after her husbands death, Mrs
Baxter received a legacy of Thousand
pounds, from near relative who dice
some time before. This was a great hell
to her, for, with part Of it she was enable,
to have her house repaired, which it badl,
needed, for Baxter had left everything g
to wreck. But when it was repaired
made pretty home, where Mrs. Baxte
lived happily and brought up her onl
child, a daughter named Minnie, to abho
intemperance and to regard with DISCUS
the idea of marrying any man who was no
strictly temperate.
Minnie grew up to be a very beautifu
woman and was considered the belle of th
village. She was one ON whom artists Low
TO look, and one with whom you woul
fall in love at first sight. Her hair, whic
she generally wore loosely hanging dow
over her shoulders, was of dark chestnu
brown. Her eyes, nearly the same tint
in fact, her form and appearance wer
such as to make one 90 into ecstacies.
One day as she was taking stro
through the shady forest, near her home
she was met by young gentleman VIII
was boarding with his aunt near the village
Bowing ccurteously to her, he passed o
while she continued her walk.
Fred Warner lived in London, but ha
come TO this place to escape the hot weatl
er-if II were possible-and the monoton