Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-12-05
A BETTER COUNTRY.


while he lay motionless as a mummy on
the low bank Of Ramp Run, under syca-
more tree. All its leaves iquiyered with
the storms breath The storm came roar
ing over hills and tramping through woods,
blotting out twilight and drencchlng the
ground. 1t washed Joe Trestle as he had
not been washed for years. Ramp Run
rose to the storm as willing child springs
to it's mother. nj ft,j s,o .i} Il Gaun
Water, we know, is runs foe to exter-
mination. Water pursued rum through
Joe Trestle's jaws, his boots, his skull
By continued dashes and shocks it brought
him back to the world He sat up in a
broad glare, and saw the world as it were
on fire. But instant darkness buried him
He heard the long, whistled sound of fall
ing trees, the roar of air and water, and
also, he thought, a child's cry.
"a Joe suspected it might be the judgment
but being a stolid fellow, he clutched the
sand and made no remarks. If it were the
| Judgment, he s.did'nt feel prepared" But
he never expected to s'feel prepared, y like
| less soaked sinners. He was altogether
| vile. There was no spot in him wherein
| character may be started, except a faint
desire hid and aching somewhere, to be
better than he was. Joe had staggered
| past his best years. At this period he was
willing to sell his ancestors tombstones
his own ears, or even his wife's chignon-
| if he had a wife-for satisfactory drink.
| Bows, patronized him on the streets, and
played tricks on him when he tucked him
self up like a chrysahs under stairway OF
fence. People looked forward to Joe
| Trestle's making a morning item by get
ting ground under trains or frozen to the
gutter over night, when he could at last
be utilized by the community, and utilized
thus: '1See. there, my son, Joe Trestle
went to school with me ; he was a bright
|lboy, and every one expected he would
make his mark. That is all the mark Joe
Trestle has ever made. What is the cause
of this? Rum, my son-d drunkenness.
When. churches revived their zeal, and
Christians begun to polish their arnlor, all
denominations, seized on Joe Trestle and
tried to reform him. They voted at cleo
lions to license. liquor traffic and at ordi-
nary tiinds this victim Of it was toe mean
for their notice; but when they turned
from business to religion, he was in de-
mand He felt it, and took a sly pride in
being lassoed from all the pulpits, exhort-
ed and prayed over. They. gave him mo-
ney and old clothes, which he spent at sa-
loon back doors. Thus they tried to in
ject life through his veins which had
never touched him inwardly.
Joe had married a wife, and beaten her
with many stripes when the poor thing
could bear it no longer, she crept from his
sight and died. The knowledge that he
had child, daughter, somewhere, touch
ed his brain; but as she never crossed his
way, it was jostled aside by the more press
ing affairs of his Misunderstanding some
thing to drink. eta4.a ea US sarlg
A young peoples temperance society
once took Joe in hands. He signed the
pledge faithfully every week, and was sure
to get out of the ditch to be- reinstated at
lodge. But even they, young and hopeful,
gave him up. Joe Trestle was a wreck
that could not be reconstructed. No reli-
gion nor responsibility could reach him.
He must go his own way, drink his last
drink-die like brute, and go-where ?
Lord have mercy on Joe Trestle's soul
1t evas child's cry, human and reach
ing, so that it cut across the winds.
Joe stood up in the de1uge. He didn't
know just what to do, but bent on doing
something for aid, he put both fists to his
mouth and roared like a gorilla. o 3
Again the child's cry-'.ssOh! oh ~ r =
ssWhere all, ye ?" hooted Joe. .,ss.. -
But his voice, lacking the sharp. tenor of
childhood, was drowned. Wandering near
er him, came the pitiful wailingg ]
oh ~ s- Il. ~ flef5. n fitt
ssMaybe the Banshee, what the Irish tell
about, y thought Joe, .@or old Fox's ghost,
what killed himself down in the crick hol-
Ter u ,3..4 i j. .s3se
The sky burst and split, a broad, awful
glare, in which Joe saw woods and Muddy
expanse Of waters and shining earth forming
background for little girl, who, as she
thus saw him, put more terror and despair
in her crying, and flew blindly against the
bushes
/ ssCome yer ~ bawled Joe, II won't hurt
vel I'm nobody but Joe Trestle Come
yer and tell me what's the matter"
Strangely, as soon as she heard his name
the child dropped her fears She CROPPED
and called, till she got his hand, and stood
with him under the tree.
Another flash revealed her a sad-faced
child, with hair like rag weed, and dress OF
pauper home-spun. Her eyes were lifted
I to him. She must have seen he was bloat-
ed. unreliable. But her hand clutched his
she staid her faith and safety on his com
pany.s t a 5af"etacf
oWas ye skeert 20 yelled Joe. p a.
eyes, most to death. And [ couldn't
cit, across, and she said if didn't git back
fore dark, she'd put me in the house where
the crazy folks is.'' aI,
Who said 20 ~, gq gos.
s'Miss Smith, what keeps thepoor house
! She sent me on an Grant. just run till
couldn't breave and it turned black anc
commenced to storm. Icouldnat find TIT
the foot-bridge; every time started ou
where it was I'd git into water. Its wash
ed off, and now how'll I ever git over, ant
/ she agoing to put me in the crazy house l
1 stayed till after dark ~
Joe was SO sober he began to think.
4 ssCome back here a bit:' See if ther
i amt a boiler in this tree. Is, too! An