The Potter journal and news item. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1872-1874, 1873-12-24

WHAT is it?-Tell us how It's to
be done?" they asked.
"Have you got the courage to
do it?"
"We'n follow you," said Peter
Slade.
Honor brigiit?"
"Yes."
Then listen"
"Hold on" cried Sam Pepper.
"Let's fiji Up before you commence.
"Not with old Lushton's Tom and
Jerry" returned Jack. '.We shall
want the cost Of it for another pur-
pose. Turn your glasses bottom up
for the prescft. There, that's a go.
Now listen. We are in the habit OF
meeting at the tavern three evenings
in the week; and our expenses for
liquor and cigars are at least two
dollars an evening, aren't they"
This was admitted with q nod.
And in addition to this | spend
at least a dollar more each week for
beer and tobacco on my own hook
How is it with you?"
fine others acknowledged that 3
dollar a week was little enoegh.
Thus, resumed john Digby, "we
have ten dollars week as the result
of cur combined and individual ex-
penditure fer rum and tobacco. /,
for one, think | could manage to live
ih.aiioh .ll.- ,,4-at Of th4. IriIai.4r- -1xit:l-
out ang mere OF it; and for the sake
of the experiment | would be willing
to pat my share Il that ten dollars a
week to- charitable use. Here it is
in the beginning of December, and
the winter has opened hard. There
are poor families not far away wnich
we can bless with our symp pltily ami
our help. We might organize o--
nevolent society, or missionary So
ciely, upon our own hook. Do you
begin to understand"
They understood him perfectly ;
and, since he would lead. ta'ey were
ready to follow In fact, they rather
liked the idea. There was 4 charm
Of novelty and originality about it
that captivatod them. 1t would be
fun 10 purchase -four and meat, tea
and sugar. and fuel, and 90 around
an,) assist the poor and the needy.
They were young men, full Of life
AMI good feeling, anl had carOused
only because Of the fun of the thing.
Here was promise Of fuu in another
direction. and they would GO for it.
The matter wac Diseased ami fn-
ally settled. They would make a
square week of it at the beginning.
During the week, ? said Jack, 'we
will look up the cases Of all destitu-
ton and -utftring, and on next Sat-
rrday after we will meet and COM
Dara notes. Then we viii take our
ten dollars, and do what we can for
those wdo are suffering most. We
must be methodical in this. We are
not TO spend penny in this work OF
charity which is not saved by the
cutting off of some useless expendi-
ture of our own: and he OF us who
buys cigar through the week shall
deduct it from his Contribution on
SATURDAY."
''If We would be methodical,' . sug-
gested Peter, I'VE must organize. !
say if we are going to do anything
of this kind, let US do it ship-shape.'
Peters proposition was unani
mousIy accepted, and thereupon they
proceeded to effect an organization,
very simple, but nevertheless effec'
tive. They elected John Digby to
scave as President and as Treasurer
and as Secretary; and then they
elected an Executive Committee OF
four, consisting of John Dighy. Pc
ter Zl1rie; Tom Lowden, and Sam
Pepper. And then they settled theil
bills at the bar, and vent home.
/ Saturday evening came and the
Reform Clab met at Bigby's shop
and each member was ready wi6A bis
report. They were sober and thought
f'rtt They ha,t t9rou4i'f, +ac1t ttA5