Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-06-06


custom had more than doubled since
Jacob became "mine host" and the new
owner was beginning to reap an abundant
harvest of profit.
Katy had her horse and carriage, her
fine clothes, her personal ease and com
fort; pride and vanity were gratified in
many ways. Yet she was not so happy as
she had expected to be, Jacob was a diff
ferent man from Richard. He was
harder, more selfish, less scrupulous-and
had little hesitation about trampling down
with a ruthless foot whatever came in the
way of his purposes. He had no
tenderness toward his wife, and
never seemed to regard her feelings,
comforts or wishes in what he did Not
that he was unkind to her-only indiffer-
ent There were no little condolences be-
tween them-no concessions on his part
to her wishes and comforts, but a silent
self.assertion that left her wholly out of
his business affairs, while in all that con-
cerned her personally he seemed to feel
little or no interest.
No, Katy was not happy. Far from it.
And as the years went past, the desire of
her heart was less and less satisfied.
Richard Cragan took possession of his
mill, and began refitting, improving, and
setting things in order. All the light of
his life seemed for while to have gone
out. But his work kept him up. There
were not many in the neigborhood who
did not call him fool. But, in his own
mind, he never doubted or repented.
Better So" he would often say to him
self, than bear the responsibility of all
that''-meaning the tavern. II take no
mans money without giving him what is
good in return. My work will not come
back to curse me in after years. No
father or mother can ever say to me,
Where is my boy?-my poor, lost boy,
that was led astray in your bar-roomY
No-no-nol l will give the people
bread, not poison to consume body and
soul"
The years went on. Jacob Cragan grew
rich; but, alas how many became poor
and miserable that he might abound in
wealth. Richard had no ambition beyond
his mill, and the thirty or forty acres of
land attached thereto His first work had
been to put it in good order, and year
after year he made one improvement after
another, until he had the finest mill in all
that region, and as much custom as he
could possibly attend to.
The miller did not marry. Katy had
been his first and only love; his heart
never opened to another. Year after year
he grew better off; but not with the rapid
increase that marked the fortunes of his
brother
But there came time when things be-
gan to change-when the owner OF the
"Red Lion" grew less attentive to business
and more given to sporting, and the COM
pany OF sporting men. A good customer
at his own bar, the evil of his work cursed
him as well as others. His feet drew near
to the pit he had digged for other men,
and the edge was crumbling away from
them.
"The Red Lion is not what it used to
be-" said one and another of its old Gus
toners.
Jacob is going to the dogs, I'm afraid" :"
was heard now and then, half cOnfiden-
TALLY.
One day, more than twelve years after
Richard and Katy parted company, the
former, while standing at his mill door,
was surprised to see his brothers wife
coming down the road. She was alone.
meet her, "what has brought you away
down here?"
AS he looked into her face, he saw that
it was full of trouble. as anything
wrOng?" he added
YES, everything is wrong" she replied,
her voice choking with the sentence, "and
want to talk to you"
Richards bachelor home stood close by
the mill and he went in with Katy
"What is it?" he asked, with kindly in
terest.
"Oh, Richardro She choked, and
sobbed and then, controlling herself
went on: "Oh, Richard l am almost
heartbroken. Things are going to rack
and ruin; and if there isn't some change
we'll not have house over our heads in
year"
(which may be the best thing that can
happen" replied Richard. "a tavern is a
curse to all who have anything to do with
it, and the sooner you and your children
are out of it the better"
Katy covered her face, sobbing and cry
ing in weak, despairing voice.
81 wish you would talk to Jacob" she
said, after few moments, looking at
Richard with fearful, pleading eyes.
II have talked to HIM again and again;
but he only gets angry"
"Yes-yes-that's just it. can't say
word without his flaring up, and-and--
cursing me! Oh, Richard It's dreadful
how he goes on sometimesp
81 know. Tavern-keeping has been his
ruin; and l wish he were out of tiff it
isn't too late"
"Too late!" The words sent chill
through Katy's heart.
at isn't too late for your boys, if it is
for their father" Richard added in a
softer voice.
"But what else can Jacob do?" asked
Katy. "If we give up the tavern, we must
starve."
"Not so bad as that" said Richard.
He'll never turn his hand to anything
else you may be sure" replied Katy
Necessity drives men to do a great
many things"
at may drive him to do worse than he
is doing now," answered Katy. "He's in
with dreadful bad set of men-hOrse
jockeys, and-and-gamblers, I'm afraid |!
Oh, dear And I'm getting worried about
Jimmy. He had trouble with the teacher,
and has been home from school now for
three weeks, and his father won't make
him go back; says the teacher is a cross
old hunks, and not fit for the place. And
now he goes idling about spending his
time in the bar-room, or with the stable
boys. He'll go to ruin if something isn't
done"
Richard looked very grave. There was
so little in common between him and his
brother, that they had been for long
time getting farther and farther apart, and
now rarely met.
"The sooner this tavern-keeping is brok-
en- up, the BETTER" he said, after a long
silence, 81 can't help you now, Katy.
But when things come to the worst I'll do
the best can for you. If had Jimmy
all to myself, in the mill, am sure /
could make something out of him. But
as things are, there's no use talking about
that, Jacob wouldn't give his consent"
Poor Katy went home but little COM
forted and Richard had weight of con
cern laid on his heart that was not to be
shaken off
Later in the day, Richard was surprised
again. This time by visit from his
brother who had not been at the mill for
over two years. Jacob wanted him to go
on his note for three thousand dollars.
81 shall be sold out by the sheriff if you
don't do it!" he said after hurried state
ment of his affairs and the pressing need
f,..s., a hot