The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1873-07-26
THE STORY OF RODGERS.

telling the story Of Il woman who, after
struggling with the pertcrnaturai
strength of Il loving wife and mother
for years against the demon of drink
that possessed her husband, conquered
it, and made once again Il freeman. In
his last illness brandy was prescribed,
which he was strong enough to use
only as Il medicine; but after his death
she ''turnel to it in her grief, and died,
not many months later, Il hopeless,
helpless, urrnkar(l.''
Let US tell IA companion story as true
ts this but of rs different complexion
as daylight TO night. \ few years ago
ON any sunny morning Il heap of filthy
rags might be seen stretched on some of
the bales of y paper warehouse in u
neighboring city, with strong smell
OF stale tobacco and whisky hanging
about it. Turning it over, (Which You
could do as though it We're Il log, any
time after 10 O'Clock in the morningD
you would find the swollen purple face
OF what had once been IL handsome
young man, but there WAS little hope
that the biearcd Dyes or thick tongue
would give an intelligent answer. Th,
porters passing by would push him
aside, but not roughly. The time had
been when he had been Il jolly, gene
roiis young fellow, and Il iuvoritc in
the office. "Noung Rodgers" some
one would give you his history in five
minutes: .'Takcn TO rum--no chance
poor devil, stokes the propricior> could
not turn him out to Starve, so still gave
him It nominal salary, and suffered him
to hang about the house lost he should
There were hints, too, OF 4 widowed
mother, away off in the country, who
had been dependent on him, and q
sweet-hearted, Il pretty, clinging little
girl, both Of whom long ago had been
Abandoned. But there was nothing to
be done. The end, through the usual hor-
rors of delirium trcmens, was apparent
ly not far off.
One day, as Rodgers was creeping to
the nearest bar for his morning bitters,
a man, whom he barely knew by sight
took him by the elbow and walked with
him into a quieter street. s.Thcy tell
me you are Richard Rodgers son. he
said. "Dicl1 Rodgers was the only
friend had for years. and for his sake
Fd like TO save his hoy. Arc You will
ing for me to try?'' ':Ol,, you can try"
muttcrcd the lad, with an imbccile
laugh. This namclcSS friend, nothing
dauntcd, took him to Il chandler in his
own house and put him to bed There
he and his son kept watch and guarded
this poo: wretch for months like Il pri5-
onc!, keeping liquor from him aud try
ing to suppIyil by medical treatment. \
physician he employed, bat he was not
able to pay for Il Nurse. Any one who
has had TO deal with Il victim ofnlania-
loathsorac Il task he had set upon him.
self. tngratcful enough it WAS ut first,
for Rodgers struggled against his tor
mentors with the trrusuy u!.-just what
he wa--a starving animal. AS reason
began to return and his unnatural
strength to vanish, he would beg them
in his intervals Of reason not 10 fail him.
but To work out the experiment either
to success or death. ..It is my last
chance he would cry; ''for Gods sake
be patient" This friend, and his son,
did work it out through all the foul,
unmcntionab1e details. and the end was
not death, but success. 's3iow soon,"
asked 4 friend Of Rodgers u!tcrw'ard,
"wCre you trusted aionc:'' "Not for
two years." ne answered laughing. II
WAS out Of Jail hut in Jail bounds.
DO SOu remember that hank. muscular
young follow who HAL Il ,lnak beside
me i'll thC office" Iic took i, with the
condition that il" could leave II to dog
me night and day. to my meals and to
my bed. That was the son of the man
who saved me. II" was taken from q
lucrative situation in order that he
might become my iailor. tioH bless
him! How used to curse him! Cant
you trust to my honor? I would cry.
Pm no convinced that your honor has
Mi ,p tba G.rotr1- ii I1,-