Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1873-10-09
An ANGEL IN A SALOON.
A TRUE INCIDENT.

paAooto b NHS SNJ Lux
writer happen to be passing at tho tim,
and impclled by curiousity, followed hel
in to see what would ensue. Stepping
up to the bar aud addressed the proprie.
tor, who happened to be present, shc
said
''Sir, can you assist mep | have nc
home, nc friendsr and am not able L
work."
He glanced at her and then at the
child, with a Mingled LOOK curiosity and
pity. Evidently he was much surprised to
see n woman in such q place begging, but
without asking any questions, gave her
some change, and turning to those pres
ent, he said
gentlemen, hero Isl lady in distress,
Can't some of you holp her a little ?"
They chccrfully acccded to the request,
aud soon a purse Of two dollars was made
up and pat in her hand.
MADAM" said the gentleman who
gave her the money, "why 40 you come
10 a saloon? 1t isn't a proper place for a
lady, and why arc you driven to such a
stepT'
Sir" said the lady. l know it is not
a proper place for me to be in, and you
ask me why l am driven to such a step.
| will tell you in one short word"-point,
ing to a bottle behind the counter label
led whiskey-"that is what brought me
hcre-W hiskey !"
Il was once happy aud surrounded
with all the luxuries which wealth could
procure and with a fond and indulgent
husband. But in an evil hour he was
tempted, and not possessing the viii!
to resist tho temptation fell. and in one
short year my dream of happiness was
over, my home forever desolated. and the
kind husband and tho wealth which some
called rhine, lost, lost never to return,
and all by the accursed wine cup.
"You see before you only a wreck Of
my former self, homeless and f~riendless,
and nothing left me in this world but
this little child" weeping bitterly, she
sacctlonately caressed the golden curls
that shaded a face Of exquisite lovelinesS.
Rcgaining her composure aud turning to
the proprietor Of the saloon, she contin.
nod
"Sir, the reason I occasionally enter o
place like this is to implore those who deal
in the deadly poison to desiSt, to stop a
business that spreads desolatiOn. ruin,
poverty and starvation. Think one
moment of your own love ones. and theu
ina. ine them in the situation | am in.
| appeal to your better nature, | appeal
t, your heart, for | know you possess i
kind one, to retire from a business so
ruinous TO your patrons
Did you know hat the money you
take across the bar Is the same as tax.
ing the bread out of the mouths Of the
famished wives and children Of your Gus
toners? That it strips the clothes from
their backs, deprives them of the rom
forts Of this life, and throws unbappiness.
misery, crime and desolation into then
once happy home! Oh! sir, | implorc
be'eech and pray you to re;lre from a
business which will make you blush to
own you are engaged in before your icl
low men, and enter one that will mol
only be profitable to you but to your fcl
low creatures also. You will EXCUSE mt
IL / have spoken too plainly, but | assur,
you hat | could Lot help it when |
thought Of the misery, the suffering anc
tho unhappiness it has caused me-"
MADAM. | an not offended" he an,
svered in a voice husky with emotion
"but | thank you from the bottom Of NY
heart for what you have said"
"Mamma.' said the little child-who
meantime, has been spoken to by some 0
the gentlemen prescnt-tuking bold OF
her mothers hand, "these gentlemen wish
me to sing Little Bessie to them, Shal
do sol"
eyes my darling, of they wish you to-
They all joined in the request, AM
placing her in clair, she sang in a swee
childlikc VOICE the following beautiful
song:
Out on the gloomy night sadly roam,
have no mother, dear, no pleasant home:
No one cares for me no one would cry
Even If poor little Bessie would die,
Weary and tired I've been wandering
all day,
Asking Tor work, but I'm too small
they say.
On the lamp ground / must now lay m,
head,
Father Il drunkard and mother Is dead,
ave were So happy till father drani
rum,
Then all our sorrow an ! trouble begun ;
Mother grew pale and wept every day
Baby and | were too hun gry to play;
Slowly they faded till one summer nigh,
Found their dead faces all silent aud whit,
Thou with big tears slowly dropping
said,
Fathers 4 drukard and mother is dead
"Oh IL the temperance men only coult
Poor, wretched father, and talk very
Kind;
lfthey would stop him from drinking
then
should be so very happy again.
Is IL too late, temperance men! Pleas,