The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1874-08-13
Avlt.LA,J nAH Hoosi

tending 70 reach my home in time Go par.
take Of tbe annual Thanksgiving dinner
with old and loving fFicods at the old
homestead. II was o biller cold mora
ing when We set out, and the roads were
trozga hard, there having been consider.
abIe mud only a day or two before.
The first night we put 10 at Dan'IIio,
aud on the following morning when
awoko ! found that the earth was not on
I by covered with snow, but tho snow was
falling fast. After 90 early breakfast we
set ont again on wheels, bat at the end
F Of eight miles were forced TO take run
ncrs, the snow elogging up so that the
wheel. would not run When night came
VIC found ourselves obliged TO stop al a
small village only twenty miles from
where we ret ont 10 the morning.
/ a good supper was provided at the
+ inn, and the place had the appearance Of
comfort. We had just sat down to sup
per when the wind began to blow furi-
ously, aud we could see by the dim light
without that the snow was being whirled
and driven about IN furious manner
There was a Gre in the small sitting.room
and thither we passengers, six Of us, ad-
journcd, We sat there and conversed
until near nine O'Clock, aud then went
out into the bar-room to smoke a cigar
previous to retiring.
In the bar-room found a bright wood
fire burning,and some dozen people were
sitting there, smoking aud drinking 49,
This was long before the introduction of
the Maine laws. Several Of the company
judged to be teamsters; rough, har-
dy, good-uatured set, who were enjoying
themselves hugely over a mug of flip
Then there were several whom found
to be yilagers-men who lived near the
inn-a set of village politicians and news
mongcrs, who made the bar.room a place
OF social evening meeting.
had lighted my cigar, and taken my
seat near the fire, when | noticed a buff.
alo skin on one end OF the settec, oppo-
site to where | sat, and was confident
there was "a human being beneath it.
suppose it might be stable hand who
had been at work hard, or was expecting
to be up most Of the night, and was now
getting little sleep. was looking at
the buffalo, and thus m9ditating, when ]
heard low, deep, death-like groan come
up from beneath it, and in few mo-
ments more the robe was thrown upon
the floor, and the man who had reposed
beneath came down upon the top of it,
and there he lay for some moments like
i a dead man. had Just started up,wher
four OF the villagers fastened to his as
sistanee. They lifted him TO his feet, ant
after considerable effort he managed L
stand up.
My God! what thrill struck to my
heart when | saw that face. 1t was on,
Of noble feature; brow high and amply
developed, over which clustered mas
of dark glossy ringlets; the face beauti
fully proportioned, aud each separate
feature most exquisitely chiselled. Blu
what an expression rested there now!
The dark eyes had vacant, IDIOT
stare; the face was pale as death, ant
the lips looked dry and parched, an,
: much discolored. His clothes were tor
and soiled, and one of his hands bloody
He was surely not more that five an
thirty, and his appearance would at ono
indicate man of more than commo
abilities. But the demon had him, an
had made him now something below th
brute.
How do you feel now, George? aske,
one Of the men who had gone TO his as
sistaneo.
But he only groaned in reply, and h
t was soon persuaded to lie down again
g being told that he would soon feel better
t. As soon as he was on the settee one
more, aud had the buffalo over him, tn
J men returned 10 their seats
Who is that chap? asked one OF tn
teamsters looking toward the vilageI
who had been assisting the uniorlunat
- man.
Thars George Locklaud, reformed
stout honest looking man.
Does he belong here2
III Yes. Didn't you ever hear OF him2
The teamster replied that he had not
Wen, resumed the fat man, It's to
bad, | declare It's, Lockland might b
one Of the first men in the town If he'd
mind to; bat you see he will drink an
the worst ol il is, he makes fool Of him
self lie can't touch 1t without doin
4, just as as be il doing now. lie starte
here as lawyer, and smart one he
oI too. why be can argue old Upton rigl
ont ofhis boots. But you see he's To-
all his best customers now. They dan
no, trust bin with business, because /
amt sure OF doing It, He's got one
tie bcaudluIest little wives you ey,
saw aud oue OF The hauds0mest children
But, poor things pity 'em, Tha
there's another thing; rum operates di
i fercuily on him from what Il does q
most folks. Il doesn't show Itself on Il
outside as il does OF almost cyorybod
else. bat it seems 20 eat him up inside.
lou see how pale he oks-weli, he
- always so when he'. on oue Of tbe
Zines Ile don't eat nothing, and
d0nt suppose lie will pa, bit Of foo
Into bis stomach ior whole week
come
How long has be been so2 ask-i Il
icamstef,.
low do Won meaus