The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-10-28
From the New York Graphic,
THE BAR.TENDER'S STORY.

From the New York Graphic.
THE BAR-TENDER's STORY.
1.
When I knowed him at first there was suth.
in'--
A sort of general air.
That was very particular pleasin'
And what you might call debonair.
I'm aware that expression is Frenchy,
And ruther high daddy, perhaps;
Which accounts that have the acquaint-
ance
OF several quality chaps.
And such is the way they converses,
But, speakin' of this here young man,
Apparently natur' had shaped him
On sort of liberal plan;
Had guv him good looks and good language
And manners expressin' with vim
His belief In himself, and that others
Was just as good fellers as him.
hev noticed I'm rather observino
That them that's cheerfulest here
Is the sort that is seldomest given
To indulgin' themselves in the fear
1HaL tucy dlut Oelu lnOuSut VI SuulCAcut,
Whatever's the company by,
Or that somebody, or some how or other,
Is toppin' Of 'em onto the sly.
w.
But this chap that mentioned was pleasin'
But neither stuck up nor stuck down;
And was thought to be jolly agreeable
Whenever he went round town,
He used come his beverage
Quite regular every night;
And took considerable interest
In mixin' the thing about right.
But he got to increasin' his doses,
And took 'em more often, he did;
And it grOwed on him faster and faster
Till inter hummer he slid.
l was grieved to observe this here feller
A shown hisself down the grade,
And lectured him onto it sometimes
At the risk of spilin' the trade.
vi.
AT last he got thunderin' seedy,
And lost his respect for hisself,
And all his high notions of honor
Was bundled away on the shelf.
But at times he was dreadful remorseful
Whenever he'd stop for to think,
And he'd swear to reform hisself frequent,
And end it by takin' a drink.
VII.
What saved that young feller? A woman!
She done it in the ginglerest way,
He came into the bar-room one evenin'
He hadn't been drinking that day,
And sot hisself down to a table
With terrible sorrowful face,
And he sot there a groanin' repeated
And callin' hisself gone case.
He was thinkin' and thinkin' and thinkin',
And cussin' hisself and his fate,
And ended his thinkin' as usual
BY orderin' Bourbon straight,
He is holdin' the glass in his fingers,
When into the place from the street
There came a young gal like spirit,
with face that was powerful sweet.
And she g'ided right up to the table
| And took the glass gently away,
| And she says to him, "George it is over;
I'm only woman to-day!
rejected you once in my anger,
But come to you lowlv and meek,
For can't live without you, my darling;
Thought was strong, but I'm weak.
"You are bound in a terrible bondage,
And come, love, to share it with you;
Is there shame in the deed! can bear it,
For at least to my love am true;
1 have turned from the home of my child
hood,
And come to lover and friend,
Leaving comfort, contentment and honor;
And I'll stay to the terrible end.
| XI.
sis there hunger and want in the future7
+ Twill share them with you and not shrink
And together Wen join in the pleasures,
The woes and dangers of drink"
Then SHE raised up the glass firm and steady
But her face was as pale as the dead.-
"Here's to wine and the carousals,
The song and the laughter" she said.
XII.
Then he riz up, his face like tempest,
And took the glass out of her hand,
And slung it away stern and savage
And tell you his manner was grand!
And he says: 81 have done with 1t, Nelly,
And I'll turn from the ways have trod,
And III live to be worthy of you, dear,
So help me merciful God.
| XIII.
sYou have saved me, my love and my dar
ling
On noble and womanly plan;
Go back to your home till seek you,
In the garb and strength Of a man!'
|
seen that same feiler, last Monday,
LoOkin' nobby and handsome and game
He was wheelin' a vehicle, gentlemen,
And baby was into the same.