The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-10-02
THE BAR-rmsDEn's STORY.
nY pELra AREwnIdnr.

THE BAR-TENDEii'S STORY.
by pELEG AREwRIGHr.
When l1nowed him at first there was suthin'-
sort of general arr
Thst was very particular pleaein,
And what you might call aebonair.
g'n aware that expression ia Frenchy,
Aud ruther high-daddy, prehaps,
'Qhioh accounts that have the acquaintance
OF several quality chaps,
And such Is the way they converses.
But, speallin' of this here young man,
Apparently netur' had shaped him
On a sort OF liberal plan;
Had guV him good looks and good language,
And manners expTessin' with vim
Ills belief in hisself, aud that others
Was just as good feilers as him.
/ hey noticed Q'm rather observin)
That them that is cheerfElest here
u the sort that Is seldomest given
To indulgin' theirseives in the fear
That they amt bein' thought of sufficient,
Whateyer's the company by,
Or that somebody, somehow or other,
Is toppin' of em onto the sly.
But this chap that mentioned was pleasin',
And neither stuck up nor stuck down,
And was thought to be jolly agreeable
Whenever he went around town.
He used to come in for his beverage
Quite regular every night,
And took a considerable interest
Ia mixin' the thing about right.
But he got TO iBcreasin' his doses,
And took 'em more often, he did
And it growed on him faster and faster
Till inter hummer he slid.
/ was grieVed TO obserys this here Teller
shown hisself down the grade,
And l lectured him onto 1t sometimes
At the risk of its sp'ilin' the trade.
AZ last he got thunderin' seedy,
And he lost his respect for bisself,
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 10 think,
And he'd swear to reform hisself frequent,
And end il by takin' drink.
VII.
What saved that young feiler? Awoman!
She done It the singlerest way
II come into the bar-room one eyenin',
lie hadn't been drinkin' that day.,
And sot hisself down to table
with terrible sorrowful face,
Aud he sOt there groanin' repeated
And calm hisself 4 gone case.
VIII.
lie was thinkin' and thinkn' and thinkin',
Aud cuesin' hisself and his fate,
And ended his thinkin' as usual
BY orderin' Bourbon straight.
He was holdn' the glass in his fingers,
n =
There come a youGgSgal like spirit,
With face that was powerful sweet.
Aud she glded right up to the table
Aud look the glass gently away,
And she says to him, "George II is over,
am only woman to-day
/ rejected you once in my anger,
But I come 70 you lowly and meek,
For can't live without you. my darling;
1 thought ] was strong, but I'm weak.
- You are bound in terrible bondage,
And l come, love, 70 share II with You;
- there shame in the deed? | can bear it,
For at last 10 my love am true;
l nave turned from the home Of my childhood,
And j come TO lover and friend,
Leaving comfort, cOltentmcat and honor;
And III stay TO the terrible end.
XI.
% i there hunger and want IN the future?
I'll share them with you aud hot shrink
And together wen join IN the pleasures,
The woes and the dangers OF drink"
Then she raised M the glass 6rln aud steady,
But her face was as pale as the dead
g Here's 60 wine aud the 10y of carousals,
The songs and the laughter" she said.
XII.
Then ne riz up, his face like tempest,
Ana took the giass out OF her hand,
And slung it away stern aud savage
Aud tell You his manner was grand!
And he says, 81 have done with It, Nelly
And I'll turn from the ways 1 have trod,
Aud ri live to be worthy Of you, dear,
so heip NE, q merciful God
XIII.
o. You have saved me, NY .ove and my darling,
o. q noble and wCmanly plan;
Go back 20 your home ill / seek you
IA the gorb and the strength of a man! "
1 seem that same feller last Monday
L5o'ua nobDy aud handsome and game;
lie was whcein' q vehicle, gen Yemen,
Aud q baby was into the same.
ietg lore Graphic.