The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-10-01
THE BAR-TENDER's STORY.
BY PELEG ARKwRIGHT.

THE BAR-TENDER'S STORY.
BY PELEG ARKwRIGHT.
When knowed him at first there was suVnlh'--
sort of a general air
That was very particular pleas1n',
AND what YOU might call debonair.
I'm aware that expression is Frenchy,
And ruther high-daddy, prehaps,
which accounts that have the acquaintance
Of several quality chaps,
And such is the way they converses.
But, speakin of this here young man,
Apparently netur' had shaped him
On sort of liberal plan;
Had guy him good looks and good language,
And manners expressin' with vim
His belief in hisself, and that others
Was just as good fellers as him.
heY noticed I'm rather observin0
That them that is cheerfNllest here
Is the sort that is seldomest given
To indulgin' theirseives in the fear
That they amt bein' thought of sufficient,
Whatever'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 i'll for his beverage
Quite regular every night,
And iOok a 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.
was grieved to observe this here Teller
A shown hissef down the grade,
And 1 lectured him onto it sometimes
At the risk of its sD'ilin' the trade.
At last he got thunderin' seedy,
And he lost his respect for hisseIf,
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 drink.
VII.
What saved that young Teller? A woman!
She done it the singlerest way:
He come into the bar-rOOm one evenin',
Gle hadn't been drinkin' that day.,
And sot hisself down to table
With a terrible sorrowful face,
And he sot there a groanin' repeated
And calm 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 was holdin' the glass in his fingers,
When into the place from the street
There come young gal like spirit,
With face that was powerful sweet.
And she glided right up to the table
Aud took the glass gently away,
And she says to him, " George, it is over,
am only a woman to-day
/ rejected you once in my anger, l,h
But come to you lowly and meek,
For cane live without you, mYdarling;
thought was strong, but I'm weak.
You are bound in terrible bondage,
And 1 come, love, to share it with you;
Is there shame in the deed? can bear it,
For at last to my love am true;
l have turned from the home of my childhood.
And come to lover and friend,
Leaving comfort, contentment and honor;
And I'll stay to the terrible end.
" Is there hunger and want in the future?
I'll STARE them with you and not shrink
And together We'll join in the pleasures,
The woes and the 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 JOY of carousals,
The songs 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, II have done with it. Nelly,
And I'll turn from the ways have trod,
And Ill live to be worthy of you, dear,
So nelp me, merciful God
f" You have saved me, my love and my darling,
On a noble and womanly plan
Go back to your home till seek you
In the garb and the strength of mani"
seen that same feiler last Monday,
Lookin nobby and handsome and game;
He was wheeln' a vehicle, gentlemen,
And baby was into the same.
Nelg York Graphic.