The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-25
q BETTER COUNTRY.

Joe Trcstle was very drunk Day
passed over him, and night began tc
howl around, while he Law motionless
as mummy on the low bank Of Ramy
Run, under Il sycamore tree. All its
leaves quivcred with the storms
breath. The storm came roaring
over hills and tramping through
woods; blOtting out twilight and
drenching the ground. 1t washed
Joe Trestle as be had not been wash.
cd for Years. Ramp Run rose to the
storm as willing child springs to its
mother.
Water, we know, is runs foe to
determination. Water pursued rum
through Joe Trestler's Jaws, his boots.
his skull BY continued dashes and
shocks it brought him back to the
world. He sat up in a broad stare.
and saw the world as it were on fire.
But instant darkness buried him.
He heard the long, whistled sound
Of falling trees, the roar Of air and
water, and also. he thought child's
cry.
Joe, suspected it might be the
judgment but being a stolid fellow.
he clutched the sand and made no
remarks II it were the Judgment
be didn't feel prepared" But he
never expected to feel prepared, "
Ike less soaked sinners. He was
altogether vile There was no spot
on him whereon character might be
started, except faint desire, hid and
aching somewhere, to be better than
he was. Joe had staggered past his
best years. At this period, he was
willing to sell his ancestors tomb
stones, his own ears, or even his
wife's chignon-if he had a wife
for satisfactory drink. Boys pat
ronize him on the streets, and PLAYED
tricks on him when he tucked him.
self up like chrysalia under stair
way or fence. People looked for
ward to Joe Trestle's making
morning item by getting ground IN
der trains or frozen in the gutter
over night, when he could at least be
utilized thus; "See there, my son;
Joe Trestie went to school with me;
he was bright boy, and every one
expected he would make his mark.
That is all the mark Joe Trestle has
ever made What is the cause of
this p? Rum my on-drunkenness :"
When churches revived their zeal,
and Christians began TO polish their
armor, all denominations seized on
Trestle and tried to reform him. They
voted ut elections to license liquor
traffic; and at ordinary times this
victim of it was too mean for notice :;
but when they turned from business
to religion, he was in demand. He
felt it, and took a sly pride in being
lassOed from all the pulpits, eXhorted
and prayed over. They gave him
money and old clothes, which he
spent at saloon back-doors. Thus
thcy tried to inject life through his
veins which had never touched him
Joe had married a wife, and beat
en- her with many stripes; when the
poor thing could stand it no longer,
she crept from his sight and died. |
The knowledge that he had a child, Q /!
daughter, somewhere, touched his
brain; hut as sic never crossed his |
way, il was jostled aside by the
more pressing affairs Of his business
something to drink
\ young peoples temperance soci- |
ETY. once took Joe into hands. He
signed the pledge faithfully every |
week, and was sure to get ont of the
litch to be reinstated at lodge. But /
even then, young and hopeful, gave /
him up. Joe Trestle was o wreck
hat could not be reconstructed. Nc ,
religion nor responsibility could
,each him. He must go his own
way, drink his last drink-die like q
brute, and go-where? Lord have
mercy on Joe Trestle's soul
1t was a child's cry, human and
SO that it cut across the
winds.
Joe stood up in the deluge. He
lidn't know just what to do, but bent
IN doing something for aid, be put
10Th fists to his mouth and roared
Ike gorilla.
Again the child's cry-"Oh. oh ~
Where air your" hooted Joe.
But his voice, lacking the sharp
cnor Of childhood, was drowned.
Vasdering nearer him. came the pit
ful yailing-"Oh OH"
May be the Banshce, what the
rsh tell about" thought Joe, or "old
'ox's ghost, what killed himself
own in the crick hollerl''
The sky burst and split broad
wful glare, in which Joe saw woods
nd muddy expansc Of waters, and
Inning earth, forming background
Or little girl; who, as she thus saw
i'm put more terror and dispair in
er crying, and few blindly against .
he bushes.
Come yer ~ bawled Joe, II won't ,
urt ye! I'm noboddy but Joe Tres
lie Come yer and tell me what's the
natter ~
Strangely, as soon as she heard his ,
anne, the child dropped her fears. ,
he groped and called; Joe groped ,
nd called, till she got his hand and
TODD with him under the tree.
Another fash revealed her sad i,