Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-12-25
INDEPENDENCE IOWA, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1874

LII one OF tne most Slltterlng OF these
stand two lads. They are watching
with eager eyes the billiard-table
Coarse jests and rowdy jokes &c
round, and the lads catch the drif,
of all and join in the laugh. Pres
emily man, evidently the keeper
approaches them and smilingly asks
if they would not like to try thei,
hand at the game. ''They have nc
money,"'is is the answer. ''That need
not make a bit of difference, they
can learn as well without money as
WITH" he says, at the same time urg.
ing them to take their places at some
one of the tables, which they did,
entering upon the game with a de-
light unknown to them as mere look.
ers on.
81 say, Charlie, isn't this better
than playing cards down in NealIy's
store?" said Joe, for those boys are
Charlie Griffith and Joe Stewart.
eyes, l should think it was.
wonder what time it is. They don't
keep a clock here, l guess" said
Charlie. looking around.
"What's the use fretting about the
time" said Joe, impatiently. "You'll
be sure to catch Il blessing from the
gov'nor whether it's eight o'clock or
ten"
"That's So" answered Chanlie, as
he resumed the game.
1t was eleven O'Clock when Charlie
Griffith went in his fathers yard and
stealthily crept along past the sitting
room window and softly opened the
door. A flood of angry words,
threats and inquiries met him, which
Charles met with silence.
After the storm had subsidized,
Charles crept moodily off to bed;
and soon the entire household had
retired-but not to sleep. The dea-
cons mind was disturbed by emo
tions of anger, his wife's by both an
ger and sorrow, while Charlie's mind
was a tumult of anger, repentance,
remorse and stern defiance, which
set at naught his fathers threaten
ings and warnings. But out of all
this chaos there came, at last, a sense
OF shame and its acknowledged
resolutions. 'If things were not so
stiff and set to rule here, / don't be-
lieve | should want to run out as |
do. If could just get rid of Joe,
l would try and get used to things,
and make up my mind to quit such
places as | have seen tonight. If
they knew uH, thought With such
thoughts as these Charlie at last fell
to sleep.
The next morning only intensified
his sense of shame. Sometimes he
would make clean breast of it, and
tell his mother everything; but he
was uncertain as to how he would
be received. Oh, he did so long for
a sister or a brother to act as media
tor between him and his parents.
But his good impulses vanished be-
fore the united frowns of his parents,
and he kept his own counsel.
That day he diligently avoided
Joe, and did not stir out of the house
that evening, nor the next, nor for
almost Il week. He struggled hard
to create love for the dull home
and its surroundings. He used all
his powers of conversation to try
and draw his parents attention to
himself. But their only response
was a ''humph," or ''do be STILL" un-
till he gave up in despair, and longed
with eagerness for the excitement of
the corner grocery or the billiard
room. But he battled on, trying, oh,
so hard, to overcome the tempter.
! O father, with your parent heart!
O mother, with your latent sympa-
thies! can you not reach out hand
to help him?
No; they do not see. They attrib-
ute his restlessncss or moody silence
to an unsubducd spirit that ,could be
rebcllious if it could; and so they
nap, and read, and work wholly OBJ
livious to the striving of that poor
soul to free itself from the meshes
by which it is surrounded.
SO after week of trying to break
off, Charlie's good resolutions were
growing very weak.
One evening rs he stood by his
fathers gate, he saw one of his com
rades approaching. He had careful
ly avoided all his associates during
his week Of repentcnce-a fact which
they had not failed to notice. But
now he stood still as lad of about
his own age come up.
'Hallo, Charlie Griffith" said he.
''Haven't seen you around for a
coon's age. Where have you kept
yourself?"
CAT home; and a miserable, dull
place it is, too" answered Charlie.
"What are the fellows about?"
"Oh, they're all wondering about
you. Some say your mammy's tied
you up; others, that your father has
bound you out to some trade. But
we've been having good times this
week. There's a theatre here, you
know; and us fellows have slipped
in free every time"
"a theatrew said Charlie, kindling
with enthusiasm at once.
eyes, come go. You look-shall
/ tell you what you put me in mind
of when l saw you tonight"
"What?"
"a girl in her teens, kept in by the
old folks, and wanting to get out the
worst way. Come on; what's the
use of moping around here? Where's
the gov'nor?"
"Both gone to prayer-meeting,'
answered Charlie, referring to his
pgrents.
A little more coaxing and bullying,
and away went the last of Charities
good resolutions.
Looking back in after years to that
night he dated his future course.
Strength of purpose in all that af-
fccted right doing, failed him from
this time on, until it seemed that
only the power to do evil remained.
Ten years later. We look into
Deacon Griffith's house again, and
for the last time. The deacon sits in