The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-03-25
A BETTER COUNTRY.
BY MARY HARTWELL.

as a mummy on the low banks of Rump
Run. under q sycamore tree. All It's
leaves auivered with the storms breath:
The storm came roaring over hills, ana
tramping through woods: blotting out
TWILIGHT and drenching the ground.
Tt washed Joe Trestle as he had not been
washed for wears. Bump Run rose to
the storm as a willing child springsto its
mother.
Water. we know, is rum's foe to exter-
mination. Water pursued rum through
Joe Trestle's jaws, his boots, his Skull!
By continued dashes and shocks 1T
brought him back to the world. He
sat up in a broad glare, and saw the
world as it were on fire. But instant
darkness buried him. He heard the
long. whistling sound of falling trees,
the roar of air and water, and also, he
thought, child's cry.
Toe suspected that it might be the
Judgment but being stolid fellow, he
clutched the sand and made no remarks:
If it were the Judgment, he ''dldn feel
prepared But he never expected to
sfeel prepared, ;" likeless soaked sinners.
lie was altogether vile. There was no
snot in him wherein character might be
started. except faint desire, hid and
aching somewhere, to be better than he
was. Joe had staggered past his best
wears. At this period he was willing to
sell his ancestors tombstones, his own
ears. or even his wife's chignon-if she
had one-for unsatisfactory drink. Boys
Datronized him on the streets, and
played tricks on him, when he tucked
himself ND like chrysais under stair
way or fence. People looked forward to
Joe Trestle's making morning item by
getting ground under. trains or frozen IN
The gutter over night, when he could at
last be utilized by the community, and
utilized thus ''See there, my son, Joe
TrestIe went to school with me he was
a 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 Rum, my son !;
drunkenness
When churches revived their zeal, and
Christians began to polish their armor,
.n denominations seized on Joe Irestle
md tried to reform him. They voted at
elections to license iquor-traffic and at
ordinary times this victim of 1t was too
mean for their notice but when they
turned from business to religion, he was
In demand. He felt it, and took sly
pride in being lassoed from all the pull
pits, exhorted and prayed over. They
gave him money and old clothes, which
he spent at saloon back doors. Thus
they tried to inject through his veins
life which had never touched him IN
wardly.
Joe had married wife, and beaten
her with many stripes when the poor
thing could bear it no longer, she crept
from his sight and died. The knowl
ledge that he had a child, daughter,
somewhere, touched his brain but as
she never crossed his way, it was jostled
aside by the more pressing affairs Of his
Misunderstanding something to drink.
4 young peoples temperance society
once took Joe in hand. He signed the
pledge faithfully every week, and was
sure to get out OF the ditch to be rein
stated at lodge. But even they, young
and hopeful, gave him up. Joe Trestle
was a wreck that could not be recon
structed No religion nor responsibility
could reach him. He must go his own
way. drink his last drink-die like a
brute, and go-where? Lord have
mercy on Joe Trestle's soul
1t aCas child's cry, human and reach
ing, SO that it cut across the winds.
Joe stood up in the deluge. Hedidn't
know just what to do, but bent on doing
something for aid, he put both fists TO
his mouth and roared like a gorilla.
Again the child's cry-"Oh! oh -
''Where are We ?" hocted Joe.
But his voice, lacking the sharp tenor
of childhood, was drowned. Wandering
near him, came the p1tiful walling-''Oh,
oh -
'sMay be the Banshee, what the Irish
tell about" thought Joe, ''or old FoX's
ghost, what killed himself down In the
crici1 holler :"
The sky burst and split broad, awful
glare, III which Joe saw woods, and mud
dy expanses of waters, and shining earth
forming background for q little girl who
as she thus saw him, put more terror anc
despair III Ter crying, and flew blndiy
against the bushes.
ssCome yer - bawled Joe, Il won't
hurt We l IN nobody but Joe Trestle !!
Come yer and tell me what's the mat
ter y
Strangely, rs soon as she heard his
name the child dropped her fears. She
sroned and called Joe CROPPED and call
ed +; till she got his, hand, and stood
with him under the tree.
Another flash revealed her q sad-faced
child. with hair like rag-weed, and dress
of pauper homespun. Her eyes were
lift a to him. She must have seen he
was bloated unreliable. But her hand
clutched his she staid her faith and
safety on his company.
.sWas re skaert?'' yelled Joe.
Eyes. most to death And L couldn t
CIT acrost. and she said if L didn't git
back ssfore dark, she'd put me In the
house where the crazy folks is =
Who said p
s.NIiss Smith, what keeps the poor
house. She sent me on an Grant. |
iuss run till [ couldn't breave and 1t
turned black and commenced to storm !,
/ couldn't find the foot-bridge every
time I started out where it was, Id git