The Richmond palladium., 1875-01-13
A NEW YEARS STORY.

How Old Jim Dray ton SwOre OF.
He came to town last night to drink
the old year out and the new year IN.
There are men who can remember
when he had cottage of his own;
when he was well dressed and had a
frank, honest face when his children
went to Sunday school and his wife
was we'll clothed and carried a happy
face. Old Jim found himself going
down the hill, and almost IN year he
had changed from a hard-working,
respectable man to ragged, lazy sot,
and no effort on the part of those who
loved him could stop his descent. His
home went, his furniture went, good
clothes and happy faces disappeared,
and wretchedness and poverty moved
into the old tenement-house on Beau
bien street with him
Do you remember when his child
was run over and killed? Old Jim
was dead drunk while the body lay in
the house. Were you ever at the
Central Station Court when he was
sent up for drunkenness or for beating
his wife? Have you never seen him
sleeping his drunken sleep in the
alley? Haven't you heard the police
speak of "Old Jim Drayton?" a red
wicked face, having not one soft line
in tired eyes, looking stupidity and
vacantly at you-a battered hat-rag
ged clothes-you surely must have
met him at some time.
Old Jim meant to have big drunk.
That was good way to wind the old
year up He had been drunk Thanks
giving-he had staggered home drunk
Christmas night, and when his boys
were heard wishing that Santa Claus
had not passed them by the father be-
came angered and beat them. The
bar keeper knew him as he entered
the saloon and called for drinks. He
fore, and his face was as familiar as
the sight of the big decanter from
which he poured his drink.
"Wait minute" said the bar
keepr, who was wiping off the bar;
and old Jim sat down at one OF the
tables.
Two young men came in and sat
down near him Jim was in the
shadow, and they did not know who
it was AS they drank their beer they
spoke of the dying year, and OF their
resolves to break of some of their bad
habits, and finally one of them said:
Some one was saying that old Jim
Drayton had cut his throat
Its good news, if true, replied the
NOT even his family. His wife and
children are in rags, his home hasn
a comfort, and if he'd only die folks
would feel like helping them. He {
the lowest drunkard in Detroit"
"Yes, I've often wondered why he
didn't jump into the river" rejoinec
the other. IF ever get as low anG
ragged and mean as old Jim Drayton
| In shoot myself"
Old Jim heard every word. If he
had had a glass of whisky down he't
have leaped up and cursed them, bu
he was sober-as sober as he had evel
been in ten years, and he made ne
move. Was lie low and mean? Die
everybody feel that way toward him,
Did everybody notice his poor ole
house, his ragged children, his red
face and watery eyes? Did men speak
to each other of his degradation, hi:
neglect of his family-would his deatf
be good news to the public?
DO you want whisky or gin? asked
the bar tender, but old Jim did no
hear him. He had leaned bacl
against the wall, pulled his hat owe
his eyes and was thinking Drinl
had robbed him of his honest look
his frank tone and his strength anC
skill, but it had not robbed him o
memory. He could go back over tn,
decade and remember his pleasan
home, his happy family and his owl
honest, independent feeling. Sham,
came with memory. He had not go
so low but words could strike him.
Two or three men came in. an(
while they We're drinking one OF then
asked:
Isn't that old Jim Drayton in tn
corner?'
Yes, that's the old sot, answere,
another
Wonder if he isn't going to swea
off-hal hal hal laughed the third
The words stung old Jim again
They called up something of his oil,
spirit, and he sprang out of his chai
and exelimed:
Yes, am going to swear of
You swear off-you-hal ha! ha.
laughed the men.
But l will | know I'm a drunk
ard, and that I'm ragged and low, but
can reiorm..
That's goodl'' they laughed, big
gest thing out Old Jim Draytol
swearing off, ha. hat
Il will-with Gods help. I WILL !
he replied, striking the bar with hi
fist.
The shouts of laughter followe
him as he went out, but they strength
eued his sudden resolution. III
walked directly home. He stoppe
for moment at the gate and wonder
ed why he had never before notice
how gloomy and wretched and lone
some the old howell looked. 1t was
fit home for drunkard and a wife
beater. He opened the gate, rause,
then turned and went to the grocer
on the corner, and with the money
meant to get drunk on he purchased
few little toys for the children an
returned and entered his desola,
house. He stood in the door for a
instant and looked around at the ha1