Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1875-02-09
MIScELLAREoUS.
HOW OLD jim DRAYTON "SWORR
OFF,n

e came up town last night to drink the
eSS old year out aud the aeW one in. There
are men who can remember when he had \
cottage of his own; when he was we'll dressed
and had frank, honest face when his
children went to Sunday School, and his wifs
was we'll clothed aud carried happy face,
Old jim found himself going down the hill,
and almost in year he had changed from .
hard working, respectable man to ragged,
lazy sot, and no effort on the part of those who
had loved him could stop his descent. His
home went, his furniture went, good clothes
and happy faces disappeared, and wretehed-
ness and poverty moved into tho old tenement
house on Beaubien 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-s!eep in the alley? Haven't you
heard the police speak of 'Old Jim Drayton ?'
A red, wicked face, having not one soft line
in it-red eyes, looking stupidity and vaeantly
at you-a battered hat-ragged clothes-you
surely must have met him at some time.
Old Jim meant to have big drunk. Thai
was a good way to wind the old year mp. He
had been drunk Thanksgiving-he had stag
gered home drunk Christmas night, and when
his boys we're heard wishing that Santa Claus
had not passed them by, the father became
Gngered aud beat them. The bar-keeper
knew him as he entered the saloon aud called
for drinks. He had called there dozens of
times before and his face is rs familiar a.
the sight of the big decanter from which no
poured his drink. .,
"Wait a minute" said the bar.keeper who
! was wiping of the bar: and old Jim snk down
at one of the tables.
Two young men came in and sat down near
him. Jim was in the shadow, and they didnot
not know who it was. As they drank their
beer they spoke of the dying year, and Of
their resolves to break off some Of their bad
habits, and finally one of them said: =,
'Somo one was saying that old Jim Drayton
had out his throat /"
"Ifs good news, if true" replied the other.
''No one will MISS the old sot-not even his
family. His wife aud children are in rags,
his homo hasn't comfort, and if he'd only
die folks would feel like helping them. Hes
the lnwest druukRrd in Detroit r.
"Yes, I've wondered why he didn't jump
into the river" rcjoiued the other. "If | ever
get as low and ragged and mean as old Jim
Druyton, I'll shoot myselfw ~
Ola Jim heard overy word. If he had had
glass of whiskey down he would have lOaped
up and cursed them, but he was sOber-as
sober as he had ever been for ten years, and hA
made no move. Was he low aud mean Did
everybody feel that way towards him2 Did
everybody notice his poor old house, his
ragged children, his red taco and watery
eyesY Did men speak to each other of hiA
degredation, his neglect of his family-would
his death be good news to the public2
''DO you want whiskey or gin ?" asked the
bartender, but old Jim did not bear him.
lie had leaned back against tho wall, pulled
his hat over his eyes aud was thinking.
Drink had robbed him Of his honest look his
frank tono, and his manly strength aud skill,
but it had not robbed him of memory. He
could go back over tho decade and remember
his happy home, his happy family and bis
own honest and Independent feeling. Shame
came with memory. Ho had not got so low
but that words could strike him.
Two or three other men came in, and while
| they wore drinking one of them asked:
"Isn't thstold Jim DrAyton in the cornerY
eyes, that's the old sOt." answered another.
Wonder it he isn't going to swear Of
hE ! hA! hn J" laughed the third
eyes, ! am going 10 swear off," Il
" You swear otf-YoU-ha! ha" laughed
the men. 80:
but l rcM! know am drunkard,
and that Pm ragged and low, but can re-
form!"
"That's good !" they laughed, "biggsss
thing out Old Jim DraytOn swearing of
la! ha !" ,-
81 wilI-with Gods help, I will I" he 70
Piled, striking the bar with his fist.
Their shouts of laughter followed him ~
he went out, but they strengthened his reso,
luton. He walked directly homo. Ho
stopped for moment at the gate and won
dered why he had never before noticed how
! gloomy and wretched and lonesome the old
hovel looked. 1t was a fit home for drunk
ard aud a wife beater. He opened the gate,
then paused, then turned and went TO tho
grocery on the corner. and with the money
he meant to get drunk on he purchased q few
little toys for the children and returned and
entered his desolOte house. He stood in The
door for IN instant and looked around at the
bare and battered walls, the bare floors, tho
wretohedness and poverty. His wife crept
away, fearing his drunken wrath, He knew
! what moved her, and it cut him ike knife
''Mary, come here !" he said, as he closed
the door and bold out his hand; ~ am mot
drunk to>night ~
She slowly approached him, wondering IL
drink hcd not crazed him.
'"Mary :" he said, rs he cIasped her hand,
81 haven't drunk drOp'tO-night wa
"Oh, James" she sobbed, breaking right
down in en Instant
"Tbey call me old Jim Drayton; say I'm
sot wonder Why don't die say caB't
reform" j" he went OD, "but Pm going TO stop
driDkiDg-I have stopped now %
She put her arms around his neck, but
could not speak.
"FrOm tonight as long as I live, III be
James Drayton again-sober, steady, kind
husband aud good father Go and wake up