Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1875-12-25

it out. Why, these shoes have not
been worn q fortnight or anythin,
like it,"
Trottie's eyes now fell Oh th,
shoes as the man was examining
them, and it struck her they wer,
remarkably like her little brother
Johnny's, and she remembered thai
about a fortnight before q pair OF
shoes had been bought for him out
of the last wages her father had
earned before he was thrown out O1
work at tho dn"l,s. 1t also occurred
to her that the shawl tho woman
wore strongly resembled the one
which her mother had on when she
went out to market. Her attention,
was, however, again riveted to the
conversation of the two men.
81 wonder whether any of these
female drunkards are ever reclaim
3D." remarked one of them.
"Never," said the assistant. "I've
been now in these kind of shops in
Ratclif' highway and about White
chapel for the last five and twenty
years, and, you may imagine, have
had a good deal of experience, and
beyond that, belong to temper
ance society myself well, can
assure you I've never in my life
known a female drunkard reclaimed
after once having pawned her chill
dren's shoes. | almost look upon
it that when once she has pledged
her child's shoes she is as complete
ly lost to all chance of reformation
as the men we used to read Of in
former times who sold themselves
to the evil one."
"Isn't that carrying the idea
rather too far 7" said his compan-
ion.
"Not a Bit" replied the assistant.
"You don't then, consider it pos
sible for a drunken woman to be
reclaimed ~
"NOt when she's once pawned
her children's Shoes" said the man,
"and there's a very curious circum-
stance connected with it, shaving
how much more prejudicially drink
will act on a woman's mind than a
mans. A man may be an ire
drunkard, and to satisfy
his propensity for drink will purloin
or steal anything he can lay his
hands upon, but l never knew
case of a man, although very likely
q dozen times convicted thief, ever
having pawned his children's
clothes for the sake of drink. A
drunken woman, on the contrary,
after once having perpetrated the
act, never again hesitates. No, be-
lieve me, when once she has done
that she is thoroughly lost"
The dead hand now drew Trottio
from the warehouse, and after pass
ing through darkness as profound
rs that she entered when first led
from her home, the light began
gradually to appear, and objects,
as of people passing her in the
streets, became distinguishable.
Then a glare of light appeared in
the distance, and presently she
found herself standing near the
gin shop in which she
had intended to purchase a bottle
Of rum, and then quilted it in dis.
gust from the scene she had wit
messed. The same noise of shouts,
luarreling and laughter which had
appeared to her SO repulsive she
now heard again, and with the same
She would willingly
have moved off, but the dead hand
ed her forward. She attempted to
resist, but the pressure, which had
hitherto been light, now became so
strong as to be irresistible, and she
was obliged to enter the place
against her better Judgment.
The scene here was, if possible,
more revolving than the one she
had before witnessed. There were
more persons in the place, both
men and women and these in a
yrOsser state of intOxicatiOn. Ian.
guage of the most disgusting de.
,criptiOn was banded about from
one to the other, less in anger or
Jest than as ordinary conversation.
One scene particularly attracted
rrOttie's attention. A middle.aged
nan, in a state of maudlin drunken
less, was crying, and dirty, dis
reputable-loOkiug woman was at
to console him.
"Don't take on so," said she; "you
know that'll do no gOod-yOu can't