Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1875-04-15
OLD JzE'.
BY MARY DNiNi.LL CEELLIS.

"Hurrail: there's Old Jip's den. Bull,
Of logs. chinked with mud, and sl:i;,gicd
with boards; i. stone chimney leaning
against the ledge, and the whole thing
surrounded with palisades in true Indian
fashion, taliics to thc description as near
rs Il Yuniicc could guess. Never saw the
place before, but Pm sure Of it. Now, if
the old fellow i. travelling, we can take {:
minute survey Of his premises
Thus exclaimed Ross Vining to a party
Of city cousins who were spending a day
with him in the forest siirting the town
Of which his father had recently become c
Il Resident. Swinging himself lightly
over The palisades, he had already reach
Cd the door, when it WAS opened from
within, and Il pair Of b!oodohot eyes look
co down V.,;;: him.
"D"g your pardon, sir,' said the lntru-
der, Il Gdn't suppose any one was hcrc.'
~ Itt if there wasn't, young gentle
man? Even q poor man has Il right to
his own, and this is my own," WAS res
pondcd.
Il didn't think of it in that way, sir. ]
had no right to come within Tie incIos
urc and am sorry that did SO. l ask
your pardon. Will you grant it, sir:"
"What is your name:"
"lioss Vininy."
"Ard Your iitllcr's:''
"Ross Vinlr:;.'
II might have known it. You have the
very same face he had when he was
boy:"
Did you know my father when he was
a boy, sir:'
Il did. I knew him we'll. We were
chums in school for two years, and was
as good a scholar as he You wouldn't
think it, but we were the best Of friends.
He wouldn't know me now. I am only
Old Jip, and hc is a prosperous man.
Your father drinks winc:'
Yes, sir"
"Djcs he give it to you:"
"Somctimcs.
''Go home, and tell your father to thank
God for cool head and steady nerves
They have made the difference between
Ross Vining and Hal N"estgate. I could
Tot drink moderately, and he could. The
difference between us Was but hairs.
breadth. Take word If warming from
me, and never touch the stuff Would to
God could give it up. But I can't. I
am as dead to those who love me as I
ever Shall be; but I'd be glad to do one
good deed before I'm laid away. Ifyou'rc
Ross Winnings own son you'll speak the
truth. Promise me you'll never taste an
other drop Of Intoxicating liquor as long
as you live. viii You make that prom
isc?'
Soft, low, and pleading was the voice
which uttered this request, while for the
moment the bloatcd face was TRANSPORTED.
Il will promise what you wish,' the
boy rcplied; and, standing with barred
head, he pledged himself to abstinence
from all which can intoxicatc. The VOW
was registered on high the trcspass was
forgiven; and Old Jip went back to his
Loneliness.
The next day Ross Vining swung him.
self again over the palings, and this time
Knocked confidently for admittance to the
rude cabin. He waited, but not sound
was heard in response. His hcrjoined
him, a:d after longer waiting il was found
that the doc: was fastened. It yielded at
last to strong pressure, when Mr.. Vim
ing entered. There, upon couch II beg
gar might have scorned, lay the body of
Old Jip. He had died hours before, and
it mattcred nothing to him now that his
schoolmate and friend would have strivch
to save him from himself
"Hal Westgate, is it possible we meet
thus after all these ycars:' murmured
this friend. "Ross, my son, como in.''
They stood there together, father and
son, looking at the face of the dead.
"Ross, what was the promise you made
here yesterdays" asked his father.
Solcmnly, rcverently was the VOW twice
repeated; and henceforth the wine cup
was banished from the home Of one who
had all his life talked of moderation and
sclf.control
But . hairs breadth cf difference. A