The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1875-04-08
now.s4VAy A 5AlRgzA 81 P ,a Sss1n H111
Enom the Detroit Free Pres.

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,, You've met her if you've lived long
in Detroit. Awithered-up old wom-,
an; bow-backed, gray haired, having
: cane in one hand and carrying a
basket Of notions in the other. All
who knew her knew her rs "Aunt
Martha" and she's travelled up and
down, and been at the depot 50 often
that her death would be the occasion
ofgeneral remark. The old woman
found a new saloon on Franklin
street the other day-a place just
opened by wicked Bob Smith, whose
rea Aca ND bloodshot eyes, have
more than once been set in a frame Of
prison-bars. "Aunt Martha" went
in, hoping to make a smallsak. Bob
waswiping his glasses, and half:a-
doaea men sat around the stove hold
ing glasses or smoking cigars.
r,"Git eut!' growled Bob as the old
woman entered. She did not hear
him, and, leaning over the counter,
she asked:
would 20 have q paper of pins
= cake Of soap-a comb, or some
thingT
"Git out, you old beggar" shouted
Bob, raising his arm as if he would
strike.
"I'm no beggar, and don't you dare
to strike me!' replied "Aunt Mar
tha," never moving an inch.
"Why what's to keep me from
wringing your old neck9' inquired
Bob.
"The Lord, sir!" she answered.
"Ho! ho! ho!" laughed Bob,
"There, take that
And he deluged her with rinsings.
The filthy liquid struck her in the
face and ran down over her faded
black shawl and oft-washed calico
dress, but she did not move. Look
ing at him across the counter, she
whispered
"You need praying for, and I'm
going to do it now and here"
"No you don'tw he shouted, as she
moved toward chair; "get out of
here or I'll smash your head with
this bottle -
She never minded him, and he
raised the bottle for 8 throw, when a
sailor-rough, dissipated, but having
some manhood left-leaped up and
cried out:
'""Bob Smith, if you throw that bot
tie at her I'll stave in your bulwarks
in precious minute!'
"You will, ehv' whooped Bob, as
he danced out.
Eyes, he will" cried the rest, ris-
ing up.
They were too many for Bob, and
he had to stand there while "Aunt
Martha" knelt on chair and prayed
for him.
She was still praying when he
dashed out to kick her, but "Foxy
Bill" who came out of State Prison
only q month ago, grabbed him by
the throat, forced him into a chair,
and Kissed:
Bob Smith, if you harm hair Of
that old woman's head I'll make a
funeral here pr
Aunt Martha knelt again, folded
her hands, and said:
these young men were children
not long ago, and they had praying
mothers and God-fearing fathers.
They are walking in wicked paths,
and their hearts know no good. /
pray that their eyes may be opened
to their wickedness, and that their
feet may be turned into other and bet
ter paths"
"She's right" called out a steam.
boatman, as the old woman paused.
"Shoot me if she hahn r. cried an
other. 80
GO. ahead, ..., mother!'' cried a
"I1l'be-if she does !" yelled
the infatuated, Boil, and he reached
her and gave her heavy kick before
any one could interfere.
She screamed with pain as she rose
up, and then there was q terrible 81.
lence. Bob stood with his arm rails.
ed to striker y
Aunt Martha" leaned on the
chair, tears rolling down her wrinkled
CHEEKS, and the half.a-dozen men were
spell-bound with indignation. "Foxy
B,ll' broke the silence by saying:
"Step out doors, mother, and look
out for splinters.
She obeyed, and Bob Smith was
choked and pounded until his senses
left him, and everything that could
be handled was thrown out Of doors
They worked swiftly. fearing the po'
lice, and in five minutes the saloon
was wreck, and its proprietor, still
unconscious, was lying behind the
counter. The work finished, the men
disappeared like shadows, and "Aunt
Martha hobbled away, whispering !:
II prayed too hard; but it ~as in
me to pray|
BARS OR GATES.
Bars at the entrances to the fields
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