Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-02-10
DEXTERvILLE, Wis, FEB. LIST.
Yours &c.,
X. X. X.

E0at0f Hep0Ttef:
The sociable given on the 22nd by
the good templars, of Dextervilie,
proved in every respect. complete
success. The hall was filed to its ut
most capcity. The exercises, consist
ing of tableaIx, charades, declarations
and select readings, would have done
credit to much larger place.
One piece in particular, is worthy of
especial notice. It was entitled "The
little Pleader," and represented little
girl in search of her inebriated father.
She first visits the saloon, and in
! quires Of the barkeeper. if her father
has been there, says it is now past
midnight and her mother fears some
accident is keeping him away. He re-
plies: "Your father has been here,
but is now gone, an officer has taken
him to the lookup, for he has commit
Ceu d very Wlckeu ueeu.
The little one then with the greatest
emotion, exclaims /:
,'Oh twas not my father that did the bad deed,
Twas drinking that maddened his brain,
Oh, let him come home to dear mother l plead
I'm sure he'll not taste it again"
She then calls at the police station,
and tells the policeman, her father is
lost, and says man told her he had
taken him away, and begs of him to
release her poor father. 2ut the un-
faeling man tells her he cannot do so,
as they have already put himSin prison,
and she must run home and tell her
mother where he has gone. In the
same pathetic tones and words, as to
the barkeeper, she assures him: "Twas
not my father, twas drinking which
caused all the mischief" and begs for
his release, but, in vain. Nothing
daunted, she hastens to the Jail, and
Of the jailor, begs admission to
her father, bgging of him to let her in
just for a minute, but the hard hearted
TAILOR stands as motionless as a statue
; while the little Pleader begs and i'm
!, plores in vain, for her fathers release,
or few minutes interview only.
which are both denied her.
l Weary and heart-sick, the little in
nocent crouches down upon the cold
pavement waiting for the morn, think
ing, that with daylight, her request
may be granted. A kind-hearted lady
in passing the jail in the early dawn,
espies the little crouching, shivering
figure. and her warm heart yearns in
sympathy towards it, and she takes her
to to her own home and her father
through her fundamentally becomes a
: sober man.
The whole was in song. and so pa
: thetic and lifc-ike as to call tears from
) many eyes, and not few turned their
eyes from the scene, unable to behold
so terrible a picture from real life.
We hope that many fathers, who are
now entangled in the coils CT this ter
rible demon of strong drink, will see
in this sad picture, the fates of them
selves, and their innocent children, and
forever shun this monster sin.
/ We had some scenes from the fnnny
, side Of lifa-"The Country Marriage"
was one. Two verdants from the ru-
raj districts sought union in matrimony,
their dress and manner, strongly indie
alive of their origin, and their homes
must have been amid the pines, judg-
ing from the quantity of pine pitch
with which the brides mouths were
filed. This was one of the most
mirth-producing scenes of the evening.
One sableau was quite take of,--"On
a deer's trail," was the title. Of
course the audience, were expecting to
see a forest with deer and hounds.
; When the curtain was drawn, behold !!
there appeared a charming young lady
, dressed in the most becoming modern
attire, her long graceful trail sweeping
!; the stage, when espied by young
gallant, who in his haste to reach her
side, steps upon her flowing trail. She
suddenly stops in her promenade,
Pushes upon him frown darker than
midnight from her once beautiful
eeuntenance, while he stands, with hat
in hand, bowling gracefully, all smiles
and apologies for his awkardness and
stupidity. 1t took well.
i There was vocal and instrumental
music interspersed between the scenes.
! By the way, Dexterville can boast of