Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-05-18
4" Good for n Drink"

IN speaking of the scarcity Of small
change in the early days of Chicago, and
the substitution therefor of all manner of
local tickets of Indebtedness, the Hon.
John Wentworth tells The following anec-
dote, in a recent lecture in that city:
A single instance viii illustrate to what
various purposes thosetickets Of indebt-
edness could be put a little boy had a
ticket Good for drink He dropped
1t into the church contribution box, and
heard no more of it. He,told another boy
who did the same thing with the same
result That boy told his sister, who told
her mother, who told her husband, who
deemed it his duty to tell the Deacon.
Meanwhile the boys were putting in the
tickets GOOD for drink" and telling
the other boys to do the same The Dea-
con, alive to all the responsibilities of his
position, for the first time in his life en-
tered saloon, called the bar-keeper 10
one side, and asked him to change a one
dollar scrip, 4iwelll knowing the could
not do so unless it were in liquor.tickets.
and declined to make the change. until
the Deacon gave him a hint that, al
though he did not stimulate himself, he
thought he could use the tickets. Then,
said the Deacon, /" [ have curiosity to
Know the extent Of these tickets, andreally
wish you would put private mark upon
them, and notify me when one returns"
Think of a Deacon putting drink cur
rency into a cOntrlbuGoa- box! But he
did 1t, and the boys put in some more.
On Monday afternoon the Deacon was
notified that one of his tickets had been
redeemed. Oh, what a chance for
scandal case! Imagine that such
thing had happened IN our day.
Think OF our enterprising newsgatherers
calling upon Deacon, and asking him
what was the average time of a LIQUOR
tickets going from his church contribu-
tion-box to a saloon! With solemn tread
the Deacon made his way to his pastors
residence, and asked him what DISPOSE
ton he made of the various tickets from
the contribution box. The reply was that
his wife assorted them, strung them upon
different strings, entered them upon a
book, and gave the church credit as she
used any OF them. =" And do you say, my
dear BROTHER" asked the Deacon, THAT
you have no knowledge Of the particular
uses to which these tickets have been put?o
" l do say So" said the pastor. The Dea-
con breathed freer He had cleared his
pastor, but have no doubt he prayed,
" May the Lord have mercy on his poor
wife" The wife was called, and her hus-
band said, "The Deacon wishes us to
give an account Of the proceeds of the
contribution box" "Not exactly so, my
dear sister," said the Deacon; bat wish
to know for what purposes the LIQUOR
tickets have been used" She compre-
hended the matter at once, and promptly
replied, " Why, Deacon, did you want
them? | never thought you were drink
ing man. Now, as you didn't have the
tickets, will you share with us the pro-
ceeds? Let us all take a drink!n She
rushed to her pantry, brought out d
pitcher, with tumblers, and it was filled
with-milkl Inmaking the change with
her milkman his eyes had fallen upon
these tickets, and he said he could use
them. Thus throwing the Liquor tickets
into the contribution box was but a repe-
tition Of the old adage, Evil, be thou
my good" r.....r