Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1877-02-01
Only the Husk.


Tom Darcy, yet young man, had grown
:" be a very hard one At heart he might
hay2 bceh all right II his head aud his will
had on: been right; but, these being.
wrong the, hole mzch6e was going TO
the bld very fl>s, though there were times
when the heart felt ,,,Hething OF its old
truthful yearning. Tom H. lost his place
aS foreman IN the great machine hop. and
what meney'he now earned came from. odd
Jobs Of tlnhsriQg which he was able 70 40
here and there, at private houses Tor Tom
wasa genus a. well as mechanic and
when his hand was steady enough he could
mend a cioci, OF clean a watch, as well as
ne could set up and regulate a steam en- :
giue-aud this latter he could do better
than any other man ever employed by the
Scott Falls Manufacturing Company.
one day Tom had a job 10 mend up
1 broken moving machine aud reaper for
which he received five dollars. and on the
following morning he started out for his
| old haunt-the village tavern. Tie knew
that his wife sadly needed money. and that
his two little children were in absolute suf-
fcring from want OF clothing; and on this
morning be held a debate with the better
part OF himself; but the better part had
BECOME very weak and Shaky, and the de-
mon OF appetite carried the day
50 away To the tavern Tom went, where
for t"o or three hours he felt the exhilara-
ting effects of the alcoholic draughts, and
fancied himself happy, as he could sing
and laugh; but, as usual. stupefaction foi.
lowed, and the man part died out He
drank while he could stand. and then lay
down in corner, where his companions
left him
1t was late at nisht-almost midnight
when the landlords wife came into the bar
room TO see what kept her husband up
and she quickly saw.
Peter she said. not in pleasant mood,
why don't you send that miserable Tom
Darcy home? Hes been hanging around
here long enough
Tom : stupefaction was not sound sleep.
/ Ihr dead coma al left his brain. and the
cA.ing Of his name strung his senses to
Keen attention. tie had an insane love II
rum, but he did not love the landlord.
other years Peter Tindar and himself hal
loved and wooed the same sweet maiden
Ellen Goss-and he won her leaving Peter
to take up with the vinegary spinster who
I had brought him the tavern. and he knew
that lately tho tapster had gloated over the
misery of the woman who had once dis
carded him.
why don't you send him home z de-
manded Mrs. Tindar, with an impatient
stamp of the foot.
Hush, Betsey He's got more money.
Let him be, and he'll be sure to spend it
before he goes home. Ill have the kernel
OF the nut, and his wife NAV have the
huskv
With a sniff and a snap Betsey turned
away, and shortly afterward Tom Darcy
lifted himself upon his elbow
'Ah, Tom. are you awakeT
Yes
Then rouse up and have warm glass
Tom got upon his feet and steadied him
No, Peter won't drink any more to-
night
1t won't hurt you, Tom-just a glass
i snow it WON'T said Tom buttoning
up his coat by the solitary button left. L
K -ow-it' WON'T
Aud with this he went out into the chill
air Of midnight. When he had got away
from the shadow ofthe tavern, he stopped
and looked up at the stars, and then he
looked down upon the earth.
Aye he muttered, grinding his heel in
the gravel. Peter Tindar is taking the ker-
mel, and leaving to poor Ellen the worth
less husk-a husk worse .han worthless =
| and am helping him to do it--I am rob-
bing my wife of joy-robbing nv children
OF honor and comfoTt-robbing myself Of
love and life-just that Peter Tindar may
have the kernel and Ellen the husk, Well
see?
1t was a revelation to the man. The tav-
ern-keeper's brief speech. meant not for his
| ears, had come upon his senses as fell the
voice of the Risen One upon Saul of Tar
sus
Wen see!' he replied, setting his foot
firmly upon the ground; andIthen he wend-
ed his way homeward. !,
On the following morning he said to bis
wife:
Ellen. have you any coffee in the house 2
Yes, Tom She did not tell him that
her sister had given it to her. She was
| glad to hear him ask for coffee instead OF
the old, old cider.
4 wish you would make me cup,
strong and good ..-.'
There was really music,in Toms voice.
and the wife set about TIE &ork with a
strange fiutter at her heart.
Tom drank two cups of the strong. fra
grant coffee. and then went out--went oul
with n resolute step antb.walked straight
to the great manufacfory where be found
Mr.. Scott in the office.
Mr.. Scott, want to learn my trade svel
again.
'Eh-Tom what do you meanY
Il mean that it's Tom Darcy. come bacl
to the old place, asking forgiveness for tn