The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-08-16

in consequence of it. Henry Clay might
be the greatest of American orators, but
it was my secret opinion that he did not
know a gentleman from boor,
| began about this time to cultivate
certain tastes which l considered gentle
manly, especially taste for cards and
liquor. DOddridge and hired a room in
the attic of the Platoff House, called 1t
club-room, and furnished it with books,
a card-table, and case of wine, which it
took our earnings for year to buy. No
whisky. We were going to wine
genteelly.
Two weeks after the "club was
started, my father called me to him. He
was feeding the pigs. How could aman
versed in Cesar and the &" Book of
Modern Etiquette" pay any respect to
a man who spent so much of his time
in feeding pigs?
George" he said gently, II hear
an unpleasant report of certain party
of young fellows that frequent the
tavern"
/ made no answer.
"They tell me you are one OF them"
"Well sir,-and if l amp
"Only this, my son, after a mo-
ment's pause | have tried to make
man of you. You know at what cost,
for 1 am not rich. ! am"-his voice
broke here, but he turned it into a
laugh. "Tm not so young as was, and
/ thought that in time you would take
your place by my side-give the old man
your arm down the hill, l,-eh, Georgy?'
And he eyed me anxiously.
my name is George, sir. / dislike
those childish abbreviations. And for
the rest
l went on in louder voice, though a
queer, choking came in my throat at the
sight of the thin old face. at is time
l asserted my independence" l said, at
last, and there l stopped.
Independence! Why, you are but
lad yetp
81 am mani And a man with diff.
ferent tastes and wants from yours, OIL
the-the farmers hereabouts. / have 9
right to crafty them. If l am inter
fered with, this village is not the world
l can leave it."
"Leave it? Leave your mother and
me?'
He turned and looked at me. l coult
not bear the look. 1t told me of tht
time when l was his " little Georgy,'
trotting by his side all the day long.
/ know now that my father neve
showed the hard common sense which
made him leading man in the county
in the training of his boy. He led M
with silken cords, when | needed curl
of steel.
He made no effort then to control me
We walked side by side, until suddenl
he stopped, and laid his hand on m
, arm.
, 81 might argy it out with other boys
but l can't argy with you. You kno'
that club-room means-ruin! Don't e
back to it, George, don't 60 back to it
l pushed his hand down, but I stoo
r irresolute. In my heart, loved him {
! when | was boy. But my heart ws
! crusted over with conceit and pride.
/ turned into the road leaving hi
7 standing there. 1 did not go home
f supper that evening. 1 met Doddridg
and we determined to "make night
t it."
: "And many more nights I'll have
:. this same sort" l said loudly. "P
!. going to cut loose from this miserab
:, village. This kind of life isn't fit for
man who has any ambition"
y We were strolling up the street al
J, had reached the tavern door. The stol
!, of the club-room had gone about Il
village, and the loungers at the b
It laughed significantly as we stopped.
o A hand touched my arm, and tur
d ing, l saw my father.
For my sake, GEORGE" he said.
@ The white hair was blown back fro
his face as he leaned forward. Sc
y all the age, the disappointment in it.
t, hesitated. Doddridge was behind me.
"Going to let the old man put yo
lie on you, eh Y' he sneered in a whisper.
st l again shook off the hand that W
ID upon my arm. "Let me alonel'
growled, and sprang up the stairs. Il
lie not look back. I did not dare to.
= Once seated atour cards and wine, I
I'd courage revived. The evening pass
lie quickly. We drank hard,-so ha
that we were stupefed, and scarce
in heard the tumult of voices which n
into shrieks on the street below. Y
e. were reused from our drunken stul
rt by knocking at the door.
or "George! George! 1t is I. Open
NJ door"
re "It's the-the Governor" hiccougl
y, Doddridge. "Keep the old fellow o
off I say!"
ng George it's your father! The ho
is on fire! Open the door! Open
he door as you value your lifep'
m, sat still, laughing stolidly, so far
yn toXicated as not to realize or care for
he peril.
in From below came shrill cries. " Co
back! Let the drunken brutes alol
he Bring the old man downr'
in But nobody could bring him do7
With one laundering blow, he drove
me the door, and, rushing in, he picked
ill up as if / had been child.
In through the open door poure'
he cloud of smoke. The tavern was on f
Kin and we were the only living beings
ad in it.
Wy My father was a powerful man e
in his old age. / was weaker than
l even when sober. He carried me to
Try window, escape by the door being
his off, but we were met by roaring ST
of flame.
e." Doddridge followed us, whimper
on with terror.
When the crowd behind saw the
alf man, roar went up like thunder.
hardly know how my father die
sed but he carried me along the shelly
ar, roof of the next building, and dow
ladder, fighting the flames back as
liza went. When we reached the ground
uld was so exhausted that he fell insensi
hat His burns, too, were severe.
Doddridge fell from an upper wind
up and lived but an hour.
The tragic ending of the "cll
and silenced any scoffing which I mi
and otherwise have heard. The fire
ped never mentioned to me, and, after y
had passed, nobody seemed to remen
the that / had been of all sons the most
my grateful and heartless.
ing But l never forgot the shame
,rn- misery of that humiliating experie
ugh Some men are freed from self-cor
uld by many long, hard pangs; it
und wrenched from me in that one night
ght
''t ~ Two men of Newport, Vermont