Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1877-07-26
ONLY A HUSK.

grown TO be very bad one. At heart
he might have been all right, if his head
and his will had only been all right: but
these being wrong, the whole machine
was going to the bad very fast, though
| there were times when the heart felt
something Of its old truthful yearnings.
Tom had lost his place as foreman in
the great machine shop, and what mon
| ey he had now earned came from odd
Jobs OF tinkering which he was able to
do, here and there, at private houses;
Tor Tom was genius as well as a me-
chanic, and when his head was steady
enough, he could mend clock, or clean
a watch. as well as he could set up a
steam ensine-and this latter he could
do better than any other man ever en-
ployed by the Scott Falls Manufacture
ing Company.
One day Tom had n job to Eend a
broken moving machine and reaper. for
which he received five dollars, and on
the following morning he started out for
his old haunt-the village tavern. He
knew his wife sadly needed the money,
and that his two little children were in
absolute suffering from want Of clothing,
and that morning he held debate with
the better part of himself; but the bet
ter part had become very weak and
shaky. and the demon Of appetite car
ried the dav.
So away to the tavern Tom went,
where. Tor two or three hours, he felt
the eNhilarating effects of the alcoholic
draught. and fanci"d himself happy, as
he could sing and laugh: but as usual,
s,upefaction followed, and the man died
out. He drank while he could stand,
and then lay down in a corner, where
bis companions lef, him.
II was late at night, almost midnight,
when the landlords wife came into the
bar room to see what kept her husband
up, and she quickly saw Tom.
Peter" said she, not in verv pleas
ant mood, "why don't you send tha,
miserable Tom Darcey home, He's
been hanging around here long enough -
Toms stupefaction was not sound
asleep. The dead coma had left the
brain. and the calling of his name stung
his senses to keen attention. He had
an insane love for rum, but did not love
the landlord. In other wears, Peter
Tindar and himself had loved and wooed
the sweet maiden-Elien Goss-and he
won her, leaving Peter to take up with
the vinegary spinster who had 5ough.
him the tavern, and he knew that lately
the tapster had gloated over the misery
OF the woman who had once discarded
him.
+ why don't you send him home de-
manded Mrs. Tindar, with an inpatient
stamp Of the foot.
Hush, Betsy! He's got money!
Let him be, and he'll be sure TO spend
i. before he goes home. I'll have the
kernel Of the nut, and his wife may have
the husk! -
With sniff and snap Betsy turned
away, and shortly afterward Tom OAR
eey lifted himself upon his elbow.
"Ah, Tom, are you awake; -
yes"
Thea rouse up and have warm
glass"
Tom got upon bis feet and steadied
himself.
mo. Peter, won't drink any more
to- night"
III won't hurt you, Tom-just a
glass
Il know il won't" said Tom. button
ing up his coat by the only solitary but
ton left. IL know il WON'T
And with this he went out into the
chill air OF night. When he got awav
from the shadow of the tavern. he
stopped and looked up at the stars, anG
then he looked down upon the earth.
Aye" he mut,ered, grinding his
heel IN the gravel, Peter Tindar is
taking the kernel and leaving poor Ellen
the hu>k, and | am helping him to do il.
| am robbing NV wife OF Joy, robbing
my children OF honor and comfort, rob-
bing myself of love and life Just tha,
Peter Tindar may have the kernel and
Ellen the husk! Wen see!"
Ii was . revelation TO the man. The
tavern keepers brief speech, meant not
for has ears, had come upon his senses
as fell the voice Of the Risen One upcn
Saul Of Tarsus.
Wen See" he replied. setting his
foot firmly upon the ground; and then
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