The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1877-12-06
Only Q Musk.


heart he might have been all right,
n his head and his will had ouly
been right but these being wrong
the Whole mssiins was going on
the bad very fast, though there were
times when the heart felt something
. OF It's ol tru.hfuly eirnings. TIN
had lost his plase as foreman in the
great m schinc shop, aud whit mon.
ey he now earned camo from odd
Jobs OF tinkeriny which he was able
to do, hero and there. a. private
houses for Tom was q genius rs
we'll as a mechanic, and when his
heal was steady enough he could
mend clock, or clean a watch, as
we'll as he could set up and rsgu-
late steam engins-and this latter
he could do better than any other
man ever employed by Scot Falls
Manufacturing Company.
One day Tom had q job TO mend
broken mo wing machine and rca-
per, for which he received five dol
lars aud on the following morning
be started out for his old haunt
the village tavern. lie knew that
his wife ssdiy neede1 tho money,
and that his two little children were
in absolute suffering from want OF
clothing and that morn ing he had a
debate with the better part of him.
self bnt the better part had be-
come very weak and ,shaky, and the
demon OF appetite carried the day.
SO away to the tavern Tom went,
whero for two or three hours, ho
felt the exhilirating effects Of the al.
coholic draught, and fancied himself
happy. as he could sing and laugh
but, rs usual, stupefaction followed
mud the man died out. He drank
while ho could stand. and then lay
down in corner, where bis COM
pauions left him.
1t WAS late at night. almost mid
night, when the lhndlord wife came
into the bar-room TO see what kept
her husband up, and she quickly
saw Tom,
+ Peter, said she, not in a pleas
ant mood, why don't you scnd that
miserable Tom Dorcoy homei He's
been hanging around here long c.
nough 2
Tom = stupefaction was not sound
sleep. Tue dead coma had left his
brain, aud the calling Of his name
stung his senses to keen attention.
ne had an insane love for rum, bnt
did not love the landlord. In other
years Peter finder and himself had
loved and wooed the sweet maiden
Ellen Goss-and he won her.
leaving reter 10 take mp with the
vincgsry spinster who had broue BIT
him the tavern, and he knew tia,
lately the tapsier had gloated over
the misery Of the woman Who had
once discarded him.
why don't yon send him home =
demanded Mrs. Tinder, with an i'm
patient stamp OF the foot.
Hush. Betsy! He's got money
Let him be, aud he'll he sure to
spend it before he goes home. III
have the kernel of the nut, and his
wife nDy have the husk /!
With snuff and a snap Betsy
turned away. and shortly afterward
Tom Darcy lifted himself upon his
elbow.
'Ah, Tom, are you awakei'
Yes
Then rouse up aud have q warm
glass
Tom got upon his feet and stead
led himself.
No, Peter, I won't drink any
more Tonight
1T won't hurt you, Tom-just (
glass.
i know il won't = said Tom, but
toning up his coat by the only soil
tary button left. i know it won t.
And with this be went out in til,
chill air Of midnight. When he go
away from the shadow Of the tavern
he stopped aud looked up at th'
stars and then he looked down UP
on the earth.
Aye he muttered, grinding hi
heel in the gravel, 'reter finder j
taking the Kernel and leaving poo
Ellen the worthless husk-a husl
more than worthless and ] am bel
ping him TO do il. am robbing m,
wife Of JOY, robbing my children G
honor and comfort, robbing mysel
of love and life-just that pete
finder may have the kernel aud FL
len the husk Well See !!
1t was q revelation to the man =
The tayernkeepers brief speech
meant not for bis ears, had come M
ON his senses as fell the voice Of Tia
Risen One upon Saul OF Tarsus.
We'll see! be replied setting hi
foot firmly upon the ground an
then he wended his way bomeward
On tbs following u morning be sal
TO his wife:
Ellen, have yol any coffee in Ii
house =
"Yes, Tom She did not tell hi
that her sister had given it to he
She WAS glad to hear him ask {,
coffee instead OF the old, old cider
Il wish you would make Ine Gu
good and strong"
There was really music in Tom
voice, aud the wife set abou. II
wark With a strapna t,,,.. - 1