The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-07-11


Tom Darcy, yet a young man,
had grown up very bad one. At
heart be might have been all right :;
but these being wrong the whole ma
chine was going to the bad very fast,
though there were times when the
heart felt something of its old truth
ful yearnings. Tom had lost his
place as foreman in the great machine
shop, and what money be had now
earned came from odd jobs of tinker
ing which he was able to do, here
and there, ct private houses; for Tom
was genius rs well as a mechanic,
and when bis head was steady
enough be could mend clock, or
clean watch, as well as he could
regulate q steam engine-and this lat
ter be could do better than any other
man ever employed by The Scott Falls
Manufacturing Company.
One day Tom had a job to mend
broken moving machine and reaper,
for which be received FIVE dollars :;
and on the following morning be
started out for his old haunt-the viii
lage tavern. He knew bis wife sad
y needed the money, aud 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; bat the
better part had become very weak
and sbakey, and the demon Of appe-
lite carried the day.
So away to the tavern Tom vent,
where for two or three hours, he felt
the exhilirating effects of the alco-
holie drsught, and fancied himself
happy, as be could sing and laugh (;
but, as usual, stupefaction followed
and the man died out. He drank
while be could stand, and then lay
down in corner, where his compan-
ions left him.
II was late at night, almost mid
night, 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 a pleasant
mood, "why don't you send that
miserable Tom Darcy home ? He's
besn hanging around here long
enough"
Toms stupefaction was not sound
sleep. The dead coma had left his
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
years Peter Tiudar aud himself had
loved and wooed the sweet maiden
Ellen Goss-and be won her, leaving
Peter to tabe up with the vineCary
spinster who had brought him the
tavern, and he knew that lately the
Tapster had gloated over the misery
of the woman who had once discard
ed him.
"Why don't you send him home p"
demanded Mrs. Tindar, with an i'm
patient stamp Of her foot.
"Husb, Betsy He's got money,
let him be, and he'll be sure to spend
it before be goes home I'll have the
kernel of the nut, and his wife may
have the husk,"
With a sniff and a snap Betsy
turned away and, and shortly after
ward Tom Darcy lifted himself upon
bis elbow.
"Ah, Tom, are you awake?"
"Yes."
Then rouse up and have a warm
glass"
Tom got upon his feet and stsadied
himself
"Nc, Peter, won't drink any more
tonight"
sit won't hurt you, Tom-just a
glass"
81 know it WON'T" said Tom,
buttoning up bis coat by the only
solitary button left II know it
won't"
And with this he went out into the
chill air of night. When be got
away from the shadow Of the tavern,
be stopped and looked up at the stars,
and then be looked down upon the
earth.
"Aye," be muttered, grinding bis
heel 10 the gravel, Peter Tindar is
taking the kernel aud leaving poor
Ellen the husk, and / am helping him
to do it, | am robbing my wife Of
joy, robbing my children of honor
and comfort, robbing myself of love
and life just that that Peter Tindar
may have the kernel and Ellen the
husk Well see !"
1t was a revelation to the man.
The tavern keepers brief speech,
meant not for bis ears, had come upon
bis senses as fell the voice of the Ris-
en- One upon Saul of Tarsus.
well see,r be replied, setting his
feet firmly on the ground; and then
be wended his way homeward.
On the following morning be said
to bis wife
Ellen have you any coffee in the
house ?"
"Yes, Tom She did not tell him
that her sister had given it to her.
She was glad to hear him ask for eof-
fee instead of the old, old cider
81 wish you would make me q cup,
good aud strong"
There was real music in Toms
voice, and the wife set about the
work with strange hutter at her
heart
Tom drank two cups OF the
strong. fragrant coffee, and then
went out-weDt out with resolute
step, and walked straight TO the man
ufactory, where be found Mr.. Scott
in the Office.
"Mr Scott, | want to learn nv
trade over again"
"Eh, Tom What do you mean ~
Il mean that it's Tom Darcy,
come back to the old place, asking
forgiveness for the past, and hoping
to do better in the future"
Tom :" cried the manufacturer,