The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-07-27

u iht>t ntin1 Wfnny, the Wnolc ma
chine was going 10 the bad very fast,
though there were times when the
heart felt something Of lis old truthful
warnings. Tom had lost his place as
foreman Of the great machine-shop, and
what money he now earned came from
odd jobs Of tinkering which he was able
to do here and there AT private houses;
for Tom was a genius rs well as a me-
chanic, and when his head was steady
enough he could mend a clock or clean
a watch as well as he could set up and
regulate an engine and this latter he
could do better than any other man ever
employed by the Scott Falls Manufacture
ing Company.
One day Tom had a job 10 mend a
broken mowing-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 that his wife sadly needed the
money, and that his two little children
We're in absolute suffering from need Of
clothing, and that morning he held a
debate with the better part Of himself
but the better part Of himself had become
very weak and shaky. and the demon Of
appetite carried the day.
SO away TO the tavern Tom went,
where, for two or three hours, he felt
the exhilarating effects Of the alcoholic
draught, and fancied himself happy, rs
he could sing and laugh; but, as usual,
s~tupefaction followed and the mar died
out. He drank while he could stand,
and then lay down in a corner, where
his COMPANION left 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.
"Petcr," said she, not in a pleasant
mood, "why don't You send that miser-
able Tom Darcy homep He's been
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 Of rum, but did not love
the landlord. In other years Peter
Tindar and himself had loved and
wooed the sweet maiden--Ellen Goss-
and he won her, leaving Peter to take
up with the vinegary spinster who had
brought him the tavern, and he knew
that lately the tapster had gloated over
the misery Of the woman that had once
discarded him.
"Why don't you send him home P"
demanded Mrs. Tindar. with an impa-
tent stamp Of the foot.
Hush, Betsy, He's got money Let
him be, and he'll be sure To spend il be-
fore he goes home. Ill have the kcr-
nal Of hat nut and his wife may have
the husk,''
With a sniff and a snap, Betsy turned
away. and shortly afterward Tom Darcy
lifted himself upon his elbow.
"Ah, Tom, are you awake"
"Yes."
Then up and have a warm
glass
Tom got upon his feet and steadied
himself.
.sNo, Peter, ! won't drink any more
tonight
1T won't hurt you, Tom-iust one
glass"
~ know il won't,r said Tom, but
toning up his coat by the solitary but
ton left. ~ know il WON'T
And with this he went out into the
chill air 81 midnight. When he had
got away from the shadow Of the tay-
crn. 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, "Pcter Tindar is
taking the kernel, and leaving poor
Ellen the worthless husk-a husk more
than worthlessl and / am helping him
70 do IL. / am robbing my wife Of JOY.
robbing my dear children Of honor and
comfort, and robbing myself Of love
and wife-just that Peter Tindar may
have the kernel and Ellen the husk,
Wen seet-
II vas a revelation 10 the man. The
tavern-kcepcr's brief speech, meant not
for his ears, had come upon his senses
a. fell the voice u the Risen One upon
Saul Of Tarsus.
"We'l Sect he said, setting his foot
firmly upon the ground and then he
wendell his way homcward.
On the following morning he said TO
his wife:
"Ellen, have you any coffee in the
hOusePr
Yes, Tom" She did not tell him
that her sister had given II to her. She
was glad to hear him ask for coffee, in
stead Of the old. old cider.
~ wish You would make a cup, good
and strong
There was really music in Toms
voice, and the wife set about her work
with a strange futter At her heart.
Tom drank two cups Of the strong,
fragrant coffee, and then he went out
went out with q r%esolute step, and
walked straight to the great manufac-
tory, where he found Mr.. Scott in his