The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-10-24
POISONED IN DESPAIR.


John Grimjohn was bit of wag
in his way, and after fifty years ex.
perience gained behind the counter
of large refreshment saloon. he
could pretty we'll tell what a man
ment by his looks.
He was sitting very quietly one
day, reading his daily paper, and
trying to understand how it was that
the Turks and the Russians were
both getting the best of it. when a
seedy-looking individual entered the
place.
''Glass of bitter" said the stran-
ger, heaying deep sigh. and star
ing hard at John. as he took down
clear glass, and drew a foaming
draught of the amber liquid. which
he placed clear and sparkling before
the visitor.
Here are my last two coppers," !"
said the stranger, with heavy sigh,
as he laid them on the counter for
John to rake them into the till.
"The last twopence," said the man
again, as he laid his hand upon the
stem of the glass, staring hard the
while at John as if he had expected
the twopence TO be refunded.
"If | had come down to twopence.
said John to himself" I don't
think l should spend it in beer.
1 might in tobacco bnt L think it
would GO in bread"
He did not speak, however, but
sat down, and took up his paper,
and began reading again. There
was no one in the place, SO the stran-
ger went on again.
"My last twopence,' he said. more
loudly, when 1 have swallowed
this beer, shall be a beggar and
an outcast."
''With glass of beer inside him."
said John, sententiously.
"Eh?''
with glass of beer inside him,
said John, quietly.
Eyes, to be sure, said the stran-
ger ''but the last glass-the last.
The world has never given me a
chance; the world rejects-scorns
does not care for me. I will poi
son myself-mix deadly drug with
this last glass, and be free of the
world.
John returned his paper, gave it
punch in the middle, got it folded
conveniently. and went on reading.
81 say" continued the stranger,
loudly, 81 will poison myself where
| stand, and fall here dead, as a
warning to a brutal and unfeeling
world"
John went on spelling through his
paper without moving a muscle.
Here. then, is an end OF my
worthless SELF" said the stranger
very deliberately taking a small
packet from an envelope packet
that looks like the white powder
that goes with the blue under the
name of seidlitz; and this he opened
very deliberately, and emptled it
into the beer, where, for the most
part. it lay on the froth.
John looked up, saw what he was
doing. and the state of afairs-how
the white powder emptied out Of
the paper refused to mix with the
beer,
Like spoon?" he said. getting
up and handing one.
IA spoon? Yes," said the stran-
ger, with a mocking laugh that
would have been worth ten shillings
a night at the Surry Theatre.
AS he spoke, he took the spoon,
stirred the liquor, and threw the
piece Of metal down. while John re-
snmed his place and went on read
ing.
Farewell. cold world. farewell!"
said the stranger, "They may bury
me where they will. might have
been great; but now--ah, now, poor,
one!-they may bury
me in sunshine or in shadow, | care
me not
He took up the glass. drained it
to the last drop, and then. standing
the glass down, held on by the coun-
ter, and heaved tremendous sigh
one which sounded like satisfaction
at the goodness of the bitter beer.
AS for John, he went on reading