The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1878-04-30
Selfff Stury.
ONLY A HUSK.

y y
grown to be very hard one. At heart
be might have been all right IL his head
and his will had been all right; but these
being wrong, the whole machine was 60
ing to the bad very fast, though there
were times when the heart felt something
Of its own truthful yearnings. 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 genius
as we'll as a mechanic, and when his
head was steady enough he could mend
q clock or clean watch as well as he
could etup and regulate steam engine
and this latter he could do better than
any other man ever employed by the
Scott Falls Manufacturing Company.
One day Tom had job to mend q
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 that his wife sadly needed the mon.
ey and that his two little children we're
in absolute suffering for want OF cloth
ing, and that morning he held debate
with the better part of himself; but the
better 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
draughts and. fancied himself happy, as
be could sing and laugh; but, as usual,
stupefaction followed, and the man died
out. He drank while he could stand,
and then lay down in corner where his
companions left him.
1t was late at night, almost midnight,
when the landlords wife came Into the
bar.room to see what kept her husband
up, and quickly saw Tom.
"Peter," she said, not in pleasant
mood, "why don't you send that misera-
BILE Tom Darcy home? He's been hang
ing 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 in.
sane love of rum, but did not love the
landlord. In other years Peter TindaI
and himself had loved and wooed the
sweet maiden-Ellen Goss-snd he wor
her, leaving Peter to take up with the
vinegary spinster who had brought hin
the tavern, and he knew that lately the
tapster had. gloated over the misery O.
the woman that had once discarded him
"Why don't you send him homer de
manded Mrs. Tindar with an impatien
stamp Of the foot.
"Hush, Betsy. He's got money. lie
him be, and he'll be sure to spend 1t be
fore he goes home. I'll have the kerne
Of that nut and his wife may have th'
husk!''
With a sniff and snap Betsy turnet
away, and shortly afterward Tom Darcy
lifted himself up on his elbow.
"Ah, Tom, are you awake"
eyes"
"Then rouse up and have warn
glass"
Tom got upon bis feet and steadie'
himself.
"No, Peter, I won't drink any NOR
tonight"
"It won't hurt you, Tom-just on
glass"
~ know 1t WON'T" said Tom, button
ling up his coat ny the solitary butto
left II know it won't"
i And with this he went out into th
chill air OF midnight When he &c
away from the shadow of the tavern, b
stopped and looked up at the stars an
then be looked down upon the earth
"Aye," he muttered, grinding his bet
In the gravel, "Peter Tindar is takin
the kernel and leaving poor Ellen th
worthless busk-a husk more than worth
less ard I am helping him to do it.
am robbing my wife Of joy, robbing m
dear children of honor and comfort, an
robbing myself of love and life-jus
that Peter Tindar may have the kern,
, and Ellen the husk! Well see!'
1t was a revelation to the man. tt
tavern-keeper's speech, meant not for h
ears, had come on his senses as fell I'll
voice of the Risen One upon Saul {
Tarsus.
"We'll see~ he said, setting his fot
firmly upon the ground; and then /
wended his way homeward.
On the following morning he said
his wife:
"Eilen, have you any coffee in I'll
house ?"
Eyes, Tom" She did not tell biz
: that her sister had given it to her. St
was glad to hear him ask for the cofft
instead of the old, old cider. /.
81 wish you would make me cul
good and strong"
There was really music in Tom
voice, and the wife set about her wor
with strange futter at her heart