Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-10-02

| behind his Well-nlleu par, ana urlnklnS
customers came and went in numbers.
Jeuks did not recognize him until he
called for water, and drank a full tum-
bier Of the pure liquor with a hearty zest.
Then he knew him, but feigned to be
ignorant OF his identity. The stranger
made no reference to the scene he had
witnessed there q twelve month before
but fingered in the bar for most of the
day, closely observing every one that
came to drink. Leslie was not among
the number.
What has become of the man and
the little girl L saw here, at my last vis-
it to Milanylle?' said the stranger speak
ing al last to jerks.
Gone to the demon. for all l care,'
was the landlords rude answer, as he
turned of from his questioner.
For all you care, no doubt said
the stranger to himself. Men often
speak their real thonghts in passion
DO you see that little white cottage
away off there, just at the edge of the
wood? Two tall poplars stand in 'front.'
Thus spoke to the stranger one who
had heard him address the land lord.
Ido-what of it p he answered.
The man you asked for lives there
'lndeedp
And what is more, If he keeps on as
he has begun, the cottage will be all his
own IN another year, jerks, here, ,dosn't
feel any good blood for him, as you may
we'll believe. A poor mans prosperity y
is regarded as so much loss to him. Leslie
is good mechanic-one Of the best in
Millanyille. He can earn twelve dollars
a week, year IN and year out. Two hun
dred dollars he has already paid on his
cottage, andas he is that much richer,
jerks thinks himselfthat much poorer
-lor all this surplus, and more too
would have gone inte his TIL if Leslie
had not quit drinking
Aha, l see, Well, did Leslie, as
you call him, ever try TO get drink
here, since the landlord promised never
to let him haye another drop
Twice, to my knowledge
And he refused him'
Yes. If you remember, he said, in
his anger, May l be cursed, ifI sell him
another Drop
L remember it very WE'LL
That saved poor Leslie. jerks is
superstitous in some things. lie
wanted TO get his custom again-for ii
was we'll worth haying-and he was ac.
tualy handing him the bottle once, when
I saw it and reminded him of his self
imprecation. lie hesitated, looked fright
ened. withdrew the bottle from the
counter. and then, with curses, drove
Leslie from his bar-room, threatening
al the same time to horsewhip him If
ever he set his foot over his Threshold
again
Poor drnnkards = mused the stranger
as he rode past the neat cottage OF the
reformed man couple Of hours after
ward, AS the case now stands, you
are all only save as by fire. All laval
pro tcctiCn Is on the side Of those who
are engaged in enticing you into sin
and destroying you; body aud soul. In
Their evil work they have free course.
But for you. unhappy wretches, after
they have robbed you Of worldly goods,
and even manhood itself. are provided
prisons aud paupcr homes! And for
your chllrcn'-a dark shadow swept
over the strangers face, and Il shudder
went tlrought his frame. Can it be a
Christian country in which | live, and
such things darken the very sun at
noonday?' he added, as he sprung his
horss into a gallop and rode swiftly on
ward.