South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1878-09-13
LITTLE LIZZIE.

said Mrs. Leslie, weeping. 20, if they
wouldn't sell him liquor, there'd be no
trouble! He's one Of the best OF men,
when he doesn't drink. He never brings
liquor into the house and he tries hard
enough. I know, TO keep sober; but he
cannot pass jerks tavern"
Mrs. Leslie was talking with a SYM
pataising neighbor; who responded by
saying that sue wished the tavern would
burn down. and that, Tor her part, she
ditn't feel any Too good to apply fire to
the place herself. Mrs. Leslie sighed,
and wiped away the tears with her check
ed apron.
Its hard, indeed, It is." she murmur.
ed. ITO see man like jerks CROWN 9
richer and richer every day out Of tho
earnings Of poor working men. whose
families are in want Of bread. For ey.
cry sixpence that goes over his counter
some one ismaie poorcr-to some heart
is given thtob or pain"
"Its downright shame I" exclaimed
the neighbor, Indignantly. "If had
my way with the lazy. good.for-nothing
fellow, I'D see that he did something
useful, If it was to break stone on the
road. Were It my husband instead Of
yours that he enticed into his bar, de-
pend ont he'd get himself into trouble :"
While this conversation was going on,
little girl, not over ten years Of age,
sat listening attentively. After q while
she went quietly from the room, and
throwing her apron over her head, took
Der way, unobserved by her mother,
down the road.
Where was little Lizzie going? There
was purpose ia her mind-she had
started on. mission. 'Oh, if they
wouldn't sell him liquor These ear
nest, fearful words OF her mother had
hlied Tier thoughts. Ii Mr.. jerks
wouldn't sell her father anything to
drink, there would be no more trouble"
How simple, how direct the remedy
She would go to Mr.. jerks and ask him
not to let her father have any more
liquor, and then all would be we'll again.
Artless, innocent child! And this was
her mission.
The tavern kept by jerks, the latest
man in Milanvilie-he was too lazy to
work, and therefore went to tavern keep
ing-stood nearly quarter of mile
from the poor tenement occupied by the
Leslies. Toward this point, under q
lot, sultry sun, little Lizzie made her
way, her mind so filed with it's purpose
that she Was unconscious OF heat or ia
tigue.
Not long before. a traveller alighted
at the tavern. After giving directions
to have his horses fed, he entered the
bar-room and went up to whcro jerks
stood behind the counter.
"Have something to drink" inquired
the landlord.
"Ill take n glass of water, ifyou
please"
jerks could not hide the indifference
at once felt toward the stranger. Very
deliberately he set pitcher and glass
upon the counter, and then turned part
ly away. The stranger poured out a
full tumblcr of water, and drank it off
with an air OF satisfa ton.
"Good water that OF yours, landlord"
he said.
ut isp" WAS returned somewhat TN.
courteously.
Never drink water by itself" As
jerks said this he winked to one of his
good customers, who was longing in
the bar. I'm fact. it's so long since
drank any water. that I forget how it
tastes. Don't you Leslie u
The man TO whom this was addressed,
WAS not so far lost to shame rs jerks.
He blusted and looked confused, as he
replied:
sit might be better for some Of us. if
we had not lost our relish for pure
water"
"a true word spoken, my friend |"
said the stranger turning to the man.
whose swollen visage and patched, thread
bare garments too plainly told the story
OF his sad life. water. pure water,
bright water;" that is my motto. 1t
never swells the face. nor infames the
eye, nor mars the couhtenance. It's at.
teDdants are health, thrift and bappi-
ness. II takes not away the children's
bread, nor the toiling wife's garments.
Water lit Is one OF Gods chiefest
blessingsi Our frieLd, the landlord,
here says he has forgotten how it tastes !;
and you have lost oil relish for the re.
freshing draughti Alb. this is a sad
tllc hbBCl5
weep TO hear"
There were two or three customers in
the bar besides Leslie, TO whom this was
addressed and all OF them-in spite Of
tue landlords angry and sneering conn
tenance-treated the stranger with at.
tention aud respect. Seeing this, jerks
could not restrain himself; so, coming
from behind bis bar, he advanced to
bis side, and laying his hand quite rude
~ on his shoulder, said, in peremptory
manner:
See here my friend Ifyou are a.
bout making a temperance lecture. you
can adjourn to the Town Hall or the
Methodist Chapel.
The stranger moved aside q pace OF
two, so that the hand Of jerks might
fall from his person, aud then said
mildly:
There must be something wrong here,
If a man may not speak in praise Of wa.
Ter without giving offence"
IL said you can adjourn your lecture ~