Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1878-04-06
Determined to Save Him.

4 Z rom tuc New 10TH NAIL.
William Matphin is mechanic re-
siding in the upper part of the city. no
would have been IL most excellent hu>-
band and father if uot the demon OF
drink bad iuil possession Of him. The.
very best OF roen are not good when pos
ses-ed of this devil. despite the ingenious
reasoning of man with a rub.cund nose
who attempted to support the habit b,
speci0us reasoning. His process was like
this: Man In his natural state is lsceit-
iui ard desperately wicked. A man in
| liquor is not in "A natural state, and.
therefore, there innst be Improvement in
him. However plausible this may seem.
IL does not work out properly. Mr.. Mat
piin, when in liquor, was ugly and VEN
omous, and he kept III liquor with such
steadiness that his business was going TO
| the dogs with great rapidity aud pieci-
sion
The poor man knew the danger that
enyeloped him, AMI tried desperately To
break the chains that bound him. But
| all in vain. The desperate, constant
craving was too much, ami it WIS impos-
sible for him 10 20 ont without coming
home in condition shocking To behold.
He vowed, aud vowed ard :owei, but
ne broke his VOWS just as regularly as he
made them. That terrible first drink al
ways Oyercame him and made way tor a
second, and SO OH TO inebsiety.
One day, six weeks ago, he was
brought home i'm state OF insensibility
at ~ in the morning. Mrs. Matpi,in.
who was a strong and muscular woman.
hnd him conveyed to room on the
fourth floor of the house, back. Then.
depositing him OH bed, she poudered
and went for Il carpenter.
"My DEAR" she muitersd to herself,
"this has been going on long enough.
This house is from this time on al ine-
briate asylum, run on Mrs. Matphisi's
idea.
While Mr.. Matphin was peacefully
sleeping there were extraordinary things
going OH. A wicket which would just
admit a tray, was cut through the door,
and the door was nailed and boarded up.
so as to be beyond MIR. Matphin's strength
TO break il. Then bed was brought up
aud placed in the Ii Il! across the door.
aud Mrs. Ma'pnin, with a base bah club
convenient, sat in a rocking chair. aud
calmly pursued her IN ndng.
Al about Mr.. Matpiiin awoke, and
looked wildly around.
Are you awake, my dear p asked his
spouse.
"Yes; what time is it ?"
sAbOul in the afternoon
"Grscious Heayeus, l must get up. /
ought to have been down town to-day,
Instead OF wasting my time here. On,
that awful drinn ~
"WiIliam, you won't 60 down town to-
day at all, 10 tomorrow, nor YET the
next day." said Mrs. Maiphia, drawing
yarn through the heel OF a stocking.
You are going to stay right in that
"What ?"
Right in that room. for an indefinite
penoa OF time. That is wha; you are go
ing tosdo.r
; Let me out! J" he shriekeJ, rushing
With all his might against the door.
william she said, showing her club
lyon emit break that door; and if YOU
did should fetch you with this. lam
going 10 rcfnIn YOU
Mr. Matpiili, seeing that resistance was
useless, stccumbed and WAS tolerably
quiet. For four long weeks nd Mrs
Matphin keep him there. sleeping acres,
the door nights for tear Ia nightly ;, M
means escape. The result was miracll
lous. His face took OH another hue. AN,
the appetite for Intoxicating liquors dis
appeared entirely. H. gained in flies /,
! and, 10 smnse himself during his confine
ment, invented a valuable machine
(Which he is now securing a patent for
lie has been ut liberty two eek, alIt
shows i.o Disposition to IetiIn to Iii
cups.
SO much for determination and origi
; nality. Would that there wee moI'
Mrs. Matphin's !