Daily Republican., 1879-10-31
ATRUE STORY FROM LIFE.

TRUE STORY FROM LIFE
Over thirty years ago, near . quiet,
un pretending village, . f-w miles north
Of the city Of Philad. lphia, there lived
q steady family nam-d b. 1t was
composed of father, Ave sons and ou-
daughter, (ths mo her had died many
years before, and previous to the recol
lection Of the writer.) The family name
was an old onr-lts ancestors were
among the earliest settlers Of the c'un
try. The broad acres had been handed
down from father to son; the family
mansion was the pride of the village,
aud at the period | have name the
family were consider-d in good circum-
stano~s. and whatever prrtsnsions they
may have made to arstocracy were not
full y ignored by its inhabitants. Two
Of the sldss, sous married, and settled
comfortably but q short distance from
the family domain; tbs o'her, remain
ed at home, proflably engaged in cult
waiting the soil. The brothers wsrS
robust in health and strong in muscle
they had an honest pride in their
strength and achievement, aud many a
Oh sllsnge from them at huskiDg, NOW
ing or plowipg had been declined by
boastiug travellers or sojv urpers Of th-
village, or if taken up, was general y
met with sore defeat. At length
one Of tue brOl | shall call
Juass---select~d from u nrighboring
village a young and wealthy bride.
H,s father, to give him 3 start in life
er, ctsd for him in the village a CON-
mod .ous dwelling and store and he
h hopefully commenced life in company
With bis newly-.-dded wife as couu-
try merchant, or as We called them l..
,hos- DAYS store-keepsrs. HIS SORE
was well stocked with all that is r'quir-
ID to max. up full assortment Of gro
c.riss, dry goods and hardware for
country USE, including numerous bar
re.s Of "spi'its. IN. X rum, gin,
brandy, whisky, &c. His long and -x-
t-nslve acquaintshce with the people
Of the village and surrounding codn,ry
soon brought to him an extensive trade,
oy which his store soou became point
Of attraction to ths peig hborhood. The
ladies, young and old, were especially
attracted to the "dry goods COUNTER
while the male portion ordered their
groceries, or laid in their stock of"com-
mon cigars
!. TIE people of ths village and neigh
borhood were profuse In the r pr.dic
tions that the time was not distaut
when Chase would become a erich
man." Alas! how little did they kno"
or r. flsot that hs then had the element
of his own destruction among the very
articles that were apparently elevHting
him IN the scale of fortune. On tilt
opposite side of the village from which
his father lived, and about half
In ils distant there dwelt u prosperous
farmer, whom | shall name Hall he
was among the best OF Chase's cus'o-
msrs: his visits to the Gtorr we're ire
ournt; he owned large and valuable
farm, and required many articles that
Chase's store c,uld we'll supply. Ha
was a man Of middle age, Of jovial
nature, enjoyed good company ana q
good story. Frequently he "oula pass
the evening in friendly chat with
others at tho store.
Among the company that usually con-
prepate around the village store will be
found . few who love 1.-The hp"lng
bowl" Such was the case In this IN
stance, aud Hall gradually acquired a
taste for rum; in faor 30 rapidly that
among his purchases from Chase tue
little quart jug SOON became lusepara-
b,e. and but short tims elapsed be-
,ors his purchases would not kesp pace
with his draughts on the Jug. HIS
black boy is called on to run ths
mail" a. va then callel it; and now,
thou sh many vars have passed sue
these events took place, aud both act
ors have tor long years lain IN Union
or-d graves, | can vel. r~memo'r no"
certainly Halls colored boy would ap
near at Chase's store 1T early morn OF
every day, not excepting the Sabbath
to have the jug again r+hilsd wlsn
"linuid death. ."-Tl..e speeds on, ana
very soon once filed day did not sui
fee. but the black by would nave U
make his return in the afternoon. Two
quarts OF rum pr day for one man
The climax Is pear--it IL visible III
the fallen fences, the scanty and weed
,hoksd crops; in the broken gait, the
bloxted count-nauce, the naudia
speech, the neglected home, aud th'
broken. hearted wifs. Surely the pale
morse speeds on"--his victim Is near.
A very few weeks after the Jug made
its two trips a day, ou dns moonlight
nipht-ths time AID events shal! nev
Or fores.-Hall was seen rushing like
msuisc through the village, his matted
locks q wing in the wind. every vein
distspdsd and every nerve quivering
with the fearful fauoies Of . d'sordsrsd
brain. The demon was At work; the
aands were after him, and his strength