The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-12-26

and hurried home. That was the b.
ginning u it,
"Ah, indeed" said the feasher-dust-
er; $50 that was the beginning a n
By-the-bye, may ! ask, the beginning d
what Pr
"The misery and unhappiness in thin
house, answered the bottle.
4 In this house?" echoed the many
little voices.
" Yes" said the bottle. 81 wasn't =
welcome visitor, assure you, for g
John-our master. you know-took me
from his pocket and set me on the t.
bic. Agnes-our mistress, you know
said, 'Oh, John. John. wouldn't.
But he only kissed her and baby Lou
BLESS her little heart!" barked the
bronze dog.
And said, Nonsense, my DEAR
And Johns friends came, and the
punch was made, and tirai was the be-
ginning Of il; and bega, TO find out
that very night, not wha. whisky Wa
good for, but what it was bad for
What?" asked the ivy.
+" For mems heads and hearts, an
swered the bottle, solemnly. "It makes
them silly and crazy and unkind and
selfish. 1t brings poverty, tears, and
disgrace 70 the happiest home, takes all
the sunshine out Of little children's lives,
and clouds even the blessed Christmas
Day. After that night was scarcely
ever empty. John drank every day
more and more, and our dear mistress
began TO look pale and shabby, and the
children couldn't 90 to school, their
clothes were 80 patched and their shoes
were 50 broken. As for the baby"
= Bless her golden curls," barked the
bronze dog.
She battered about the house in
her tiny bare feet, because she had no
shoes at all, and every thing grew dark
and forlorn, and at last there was
scarcely money enough to buy bread.
Christmas Eve came. Agnes-our
dear mistress sat before the small fire
in the crate, holding baby Lou
'Bless her blue eyesi" barked the
bronzed dog.
Upon her knee, and the other
children were gathered around her.
John was lying on the lounge asleep.
Mamma said May. in old times We
used to hang up our stockings on Christ
mas Eve Did we?' asked Tom. Il
don't member. What for why,
Santa Clause used to come and fill them
with nice things answered May. oh,
Santa Caus,' said Tom; the boy next
door was telling me something bout
him to-day. Why won't he come here
tonight? We've been good chilluns,
and mamma i the honeyest mamma in
the world May made no reply, but
Maud. glancing up where stood on the
mantel. said in whisper, i guess he
don't come where there's bottle
In a short time .ieir papa awoke
and went out into the street. Mamma
looked sadly after him. and then the lit
lie ones knelt by her side and said their
prayers. every prayer ending with God
bless dear papa, and babe her good
night. II bottles had hearts, mine
would have ached. am sure, when
saw that sad, lonely woman bury her
face in her hands and cry-oh, 50 Bit
terly.-as soon as the children were
gone, and heard her sob out, sOh. save
him. save him. dear God. and bring back
the light Of happiness TO my dear children,
for the sake 81 the Christ Child born on
the holy Christmas Day,' And as she
~ffltfN'A anu III ~ IVA t4iT u'Hfl Va lit lOOIu
opened. and John came in. sober, and
with tender look in his face. and =
bright light in his eyes. Down on his
knees he fell before the sweet mamma,
and held out his arms TO her. while he
cried. in broken voice. with the tears
running down his cheeks. Never again,
my good. patient Whenever, nerr,
NEVER again.
..Oh. dear,- said the bronze dog. II
wish could move my tail far enough
around 10 wipe my eyes with it,"
And the small stockings continued
the bottle. .'were hung up, after all. and
few toys and candies put in them;
and John, who hadn't been asleep on
the lounge
II knew it.- screamed the feather
buster, jumping straight up and down
in his glee.
But, wide awake. and listening to
what his children said. has kept his
word. and never, never
I'D like TO drum" interrupted the
drummer-boy on top of the match-safe,
but my arms are 50 stiff. holding them
in one position so long, can't"
And said the bottle. looking up at
the ivy. lyon were brought here with
the autumn leaves and grasses. and from
that Christmas to this the parlor has
grown pretticr and prettier, and the lit
lie home happier and happier. and the
baby has the cunningest blue shoes"
BLESS her dimpled cheeks" barked
the bronze dog.
And May and Maud 90 TO school
again. and are getting 70 be fine schol-
ars. and Tom j. jolly little fellow"
= But there's A bottle in the house
yct.'' said the feather dnster. slyly.
That's true.' said the bottle, "but
il has joined the temperance society,
and that makes all the difference in the
world: and in consequence Of its taking
10 water. tomorrow viii be -"