Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1879-08-07

4 BRA We RESOL We.
He'll 60 to the dogs now
'Of course he will


OF course he will
by all means. Only see how HI
acted when his wife lived with him
! Now that she's left him, and all re
straint is removed, he will go the res
Of the downward way in less than nt
til4e. Poor Nettie! | wondered thai
she stood it so long
I'll give HIM just year to be bur
led
'Pshaw! Half that time will finish
him
Well, I pity him too; but ] pity
her more. He brought misery or
both.
Such was the gossip of half dozen
of villagers who stood in front Of the
principal store one evening, while the
object Of thei: remarks went stagger-
ing along on the opposite side OF the
street.
1t was evident that he was trying
to walk straight, and not appear in
toxicated, but such endeavors always
seem to make such a drunken man
walk more crooked. Well, it proved
one thing that he was not lost to all
sense Of sLame-that he still retained
ID little pride, and Il lingering aver.
sion to he ridiculed and despised
Bat Harry Rogers had carried on
at fearful rate for a year or two
past. He had just one vice-drlnk-
but that was enough. lie had become
an actual drunkard by degrees, and
was growing every day more aban.
doned. lie had married a worthy
farmers daughter Nette Ray, only
a few years previously, and such
had been his conduct during more
than a year, that she, seeing no hopes
Of his reform had been obliged to cast
him loose, to pursue his proiligate
course alone and legal separation
had Just been effected. 1t was sad IN
deed but no other course seemed to
be left her.
IIarrys home was on a little farm
mile from town. He owned it, but
then it was heavily mortgaged, and
in another year foreclosure was GER
tain. 1t was not likely his creditors
would spare him, when he made no
effort to meet his obligations, and
spent bis time in rlotous conduct.
A week passed after the summer
evening on which all had predicted
his early ruln-two weeks-three
weeks-a month or two. What mys-
terry is here Tie utter bewllderment
of prophesying sages. Harry discon-
tinued visiting the tavern, and was
rarely ever seen in the village. When
he did come to the store he speedily
transacted his business and went
home-sober.
Bat wonders never cease when
they get start once. He was next
reported as actually at work on his
farm. Had but one man seen this
and told it in the village he would
have been marked out as man lack
ing veracity ; but number of neigh
bors saw it and told it, and their COM
bined testimony was worthy Of all
credsnce.
The little farm began to look
healthier as the summer were on
The fences Strengthened up; the
weeds disappeared the corn grew
marvelously; the briars and elders
were rooted up from the fields and
fencerows; the animals looked fatter,
sleeker and happier; the little cot
tage looked neater.
Time wore on and the great change
was more strongly marked each day.
Harry's creditors called on him and
told him they would not be hard on
him, seeing that he was doing his best
and he might have his own time
about paying his debts and clearing
his farm of mortgage. The fall came
and the farm yielded an abundance of
corn and fruit such crops, indeed, as
it had never yielded before, and Har-