The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-10-21

SAD -, Just 60. you darling little elf
I've often thought Of that same thing myself
Then said the lass, while Fred was ali agog.
You ought to buy yourself terrier dogs
BOB'S TALKING LEG.
.sThat wooden leg Of yours must be
rather ineopvenient.'
ssMay be, sir but walk better with it
than when I had the nat'ral pair COM
plete."
Bob was our crossing sweeper, and a
sort of public MESSENGER self establish
ed, but recognized in time as one of the
institutions Of the bank. The road Just
opposite GU main entrance was rather
wide for country town, and it was here
Bob kept path carefully swept in all
weathers.
When employed by the bank or one of
the tr,.desmen with message, Bob would
leave his broom leaning against the letter
box and 60 on his way, quite certain that
the most mischievous boy in the place
would not interfere with It. Bob was so
good. natured and kind to all that even
his broom was respected.
He was bit Of character, and gen
orally wore post boys cap and an old
red hunting coat when ON duty. But
these were only sort of trade signs, and,
work done, Bob put aside his tsunitorm,''
and assumed the gaIb of respectable
laborer.
And laborer he had been once upon
time-a man we'll known in the town,
and not little notorious for his drink
ing; but he shall tell his own story.
Listen to him as he relates it to me.
s'Walk better with wooden leg than
with two sound onesp' said; chow can
that be? cannot fancy that wooden
leg would be better than either Of NINE"
~ was not speaking of your legs, sir"
replied Bob, dryly, ''but of the pair I
had. They were not given to walking
very straight
"That must have been your fault,
Bob,' I said.
"Well, yes, sir,'' he said, ''of course it
was; but1I was speaking in sort Of
meddlefor, you see.''
| II hear you are fond of metaphor /
retu,ned; "but tell me about this kg of
yours. How did you get itg''
s'Drink gave it to me-" replied Bob,
ssand must say that it amt very CRATE
full to drink in return; for although it
makes noise enough in ordinary, it
knocks double as loud whenever I'm
nigh public house. It says don't as
plainly as you can, sir-meaning, don't
GO in. l was once nearly led back into
the cid ways, and was going into 'The
Kings Head with a friend as i hadn't
seen for years, but this leg wouldn't 60
in; t'other went over the steps right
enough, but the wooden one tripped up,
and down I went. 'All right,'I says,
you knows how got you, and I'll GO
back again. and out went, dragging
my friend with me.
! "Of course he added, II don't mean
to say as the leg knows it's own doings
that's my meddlefor way of speaking
but its there, and it is always stumpine
out the same story: Don't drink, don'1
drink Just you listen to it.''
!. He stumped rapidly up and down il
front Of me, and really the leg and hif
sound foot gave out sounds not unlike
the words he had spoken.
4 "You hear, SIR he said, '3the woodc1
leg says don't and t'other says drink
Put EN- together and you've got gcot
advicetDon't drink
"Undoubteoly," replied, shut vii
Il you tell me how you came to lose you
llmb2 It is quiet day and you are no
!, likely to be interrupted for few mo
ments.'' @
"It's soon told,'' said Bob. sEigh
years ago I was brick-layer's laborer,
smart, active fellow when I hadn't
drinking fit on; but used to break GU
for the week and fortnight at time, an,
leave my work and starve them at hom
in the way of drunkards generally; whel
the drink is in, kindness and love ant
. industry is out, which is NEEDLE for
will thank you to make note Of
I promised uot to forget it, and wit
his hands crossed on the top of his broom
: he went on with his story.
l "When sober, I worked as runner
I headed gang Of laborers, and time
. .em, as it were. If hhere isn't runner
they don't keep up the work, and get int
q confusion. One day, when was a lii
tie the worse for drink, went to til
Q worka, and kept all right until Ito 'clocl
! when man from a public house clos
hi. by came round. had two pints of hin
and that, with what I had taken, fulshe
me. The next time went up the ladde
d I lost my hold, and the sky seemed t
= turn right over; then head a shout
a and lost my senses.
I'll When I came to- he said, II foun
i myself in a little bed at the hospita
e with the sensation of being as helples
# as child. At first I didn't feel an,
pain, but soon my leg began to throt
y land was going to put my hand dowr
0 when the nurse, as was close by, stop
II me. Don't touch it, she said, syouv
s injured yourself They gave me som
n medicine, and it soothed me, and wen
e off to sleep. When I awcke again sey
eral grave looking gentlemen wer
is standing about the bed talking, bu
e they stopped as soon as it was known
e was awake. I asked for my wife, an
Y they said she would come soon to me
/ To cut long story short, BIZ, one Of til
e kindest told me that my leg must be ia
n ken of, or should lose my life.
sand what am to do in the worl
# with one leg, sira'' I asked.
h s:He told me to leave all to the WisdOr