Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1880-04-08
TEMPERANCE DEPARTMENT.
Conducted by
THE GOOD TENPLaRS OF MULBERRY.
WHAT CLOSED THE SALOONS.

tablishment whose proprietor had
so persistcntly refused to yield;
the saloon was brilliantly lighted,
but Brannan himself stood in the
door. AS the ladies paused, he
spoke to them very politely and
they commenced their meeting.
1t continued half an hour, and
then in the interval between a
prayer and hymn, hetold them
that he had listened to them very
patiently, and now thought it on
Iy civil that they should hear
what he had to say. aBrannaii
began by complimenting their
music, telling them how much
he and his customers had enjoy
ed it; he said that he hoped that
lit had amused them to come there
day after day, and he had no OBJ
lection to their doing so for a
few days, but it was now assu-
ming the shape of nuisance,and
If they did not discontinue theil
visits he would appeal to the law
He said that he had as good q
right to make a living for his
family as any man in the city
and If he chose to do it by sell
ing liquor it was nobody's bust
ness. He closed by an emphatic
declaration that he had never
harmed any one by his saloon
and again told the ladies that if
they annoyed him again he would
have them arrested. =
Just then the great clock il
the court house struck nine. il
was near the hour of closing the
meeting, and while Brannan and
his party congratulated them
selves upon a victory the womer
prepared themselves, oh, SO sadly
to go away. Their faith had
been so strong, they believed
that God would finish his won
derful work that night, and now
they must go, leaving it undone.
Suddenly they paused for (;
childish voice, which had the
depth of a woman's anguish,wail-
ed out, ooh, don't give it up; its
to save my fatherr' ..1I.ret
Then they parted right and
left, before the bent and twisted
figure of Mamie Burke who
passed in front of the crowd.
AS she stood there, with her tat
tered shawl thrown off, the light
from one Of the colored lamps
falling full on the poor little form.
on the floating hair and pale face
with solemn eyes, there was some
4 - I.
thing so weird and strange, il
her appearance, as though she
was a messenger from another
world. --.os og .bsea - ~
"Ben Brannan," she said, and
the weak little voice grew firm
and stern as an accusing angels
''my father, George Burke, is q
kind and tender man when hs
lets whisky alone, herearns tWf
dollars. a day, and you know that
| is enough to keep US well. We
live in a miserable little garnet
on WING street; there is hardly
enough fire to keep me from free
zing,, sometimes, and | have had
nothing to eat to-day but a pieef
Of dry bread; the, money father
ought to spend on his home gees
for whisky which makes q brute
Of him and you stand there, Ben
j -
Braanon, and say that yoYnn fdlop IS IS
harm. -; "a l;s.,r Her ~ -,
ut was whisky that made my
father give me the, kick down
stairs that left me like this; it is
that that sends, him home atnight
Ito beat me with that crutch till ]
cry out for God to let me die; il
was your whisky that made, him
abuse my mother till she died
of a broken heart, and it was
you that got him to break the
promise that he made at her
grave, that he would meet her in
heaven, Ben Brannon!" cried
the childish voice, breaking into
wild sobs at last; Sand @, if ,your
whisky, kills him., body and soul,
and he's parted from her forever
and ever will you dare to tell
my mother, when you meet her
at the judgment, that you meyer
did any harm?' 4a,d e5aI 49,
The unnatural strength which
had upheld the child gave way
at last; she tottered and would
have fallen, had not a tall pow
crful looking man pushed his
way out from the saloon and
caught her away from the wo-
manly hand stretched outfor her.
Holding the poor, brave little
girl in his arms, while the great
tears rolled ever his rough, brown
face, he said: u .Y5lsm on Ho
, at is all true, every word of
it. I am her father, poor lamb,
and I've been just such anbrnte
as she's told you; but I'm really
to sign the pledge tonight, ladies,
and by the help of God I'LL try
to. keep it. And now, Ben,N
Iturninor towards him as he sDokp