Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-08-05
NOS

and drink all the time. | used to do
everything | could TO get him 10 Quit
and be a good industrious boy again.
but he used TO get mad after awhile.
and once he struck me. and then in
the morning found he had took what
little money there was left Of the farm
and had run of. After that | got
along as well as l could cleanin' house
for folks and washin', but didn't hesr
nothing of him for four or five wears:
but when he was arrested and took up
to Oshkosh for trial he writ to me-"
by this time there was not dry eve
III the car, and the cards had diSap-
peared. The old lady herself was
weeping slightly and speaking in snatch
eS. But recovering herself she went
on:
But what could | do? | sold the
house and lot to get money TO hire
lawyer; and believe he is here some
where looking around. Oh, yes, there
he Is, MIR. --. pointing to LAWYER
who had not taken part III the
play. And this is the man. l am sure.
who argued against him. pointing 10
Mr.. --. the district attorney.
And you, Judge --. sent him 10
prison, for the poor boy told me that he
really did rob the bank. But he must
have been drunk, for they had all been
playing keardS most all night. aud
drinking. But oh. dear,
1t seems 10 me kinder as though il
he hadn't got to playing keards he
might have been alive yet. But when
used to tell him it was wrong. and
bad to play, he used 10 say. "Why.
mother, everybody plays now. /
never bet only for candy or cigars. or
something like that. And when we
heard that the young folks plaved
keards down At Mr.. Culver's donation
party, and that Squire Ring was going
to get billiard table for his Young
folks to play at home, couldn't do
anything at all with him. We used to
think it was awful to do that way when
was young hut 1t just seems to me
rs if everybody nowadays WAS going
wrong i'll something or other. But
may be it isn't right for me TO talk to
you, Judge, in this way, hut it list
seems To me rs if the sight of them
keards would kill me, Judge | thought
if you only knew how bad | felt. you
wouldn't play on so and then To think
right here before all them young
folks ~
May be, Judge, you don't know how
young folks look up to such as YOU
and then | can't help thinking that
may be them Us ought To know better
than to do So, and them Us are higher
larnt, and all that, wouldn't set such OK
amples, my poor Tom would be alive
and caring for his poor old mother.
But now there amt any of our family
left but me and my poor gran'child,
my dead darters little girl, and we are
going to stop with my brother i'll Hi
noy."
Tongue of man nor angel never
preached more eloquent sermon than
that gray, withered old lady, trembling
with old age and excitement, and fear
that she was doing wrong. ! cannot
recall half she said, as she, Il poor, lone,
beggared widow, stood before those no
BILE looking men and pleaded the cause
of the rising generation.
The look they bore us she poured
forth her sorrowlul tale was iplescriba
-. -. - 49, n ~
nals at the bar would be faint de-
scription. | can imagine how they felt.
The old lady tottered 10 her seat, and
taking her little grandchild in her lap,
hid her face on her neck. The little
one stroked her gray hair with one
hand, and said: Don't cry gran'ma,
don't cry gran'ma." Eyes unused 10
weeping were red for many mile on
that journey. And | can hardly be
ever touched card again. II is Just
to say that when the passengers came
to themselves they generously respond
ed to the judge, who, hat it hand, ST
lentlv passed through the little audi
ence.- Erchange.