Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1881-07-16
NORTHERN TRIBUNE,
SATURDAY, JULY IS. 1881.
DIGBY's REFORM CLUB.

Iner0 was Quartette OF Tree anu JOVlal
spirits in Burville, and JOHNNY Digby was
tbehcknOwledged leader thereof. Peter
Slade, Tom LOwden, and Sam Pepper
were his associates. They were four
yours men, free-hearted and generous,
witt great capacity for enjoyment.
On a certain Monday evening they
were assembled in a small parlOr OF
LushtOn's tavern for the purpose OF hay-
ing good time, as they were wont to
assemble often. The season was winter,
and the beverage they were indulging in
was a compound of rum. sugar, milk, and
eggs, Familiarity known as "TOm and
Jerry"
At the early stage of the wassail, be-
fore sense had been submerged, Peter
Slade suggested that he had complaint
to make against one of the dignitaries of
the town, and thereupOn he opened his
walls of denunciatiOn against ParsOn
Meekly, the old clergyman of the place.
"As near as can find out" he said,
) "the parsOn just about the same as called
by name and held us up as set of grace
less scamps."
"NOt quite so bad as that" said John
Digby. "He did certainly allude to us
very plainly, but the worst he brought
against us was that we were prOstituting
noble powers and opportunities to base
and sinful purposes. Rather flattering,
/ thought, especially the noble powers"
"Flattering with vengeance" said
Tom Lowden: what business is it Of
his?"
"Aye," exclaimed Sam Pepper, "what
business is it of his?" And then look at
the hullabalOO they make over this for
eign mission business. It was in con-
nectiOn with that that ParsOn Meekly
attacked us. They'd better look to home.
think there Is suffering enough under
our very noses that had better be looked
to first"
"That's So" cried Slade. Il say char
ity begins e at home. What do you say,
John Digby had listened attentively,
and during the conversation he had
turned his glass bottom side up on the
table.
"There may be truth in what you say"
he slowly and thOughtfully replied, but
people who live in glass houses shouldn't
throw stones. We may object to furnish
ing money for these foreign missions
upon the plea that charity begins at
home, and all that; but the question may
come back. What have we done for this
charity at home? What have we
done towards alternating the distresses
of the poor of our town? And if we have
not done anything in that direction,-if
we don't open our hands in charity at
all,-what right have we to say in what
directions others shall aim their good
works."
Blank were the looks that greeted this
speech. The trio of listeners were taken
back. They hadn't expected this from
their leader.
snow look here, boys" continued John
Digby, pushing his inverted glass away
to the centre of the table, and leavingiit
there. 81 don't like this Overhauling that
Parson Meekly gave us any better than
you do, and l propose to shut him up"
"Hi-yahp shouted Sam Pepper, that's
the talk. am with you"
"Are you sure you have got the cour-
age, Sam,
Eyes, sir"
Count me in," said Tom.
And nd mel fso added PepRWe66 s Ls fSs sn%.
gramme, Jack?"
"Well'' answered Digby, 81 have plan
ned that we shall take the wind out of
ParsOn Meekly's sails by establishing
missionary society on the same basis!'
"Ehp"
"Look We, boys; people besides the par
son are talking hard about us, and we'll
shut them all up in lump. I'd like to
hit back in the most effective way. I'd
like to make them take the back track
here i'm Burvile in their own business"
His hearers were interested and listen
ed eagerly.
"What is it? Tell us how this is to be
dOneT
'Have you the courage to do itp" said
Jack.
swell follow you," said Peter Slade.
"Honor bright?"
"Yes."
''Then listen"
"Hold on" cried Sam Pepper. Lets
fill up before we cOmmnce."
"NOt with old LushtOn's Tom and Jer-
~" returned Jack. "We shall want the
cost of it for another purpose. Turn the
glasses upside down for the present. Now
listen. We are in the habit of meeting
here at the tavern three evenings in a
week; and our expenses for liquors and
cigars are at least 81 an evening, amt
theyw
This was admitted by nod.
"And in addition to this I spent at
least 81 more week for beer and to-
bacco on my own hook. How is 1t with
you"
The others admitted that 81 a week
was little enough.
''Thus," resumed John Digby, I'VE
have $40 week as the result of our COM
bined and individual expenses for rum
and tobacco. l, for one, think could
manage to live through the rest Of the
winter without any more of it; and for
the sake of the experiment would be