Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-11-27

We got plt Vi d cOlu, replleQ
,he other, sand | have been shut up
4 good deal with business lately.
Trades been brisk; but how is it we
have not seen your
"Well-the fact is, sir" said Jer-
ry, rubbing his chin, "Tve been
busy wiuing off your old score.''
'sBut it is done, man. replied Mr..
Rewitt, cheerfully, "the door is quite
clean as far as you are concerned"
'sI am glad of that
"Others have not got their share,' .
said the landlord, facetiously; "but
| think we could make room for you,
If you look us up"
"No, thanks, SIR" returned Jerry,
':I've had enough of chalking other
peoples doors, and now chalk on my
own."
"Chalk on your own p f
Eyes sir, have the goodness to
turn round and look behind. There
is my door half full.
''It's wise thing to keep accounts
YOURSELF" said the landlord, who
hardly knew what to make of it, "for
will happen out
''No mistake can happen, sir" in
terrupted Jerry, ''tor | am the only
party as keeps the accounts. 81
s'But who trusts you to do that p
ssNobody-I trust myself" replied
Jerry. ''The marks that were on
your door showed how much l did
drink, and them marks on mine show
what I did not drink
A little light had got into the land
lords brain, and he had a pretty
good idea of what was coming, but
he said nothing.
''That night you spoke to me
about the chalks on the door being a
standing disgrace to me, was the
night of my awaking," continued
Jerry. "No man could have lectur-
ed me better than you did, and /
thank you for it from the bottom of
my heart. AS l left your house /
vowed to touch drink no more, and [
came home and told my wife so, and
we both joined in earnest prayer that
/ might have strength to keep my
VOW. The next morning / went over
to George Stevens and asked him
how I could 60 about signing the
plepge. He helped me like man
and it was DONE"
With his eyes wandering to and
fro between Jerry and the chalks
upon the door, the amazed landlord
still remained silent. Jerry went
on:
'sMy wife wanted to work herself
to death to keep me-" he said, shut
I said no. You do what you can to
keep the children until my debts are
paid, and then I'll keep you and the
children, too. So | went to work,
paying right and left; and when all
was paid off, began to do what
ought to have done years ago-feed
my wife and children. l had enough
to spare and / would have spent
some with you. And many's the
time I've been tempted to come
and I'm tempted still but when the
feeling comes over me / have drink
of water or cup of tea, put two
pence into the box I've got on pur
pose, and scores on the door. Al
of them chalks are so many two
pence saved" Fla
Mr.. Rewitt was unable to make
any particular remark, but he muir
INJURED in a confused manner, "Yol
have got a lot of 'em.'' ~
"Yes, there is large family" re
piled Jerry, complacently, "and th'
more / look at them the better lik,
them. There is not much standing
disgrace about that lot; credit if an.
thing"
"Oh! yes-yes,'' returned tn
landlord "but-dear me-this COLI
in my head is quite distressing. Yo'
must have large box for all you
twopense."
"When 1 get six together / tax
them to the postofice," replied Jel
ry; "there's bank there better tina
any till. They give nothing out, bu
banks like that return you more tha
you put in. Until 1 began to kee
/ my own chalks / had no idea ho'
much your till swallowed up. Yo
would not trust me for pint; but
can have my money out of the ban
whenever / want it,
ssThat's something" said Mr.. RI
witt, tartly.
1T is everything to man WI
has wife and children to keep" r,
piled Jerry. ''The best of us hay
sickness and trouble and rainy day
and then it's a great thing to ia
back upon. 1t is better to kee
yourself than to 60 to the paris
There's another thing, too, abo
these chalks of mine-yours we
down before my wife and childrt
were fed ; mine go down after that
done; and l think that my chall
are the better of the two. So / 81
to all, Chalk your own door
Mr.. Rewitt had nothing to say;
could not deny it and he would n
admit it, but took refuge like 9th
beaten men in flight. With the boo