Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-11-22
Jacks Keg.

Jacks Keg.
"Look here, fellows" exclaimed Ned
Simonds, impatiently slamming his book,
"Pm hungry. Haven't you got anything to
eat 2--just to nibble on Come, Jack,
fetch out your apples"
al might" replied Jack, eff I had any !;
but"
"He's got enough" interrupted Tom, his
roommate "only maybe they aren't in the
form you like. They are mashed and come
in a keg. His father sent it. Do you UNI
derstand 2" And with knowing wink he
whispered, Cider"
els that so ?" calculated Ned. "Cider
Sweet cider 2"
"Just as sweet cider as ever was made,
said Jack. "Father ground these apples
day before yesterday, and sent me this keg
last night. | wouldn't touch it if it wasn't
sweet. Look here" and he snatched a
| Christian Union from the corner of the room
disclosing a ten-gallon keg beneath. That's
the thing. Full, and sweet as honey. You
needn't be afraid of it, There's no more
harm in drinking that than eating so many
apples" .,.,,,,s ..,.., ,,o,,
| all Olu blOlHdCu bWtbbtlt lchdiaCu iichi
nicknamed "Jehu on account of slow hab
its both in speech and action.
"You1l never have stomach twister
Jee," retorted Jack. "There'll be no cider
| by the time you get at it. Come Ned, here
an old pipe-stem to suck with. Try the
bunghole."
Ned takes the proffered pipe-stem between
his teeth, inserting the other end in the key
The room is large, low-studded chamber
in one of the old dormitories of New Eng
land college. The walls, hallowed by thu
presence of continental troops quartereC
there century ago, are ornamented in tru'
student style with signs 6lched from th'
neighboring common and street corners
while on mantel-pieoe and brackets, filling
every available nook, are pictures of parents
friends and sweethearts. Amid such sur
roundings is Ned on his knees, practicint
once more the first principles.
A rap at the door Ned jumps up, in hi
haste letting the pipe-stem fall into the keg
| Tom throws the Christian Union over tn
cider and his coat on top of that. Jacl
pulls the latch.string and shouts, "Com
in"
A freshman timidly pushes the door opel
and inquiries "Can | borrow some kind
lings? L"
Haven't got any. All out"
"Let me take your Ratchet ?"
"That's out too. Hammonds got it,
Thought / heard you -"
"Clear out - and book bangs agains
the door,
Rid of the intruder, Henry turns to thu
cider. But how to get at it ? The impro
vised straw is gone drowned.
Tom has a happy thought: Here, I've
got brand.new handkerchief-neve beer
used. We can soak that and then wiring il
out. Tharll do till we can get another
pipe
But again loud rap interrupts proceed
ings. This time black Jimmy, the janitor
enters.
eli, boys, clar out now wants tC
sweep de room. But what yer got dar, un
der dat paper" he exclaimed, looking
around. aye don fool dis chick'n, CT
smell um's bref. Some'n drink, hey Da
don behav' religious man likes you, Mist
Jack and to COMMUNICATE de Chrisiid,
Union wild it, too, dat is too-too un-egs-cep
tion-al -"
"Oh, get out, Jimmy. That's nothing
but sweet cider; just as sweet as any ap
pies you ever saw. My father sent it t.
me, and he's deacon. Guess you needn'
| preach much 10 us, Jimmy.
"All right, Mist'r Jack, but yer don
catch dis chill takin' any ont. 1t lead
right to rum, where was fore jined d,
Blue Ribbn Soci'ty. No, sar, not for di
chile"
"Just try it JIM" expostulated Jack
You wouldn't be afraid to eat an apple
would you Well, this isn't bit worse
This was apple day before yesterday ant
it's Just as much apple to-day. Bosh, abou
being afraid of cider. Cider never hurt
man and never will. Vinegar is anothe
thing. People talk about vinegar and cal
| it cider"
"Gy, dat smell good" exclaimed the ne
gro, as he removed the overcoat aud paper
| from the keg. "Suah, dat is sweet, MIST
Jack 2 Golly, dat bunghole is bouts big
old Jim's nose. Yah, yah, but how yer gi
at das yere ?"
al don't know, Jim. You haven't got {
straw, have you 2"
"Yers Just suah, sartin suah, boys, dat
dis yere is raj sweet cider ?"
"Yes, yes Surel"
"Wal, den, I'll tell yer. Use got tin
pipe dat l TUX from Harry Jacobs, 'caus,
he's BLOWN beans at me when lse sweeping
Yer en- hav' dat"
"All right, Jimmy, you're good fellow
Hurry up and get it, please"
:" | tell you what it is, fellows" said Tom
after Jimmy had closed the door, " we mus
get him to drink some, at least a swallow, o.
he'll be telling every man about college, anC
preach to them about drinking cider 81
much that we'll be overrun with fellow;
sponging for drink; and, if we refuse
they'll howl and carp at us. We cant pos
sibly treat them, you know, on only ten gal
Ions even if we could it wouldn't be pleas
ant to turn our room into free bar. No
sir, NUNS the word and Jimmy II be nun
enough If we can once make him drink
Here he comes"
The colored man entered, bringing lonl
tin tube such as the boys use for bean
blowers. Tom seized it and began sucking
the cider. After minute, smacking hi
lips, he exclaimed;
"Thst's the best cider ever tasted. Bet
ter than they make in Old Virginia, Jim
Just take pull"
Jim was 10th to touch it, but finally, afte
much bantering and coaxing by all tn
boys, he Flowed dat eff il dom hurt mist
Tom it don hurt old JIM" and took lonl
draught.
The boys were satisfied now, knowing
that Jimmy wouldn't lisp word about tn
cider; for the old man, though an invet
crate Notwithstanding text for his of
hand sermons in the most trivial circum
stance--was yet too shrewd to advocate
thing which he himself did not observe.
Day after day passed and the cider grew
harder and harder, unnoticed by the fou
who drank of it so much and so often
Jim came oftener than usual to sweep tn
room-almost every day. 1t became notice
able that he chose his time when the occu
pants were sure to be in, and he didn't seen
vexed as formerly when they were unwilling
TO vacate for him.
About three weeks later Jack and Ton
were one evening preparing lessons for thu
next day when peculiar knock disturbed
them.
"That's Ned and joe" exclaimed Jack
"But what are you round here for at thi
time :" he inquired As the two friends en-
tered whats the matter with you YoI
look like funeral"
"A -. haarl tha nax.,a aai.o.