Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-11-08

You see" with perceptible confusion of man
ner, 1--WE known him long time-sort OF I'M
der obligations besides-dye understand? His
story, too, might be writ up, if you'd like to
hear 1t, or even part of it,"
Some moments elapsed before an expressed
desire to hear it could be gratified, for just
about this time the bartender experienced "a
sudden squirt of biz as he called It, and, what
with setting out and taking In bottles and tum-
biers, dispensing lager beer, answering calls
from the family entrance, repenishing the
cheese and cracker dish. and sOpping up the
whisky slop and beer drippings, together with
an occasional controversy on the subject of
bouncing" surreptitiOus trip or two for the
qualification of thirsty policemen at the F. E..
and one more alcoholic quieting Of the queer
little old man, whose last exile to dreamland
had not been of satisfactory duration, he re-
turned to the interview SO much out OF breath
and disconnected that / at once ''set 'em up" in
my turn, and redirected his active mind to
consideration of Poppy.
''Well, you ace, this is about the size Of 1t, -
said he, leaning far over on his elbows and low
ering his voice to q confidential whisper. "Old
Pop yonder Is begging out rather lively with
pneumonia or something of the Sort an liquors
about the only thing that keeps him alive. His
doctor says that without the stimulant he
wouldn't last a week. So there he sets, and
there he's been a settn every day fur a month
or two and supply the stimnlant. Dye see ?"
Its really good of YOU, observed. But
then suppose the former obligations you spoke
Of
"That's jist it; I'm payin' 'em in this way"
wOman-Pop's wife, you know, and decent,
hard-wOrking old woman she is-brings the Old
fellow here, while she's out at washing or floor
scrubbing and leaves him sort of in NY care till
sine comes to take him home in the evening, for
Pop himself is all but helpless. It's almost time
for her to come for him now" he added, with
glance at the clock, which Indicated quarter to
six.
~ say it's really good of YOU" repeated the
writer, with an interested glance at the occu-
pant of the bench, who, though still in exile.
appeared exceptionally uneasy, with labored
breathing and tremulous starts. as though
mutely duplicating for a return Of the native
health and peace never more for him. And l
suppose the Woodworking old wife is likewise
grateful to YOU"
.'Well, she is, and then again she amt" said
the bartender :" Hold on a minute. He needs
another stiffener. I'm a-thinking'
Poppy was accordingly aroused sufficiently to
1mbiDe another drink. which ultimately sent him
feeble coughing, followed by sundry deep and
piteOus slghs
''Oh, he's been as bad as that before" said
the bartender, in answer to the writer's look of
concern as he again edged in behind the coun-
ter. eyes, the old wOman's feelings toward
tinued "The doctor has told her what Poppy
requires to be kept from sinking, you see, and
she's willing for me to take care Of him in this
way while she's out at work. But then she's
awful piOuS and strictly on the temperance howl
herself; dye see2"
nodded, and there was fresh interruption
by reason of another ''spurt'' from the street,
during which the representative man almost
came to blows with an inebriated cOal-heayer,
who rendered five cents instead of ten for
beverage. but afterward settled it by permitting
the coal-heaver to owe him the difference. Then
o travel-staned minstrel. with a harp on his
back and desire in his soul to exchange music
for whisky, had to be led out by the ear; some
lemons We're purchased of vender, and an in
tentonaly Obtuse customer, who wanted twenty
cents change from a quarter after absorbing
ten-cent drink, was threateningly called
'dumbhead." and asked if he expected to have
his cake and eat it. too, wherenpon the bar
tender was once more at my service
cts jist as | tell you," he resumed. "The
old woman, though compelled to let me take
care of Pop in this way, is death on temperance,
and pious to boot. Why, let me give you an
instances" and here he became confused again.
.'What if should tell you that the old people
Pop and his w!fe-haye got son, strong and
healthy, and both able and willing to support
them both, but that the old woman refuses to take
q cent of his wages-not one solitary copper
and all as matter of conscience, Ell p
wages of dishonesty, pcrhaps?" l sug-
gested.
''She says sO-wages of sin, she calls EN-
;. And what does the young man do for
living 2" asked. t.-s. ~. p.
'Sels gin, just as I'm ADDING. He's a bar
tender, was the reply
'Sure as gun And the old lady won't take
a cent of his money, though she lets me keep the
old man around on the same stuff that she
shudders to have her son sell. Queer, amt it,"
'Decdedly''
''Well. that's about all there is to her story
and Pops" he continued, wiping his brow hard,
az though to permanently dispel some of the in
creased uneasiness that had taken possession of
him during his recital. ''And think it's blasted
hard on the son, do. For jist look at old Pop
there now" he added, directing my attention
anew to the queer lttleold man, who had lapsed
Into mOtionlessness, with his hands in his pOck-
ets his chin on his breast, and his poor old hat
drawn down over his eyes, half suggesting
permanent Punishment to what seemed to con-
st1tute the humble Nirvana of HE broken life.
Isn't he as happy as a newborn baby, and all
through me! But here comes man now-he's
been on Santa Cruz sOurs for week. but no
tice change on his face, perhaps to s. o. P, or
a rye and seltzer-whose story might be writ up
splendid"
The last remark was evoked by the rheumatic
entrance of very large, well-dressed, fine
looking, but somewhat bloated, man, who veri-
fed the Dartender's prediction by dropping his
cane and asking for rye whisky and settler. He
also bought a cigar.
:" Know him, Of course?" said the bartender.
In respectful tone, when we were again alone.
mo-" replied.
"What?" he said
"a custom house official perhaps; Con-
or some other sort of dignitary,"I
ventured
Bigger'n that. It's Bob E., the retired
prize fghter"
"Ah, indeed!"
"Sure's you live: and a dusty chap still ina
rumpus, in spite of govt and dissipation, you can
bet. But here comes Pops old woman to carry
him off home with her, he added half sullenly.
half shamefacedly, as an elderly lady made her
appearance at the family entrance, with re-
signed but sef-protestng ,.ir.
There he is, mother; there's old Poppy
waiting for you. and as calm as an infant. He's
had pretty good day OF 1t, too"
The newcomer was thinly clad, and evidently
Of hard-working. poorly-paid station in lite.
Her face was both kind and stern. She had
plentiful snow white hair. AS she stood i'm a
sort of noble shame at the threshold of sphere
which her every instinct abomnated, while a
sense of duty urged her to it's edge, there was q
sad dignity in her looks. She merely inclined
her head in recognition of the bartender's greet
Ing, turned her regards still more sadly from
him to the still motionless figure on the bench,
and then moved gently toward it.
"Now, here comes another customer whose
story might be writ up" hurriedly whispered
the bartender, reckoning me to come still nearer,
as he planted his elbows on the counter and