Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-11-20
WHAT CLOSED THE SALOON.

At last they reached the establishment
whose proprietor had SO penistenily re-
fused to yield; the saloon was brilliant
" lighted, and Brannan himself stood in
the door. As the ladies paused he spoke
to them very politely, and they com
menced their meeting. IL continued for
half an hour, and then. in the interval
between a prayer and hymn, he told
them he had listened TO them very pa
tientlv, and now thought it only civil
that they sho,sd hear what he lad TO-
say. Brsnnan brgsn by cofnplimenting
their music. telling them how much he
and his customers had enjoyed il; he
said he hoped it had amused them t,
come there day after day, and that he
had no objection TO their doing so, for Il
few DAYS, but il was now assuming the
shape of nuisance, and if they did not
discontinue their visits. be would appeal
TO the law. He said he had as good q
righ, to make Il living for his family a.
any man in the city, and if he chose TO
do it by selling liquor, it WAS nobod! s
business. He closed by an emphatic
declaration that he had never barme:
any one by his saloon, and again told
The ladies if they annoyed him any more,
he would nave them arrested.
Jus, then the great clock on the court
house struck nine. Il was near the hour
Tor closing their meeting, and while
Brannan and his party congratulated
themselves upon = victory, the women
prepared oh, so sadly, TO 90 away lreF
iai,h had been 50 strong, they had be-
He,cd that God would complete his won
derful work that night, and now the!
must 20 leaving il still untoiShed.
Suddenly they paused, for childish
vuicc, which HAD the depth Of woman :
spgul,h, walled oli, ION, don't give It
up; IL to save M father :!
Thcu they parted right and left, be
fore the bent aud twisted figure Of Nan.
uy Burke WHO passed to tie front of The
croud. As she stood there, with her
catered saawl thrown IF, The hight from
one # the col red lamps falling full GA
,he poor lizzie form, on the floating hair
and pale face with Solemn eyes, there
WIS some, thing so wierd and strange in
her appearance as though she was .
messenger from another world.
ben BfAnuan, she said, and The
weak little voice grew firm aud stern as
an accusing angels, "my father, George
Burke, Is u kiad and tender man when
be lets whiskry alone: ne c&rus TWO dol
lars = y, and You know that's enough
to keep W. we'll. We live in misera-
ole little garrett on Vine sttrci; there Is
hardly enough f;c TO keep me from i'ecz.
ing. some,im,-, and ! have had nothing
10 eat to-day but piece OF dry bread +,
the money ny father ought 10 sPend on
his home goes for whl,key, which makes
brute OF him and yet YOU stand there,
Ben Brsnuan, ana cay that you DO no
harm.
ut was whiskey that made my father
give me the kick down stairs ,hAt let,
me like this; it Is that that sends HIM
home at night TO beat me WIKI that
cru,ch till cry out 70 God 10 let me DE !;
i, was your whiskey iha' made HIM abuse
my mother till she died If q broken heart,
and it was you tina, got him TO brake IN
promise he had made az her grave, that
he would meet her in heaven. Ben
Brannan", cried the childish voice,
breaking into wild sobs at last land o,
II your whiskey kills him, body and
soul, and he's parted from her forever
end ever, will YOU dare 10 tell my moth
er, when YOU meet her at the Judgement,
that you never did any harm
The unnatural strength which had up
held the child gave way at last; she
to;,ered and would have fallen, had not
q tall. powerlul-looking man pushed HI
way on, from the saloon and caught her
away from the kind, womanly hand
stretched ont for her. Holding the poor,
brave h,lle girl in bis arms while the
great ,esrs rolled over his rough, brown
face, he said
ITS all true, every word Of 1t. I'm
her father, poor lamb. and I've been just
such q brute as she's told you; but I'm
ready to sign the pledge TO night, ladies',
and by the help OF God Ill Try TO keep
1t. And now, Ben turning towards
him as be spoke, tor the sake OF the
poor fellows like me, who are 50 easily
tempted. ior the sake OF their wives and
children, Tor the sake OF your own "iiv
and baby, who i, no pre,tler than my
Mamie was once, | ask yoa 10 give "
this ms rattle business.
Brannan had grown very pale while
Mamie and her father were speaking;
his pretty little wife was sobbing oltIerl.
d, she clung to his arm, and the innocent
face Of lis baby girl looked wondenngl,
up into his. There was fearful stsug-
gle in the mans soul; how could n
Weld when he nod bu4sied that he never
would But then, how could he continue
to sell the msddening poison which could
make q man crush and mangle the deli
cate form Of his own little child Then
as tie idea which Mamie had suggested
came back 10 him,aId he thought OF the
possibility Of such women as poor Mary
Burke requiring their husbands blood L.
his hands, he hesila:ed no longer.