The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-01-20
Temperance Reading il.
A LITTLE GAMBLE.


g Please stly at home tonight, Jack!" said
Alice, coax ngly. as her brother rose from the
tea-table md st irted for tn door
here"
You know why" said his sister, in a low
tore: lou know father'-she stopped
suddenly.
Il know" said Jack, more softly. but
you cant expect fellow to stay mewed up at
home all the time. Now look here" as he
saw the tears come into Alice's eyes, "you
needn't fret about me, : s. Pm bound to
take care of myself but l must have little
PLEASURE after working all day. Good-by; Pn
be hor e by nine"
But he was not home by nine, nor BY ten. and
the clock had struck elevea when Alice he lrd
his step. She hurried to the door to let him
in. his ftce was flushed, and his breath
alas reminded her of her fathers.
lie made some excuse and hurried off to
bed, and Alice sank into chair in the sit
ting-room: She was shocked. She was
grieve1 This was the first time ok had
showed 8 gins of being under the influence
III strong drink, and she felt as if she could
not bear it.
A month before, they had laid in drunk
ards grave their father, and over his terrible
1'ath-b1d Jack had pro uised their mother
that he would not follow in his steps,
Yet now-so soon-he has begun"
thought Alice, ting there alone III the
cold: And how en- / blame him. poor
DoyW SIZE went on, "when il is so dull and
stupid for him heres It's no wonder he re.
fers the Pleasant, warm room, the lights, the
gay company, the games that he gets at
Masnn's. Oh, why aren't good things as free
as bad ones!' she or ed o It in her dist esq.
Bat what can dos" was the question to
winch her thoughts ever came back. u
must save Jack. for he's all mother and
have; but howr'
what can one girl do, without money and
| without fr enls-almostl" thought Alice,
| remembering, " tn q shudier, that drunk
friends.
A ice Rawson was c'ear-headed, though
young. She thought tie matter over durin :
the next day, as sh. went about her work in
the house, waiting on her inval mother,
making the cottage tidy and cooking their
plain meals.
tits no use to talk she said to herself;
"Jack IN ans to do what's right. And it's
even worse to scold or to be cross to
him, for that only makes him stay away
more" And she gave the pillow she was
stirring up say ge poke to relieve her feel
ings.
u know, too" she went on, pausing-wth
the other pillow in her hand, "that when he's
there " tn the boys it's awful hard never to
spend cent when the Others do 1t looks
m an, and Jack hates being mean" and she
flung the pill ow into its place with such spirit
ludb IL HChJ over Ol Tue uOOT.
What are you banging about SO forl'
asked her mother from the next room.
'Oh, nothing | was thinking, mother"
she answered. AMI she we on thinking
what would be best, would be to have
some other place just as pleasant, and warm,
and free as Masons-some good place. Alice
gned at this thought.
6 1t can't be here at home, bee use it takes
SO much money to have it W rm and lgat;
and besides his friends woul Int feel free to
come, and it Won d be lonely for him"
Alice, what are you muttering about"
called Mrs. Rawson.
Nothing, mother; Pm only making a
plan.n
"If could get books, and papers," she
went on, closing She door aud starting for
the kitchen, "Sut Jack was too tired to read
much"
she stood in the middle of the kitchen like a
statue.
81 wondcr-I do wonder, why place
couldn't be fiXed-a room somewhere! be-
lieve people would help if they only thought
how good it would be for boys! Tint would
be splendid And she looked anything but
a statue now, for she fairly jumped up and
down With delight at the thought.
II don't suppose can do much alone"
she id later as the plan grew more into
shape; " but it's for Jack, and thapll helm
me tax to people, Pm sure, and at least
en- try"
She did try. Without troubling her moth
er with her plans-for she knew she would he
| worried and think of dozen objections to t
in her delicate state of health, Alice hur-
ried through with her work, put on her
things and went to call first Oh Mr.. Smith, a
grocer. She hap enc / to know that at the
back of Mr.. Smiths store was a room ope :
ing on side street, which he had for nerly
rented for cobbler's shop, but which was
now empty.
Affects heart hutterei wildly moment,
when she stood before the grocer in his pri-
vate office, where she was sent when. she
asked OF the clerk an interview with Mr.
Smith.
you are Rawson's daughter, l believe"
was Mr.. Smiths greeting.
Yes" said Alice, Il am Alice Rawson,
and you'll think | am crazy, I'm afr Il, when
tie my Grand" she went on, trembingy
''But o Mr. Smith il you remember my fata-
err before-before" -
Il do. child" said the grocer, kindly, sup
posing she had come to ask for help.
''Then you'll not wonder" she went on
bravely, that am going to try every way to
save my brother"
is YOUR brother in danger!n asked Mr..
Smith. And VIII It can | do.h
''He is in dang r." said Alice, earnestly,
''of doing just as father did, and SO are lots
of other boys, and what you can do is to let
me have Johnson's old shop, free of rent for
little while, to try an experimental can
get help" she added warmly.
But What will you do: l don't under.
stand" said Mr.. Smith.
"W hat will do: Oh, I'll try to make a
place as pleasant as Masou's saloon, that
shan't cost anything, and III try TO get every
boy and young man to 90 there and not to
Masop's. II they could have nice warm
place of their own, MIR. Smith, don't you
think they would go there's" she asked anx-
iously.
81 don't know but they would, said the
grocer; but it's an experiment. don't see
where you'll get things TO put =. or your
fire, or anything to make it rival Masoh's.
However, I'm busy now, and can't talk more,
and AS you are in earnest and the cause Is
good, I'll let you have the room tGtry the
plan"
oh, thank youi'' cried Alice.
"Here's the key" t king that article down
from nail. ''Say no more child, / 20 admit
rent it this winter anyway" as she tried to
speak.
Alice walked out with her precious key,
feeling az If the whole thing was. done. But
IL was far fro u that.