Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-04-05
"CHALK YOUR OWN DOOR,"

His proper name was Jeremiah
Mardcn, but he had not been in the
village week before everybody called
him Jerry Marden, and within SIX
weeks he was known as Jerry Middle.
The giver in unknown-for who ever
knows the giver of nicknames-bu the
reason for its being bestowed was that
Jerry was always muddled with
drink.
He was a very good oemaker, but
he stood no chance with George Ste
vens, sober man, and so drifted into
becoming q cobbler.
Jerry's one idea was to get job,
and having done it, to invest the pro-
ceed5 in drink at his favorite beer
shop, the "Oram Arms"
The consequence was that Jerry was
seldom sober, ard had he not possessed
an iron constitution, two years of such
life must have killed him; but he
dragged on. working to-day and idling
to morrow and drinking whenever
drink could be got, and finally he
Grifted into debt.
His score at the "Oran Arms" was a
large one, and his chalks stood up
against him like files of soldiers, but
Jerry ignored their existence-paying
little now and then, and drinking
more, each time increasing the army
of debts against him until one evening
Richard Rewitt, the landlord of he
aforesaid "Oran Arms" cried "halt."
q can't go on any longer, jerry" he
said. "The last sum | had of you was
three shillings, and you have paid moth
ing f fortnight"
Work Is slack" murmured Jerry,
"but the harvest is coming on and then
everybody will have their soling and
heeling done, and / shall be able to pay
you Off"
perhaps So" returned Mr.. hewitt,
but you will have as much as you can
do to square off what there is up there.
Look at them. Those chslks are 8
standing disgrace to any man. You
ought to be ashamed of yourself"
Jerry looked at the accusing marks,
and really felt aghast at the long list
agSinst him. The inner door of the bar
was q regular blackboard, aud he
trembled before it.
Now, when Jerry first came to the
"Ofam z nns," the landlord was very
polite, and spoke as softly as you please
TO him. No spider courteOusly en-
treating fly to enter into his parlor
could have been more oily-tongued or
smiled more persuasive smile-that
is, presuming that spiders do smile,
which Is just possible; but when Jerry
got into the tolls and had been well
confined in the web, mine host put on
another face and tone.
eff you drink" he said, "you must
expect to pay for it. My brewer would
stand no nonsense from me, and must
have my money from YOU"
"Only one pint" pleaded poor Jerry.
mot half pint" replied the land
lord. $50 home and work and pay
yoar debts like man."
The entrance of customer with
ready money cut short the conversa
ton, and Jerry stood back pace or
two while the other was being served.
drank aud the stranger gone, Jerry
made final appeal.
81 have been good customer to you,
Mr.. Rewitt. Almost every penny |
have earned has come into your till. |
have nigh lived on beer, if living it can
be called, and my wife and children
have had to shift how they could tor
bread"
"That is nothing to me-" said the
landlord.
"Let me have one pint"
"Have you the impudence to ask for
it with this shameful lot of chalks star
ing you in the face?"
Jerry did not reply, but be took a
long and earnest look at the recording
files. and drawing his hand across his
dry mouth hurried out of the "0ram
Arms"
"Who is that you have been talking
to, Ricaard?' inquired Mrs. hewitt, en-
tern 9 the bar from a room behind.
GERRY Muddle," was the reply. 81
have stopped his drink till he pays
up"
"Then he will 90 to the Green
Goose aud get his drink there" said
Mrs. hewitt.
''They won't trust hina penny" re-
piled her husband, with grin-he has
tried it on and failed, and so l have
got him. If he don't pay up, I will
make him."
There's nothing to get OF the house,"
said Mrs. Rewitt, shaking her head. II
have heard that there's not 81 chair for
them to sit down upon; and Jerry's
wife-clsan and tidy as she manages to
keep herself--looks more like skele-
ton than like a woman"
''That is Jerry's lookout" replied
Mr. Rewitt c00lly HTf he aaO't afford
it, he shouldn't drink"
The subject was dismissed, and Jer-
ry forgotten in the noise and hustle of
the usual business. About nine O'Clock
Jerry's wife, to the establishment of
both Mr.. Rewitt and his wife, app cared
in the bar, but not as they supposed,
for drink.
"My husband tells me-" she said,
"that he has a heavy score here. How
much is it?"
81 am almost too busy to tell you,"
replied the landlord, "but if it is press
ing | will reckon it up"
st is pressing; and I will be very
thankful if you will let me know at
once how much it Is" returned the
poor woman, who was indeed, wan and
pale, and almost justified the title of
skeleton, which Mrs. Rewitt had given
her.
The landlord went through the
chalks twice, and fnall announced that
Jerry was indebted to Ed IL Al. Jer-
RVS wife received the announcement
with look of quiet dismay, thanked
the landlord, and then left the house,
est S1pnoSo che IL tb,,,6ip 70 wax