Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-01-20
AFTER MANY YEARS.
A Serious Incident With a De.
eided immoral.
Arkansaw Traveller.

AN old man, the son OF prominen ut
Arkansaw gentleman, came from a
Northern State several weeks ago on a
visit. Forty year ago the old gentle
man was convivialist and drank
whisky with that lack Of restraint
characterizir.g free American citizen
Of the day. The old gentleman,
though, became temperance man and
leotured throughout the country.
When old age came upon him. he sat
in the twilight of life's mellowing
evening, happy in the reflection tht t
years and years ago he had conquered
the serpent and was waiting for the
reward promised to the sober, vigilant
aud COED.
Shortly after arriving in Arkansaw
some one sent his sons wife demi
john Of native wine. Father" said
the young woman, who knew nothing
of the old mans former habits, "a
neighbor has presented me with some
Of the finest native wine you ever saw.
Have glass of it.
No, child; l never drink"
But you can taste this Just for my
sake. Its nothing but the actual
juice Of the grape, grown here in the
LeighbOrhOOd. Please taste it."
We'll, pour me out about a spoon.
iul. Ahl' he said when he had slipped
it. VERY pleasant. Couule more
spoonsful, please" and drinking it, he
glanced significantly at the demijOhn.
When the woman went out TO see
about dinner the old man sat and
twirled his thumbs in reverie. The
memory of hilarious days, before the
knees ape weak aud the joints grow
stiff, danced in supple freedom OF
action through his mind, and arising
with deceitful feeling Of youth, and
giving voice to a slight exclamation as
pain caught him in the back he went
over to the demUOhn and took an old
time drink. He walked around the
room, looked at the pictures, went to
the mantlepieOe, took down toy
whistle, blew it, went back to the wine
vessel and stretched his mouth over
its canacious opening. He looked at
the pictures again, again blew the lit
tie whistle, and again pulled" the
demijohn. He walked around aud
tried to whistle, but only blew in
ludicrous failure. Then he laughed
and said; "Old teeth gone. Have
seen the time though | could whistle. "
His drinks became more frequent and
his perambulations moro unsteady.
People, even whose custom it is to
tarry long at the wine, who think that
native wine is the milk of human
kindness, the balm like cordial that
sooths but never intoxicates, entertain
a mistaken idea Of the liquid whose
name figures in all literature.
The sons wife, hearing an odd
noise, h Irried into the sitting room
and found the old man dancing the
rsoOllections Of a jig.
why father, what in the world are
you doing?' she exclaimed.
Brushing up a little. Hilo, helo.
| jig lum Jag lum jay lo" and be
hOpped around in fantastic antics.
The son, who had been away on busi-
ness returned. Away back ingchilds
hood, somewhere, he could remember
his fathers untamed exuberanoe of
spirit and action and he looked at
the old man in kind of dazed retro
spectiou. The son had never touched
a drop of liquor, but to see his father,
bowed down by the weight of many
years, hop up and out a dido quaint
gave him an idea thatnatige wine was
not a mocker but a revivalist, so he
tipped glasses time and time again
9th the old man, and ere twilight
deeped with tinge of eve, . the police
came around and took them to the
lock up. This incident has no morals
Ii is an immoral.