Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1883-02-22
JOHN PENNEWELL'S CAREER.
A STORY WITH A MORAL

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A STORY WITH A MORAL.
John Penncwell was Il journeyman
machinist, in situation that paid him
fifteen dollars week, when he work
ed full time; but then, John did not
like too close application to labor,
and consequently his weekly wages did
not average over twelve dollars. He
was married man and the father of
one child, boy about six years old,
named Billy. One Monday night
when John was paid of, he received Il
full weeks wages, which so clated
him that he had to stop at n beer
saloon, on his way home, and get u
glass of lager. While standing at the
counter he was iostled by couple of
good-looking fellows who urged him 20
drink glass of beer with them, an
offer which he readily accepted. From
that they began to work themselves
into Johns good graces, and the three
left the saloon together. Now, instead
of going directly home, the two glasses
of lager he had drank were beginning
their mischief in making our friend
garrulous, and forgetful of his duties
toward his wife and child. The trio
had been walking down Hanover street,
and they finally entered cheap eat
ing-room and had good supper. Dur
ing the hour or more spent at the
table the two fellows so won Johns
friendship that he was easily prevailed
on to embark in an enterprise they had
in view, which, they assured him
"would pay WE'LL although they did
not see fit tofully explain the details OF
their new business. On leaving there
they srollcd up town and into the
neighborhOod OF Howard street. Sec.
ing the blazing light of the theater,
they invited John to 90 in, and rs the
house was very full, they We're com.
PEELED to mix in the crowd assembled
in the lobbies. They did not stay un.
til the close of the performance, how.
ever, for while John was interested in
the play they nudgcd him to leave, and
it was with difficulty that he could eX,
tricatc himself from the surging crowG
and follow his friends out of the thcater,
so preciptate was their leaving. Out
side they invited him into one OF the
drinking saloons, where the three in
dulged in more liquids, with the addi
tion of cigars; and the next couple oi
hours were spent at game of billiards
in which Johns friends showed con
siderable proficiency.
1t was past midnight when they
emerged into the streets. 1t was in The
month of November, and the air wa.
cold and damp, and seemed TO strike ,
chill all over one. On his leaving
John noticed that one of his friends
carried small bag, which they proba
bly, had left at the place during tht
day. On is inquiry as TO its contents
they replied that it contained only ga
few of their TOOLS" that was all; ant
they would leave them at their lodg
ings, which were not far away. |
must be said that the numerous glasse!
of liquor that John had drank had 81
muddled his brain that he was any
thing but sober. Yet the cold ali
served so sufficiently to brighten hi
wits as to suggest that he would Biz
them "gool night and 90 home Il
his wife and child; but they would no
consent to it; and rs the trio walkeC
through the then deserted streets, witt
Johns arms interlockcd with theirs
they might have been taken for thre
social fellows on their way home afte
, a jolly good time.
They had now reached Mount Yer
non street, in the rear of the Stat
House. They turned down a small
street, and, stopping at the entranc
of narrow passage-way, they aske,
| John to wait there few minutes, an,
5 they would soon return. Now, n
John stood alone the thought occurre,
to him that it would be a good thin,
) to give them the slip, and run home
but as he had promised to wait, an
, feeling somewhat curious in regard t
the business his friends were absen
on, he finally concluded to stay an
D satisfy himself. He did not have lon
a to wait, for in short time the two feI
lows joined him, carrying their bag
which had become more bulky, an
. they hurried down the hill toward
Cambridge street, which they crosse
: and thence through Chambers stree
f and into Leverett, and fastening o
Q crossed other streets, and finally stOppe
p at a house in North Margin stree
where, after giving three distinct rap
ON the door, it mysteriously opened
and ley were admitted. The plac
a was dark and had mouldy and must
It smell, as if large quantities of ol
= clothes or rags were deposited there
g As they entered. John heard voice
o addressed to his companions, when the
. answered so low he could not catch til
purport. A door opened, and the thrc
were admitted into place hung on a
: sides with secondhand clothing, bot
y Of male and female use. A woman
past middle age, was packing trun
with goods. He could see that anon
. other things, were some pieces of bea,
1t tiful silks and other rich goods. Thel
% were a number of trunks about III
place, some empty and others partl
filled. John made up his mind that IL
. place was that of some pawnbroke
. of which there were quite number
n that part of the city. In few mil
IS utes one of his friends who, on ente
10 ing, had disappeared through doc
opening into another room, returned
q and the three left the place by anoth,
/, door which led out into narrow pa
= sage-way, when, after few steps, the
found themselves in Prince street, II
: streets were dimly lighted, for nor
n but the very poor had their homes
j. that part of the city. Turning int
% Hanover street, they went towart
:, Chelsea Ferry, and near the corner ,
y Commercial street they entered a 10
Q groggery and called 'for drinks. I'll
# bsr-keeper was asleep, but rouscd hin
self on their entrance, and after wal