Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1884-01-31
AN ANGEL In A SALOON.
TRUE INCIDENT.

June, 1870, a lady IN mourning, tol
lowed by child, entered one Of th'
fashionable saloons in the city o
N. The writer happened Il
be passing at the same time, and i'm
PEELED by curiosity, followed hel
in to see what would ensue. Step.
ping up 10 the bar and addressing
the propri etor, who happened to bt
present, she said:
Sir, can you assist mel | have
no home, no friends, aud am not able
to wo k
| He glanced at her and then at the
child. with a mingled look of curiosity
and pity, evidently ne was much sur
prised to see woman in such place
begging. but without asking any
questions gave her some change, and
turning to those present, be said.
Gentlemen, here is a lady in dis
tress. Can ary of you help her
little
They cheerfully acceded to The
request, and soon a purse Of two
dollars was made up and put into he5
hands.
Madam, said the gentleman who
gave her the money, why do you
come to SAIGON. II isn't proper
place for lady, and why are you
driven to such step?'
Sir, I know it is not proper
place for me to he in, and you ask
me why l am driven tc such place.
I will tell you in one short word
pointing to bottle behind the count
er labeled that is what brought
me here-whiekey!'
l was once happy and surrounded
with all the luxuries which wealth
could procure, and W fond and
indulgent husbar : in an evil
hour he was tempte I'D not possess
ing the will to resist the temptation,
fell, and in one short year 10y dream f
happiness was over, my home forever
desolated, and the kind husband and
the wealth which come called mine
lost never to return and by the &C.
cursed wine cup.
You see before you only wreck
of my former self, homeless and
fri ndless. and nothing left me in this
world but this little child : and
weeping bitterly, she afFsc'ionatelg
ca,essed the golden enr)s that shaded
face OF exquisite loveliness. Re.
gaining her composure and turning
to the proprietor Of the saloon, she
continued:
Sir, the reason ] occasionally en.
! Sc prS7s like rItIs; is 70 .-Pl0Fe
those who deal in the deadly poison
to desist, to stop a business thai
spreads desolation, ruin, poverty, and
starvation. Think one moment Of
your loved ones and then imagine
them IN the condition T am In ; I ap
peal to your heart, for | know you
possess kind one, to retire from a
business SO ruiuous to your patrons
Did you know that the money you
take across the bar is the same as
taking the bread out Of the mouth
Of the famishing wives and childr. n
of your customers !? That strips tht
clothes from their back, deprives them
of all the comforts Of this life and
throws unhappipess, misery, Grin
and desoation into their once happy
homes. Oh sir, l implore, beeeect
and fray you to retire from business
which will make you hesitate to OWL
you are engaged in before your fellow
men, and enter one that will not only
be profitable to you but to your fel-
low creatures also. You will excuse
me if 1 have spoken too plainly, Tut
l assure you that I could not hep it,
when I thought Of the misery, The
suffering and the unhappiness it Lac
caused me-
Madam, I am not offended he
answered, in voice husky with emo
tion, but thank ycu from the tot.
tom of my heart for what you have
said
Mamma said the little child
who in the meantime, had been spoken
to by some of the gentlemen prest Mt
taking hold Of it's mothers hand
these gentlemen wish me to sing
Little Bessie for them. Shall l do
so?'
Yes my darling; if they wish you
TO-.
They all joined in the request, and
placing her in chair, she, in sweet
childish voice, sang the follow htauti
full song:
Out in the Gloomy night sadly roam
I have no mother dear: no pleasant
home;
No one caies for NE, no one would cry
Even if poor little Bessie should die.
Weary and tired, Two been wandering
all day
Asking for work but I'm too email ;hey
say;
On the damp ground must uow lay my
head.
Fathers drunkard and mother is dead