The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1884-02-23
TOM DOLsER.


endar number, the most joy u heart in the
little manufacturing city OF Thornton, was
Mra Alie Arth1as, "ii'1a of the owner of the
great Aithray mills ,ash she had
passed Her fortieth birfhdaz.y. she would not
haya exchanged gslsssees with the prettiest girl
1h tho city, of which, when she and Thorn
ton were twenty years young ger. she had been,
though poor and simple. the reigning belle.
Good health, . clear conscience good hus-
band and an active mind, had 50 steadily
increased her beauty, spirits aud apprecia-
tion Of everything worth enjoying that she
looked forward eagerly TO the year to come,
instead OF longing for those which had
passed. Although most of her time was
spent in New York, she was the ruling spirit
of her native town, for she never returned
to her Thornton residence without at least
one new hobby that all her old acquaintance
were eager to ride
This time her hobby was New Years calls.
Thornton society had SO divided and sub
divided itself into cliques that families, once
on intimate terms now scarcely saw one an
other. Mrs Arthray believed the original
Knickerbocker system of receiving ones old
acquaintances on New Years day would
break up this undesirable exclusiveness and
she was now, for the first time, able to put
her theory into practice At least a score OF
other ladies were willing to assist at their
own homes.
Oscar Arthrav fully approved his wife's
plan his only advice was:
"Don't neglect any of your old admirers,
my dear, even if they're now prosy old
farmers or stupid mechanics I don't want
any one Of them to remain miserable under
the impression that you might have been
ho1n haH iaI of Oln
Men will be fools on the subject of their old
flames, unless absolutely prevented"
So Mrs. Arthray mailed cards to all whom
she could remember, whether she had re-
Gently seen them or not, and her memory
proved so good that the postofice clerk was
mystifed at seeing tiny envelopes addressed
to several men who had been dead for years.
Among the young men whom Mrs. Arthray
remembered pleasantly was Tom Dolser; in
deed, she had never known anything against
him except that he sometimes drank liquor.
She hal long ceased to know or hear any
thing about him, but most of the old resi-
dents knew that Tom had become the most
hopeless sot in the village His home was
the stable of the common tavern that had
once been the village hotel, and for serving
in the bar-room as boot-black and general
messenger, he was allowed to eat with the
landlords colored servants. His wardrobe
| was supplied from the cast-of clothing of
stable-boys, yet his dress never was as un-
slightly as his countenance. Only two friends
| of his youthful days remained to him-rum
| and the river; the latter could not cast him
| off if it would, and he would not abandon the
former if he could; when he could get rum,
| he was happy; when he could not, he solaced
| himself by lounging on the river bank and
| listening to the only village babbler that
/ talked as it used to and never upbraided
! him.
Late in the afternoon of the day preceding
the beginning Of New Years calls in Thornton,
| Tom Dolser returned from long errand and
| entered the bar of the tavern in Q doleful
frame of mind, for the trip was to
| yield him only 10 cents; the next
day, New Years, could hardly bring
him business of any kind there being no
travellers with boots to black in town on be IL
day, SO how was he to get his customary
stimulusl The prospect unnamed him-a-
almost anything could-and he felt like cry
ing, but after some effort he succeeded in
swearing instead. AS he shuffled to his place
on the bootblack's bench he was startled by
shouts of:
"Here he is nowl" "Tom, you're in luck p
and other remarks of similar purport
The sot looked about him defiantly; he had
been the subject Of very rough Jokes In that
bar-room. He 5 ared inquiriaslY at the bar.
keeper. who always spoke with authority
when he spoke at all.
"They mean it, Ton,," said the great poi.
soner "The New York fashion of New Years
calls is to be taken up here to-mo1row-Arth-
rays wife started it--and the fellows here
think twill be fun to keep the women and
the men who are to call on 'em, awake all
through tonight, so they'll all feel good and
stale tomorrow"
u don't want to get into the lookup" said
| Tom, shuffiing again toward the bootblack's
bench and looking much disappointed.
"There's no danger of that, Tom, f." explained
one of the opponents Of New Years innova-
tions from New York. 1Ah the bells OF
Thornton are always rung at midnight OF
the last year, but the racket sometimes ends
pretty soon, because the ringers get tired and
havn't anything to brace 'em up. Now, just
see how lovely we've arranged the whole
thing; the old schoolhouse is right in the
middle of the town, its bell is the easiest of
the whole lot to ring, and yet its jingle is SO
Internally loud that nobody can help hearin
it. We've got the keys; you take 'em, go in
just before 12, lock yourself i'll SO nobody can
get at you, take life easy until the other bells
shut up, and then begin and ring, first with
one hand, and then with the other, straight
through till daylight. Wen lend you q
horse-blanket to keep you warm, give you q
pint of whisky to keep you company, and, il
you see the job through, you shall have free
rum ut the bar here all day tomorrow and
for week afterward-eh. Teetisf'
aFact, replied the barkeeper. "The boys
are to pay the score
"I'n do it," said Tom, "if you'll see me
through from now till midnight" said Tom
"Oh, no." laughed the expounder the
conspiracy, "or you won't be fit to : the
job"
Tom curled up resignedly on his bench
eight hours would be long time to wait, but
then he would have pint-a pint at a time
of his favorite substitute for food and cloth
ing Soon he was reused, however, by some
one saying:
"Teetis, you forgot to give Tom his letter.
"By the shillelah of st. Patrick, SO | did 2
exclaimed the bartender, hastily taking
small envelope from behind the bar where i
had rested against bottle labeled "Old Ton
Gin"
eWhat cowardly trick are they playing OF
| LiS HOWs Thought 1oiH 10 ululSSil, as n
slowly rose to his feet. Again he appealed
with his eyes, to the barkeeper and tina
official responded:
"It's no joke, Tom One of the postofic,
clerks said he put it in our box because b
heard you came here oftener than anywher
: elsen
Tom slowly extended his hand and tool
the letter.
Better hire room an lock yourself il
| fore You open it" suggested one lounger
| 4P'raps it's from the secretary Nv the treasury
, an got check In it for interest on yer reg
istered bondsn
More likely it's from tailor that truste,
Tom when the hummer wore good clothes,