West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1884-08-20

drop lettY There was just about
a drop. We'd have to get it filled
on the morrow. And then she
said, if l had no objection, she
would drink that last with mel
shall never forget how she brought
it out-'THAT LAST DROPp
However, | tipped the old jug bot
tom up and got about a great spoon
full, and Molly said that was enough.
She took the tumbler and poured a
few drops of hot water into it, and
bit of sugar, and then she tinkled
her glass against mine just as she'd
seen us boys do when we'd been
drinking good luck, and says she,
Here's to the old brown iugp
"Sakes alive! l thought to my
self that poorMolly had been drink
ing more of the rum than was
good for her, and | tell you it kind
O cut me to the heart. forgot all
about how many times she'd seen
me when my tongue was thicker
than it. ought to be, and my legs
not quite SO steady as good legs
should be; but l said nothing. I
drank the sentiment-'The old
brown jugp and let it go.
"Well, | went out after that and
did nay chores, and then went to
bed; and the last thihg | said be-
fore leaving the kitchen, this very
room where you no W sit, was, We'll
have the old brown jug filled to-
morrow And then | went off to
bed. And have remembered ever
since that | went to bed that night
as | had done hundreds of times be-
fore, with buzzing in my head
that healthy man ought not to
have. L didn't think of it then,
nor had l ever thought of it before !;
but I've thought of it a good many
times since, and have thought of it
with wonder and awe.
"Well, got up the next morn
ing and did up my work at the
barn, then came in and ate my
breakfast, but not with such an ap-
petite as farmer ought to have,
and | could not think even then
that my appetite had begun to fail
me. However | ate breakfast and
then went out and hitched up the
old mare; for, to tell the plain
truth, [ was feeling the need of a
glass of spirits, and l hadn't drop
in the house. | was in a hurry to
get to the village. I got hitched
up and came in for the Jug. l
went for it in the old cupboard and
took it out, and
Odd you ever break through the
thin ice, on a nipping cold day,
and find yourself in an instant over
your head in freezing water? Be-
cause that was the way | felt at
that moment. That jug was there
but the bottom was not there. Molly
had been and taken sharp chisel
and a hammer, and with a skill
that might have done credit to a
workman, she had clipped
the bottom clean out of the Jug,
without even cracking the edges
or the sides I looked at the Jug
and then I looked at Molly. And
then she burst out. She spoke-Oh
l never heard anything like it!
no, nor have l ever heard anything
like it since. Said she:
"'Charles, there's where the
mortgage on this farm came from
1t was brought home in the jug
two quarts at time! And there
where your white, clear skin, and
your clear, pretty eyes are going
And in that jug,my husband, your
is going also! o, let the
bottom stay out forever! Let it be
as it is, dear heart! And remem-
Der your promise to meP
"And then she threw her arms
around my neck and burst into
tears. She couldn't speak more.
"And there was no need. Ny
eyes were opened as though by |
magic. In a single minute the
whole scene passed before me. I |
saw all the mortgages on all the
farms in our neighborhood and I
thought where the money had
gone. The very last mortgage
'ather had ever made had been to
pay a bill held against him by the
ooo,, WI . Id Gllnl L.: