Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-01-31
TOM DOLSER.

wear that Eeod not be deSlgnated oy iIs cH'
endar number, the most joyous heart IN the
little manufacturing city of Thornton was
Mrs Alice Arthray, wife Of the owner OF the
great Arthray mills. Although she had
passed her fortieth birthday, she wonld NOT
have exchanged places with the prettiest girl
in the city, Of which, when she and Thorn.
ton were twenty years younger. she mad ocen,
though poor and simple, the reigning belle.
Good health, O clear conscience, good nus
band and an active mind, had so steadily
increased her beauty, spirits and apprecia'
ton Of everything worth enjoying that she
looked forward eagerly to the year to cone
instead Of longing for those which had
passed. Although most Of her time vas
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 acquaintances
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
OH intimate terms, now scarcely saw one an.
other. Mrs. Arthray believed the original
knickerbocker system Of receiving ones olu
acGuaintances 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 score rf
other ladies were willing to assist at their
own homes.
Oscar Arthrav fully approved his wifes
plan; his only advice was:
"Don't neglect any Of your oil admirers,
my dear, even if they're now prosy Old
farmers or stupid mechanics. don't want
any one Of them to remain miserable under
the impression that you might have been
happier had you married him instead OF me.
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 postofiice clerk was
myst.fied at seeing tiny envelopes addressei
to several men who had been dead for years.
Among the young men whom Mrs. Arthray
remembered pleasantly was Tom Doser; in
deed she had never known anything against
hin, except that he sometimes drank liquor.
She had 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 inc DaE-TOOW rs Dool-plaIh anu 6chei"A a.
messenger, he was allowed to eat with the
landlords colored servants. His wardrobe
was supplied from the cast-of clothing OF
stable-hoys. yet his dress never was as un-
slightly Us his countennncc Only two friends
Of his youthful days remained to him-rum
and he river: the latter could not cast Kim
of il it would, and lie would not abandon the
former if he could when he coul get rum,
,l.t l.. IL h..s s1is .,aI
himself by lounginG Oh tn, river bank AMI
listening to the only village babbler that
talked us it used to and never upbraided
him.
Late in tho afternoon OF the day preceding
the beginning of New Years calls iu Thornton,
Tom Dolser returned from long errand and
entered the bar OF the tavern in dole.ul
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 10
travellers with boots to nlacH in town on h Ii
day. so how was h. to get his customary
stimulus! The prospect unnamed hi:n-a-
almost anything could-and he felt like cry.
ing, but after some effort he succeeded in
swearing instead. As he shuiilod to his place
on the otblac&'s bench he was startled by
shouts OF:
"Here he is now" "Tom, you're in luck"
There's week of soil bliss ahead Of you"
and other remarks Of similar purport.
The sot looked about him lctiantly: he had
been the subject of verS rough jokes in that
bar-room. he 5 AIRED inquringy at the bar.
keeper who always spoke with authority
when he spoke at all.
~They mean it, Tom" said the great poi
soner "The New York fashion of Nsw Years
calls is to be taken up here to-morrow-Ar,h-
rays wife started it-and the fellows here
think twill be fun to keep the women and
the men who are to call on EN-, awake all
through tonight, 50 they'll all feel good and
stale tomorrow
II don't wan: 20 get into the lookup" said
Tom shuffling again toward the bootb!ack's
bench aad looking much disappointed.
"There's no danger of that, Tom" explained
one of the opponents of New Years innova-
tons from New York. IAN 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 any ythng to brace em up. Now, just
see how lovely we've arrnngcd 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 IL, lock yourself in 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 a
horse blanket to keep you warm, give you
pint of whisky to keep you company. and, if
you see the job through, you shall have free
rum at the bar here all day tomorrow and
for a week fterward-ch. Teetis"
Fact" replied the barkeeper. THE boys
are to pay the score"
am do it," sad Tom. "if you'll see me
through frcm now till midnight" said Tom
"Oh, no." laughed the expounder Of the
conspiracy, cor you won't be fit to do the
job"
Tom curled up resignedly on his bench:
eight hours would be a long time to wait. but
then he would have pint-a pint at a time,
of his favorte substitute for food and cloth
ing Soon he was reused, however, by some
one saying:
"Teetis, YOU forgot to give Tom his letter"
"Ry the shillelah OF St. Patrick, so did"
exclaimed the bartender. hastily taking a
small envelope from behind tine Tar where 1t
had rested against bottle labeled "O.d Tom
Gin"
What cowardly trick are they playing on
me nowl" thought Tom to himself, as he
slowly rose to his feet. Again he appealed,
with his eyes to the barkeeper ani that
official respon led:
"Its no joke, Tom. One of the postoaice
clerks said he put it in our box because he
heard you came here ottener tEan anywhere
else"
Tom slowly extended his hand ard took
the letter:
Better hire a room an lock yourself in
fore you open it," suggested one lounger.