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

i
Hurry home to your wife and familyFn
asked Mrs. Arthray. "How many children
have youf We have four
I'm not married, said Tom, and as he said
it through his teeth, Mrs Arthray blamed
herself for not having kept herself well
enough informed about her old friends to
avoid distressing topics. She hurried back to
the subject of the chimes
"Oh, forgot to tell you, this is an entirely
new set of chimes, SO you must come and try
them. One of the old bells or gongs, as Os
car persists in calling them, was cracked, you
know, and my husband got the vestry's per
mission to replace them all, and he thinks the
new set will be sweeter than the old that You
and heard so often when we were children.
You will come just for a few moments, won't
yous"
do, Mr.. Dolser,n said Arthray, 1and help
rs to double the meaning of
sRing out the old, ring in the new"
with the greatest pleasure" said Tom.
He felt that he was under false colors, but he
believed they would protect him il only that
dreadful lantern would be merciful He
would plead neuralgia, toothache, anything
to keep his face hidden by the listers collar.
he would enjoy honorable company for a
little while; the schoolhouse bell could wait
| mo one would miss 1t while the other bells
were ringing.
| Then he slowly learned that he could chat,
| for Mrs. Arthray talked cheerily of old times,
| and aroused memories which unloosed HE
tongue, so that by the time the old church
| tower was reached, Tom had entirely for
gotten his task for the night and his remu-
iteration that was to last for week.
Arthray set his lantern in window-ledge
behind him, to Toms great relief, took the
two little mallets and rang out "Old Hun
dred" with great precision and force; nc
other bells had yet begun, for the hour had
not yet struck. Then, like good patriot,
| he rang 'sYankee Doodle" The clock below
then struck e, and the general jangle be-
gan. The delicate notes of the chimes would
be lost in such clamor, 50 the trio stood and
chatted. Arthray, who was as curious and
| ignorant about local affairs as active bust
ness men usually are, asked numerous ques
tions, to all of which Tom made prompt re
ply, although frequently compelled to throw
| himself upon his imagination-he would com
NIT any crime rather than have Mrs. Arthray
suspect that he was not what she seemed to
| believe him.
| One by one the bells grew silent, and again
Arthray rang the chimes; when he rang
heard his mother sing it thousands Of times
He turned abruptly to Mrs. Arthray and
| said:
II must go now-this moment"
"You won't fail to call to-dayg said the
lady, "You received my card, supposed"
"Alice," said Tom in low, quick tones,
@you don't know me. I'm the worst drunk
| arb, the lowest tramp, in all Thornton.
couldn't help being overcome by your kind
ness tonight, but I've insulted you by ever
standing near you and speaking to you. Tn
ruined, ragged, vile, worthless-rv not felt
| like gentleman in ten years until to night
Now, if do not call, you'll not tell anything
| that will make other people make fun ol
me.'
"Not call:" said Mrs. Arthray, as her hus
band turned away from the bells. "Cer
tainly you will CALI insist upon it. Oscar
Mr. Dolser must hurry away to look after 8
reforming drunkari who needs everything
want to help in the good work; have yor
any money in your pooketm
Arthray handed his wife small roll of
bank notes, the lady went to the lantern ant
counted 500 from it, and handed them t.
| Tom.
"Now, ring just one time before you go.
said she "You used to do it so we'll"
"I can't; I've entirely forgotten the bells,
said Tom.
i an help you-you can do it with singl
mallet-here" AS she spoke she placed
mallet in his right hand, seized his wrist will
her left, and guided him in playing "Ault
Lang Syne,n her rich voice singing near hi
ear:
4 @Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
/ And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days of Aud Lang Syne."
"Therel" said she at the end of the fourth
bar "now we won't detain you any longer
but remember that rll be the most disap
pointed woman in Thornton, If you dom
call tomorrow"
Tom dashed down the narrow steep step
without saying word. From force of habi
he returned to the tavern bar, where he en-
countered a storm of curses The lounger
demanded that he should fulfill his promise
but he refused. and declined to explain
Then they wanted the schoolhouse keys, bu
he pretended to have lost them. Strang
stories were told of his subsequent doings
it was said that he called on a physician
and then on a minister both between
midnight and daylight; that he had pait
several prices, very early in the morning, +
overcome the fastidiousness of the owner Of
barber shop and bathing establishment, an,
that he had persuaded the owner of cloth
ing store to open his place for few moment
and fit him to the best garments on tn
shelves However it all may have com
about, it is certain that in the afternoon @
New Years day. Tom Dosler, in the garb an
bearing Of a gentleman, though withou
much composure Of countenance, called ol
Mrs. Arthray. He had to introduce himsel
again, and he feared the consequences If hi
hostess had to introduce him to Others
Heaven kindly arranged, however, that th
only other person present was an old clergy
man, who had been pastor to Mrs Arthra
and Tom quarter of a century before Afte
Tom had gone, the lady made confidant O
the minister. The old man hoped, yet b
feared; he had prepared dozens of pledges i
twenty years, all of which Tom had signe
and broken. Yet after the late drunkard ha
become, If not the original self, at least a
industrious and respectable member Of SC
ciety, and Mrs. Arthray was one day piousl
attributing the change to heavenly Unfit
ences, the old pastor looked at her signif
! cantly, and said:
at is no wonder to me now that Jesu
/ Christ was born of woman
In Good Company.
Exchange.
! Lord Tennyson d dEyncourt will find that
all his comrades in the peerage are not th
, cotton-spinners for whom a generation ag
: he expressed such eloquent contempt, 1t is B.
cause-in the cases of some of them-the
, are engaged In other industrial pursuit.
/ Ill Al.