The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-07-18

Now he looked up with miserable, abJtct
whine.
d" Go home with an empty bottle on a
Christmas ever says he You didn't use to
say go home when L came here with full. pock-
cts. Mr.. Jones
well, no, didn't said the man; and iG
would have been better if had I'll I'll your
bottle for you, Jack Barker
He filled it-goOdness knows with what
and the poor wretch staggered home. Oh. the
wretched cellar; the miserable straw bed in
the corner; the wife lying sick upon it. | re-
member them SO well.
She very sick. and there was a little
baby beside her. Just think of another baby
there
Happy ChristmasH said he, as he stag
gcred in Happy, Christmas, old girl
HAPPY said she. oh, this dreadful
day! That bottle came to us first on Christ
mas
ut takes so little to put a drunken man in a
rage. He answered her with an oath.
"'AnYhody would think was drunk to hear
you talk said he. And the poor woman an
swered:
",Oh, good Heaven! are you ever sober? Oh,
jack Jackr
And then he few at her He took me by
the neck and beat her over the head with me.
The cork fell out and the liquor poured over
her breast and over the face of the little baby
lying upon it. 1t mingled with her blood.
AT first she screamed. Then she lay still.
Her face grew white. | knew was muir
dercr. oh, let me break" l cried. Let me be
broken into tragmcutSn But her fair flesh
was mashed to pulp, her delicate bones broken
and was sound as ever, when Jack, led by
| Heaven knows what mad fancy, left his vic
tim and staggered into the street again. The
snow was falling. The air was white with it,
| lie staggered along, muttcring to himself. AT
| last he came to wharf and stumbled across
| ii. believe boat lay there on which he had
| been once before and on which they had given
| him drink
- Sea Bird, ahoy" cried he. Hullo! hullol
| Sea Bird, ahOyp
Nobody answered him.
90 m coming aboard, he muttered-'Tm
| coming aboard. 1 shant stay at home to lie
PREACHED preached to; I'm my own master c.,
crash He was through the thin ice under the
water.
THANK Heaven, said l. my miserable ca
"Then | turned cold as ice myself, and there
was q rOaring in my neck.
Next thing knew it was broad daylight,
and was floating on the water
"'Theres Il bottle said some one. It was
| bare-legged boy. He stopped over the side OF
boat, and caught me-
"'There a man drowned here last
night. said he to another boy at his side.
60 Did you see hm?' said this one.
Yes said the first He was drunk, and
killed his wife, They've got an inquest on
her, down in the cellar over there | say,
I'm going to sell this bottle to Bill, the junk
man
$50 was saved, and much against my will
stood in the junk SHOP window for week
The water had washed the blood OFF of me. |
had no smell of liquor left, and along comes
your wife.
"'Whut a nice, fiat bottler says she-liust
what want. How much for itF
And Billy charged her four cents, and
home she brought me.
my career of vice has begun again. said
!; And | expected nothing else, but, bless
the dear soul, she put vinegar in me-nce,
| sour, innocent, respectable vnegar-and I've
been a good reformed bottle ever since And
now u-you-yOu-her husband, are going
| to put the devsh spirits into me again For
| Heavens sake break me tirstl | don't want
| to destroy another household"
you shant." said Tom Barnaby Here.
| you 90 back on your shelf, leave you to in
| nocence and vinegar; and think I'll make d
! cup of strong coffee"
Right" said the bottle
And so the bottle stands still beside the
| cruet on Mrs. Barnaby's dresser; and Tom
Barnaby is still a sober man.-ChicdgO Herald.