Sharp County record., 1885-04-02
OLD JOHN DEMPSEY.
What the Boys Heard While the Moor
Bell Was Ringing.

What the Boys Heard While the Moor
Bell Was Ringing.
Nick and Abe Potter, Tobe Grale!
and the Meyer boys were standing on
the street, when old John Dempsey
came along. The old fellow doesn't t
seem to be very boozy this morning,
said Abe Potter. 'PoliticS must be
running low indeed when he can't
make flank movement on a bowl or
two in the course of a forenoon. y
Give me a pin, somebody, whis-
pered lobe Graler. "I'll hitch this
piece of paper to his coat tail as he
passes. Stop him Nick, and talk tc
him while l work the game
Hello, old man." said Nick when
Dempsey came up. "You must be out
of luck this morning. | see the weather
people have hung out the cold wave
flag, but it's a cold day sure enough
when you can't work the bartendcrS,
eh?"
Don't pin that thing to me, y re-
marked the old man, in a tremulous
voice, looking around and addre sing
Graler. Don't play jokes on me this
morning, boys. Yesterday | wouldn t
have cared. l wouldn't have minded
going through the streets for the
amusement of the crowd, but to-day,
hO,-C | con't Stand if -
"Whv, what's the matter, old man?'
"Matter enough to crush the last
hope even in the breast OF an Old
drunkard."
Don't give up responded Graler.
We all have our hours of depression.
| see you have fifty cents in your hand:
Go get a drink and you'll feel better.
The old man looked at the money
and shook his head. This goes for
flowers, boys"
"For howersr they all exclaimed.
Eyes. Let me tell vou," seating
himself on a stairway. Last night as
you boys know, l went home rather
late. was drunk when | left you, but
by the time | reached home, | was
strangely sober My wife and little
boy had gone to bed. The lamp was
burning low, and when | entered the
room, the little fellow, who was lying
beside his mother, looked up and said;
"'Want to stay with papa"
" John!' called my wife, take the
little man for minute or two. lie has
been asking about yol all night, and
as l stopped over the bed to lift him my
wife put her arms around my neck and
breathed rather than said: oh, | am so
clad YOU have come home sober.
II took the little fellow and sat down
by the fire. His feet were cold and l
neld them near the blaze. For mo-
ment he gazed intently on my face and
then cloSed his eyes. His breathing
seemed to be difficult and | called my
wife. She arose, and when she ap-
preached he opened his eyes, and eX-
tending his arms said: Now | want to
STAY with mamma. Great God | saw
deathly pallor spread over his tace, l
sprang to my wife's side. Want to
stay With his eyes stared at me, his
hands clutched his gown and-he was
dead Ny God. what anguish seized
me when 1 gazed upon his marble face
Died with half-formed word on his lips
No, no, boys, don't play any jokes on
me to-day. Poor, miserable, broken
down drunkard-with mind and body
impoverished but with sensibilities
strongly alive and taunting. There ls
no hope for such man as | am. There
should not be. Boys, the money which
YOU were so eager to help me waste
Should have bought clothes for that lit
tie angel. No. l do not reproach you.
1t was my fault. | am going now to get
some flowers. Goodbye" " said the old
man, arising with difficulty. you may
hear of my dying soon, but you will not
hear that | died drunk.
While the City Hall bell was tolling
the hour of noon the Coroner, meeting
Nick and Abe Potter, Tobc Graler and
the Meyer boys, stopped them and said:
"l've just held an inquest over the
body of old John Dempsey. He was
found in an alley near his house, sitting
with his back against wall. He held
a bunch of flowers in his hand. "-Ar-
EanSaoO Irarcler