The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-04-03

"There Maud, don't cry. l can
stand your scolding better than l can
your tears"
l wonder if there can be an actual
devil who stands at the elbow and who
whispers in the ear of frail mortalityE
/ had not been at work more than half
an hour, untll-inyoluntarily it SEEM
ed arose. walked to saloon and
took drink. l had not that burning
thirst of which temperance lecturs
rant; would not have acknowledged
that my desire to drink was beyond
my control. / don't know why
drank l was not nervous-I was not
sick, but drank. Then l wanted an
other. The work of the whispering
tempter was not now required. Had
he turned his pernicious breath into
the breath of good counsel he could
not have prevented me. l did not go
home to dinner. 1 sent a note to
Maud, telling her that was too busy.
was. Twas discussing, with low
browed fellow who wore canvass
trousers. the advisability of calling a
constitutional convention. l did not
go home until late at night. Maud
was in bed. She said nothing but
heard her sob. "Wretch," thought,
"why does not some one kill me.
II was very sick the next morning.
While was heaving, and while the
perspiration of agony was standing on
my purple brow, Maud remarked:
II don't care if you are sick. It's
good enough for you"
had nothing to say. All my argu-
ments, tied up with blue strings, were
stored away where / could rot reach
them.
Henry will soon be- large enough
to initiate the example of his father"
she said, referring to our little boy.
''Maud, don't say that" replied.
II will say it, for it's the truth. If
you can't stop drinking now, you can't
stop when the boy grows up to-
"Now, here, Maud, 1 am going to
stop"
= .'Whenp"
"From this time forward, will be
sober man.
II can't believe YOU"
"Can't you trust me once moreP"
mo. Every time build up hope,
you tear it down."
''Is it not better to hope, though the
hope may be in vain, than not to hope
at allP'
1T is never better TO be deceived,
john
"Try me to-day. 1 swear by all
that is sacred, by the love bear
you"
"Pshaw. The love you bear me.
If you loved me, you wouldn't drink"
"That is no argument, Maud"
"It is the truth, and the truth needs
no argument.
II don't want any breakfast. I'll |
go down town now, but mind you, I'll
be sober when return.
l was. unfit for work. My hand
trembled and my thoughts were con-
fused. l took up an article which l
had written the day before, while
was under the influence of liquor. At
the time wrote it, thought it was
gem of sentiment, but now the
lines were repulsive. Maud's
face came up before me. Surely she
was a lovable woman. "No tempter
needs come to-day" mused. Twill
go home sober. 1 will smoke while
she cuts the leaves of the new maga-
zine and then l will read to her."
'Hello, john" exclaimed friend,
opening the door and thrusting a smil-
ng face into the room. Hard at
work, ehp"
lizard at work trying to work."
'eplied. "Took little too much Of
he merry demon, yesterday"
"Better como out and get cock
all Pr
stNo 7 on, ob1ioad 70 x-o,,
"It's the best thing you can do.
Illed myself up pretty well yesterday
nd felt like hell this morning, but (
low, after taking a cocktail or two, |
m all right. l tell you what's fact,
ohn," entering the room and shutting
he door, 'there's no use of man
citing drunk. The trouble is, that a
elbow who swears off takes drink
nd then says to himself, well, I've |
roken my vow and I'd just as well
ct drunk This is mistake. If, /
fter taking two or three drinks, he |
Iould go to work, he would keep up c
is end in business sense, and would I
atain his selfrespect. Come on, let's I
ct drink or two and then you can =
ork. Confound it you are not so
eak that you are afraid of the stuff o
re youp One drink now would fall +
n you like shower of salvation.
81 knew that his utterances were
le utterances CT sophistry; l knew h
lat child could see through the G
msy texture of his pretended argu-
ent, yet went with him. As / shut
e door of my room, saw Maud's b
ce-I saw the arms of my little boy L
retched out toward me. il
well only take one round, jake" G.
said to my friend H
That's all. Then we'll 60 back to a
ork." d
Jake Howard was an insurance le
.ent and occupied a room in the same 81
Hiding where did my work of des- cl
tory literature. ii
We drank. Jake told me an amusing al
,ry. l glanced at the clock. Take L
Q more, and then we'll 60" said he. SC
Q drank again. "Let's sit down." hs
ID he. We sat down. A mutual M
end-that great abettor of the temp pl
:, that man who always drinks but tn
L