The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-08-20
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sell, repeating b pun invented by the man
who made the first sod fountain. With q
sweep of his arm he cleared away the
swarm of insects as he remarked: "People
who like a fly in theirs are easily accom-
modated."
1t was from sheer good-nature only that
Elder Brown replied with al his usual broad
don't hurt nobody"
Now if there is anybody in the world
who prides himself or knowing q thing or
two, 1t is the spruce young man who pre-
sides over a soda fountain. This particular
reply necessary. He vanished an instant,
and when he returned a close observer
might have seen that the mixture in
the glass he bore had slightly changed
color and increased in quantity. But the
elder saw only the whizzing stream of
water dart into its center, and the rosy
foam rise and tremble on the glass's rim.
The next instant he vas holding his breath
and slipping the cooling drink.
As Elder Brown paid his small score he
was at peace with the world. I firmly be-
lieve that when he had finished his trading,
and the little blue-stringed packages had
been stored away, could the poor donkey
have made his appearance at the door, and
gazed with his meek, fawn-like eyes into
his masters, he would a obtained full
Elder Brown paused at h door as he
was about to leave. A rOsy-cheeked
schoolgirl was just lifting a creamy mix
ture to her lips before the fountain. It was
solved to indulge in one more glass Of the
delightful beverage before beginning his
long ride homeward.
"Fix it up again, sonny" he said, re-
newing his broad, confiding smile, as the
spruce young man poised a glass inquir-
the same motions as before, and again
Elder Brown quaffed the fatal mixture.
What a singular power is habit? Up to
this time Elder Brown had been entirely
alcoholic fire in his veins, twenty years
dropped from his shoulders, and a feeling
came over him familiar to every man who
has been sin his cups" As a matter Of
fact, the elder would have been a confirmed
drunkard twenty years before had his wife
been less strong-minded. She took the
reins into her own hands when she found
that his business and strong drink did not
mix well, worked liz into the church, and
sustained his resolutions by making it
difficult and dangerous for him to get to
his toddy. She bee anne the business lead
of the family, and he the spiritual. Only
at rare intervals did he ever ~''backslide"
during the twenty years of the new era,
and Mrs. Brown herself used to say hat
the ''sugar in his'n turned to gall before
the backslide ended" People who knew
her never doubted it.
But Elder Browns sin during the re-
mainder of the day contained an element
of Responsibility. As he moved majestically
down toward where BALKAN slept in the
sunlight, he felt no fatigue. There was a
tinge upon his prominent nose. He
nodded Familiarity to people as he met
them, and saw not the look of amusement
which succeeded establishment upon the
| various faces. When he reached the neigh
borhood of Balaam it suddenly occurred to
hfpn that ho rpinhf houo fornOffon oppoo onc
of his numerous commissions, and he
paused to think. Then a brilliant idea rose
in his mind. He would forestall blame
and disarm anger with kindness-he
would purchase Hannah a bonnet.
What woman's heart ever failed to soften
at sight of a new bonnet?
As l have stated, the elder was q man Of
action. He entered a store near at hand
"Good morning" said an affable gen.
tleman with a Hebrew countenance, ap'
preaching.
"Good-mornin', good-mornin'," said the
Elder, piling his bundles On the counter
sI hone Won are well?' Elder Brown ex.
tended his hand fervidly.
"Quite well, l thank you: What"
"And the little wife?o said Elder Brown
"Quite well, sir"
Sand the little ones-quite well, I hope
tooS"
eyes, sir; all well, thank you. Some
thing l can do for your"
The affable merchant was trying to re
call his customers name.
"Not now, not now, thankee. If yol
please to let my bundles stay unten I conn
back
"Can't I show you something? Hat
coat"
"Not now. Be back bimeby."
Was it chance or fate that brought Eide
Brown in front of a bar? The glasse
shone bright o the shelves as the swing
ing door Tapped back to let out a coatles
clerk, who passed him with a rush, chew
bread and bologna. Elder Brown behel'
for an instant the familiar scene within
The screws of his resolution had been loos
ened. At sight of the glistening bar tn
whole moral structure of twenty year
came tumbling down. Mechanically h
entered the saloon, and laid a silver quar-
ter upon the bal as he said:
ga little whisky an suger." The arm
of the bartender worked like a fakir's /
a side show as he set out the glass with 1t
little quota of "short sweetening" and
cut-glass d~ecanter, and sent a half-tumble
of water spinning along from the uppe
end of the bar with a dime in change.
"Whisky is higher'n used to be-" sal
Elder Brown; but the bartender wa
taking another order, and did not hear hin
let a steady stream of red liquid flow int
the glass. He swallowed the drink as un
concernedly as though his morning tod ha
never been suspended, aud pocketed th
change. "But it amt any better than
was" he concluded, as he passed out. 3
did not even seem to realize that he ha
done anything extraordinary.
There was a millinery store up the stree
and thither with uncertain step he wende
his way, feeling a little more elate, An
|, altogether sociable. A pretty, black-eye
girl, struggling to keep down her mirtl
> | no n fnrv1or1 on1 onod him hahind Fl
! counter. Elder Brown lifted his faded hi
, with the politeness, if not the grace, Of
!, Castilian, and mad a sweeping boy
, Again he was in his element. But he d
. not speak. A shower of odds and end
: small packages, thread, needles and Blu
? down about him.
I The girl laughed. She could not help
! And the elder, leaning his ham on Il
counter, laughed, too, until several 9th
: = girls came halfway to the front. TIL
pended cloaks, laughed and snickered In
9 they r~econvulsed the elders uis-G-uis, WI
8 had been making desperate efforts
! resume her demure appearance.
1 "Letm me help you, sir" she said, comil
:, Brown beginning to adjust his spectacl
}, for a search. He waved her a maje
t tically. "No, my dear, no; can't allow
You mout sile them purity fingers. N
ma'am. Nc gen,Pman I'll low er lady to
such a thing" The elder was gently for
ing the girl back to her place. "Leave
d to me. I've picked up bigger things
: them. Picked myself up this mornil
Balaam-you don't know Balaam; he's n
donkey-he tumbled me over his head
the SAND this mornin'." And Elder Broy
a had to resume an upright position until b
6 paroxysm of laughter had passed. "Y'
see this old hat?" extending it half full
packages; 81 fell clear inter it; jes'
clean inter it as them things thar fell out
it" He laughed again, and so did t
n girls. "But, my dear, I whaled half t
hide off'n him for it."
d SO, sir! how could you? Indeed, sir,
d think you did wrong. The poor brute q
not know what he was doing, I dare SO
It and probably he has been a faithful friend
The girl cast her mischievous eyes iowa
10 her companions, who snickered again. T
old man was not conscious of the sarcas
He only saw reproach. His face straigt
1t ened, and he regarded the girl soberly.
If "Mebbe you're right, my dear; mebbe