The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-12-18
TEMPERANCE READING.
A LITTLE ITEM.


finished their days work were hurrying
home to supper. The door of neat
little home stood partly open. A man
was near it, evidently just starting out
to begin bis work.
Il am sorry you have to go back to
night work, his wife was saying. She
looked pale and troubled.
$50 am /, y he answered, '.but never
mind, dear, perhaps it won't be long"
He kissed her as he spoke and went
out through the door. She looked after
him with her eyes fall of tears IF
he should begin again, she said; "oh,
| if he shouldr'
Mamma" called tall, slender girl
from the room. 'come and tell me
what pattern to choose for fathers
slippers; | want to commence en-
broidering them tonight. His birth
day isn't very far off, you know"
Bertha and | are going to club to-
gether and get him that new book he
wanted, said another girl, evidently
her sister; 1--WE heard him speak of it
and we have money enough"
The woman turned and went into the
house and shut the door.
The man went on down the street
and was soon buSily engaged at his
case, away up in the highest story of a
tall building.
His fingers went back and forth,
back and forth, picking up the bits of
black metal, setting up line after line
of what in the morning would appear
in the great daily. Out over the city he
could see the lights beginning to shine,
| and gradually the hum in the streets
below him grew less and less.
All about him were men working
away steadily at the bits of metal He
could hear the presses click, click, as
they went on with their part of the
work.
The gas hared. Now and then one
of the men spoke briefly, generally
| something about the work.
Some of them went to their coats
occasionally where they hung on the
wall and drank from bottles in the
| pockets. One offered his to the silent
worker beside him, but he shook his
head.
"WhatF called gay young fellow
across the room, ''you given up the
bottle, Menson; what will happen
nextP"
The men laughed.
The lights in the houses died out after
less and less. The men went to their
bottles oftener and passed them back
and forth from hand to hand. Menson
was growing tired. He was not as
young as he had been when he began
to work at the type, and the smell of
I the liquor came to him as he worked
and grew more and more weary.
He longed for one taste, just one, ''to
| help him OUT ito rest him. Yet,
when lad near him took the bottle
and began to taste the liquor he touch
ed his arm and said: Don't, began at
your age; wanted to be smart; don't
begin"
But the boy laughed and drank
The hours went by and the presses
clicked louder and the noises on the
street grew less and less.
Here, Menson," said man, COM
ing across the room, "here is some OF
the best French brandy. Just taste it,
/ know you are sick tonight; it'll do
you good
II don't feel exactly WE'LL" he said,
selling the bottle eagerly, I'm taste
it, only taste it."
The fumes of the liquor had been
acknowledging him, his old thirst had
been crying out to be satisfied. He
drank as eagerly as he had seized it.
"That is good brandy he said, Civ
inc back the bottle.
The man winked slyly at the Others
as he went back to his ease.
Menson worked on. He felt better,
he said to himself, the brandy had done
him good; and after awhile he asked
for another drink.
The man gave it and he drank as
eagerly as before. He had drank 8
good many times by the time the last
line was set up and the men were max
ing ready to leave. 1t was early morn
ing now and the noises of that early
time in the city were beginning to be
| heard.
Menson went to get his coat, but he
could not find it. Then he looked fol
his hat, but he could not remember
where he had put it.
He stood holding on to the back of g
chair, vaguely, wondering what he
should do about it, when the man who
had given him the brandy came up.
i Hello, Menson," he called out,
lyon look as though you were getting
up leader. Too late now for that,
come on" Menson endeavored to lei
him know his dilemma.
"Where's your coat?" he said; he
was loud and noisy; where's your
coat? Blest if L know"
ooh, here it is; let me help you on
with it. There you are, come on now,
the boys have all gone and lett u.s.
They went over to the elevator. II
was just coming up the shaft. Away
down below them they could hear the
engine and at one side tie presses
stamp, stamp, as the great daily
dropped away fresh and damp from
their jaws.
Come on then, now my boy"
called his companion, as Menson hest
tated.
/ He drew him on, one bewildered and
/ confused, the other hilarious and loud.
| The elevator began to move down the
shaft. Menson looked up and saw a
/ door.
Here's place." he said stepping oui
toward it.
His companion caught his coat. II
came off in his hand, and as he stood
| wildly looking at it, he heard, down
below him, something fall heavily.
The great daily had little item, a
few lines crowded into its columns that
morning.
eve regret to relate sad accident
at the building of the Morning Chron-
icle,n it said, (which resulted in the
death of one of our oldest and most
popular employees.
''At $3.50 this morning when the
printers were leaving, 6. w. Menson,
being at the time in rather confused
state, owing to having taken a little
brandy for a slight indisposition,
stepped off the elevator shaft at the
| fourth story. falling to the basement