Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-08-26
Gales aud Sketfhes.
TIE BOTTLE.


water bottles have been broken when they
most desired to last. no doubt; but l, who
had become dwelling-place for devils.
lasted.
"They carried the old grandfather away.
and his poor daughter got black dress
somehow. One night Jack went sneaking
out of the house with bundle under one
arm and me under the other. The bundle
was his wife's mourning dress for her
father. He took it to a pawn-shop and
pawned it for enough to fill me twice. The
Door little woman never had decent dress
again.
..She was in rags. She was hungry.
I've seen Jack clutch her hand and wrench
the money she'd earned for her children s
bread from it, and then 60 of with me.
Think of it! | had to aid and abet him,
and hear her say things about me that
were very natural, seeing she did not know
how hated The devils that lived in me.
but that were hard to bear. But he fell
down stairs with me in his pocket, and
broke his head. and didn't break me. He
hit me against things to their injury, not
mine | must have a guardian devil,
lasted so.
.One day-it was such bitter day, ice
and snow and sleet everywhere-just five
wears from the Christmas I'd been made a
present to Jack, he stood. ragged and
dirty, at a bar. room stove. with me in his
pocket-my neck sticking out. Up came
the proprietor.
"'Now, Jack Barker he says, why
don't you 90 home ?"
He was ashamed to have him there,
you see, a ragged creature with his toes
out, and a black eye and broken nose. He
used to be called Handsome Jack Barker
before he took to filling me. Think of
that!
New he looked up with miserable
abjert whine.
ECO home with an empty bottle on u
Christmas Eve?" says he. You didn'nt
used to say go home,' when l came here
with full pockets. Mr.. Jones
".Well. no, | didn't said the man !;
and it would have been better if had.
III fill your bottle for you. Jack Barker.
"He filed it-goodness knows with
what-and the poor wretch staggered
home. Oh, the wretcbed cellar-the mis-
cradle straw bed in the corner; the wife
living sick upon it. remember them
80 we'll.
"She was very sick, and there was lit
tie baby beside her. Just think of anoth-
er baby there.
Happy Christmas" said he. as he
staggered in. Happy Christmas. old
girl
"'Happy!' said she. oh, this dreadful
day! That bottle came to us first on
Christmas
at takes so little to put drunken man
IN rage He answered her with an oath.
"Anybody wou. d think l was drunk to
hear you talk said he.
And the poor woman answered:
"Oh, good Heaven! are you ever
sober! Oh, Jack! jack!
''And then he flew 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. l knew |
was murderer.
"Oh, let me break ~ cried. "Let me
be broken into fragments ~
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 victim and stag
gered into the street again. The snow
was falling. The air was white with it.
He staggered along, mutteripg to himself
At last he came to wharf and stumbled
across it. | believe boat lay there on
which he had been once before, and where
they have given him drink
| "'Sea- Bird. ahOy = he cried 'Hullo
hullo Sea-Bird, ahoy
Nobody answered him.
"'Fm coming aboard he muttered-
I'm coming aboard. shan't stay at
home to be preached to. Pm my own
MASTER
"Then he took one step more. Splash
crash He was through the thin ice
under the water.
THANK heaven said l. my miserable
career is ended
Then turned cold as ice myself, and
there was roaring in my neck.
Next thing knew it was broad day
light. and was floating on the water.
"'There's bottle cried some one.
1t was bare-legged boy. He stopped
over the side of boat, and caught me.
"'There was man drowned here last
night said he to another boy at his side
".Did you see him ?" said this one.
".Yes.' said the first. He was drunk,
and killed his wife. They've got an in
quest on her. down in the cellar over there.
l say, I'm going to sell this bottle to Bill,
the junk man.
so 1 was saved, and much against my
will stood in the junk shop window for a
week. The water had washed the blood
off of me. had no smell of liquor left,
and along comes your wife.
"'What nice, fiat bottle = says She
Just what I want. How much for itp'
"And Billy charged her tour cents, and
home she brought me.
"'My career of vice has begun again,
said I. And expected nothing else but,
bless the dear soul, she put vinegar in me
nice, sour. innocent, respectable vine
garland I've been good reformed bottle
ever since. And now you-you-you-
her husband. are going to put the devilish
spirits into me again. For heavens sake,
break me first don't want to DESTROY
another household"
"You shan't," said Tom Barnaby.
''Here you 60 back on your shelf l
leave you to innocence and vinegar; and
think I'll make a cup of strong coffee. g"
Right" said the bottle.
| And so the bottle stands still beside the
| cruet on Mrs Barnaby's dresser and Tom