The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-01-03

DanY tor a little While; the ScnOOl-hOuSe |
bell could wait-no one would miss it
while all the other bells were ringing. |
Then he slowly learned that he could
chat. for Mrs. Arthray talked cheerily |
of old times, and aroused memories |
which unlossed his tontgue, so that by |
the time the old church-tower was |
reached, Tom had entirely forgotten his |
task for the night and his remuneration !
that was to last for week.
Arthray set his lantern in a window |
ledge behind him, to Toms great re-
lief, took the two little mallets, and rang
out "Old Hundred with great precis-
ion and force; no other bells had yet be-
gun, for the hour had not yet struck.
Then, like a good patriot, he rang
yankee Doodle The clock bell be-
low then struck twelve, and the general
Iianole began. The delicate notes of the
chimes would be lost in such clamor, so
1.-The trio stood and chatted. Arthray,
who was as curious and ignorant about
local affairs as active business men
usually are, asked numerous questions,
Ito all of which Tom made prompt reply,
lalthough frequently compelled to throw
himself upon his imagination-he would
commit any crime rather than have
Mrs. Arthray suspect that he was not
what she seemed to believe him.
One by one the bells grew silent, and
again Arthray rang the chimes; when
/ he rang 'Adeste Fideless, y Tom broke
down; he had heard his mother sing it
SSl7s,.'A rf6raiy and Hg aidtp turned abruptly,
81 must go now-this moment"
! "You won't fail to call, to-day" said
the lady. You received my card, l
{ suppose?"
3 Alice" said Tom in low, quick
tones ''you don't know me. I'm the
= worst drunkard, the lowest tramp in all
I Thornton. | couldn't help being over
come by your kindness tonight, but
{ I've inulted you by even standing near
7 you andspeaking to you. I'm ruined,
} ragged, vile, worthless-Ive not felt
r like gentleman in ten years until to-
+ night Now, if | do not call you'll not
tell anything that will make other peo-
1 pie make iun of me?"
0 Not cal?' said Mrs. Arthray, as
l her husband turned away from the
:. bells. Certainly, you will CALL in
/ sist upon it. Oscar, Mr.. Dolser must
/ hurry away to look after a reforming
D drunkard who needs everything. 1
a want to help in the good work; have
/; you any money in your pocket"
Arthray handed his wife small roll
; of bank-notes; the lady went to the
; lantern and counted hundred dollars
from it, and handed them to Tom.
"Now, ring just one time before you
! c.o1 - sold che gsXA,, ,,.oJ 10 J.. !
:. we'll"
, 81 can't; I've entirely forgotten the
: = bells" said Tom.
I IN help you-you can do it with a
single mallet-here." As she spoke
:. she placed mallet in his right hand,
/ seized his wrist with her left. and
guided him in playing "Auld Lang
! Syne, her rich voice singing, near his
= ear:
= SHOULD auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should aud acquaintance be forgot,
a And days of Aud Lang Syne?
e There" said she, at the end of the
fourth bar, ''now we won't detain you
/ any longer, but remember that I'll be
( the most disappointed woman in all
Thornton, if you don't call tomorrow :"
III Tom dashed down the narrow, steep
| steps without saying a word. From
! force of habit he returned to the tavern
!, bar, where he encountered a storm of
/ curses The lOungers. demanded that
/ he should fulfill his promise, but he re-
VI fused, and declined to explain. Then
T they wanted the school-house keys, but
he pretended to have lost them. Strange
n stories We're told of his subsequent
doings; it was said that he called on a
III physician and then on a minister, both
II between, midnight and daylight; that he
II had paid several prices, very early in
II the morning, to overcome the fastidi-
III BUSINESS of the owner of barber shop
II and bathing establishment and that he
Il had persuaded the owner of clothing
store to open his place for few mo-
;Iments and fit him to the best garments
ri ON the shelves. However it all may have
, come about, it is certain that in the after
!, noon of New Year day, Tom Dolser, in
! the garb and bearing of a gentleman,
), though without much composure of
1 countenance, called on Mrs. Arthray.
He had to introduce himself again, and
he feared the consequences if his host
~ ess should have to introduce him to
= others. Heaven kindly arranged, how
. ever, that the only other person present
u. ~ was an old clergyman, who had been
.ir pastor to Mrs. Arthray and Tom a
nequarter of a century before. After Tom
eihad rome, the lady made confident of
thu mister. The old man hoped, yet
AIRED; he had prepared dozens of
a ere pie .es in twenty years, all of which
GU To had signed and broken. Yet after
!, th late drunkard had become, if not
ne bis original self, at least an industrious
VI Ind spectacle member of society. and
- Nh. Arbitrary was one day piously at
Y raIting the change to Heavenly infu-
A hBnc S, the old pastor looked at her sig
! Nlificantly, and said:
~ 1T isNno wonder to me now that
~. 'sus Christ was born of a woman. y
81 I'm HabbertOn, IN Current.