The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-07-01

from the Christmas I'd been made a present
70 Jack he stood, ragged and dirty, at q bar
room stove, with me IN his pocket, my neck
sticking out Up came the proprietor.
"'Now, Jack Barker. said he, why don't
you 20 home"
HE was ashamed to have him there, you
see, a ragged creature with his toes out and
black eye and Il broken nose. He used To bc
called handsome Jack Barker before he took
TO filling me. Think of that.
Now he looked up with miserable alb
iect whine.
go home with IN empty bottle on a
Christmas Eve% says he. You didn't use 70
say go home when came here with full
pockets Mr. Jones'
"'Well, no, didn't said the man. and it
would have been better if / had. I'll ill your
bottle for you, Jake Barker
He filled it-gOodness knows with what
and the poor wretch staggered home Oh, the
wretched cellar. the miserable straw bed i'll
the corner the wife lying sick upon it. | re-
member them 50 well.
"She was very sick, and there was n little
baby beside her. Just think of another baby
there.
".Happv Christmas. said he. as he stag
gercd in Happy Christmas, old girln
'Happvr said she. oh, this dreadful
day. That bottle came to Us first on Christ
mas
1T takes 80 little to put drunken man in
a rage. He answered. her with an oath.
ANYBODY would think | was drunk 10
hear you talk. said he. And the poor wo-
oh. good Heaven, are you ever sober?
oh. Jack! Jack.
And then lie flew ut her He took me by
the meek 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. | knew / was Il muir
ierer. oh, let me break" cried. Let me
he broken into fragments" But her fair
flesh was mashed to pulp, her delicate bones
broken, and was sound rs ever, when
Jack. led by Heaven knows what mad fancy,
left his victim and staggered into the street
again The SNOW was falling. The air was
white with il. He staggered along, mutter-
ing 10 himself At last he came To wharf,
and stumbled across il. | believe a boat lay
there on which ne had been once before, and
where they have given him drink.
'Sea-Bird, ahoy" cried he. 'Hullo. hallo,
Sca-Birl. ahoyu
Nobody answered him.
I'm coming aboard he mutIered-rm
coming aboard. | >han't stay at home To he
preached 10. I'm my own MASTER
Then lac took one step more. Splash
crash! He through the thin ice under
the water
Thank Heaven, said l. my miserable
career i ended.
Then I turned cold as ice myself, and
there was "a roaring in my neck.
Next thing knew it was broad daylight,
and was floating the water.
There's a bottle said some one. Ii was
a hare-legged boy. He stopped over the side
of Il boat ANIL caught me.
There was a man drowned here last
night said he To another boy at his side.
| did won see himg said this one
YES said the first. He was drunk, and
| killed his wife. They've got an inquest on
| her down in the cellar over there. ! say,
| I'm going to sell this bottle To Bill, the junk
| man..
50 / was saved. and much against my
| will stood in the junk shop window for
| week. The wafer had washed the blood off
| of me ! had no smell of liquor left, and
| along comes your wife.
What a nice. fiat bottle" SAYS She-.iust
what want. How much for itg
And Billy charged her four 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 i'm me-nice,
sour, innOcent. respectable vinegar-and I've
been a good reformed bottle ever since. And
now ou-you-you-her husband are going
| 20 put the devilish spirits into me again.
For heavens sake break me first | dom
want To- destroy another household
You Shant, said Tom Barnaby. Here
YOU 90 back on your shelf. leave You TO
innocence and vinegar; and | think I'll make
| a cup of strong coffee
Right" said the bottle.
And - the bottle stands still beside the
| cruet, on Mrs. Barnaby's dresser and Tom
| Barnaby Is still sober mau.