The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-05-30
"cHALK YOUR OWN DOOR

"CHALK YOUR OWN DOOR"
 His proper name was Jeremiah Mar den but he had not been in the village 9 week before everybody called him Jerry Warden, and within six weeks he was known as Jerry Muddler But why Mud dler9 Who gave him that name, and why was it given? The giver is unknown flor who ever knows the giver of a nick name ?-but the reason for it's being be- slowed was that Jerry was always mud dled with drink.
 He was very good shoemaker, but he stood no chance with George Stevens, sober man, and so driited into becoming a cobbler. Jerry's one idea was to get job, and having done it, to invest the pro ceeds at his favorite beer shop, "Oram Arms" The consequence was that Jerry was seldom sober, and, had he not pos sessed an iron constitution, two years of such life must have killed him but he dragged on, working today and idling to- morrow, and drinking whenever drink could be got, and finally he drifted into debt.
 His score at "Oram Arms was large one, and the chalks stood up against him like files of soldiers but Jerry ignored their paying of little now and then, and drinking more, each time increasing the army of debt against him, until one evening MT. Richard Rewitt, the landlord of the aforesaid "Oram Arms," cried "halt." "I can't go on any longer, Jerry," he said. "The las, sum had of you was three shillings, and you have paid nothing for fortnight"
 "Work iss slack" murmured Jerry, "but the harvest is coming on, and then everybody will have their soling and heel ing done, and shall be able to pay you off."
 Perhaps so," returned Mir. Rewitt, but you will have as much as you can do to square of what is up there. Look at them. Those chalks are standing disgrace to any man. You ought to be ashamed of yourself"
 Jerry looked at the accusing marks and really felt aghast at the long list against him. The inner door of the bar was regular blackboard, and he uembled oe- fore it.
 Now when Jerry first came to "The Dram Arms" the landlord was very po- lite, and spoke as softly as you please to him. No spider, coIrteously entreating a fly to enter his parlor, could have been more oily-tongued or smiled more per suasive smile-tbat is presuming that spiders do smile, which is just possible l; but when Jerry got into the tolls, and had been well-conhned in the web, mine host put on another face and tone.
 eff you drink" he said, "you must expect to pay for it. My brewer would stand no nonsense from me, and 1 must have my money from you"
 "Only one pint," pleaded poor Jerry.
 "Not half pint" replied the landlord. |" Go home and work, and pay your debts like a man."
 The entrance of customer with ready money cut short the conversation, and Jerry stood back pace or two while the other was being served. When that was done, and the beer drunk and the cus- toner gone, Jerry made final appeal.
 I've been good customer to you, MT. Rewitt. Almost every penny Eve earned has come into your till. I've nigh lived on beer, if living it can be called, and my wife and children have had to shift how they could for bread"
 That's nothing to me-" said the land lord.
 "Let me have one pint"
 "Have you the impudencs to ask for it with that shameful lot of chalks staring you in the face?"
 Jerry did not reply, but he took long and earnest look at the recoraing files, and drawing his hand across his dry mouth, hurried out of " The Dram Arms"
 "Who is that ycr have beer talking to, Richard ?" inquired Mrs. Rewitt, entering the bar from a room behind.
 Jerry Muddler," was the reply. "l've stopped his drink until he pays up."
 Then he will go to the Green Goose and get his drink there," said Mrs Rewitt
 "They won't trust him penny" re- turned her husband with grin-~ he's tried it on and failed, and so I've got him. If he does not pay up, I'll make him."
 "There's nothing to be got out of that house." said Mrs. Rewitt, shaking her head. "I've heard that there's not chair for them to sit down upon; and Jery's wife-clean and tidy as she man. ages to keep herself-looks more like skeleton than a woman; and as for the two children, I've seem 'em look quite ravenous at the dinners coming from the bake-house."
 "Thafs yerry's lookout" replied Mir. Rewitt, coolty. @If he can't afford ii he shouldn't drink"
 The subject was dismissed and Jerry forgotten in the noise and hustle of the usual evening business. About o'clock MT. Rewitt and his wife, appeared at the