Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-01-20
THE GOOD WIFE KNEW 1T.

There is a retired cobbler living In
this place, writes an Angelica, N T..
correspondent, who deserves the re-
spect Of his countrymen for moral cour-
age
Ten years ago he was, and had been
for long time, confirmed inebriate
not periodical spreer. but genuine
soaker, warranted not to draw sober
breath from sun to sun. Occasionally
the fumes Of the whiskey with which
he piled himself would clear away from
his befogged brain, and at such times
his mental equilibrium would wrestle
with the problem of total or even par
tial abstinence, to be utterly wrecked
at the sight Of his haunts or the first
faint call Of his system or the stimulant
which long use had rendered peremp-
tory.
One day, however, = halt was called,
and this is tho way he tells of it:
81 was on my way to the barn when
sIsaw y small snake in my path. /
kicked it with my boot, and it turned
to = bit of crooked twig, which snapp-
ed in my hand and threw away. I
thought nothing more of the matter
until reached the barn, when direct
~ before me, second snake twisted
across the board. With quick spring
seized it, and it proved 10 be a whip
lash. A sudden horrible fear made me
faint and weak. I sat down on the
lower rung of the ladder leading to the
loft and wiped the cold sweat from my
forehead. Snakes, by Jericho!' /
exclaimed. That means business
Then stared straight across at a
corn stalk that soon hogan slowly to
wriggle and curve: With bursting eye
balls and all the strength of mind I
possessed forced that corn-stalk back
from the animal to the vegetable king
dom, and then l staggered feebly out
into the open air. l leaned against
fence. and. for fear should see more
of those horrible twisting things, /
chung to a post and closed, my eyes.
"'Time is called. Jim, I said to my
cell, whisky and You part company to-
day. and soberer than I had been for
several months, though with no more
strength than baby, l managed to
get back to the house.
There was fight, though! l didu'.
tell my wife. for / had made a good
many promises that hadn't held water,
aud l thought I'd 90 it alone for a
while got up in the morning after
terrible night with the thirst of a
chased fox upon me. Water wouldn't
quench it, and l tried milk. l crept
into the milk-room, slipped straw IN
to the edge of a cream-covered pan.
sucked out the milk until only the
cream was left, lowered smooth and
unbroken to the bottom. Then !
tackled another and another, until tho
fierce craving was somewhat dulled.
It was household mystery what be-
came of the milk. No cat could lay it,
my wife said, and leave the sides and
cream untouched, and where did it gop
II let them talk, for the struggle
was too sore and fearful to be spoken
of, and I went on drinking the milk.
The road from my house to my
shop lay by the groggery. When
1eit my EAlc III lie uoTutnE took tnet
road. and on dead run, as If pursued.
I made the distance. ran hard all
the way home to dinner. and back
after that meal, never, in fact, trusting
myself to walk, or even take to tho
sidewalk for months. The cure was slow.
I keep all The brakes hard set yet.
A single glass of hard cider would un-
do the work of all these years, but you
can bet that glass doesn't touch my
lips while the memory of those little
crawling black reptiles stays with me-"
"And did your wife finally learn
what became of the milkp" he was
asked.
"Yes." and his voice broke. II told
her on her deatbded.
"'Jim, DEAR she said. when had
finished with her hand clasped in mine,
Jim, dear, knew it all tho time.