The Brookhaven leader., 1886-01-07
TEMPERANCE.
THE LAST ITEM.
A "sad Accident" to One Who "Was
Universally Liked, Having No Enemy
But Himself.

nnlSheu their days Work were nurrylng
home to supper. The door of neat
little home stood partly open. A man
was near it, evidently just starting out
to begin his work.
Il am sorry you have to 60 back to
night work." his wife was saying. She
looked pale and troubled.
$50 am t. he answered, "but never
mind, dear, perhaps it won't be long"
He kissed her as he spoke and went
out through the door. She looked after
him with her eyes full of tears. "If
he should begin again" she said; ooh,
if he should!"
Mamma" called tall, slender girl
from the room, "come and tell me
what pattern to choose for fathers
slippers; | want to commence en-
broidering them tonight. His birth
day isn't very far off, you know"
Bertha and | are going to club to-
gether and get him that new book he
wanted said another girl, evidently
her sister; ''we heard him speak of it
and We have money enough"
The woman turned and went into the
house and shut the door.
The man went on down the street
and was soon busily engaged at his
case, away up in the highest story of a
tall building.
His fingers went back and forth,
back and forth, picking up the bits of
black metal, setting up line after line
of what in the morning would appear
in the great daily. Out over the city he
could see the lights beginning to shine,
ard gradually the hum in the streets
below him grew less and less.
All about him were men working
away steadily at the bits of metal. He
could hear the presses click, click, as
they went on with their part of the
work.
The gas farcd Now and then one
of the men spoke briefly, generally
something about the work.
Some of them went to their coats
occasionally where they hung on the
wall and drank from bottles in the
pockets One offered his to the silent
worker beside him, but he shook his
head.
"What,n called gay young fellow
across the room, ''you given up the
bottle. Menson; what will happen
next2n
The men laughed.
The lights in the houses died out after
awhile, the noises on the street grew
less and less. The men went to their
bottles oftener and passed them back
and forth from hand to hand. Menson
was growing tired. He was not as
young as he had been when he began
to work at the type, and the smell OF
the liquor came to him as he worked
and GREW more and more weary.
He longed for one taste, just one, ''to
help him out, ''tO rest him" Yet,
when a lad near him took the bottle
and began to taste the liquor he touch
ed his arm and said: Don't, began at
your age; | wanted to be smart; don't
bepin."
But the boy laughed and drank.
The hours went by and the presses
clicked louder and the noises on the
street grew less and less.
Here. Menson," said n man, COM
ing across the room, "here is some OF
the best French brandy. Just taste it;
know you arc sick tonight; it'll do
you good"
Il don't feel exactly WE'LL" he said,
seizing the bottle eagerly, "Ill taste
it, only taste it.
The fumes of the liquor had been
half-maddening him, his old thirst had
been crying out to be satisfied. He
drank as eagerly as he had seized it.
THAT is good brandy" he said, CIV
ing back the bottle.
The man winked slyly at the others
as he went back to his case.
Menson worked on. He felt better,
he said to himself. the brandy had done
him good; and after awhile he asked
for another drink.
The man gave it and he drank as
eagerly as before. He had drank a
good many times by the time the last
line was set up and the men were max
ing ready to leave. 1t was early morn
inc now and the noises of that early
time in the city were beginning to be
heard.
Menson went to get his coat, but he
could not find it. Then he looked for
his hat, but he could not remember
where he had put it.
He stood holding on to the back of a
chair, vaguely, wondering what he
should do about it, when the man who
had given him the brandy came up.
Hello, Menson," he called out,
"you look as though you were getting
up leader. Too late now for that,
come on" Menson endeavored to let
him know his dilemma.
"Where's your coatp" he said; he
was loud and noisy; ''where's your
coat? Blest if know"
"Oh, here it is; let me help you on
with it. There you are, come on now,
the boys have all gone and left us.
They went over to the elevator. 1t
was just coming up the shaft. Away
down below them they could hea. the
engine and at one side the presses
stamp, stamp, as the great daily
dropped away fresh and damp from
their jaws. -.
Come on then, now my boy"
called his companion, as Menson hesi-
tated
He drew him on, one bewildered and
confused, the other hilarious and loud.
The elevator began to move down the
shaft. Menson looked up and saw a
door.
Here's place." he said stepping out
toward it.
His companion caught his coat. II
came off in his hand, and as he stood
wildly looking at it, he heard, down
below him, something fall heavily.
The great daily had little item, a
few lines crowded into its columns that