Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1886-01-08
THE GOOD WIFE KNEW IT.
1hs Experiences q. q Drunkard who On
Dav Brake the Habit.

Dav Brake the Habit.
Angelica ~. W letter.
There il a retired cobbler living in
this place who deserves the respect OF
his countrymen fer moral courage.
Ten years ago hc 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 whisky 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 partial
abstinence, to be utterly wrecked at the
sight Of his haunts or the first faint
call of his system for the stimulant
which long use had rendered per.
emptory.
One day, however, a halt was called,
and this is the way he tells of it:
Il was on my way to the barn when
/ saw a small snake in my path.
kicked it with my boot and it turned to
a bit of crooked twig, which snapped
in my hand ond threw away. Thought
nothing more of the matter until
reached the barn, when, directly before
me, second snake twisted across the
boards. With quick spring seized it,
and il proved TO be whiplash. A snd
den, horrible fear made me faint aud
weaS sat down on the lower rung of
the ladder leading TO the loft and wiped
the cold sweat from my forehead.
snakes, by Jericho" l exclaimed.
That means business
- hen | stared straight across at
corn stalk that soon began slowly wrig.
gle and curve. With bursting eyeballs
and all the strength of mind possessed
forced that corn stalk back from the
animal TO the vegetable kingdom, and
then staggered feebly out into the
open air. | leaned against fence, and,
for fear ! should see more OF those hor.
riOle twisting things, clang to a post
and closed my eyes.
"'Time is called, jim, said TO my
self, whisky and you part company 10.
day and solerer than had Leen for
many months, though with no more
strength than bay, | managed to get
back TO the house.
There was light, though. didn't
tell my wife, for had made a good
many promises that hadn't held water,
and | thought Id 90 it alone for
while. got up in the morning after a
terrible night with the thirst of chased
fox upon ne Water wouldn't quench
it, and | tried milk. creEt into the
milk.room, slipped a straw into the
edge of eream-cOvered pan, and
knocked I the milk until only the
cream WAS left, lowered smooth and un.
broken TO the bottom Then tackled
another and another, until the fierce
craving was somewhat dulled II was
a household mystery what became of
the milk No cat could lap il, my wife
said, and leave the sides aud cream M
touched. and where did it go
Il let them talk, for the struggle was
TOO sore and fearful TO be spoken of,
and went on drinking the mink.
The road from my house TO my shop
lay by the GROCERY. When left my,
gate in the morning | took the road,
and on dead run, as if pursued, |
made the distance. | ran hard all the
way home to dinner. and back after
that meal, never, in fact, trusting my.
self to walls, or even take the side walk
for months The cure was slow.
keep all the brakes hard set yet. A
single glass of hard cider wou undo
the work of all these years, but you can
bet that glass doesn touch my lips
while the memory of those little crawl.
ing black reptiles stays with me-"
And did YOU wife finally learn what
became of the milk he was asked.
"les," and his voice broke. Il told
her on her deathbed."
Jim, dear. she said, when | had
finished with her hand clasped in mine,
Jim, dear, knew it all the time