The Red Cloud chief., 1886-01-22
TEMPERANCE READING.
SHE KNEW IT.
Experience OF . Drunkard Who Broke the
Habit that; Ensisved Him.

Experience OF . DrunkasJ who Broke the
Habit That; Enslsved Him.
There is a retired cobbler living in
this place who deserves the respect Of
his coun,rymen for moral courage.
Ten years ago he was and had been
for a long time. a confirmed inebriaie
mot a periodical spreer. but a genuine
soaker. warranted not TO draw a sober
breath from sun 10 sun. Occasionally
the fumes Of the whisky with which he
piled himself would clear away from
his befogged brain. and Ct such times
his mental equilibrium would wres;le
with the problem Of total or even par
tial abstinence, to he utterly wrecked
at the sight Of his hauats or the first
faint call Of his system for the siimu-
liant which long use had rendered per-
cmptOry.
One day. however. a halt was called.
and this is the way he tells of il:
Il Wa. on my Way TO the barn when
I saw a small snake in my path. l
kicked il with my boot, and ii turned
10 a bit Of crooked twig. which l
snapped in my hand and threw away.
l thought nothing more Of the mstter
until ! reached the barn, when. direct
" before NE, a second snake twisted
across the boards. With n quick
spring ] seized il. and it proved 10 be n
whip-lash. A sudden horrible fear
made me faint and weak. ! sat down
on the lower rung of the ladder leading
to the loft and wiped the cold sweat
from my forehead.
".Snakes. by Jerichor' exclaimed.
That means business.
Then ! stared straight across at a
corn-.talk that soon began slowly to
wrigglc and curve. Win bursting eve
balls and all the strength Of mind |
possessed | forced that corn-Sta!k back
from the animal 10 the vegetable king
dom. and then I staggered feebly out
into the open air. l leaned agains. \
fence. and. for fear I should See nor
of those horrible twisting things, /
clung to q post and closed my eyes.
...Time is called. jim. | said 10 my
self. whisky and YOU part company to-
day. and soberer than ! had been for
many months, though with no more
strength than a baby, managed TO get
back To the house.
There was a tight. though. didn't
tell my wife; for | had made a good
many promises that hadn't held water.
and l thought I'd go it alone for
awhile. l got up in the morning. after
n terrible fight. with the thirst Of 4
chased fox upon me. Water wouldn't
quench it, and | tried milk. / crept
into the milk room. slipped a straw
into the edge of Il cream-coycred pan,
and sucked on, the milk until only the
cream was left. lowered smooth and
unbrokcn to the bottom. Then tack
led another and another. until the fierce
craving was somewhat dullcd. Ii was
a household mystery what became Of
the milk. No eat could lap it, my wife
said, and leave the sides and cream un-
touched. and where did it 20?
l let them talk. for the struggle was
too sore and fearful to be spoken Of.
and | went on drinking the milk.
The road from my house to my
shop lay by the groggcry. When |
left my gate in the morning ! took the
road. and. OH n dead run, Is if pur-
sued. l made the distance. ran hard
all the way home 10 dinner. and back
after That meal, never, in fact. trust
ing myself to walk. or even take TO
the sidewalk for months. The cure
WAS slow. keep all the brakes hard
set yet. A single glass of hard cider
would undo the work Of all these
years. but YOU can bet tina. 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 milk?' he was asked.
Yes and his voice broke. II
told her on her dcathbcd.'
Jim. dear she said. when I had
finished. with her hand clasped in
mine. Jim, knew it all the time