The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1886-01-30
~BEHINDTHE BUSHES.
A COnyiyial Young Mans Visit to His
Uncles, Aunts and Cousins in Il Tenn
perance Community Of Massachusetts.

perance Community of Massachusetts.
Uncle Tom Saunders was a thrifty
farmer i'll the Connecticut River Val
ley, owning IL fine ''place" in old Hamp
shire county. Massachusetts. Brnrher
States and settled when Il young man.
where he reared il family. aud although
there Wa II correspondence kept up.
nc visits passed between the two tlni-
lies for more than twenty-five years.
A year or two after the Maine law
went into force in Massachusetts,
Cousin Joe Saunders. from the Sonth.
handsome manly young fellow. ''cnme
North TO visit his relatives. He arriv
ed at Uncle Toms house about night
fall. in haying time, aud Was heartily
welcomed Ivy uncle. aunt and cousins.
Then after Il chat about the folks, Con
Elm Joe Went to sleep in the '.spare bed
room.' with feathers and pillows
enough for two, and did o get up un
til . O'Clock the next morning.
Joe told the story of himself after
ward. When he came down the first
u to welcome him was Aunt Hannah.
who. after the usual good morning.
said j:
"Joseph, l suppose that yonr Gus
toms in the South in many ways are
different from ours. Are YOU III he
habit # drinking sometll ng a little
strengthenin' and appetizin' in the
mOrnin'?"
"Well. we are all temperance folk,
here. bat I've got a little bottle of
'sperIlts' that Dr.. Billin's gave me- for
the hypo, that keep in the buttery.
Here 1t Is, Joseph help YOURSELF
Joe was nothing 10th. and, thinking
that he probably would not have anoth
or snchan opportunity during his visit,
he took "a liberal %suifter, and after fin
lshlns breakfast, which had been kept
Tor him, finding hims elf doubly refresh
ed, strolle1 out toward the barn.
where Uncle Tom was busy at wo, k.
"Mornin'. Joe,' said his uncle cheeri
" ''say. come here.' Then he led
Joe into the granary and SAID in IA con
fidential kind of way, "You know, |
'spose, that we're all temperance folks,
but Eve got ii little old apple jack be
hind that bin there, that l kinder keep
Tor my roomatiz, away from the old
woman and the boys. 'Spose We take
ajhorn apiece, you and I. It's pretty
good stuff
Nothing 10th Joe imbibed again.
and, feeling stirl more exhilara,ed,
started down into the meadow where
the boys were at work in the bayfield,.
"Good morning, cousin joe" sung
out the Oldest, as Joe came along.
"How are you feeling this morning ?
Say, Joe. don't you Southern fellers
take a little eye-opener occasionally ?
You see, this ere lisa temperance State
and father and mother are bright and
shintr' lights. But we boys amt
that is, we amt practically. Just you
go to that corner of the fence, and IN
der Jim's jacket you'll find a jug of as
good old Jamaica as you have tasted
in ayear, I'll go with you. Take
hold, Joe. it's out of sight of the
house."
Joe complied, and the operation was
repeated once Or twice b fore dinner
time. He managed to get through the
meal without nearing suspicion as to
his actual condi ion; thanks to a som.
what extensive capacity. and stayed
a week with the goou folks, But he
said afterward that he never came so
near being kept on a weeks solid
drunk as he did during the time of his
visit to that Temperance family.'-Ex