The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-01-26
NUMBER ST
THE GOOD WIFE KNEW 1T.
Experience Of a Drunkard who
Broke the Habit that Enslaved
Him.

There is retired cobbler living in
this place who deserves the respect OF
his countrytnen for moral courage.
Ten years ago be was, and bad beeh
Tor long time, a confirmed inebriste-
not periodical spreer, but a genuine
soaker, warranted not to draw sobef
breath from sun to sun. Occasionally
the fumes Of the whisky with which be
piled himself would clear away. from
bis befogged brain, and at such tines
his mental equilibrium would wrestle
with the problem Of total or even partial.
absljnence 10 be utterly wrecked AZ lha.
sight Of his haunts OF the hrst faint GIL
Of his system for the stimulant which
long use had rendered peremptory.
One day, however, halt was called
and this is the way be tells OF IL:
81 was on nv way to the barn when
| saw small snake in my path. kick.
ed 1t with my boot, and II turned 10 q
bit of crooked t~ig, which snapped in !
nv band and threw aHsy I thought
nothing more Of the matter until reach
ed the barn, when. directly heiore me, . i,
second snake twisted across the boards,
Witha Quick spring l seized It, aud 10
proved to be 8 wbip-lash. A sudden
horrible fear made me faint and weak
! sat down on the lower fung OF the lad.
der leading to the loft shd wiped thS
cold sweat from my forehead. esT
"'Suakes, by Jericho!'' exclaimed. I
That means business ~. 49,
"Then | stared straight across st
corn.stalk that soon hsgau slesly ID
~riggle and curve. With bursting eye
balls and all the strength of mind T.
possessed | forced that corn-staIk back,
from the animal to the vegetable king.
dom, and then l staggered feubiy 66ts
into the open ait. ! leaned against q,
fence, and, for fear should see more
OF those horrible twisting things, / clune
to post and closed my eyes.
"'Time is called, Jim,' said to my
self. whisky and you part company to-
day. and soberer than l had been for
many months, though with no more
strength than a baby, l managed to get
back Vi the house.
"There was fight, though. didn't
tell my wife; for l had made o good
msuy promises that hsdn't beld water,
and thought I'd 60 /, alone for awhile.
! got up in the morning, after terrible
| fight, with the thirst OF chased fol-
upon me. Water wouldn't quehch II,
and tried milk I crept into the milH
room, slipped straw into the edge OF q
cream-covered pan, and sucked out the
milk until only the cream was left, low.
cred smooth and hnbroken to the bot
tom Then ] tackled another and ana
other. until the fierce craving was some-
what dulled 1t was household mvs-
terv Whist became OF the milk. No cst
could lap it, my wife said, and leave the
sides and cream untouched, and whers
did it gof 'f1
!, | let them talk, for tie strdegie &s5
. too sore and fearful TO be spoken o., and
, | vent on drinking the milk.
"The road from my house to nv chop
. lay by the groggery. When l left my
! gate in the morning took the road, and,
on dead run, as IL pnrsued, made the
distance. ran hard all the wny bofhd
to dinner, and hack after that meal, fiets
er, 10 fact, trusting myself to walk, or
even take to the sidewalk for months
The cure wss slow. I keep all the brakes
hard set vet. A single glass of hard ci.
der would undo the work OF all tbese
: 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 milk 2" he was asked.
EYES," and his voice broke. ~ told
her on her deathbed." N
"'Jim, dear she said. when I had
finished, with her band clssped 10 mine,
!, Jim, knew it oil the time.'" aa -