Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-03-30
The ROttOmless jug.

\ DN"'" N"""'N' NHiut-t DoltOInltSS
jug! The host saw that the curious
thing had caught my eye and he sml-
ed
"You are wondering why that jug is
hanging up there with its bottom knock
ed out?" he said. MY wife. perhaps,
could tell you the story better than
can. but she is bashful and | am not,
so I'll tell it,
My father, as you are probably
aware, owned this farm before me. lie
lived to "A good old age, worke d hard
all his life, never squandered money.
was shrewd, careful trader and a
good calculator; and as men were
accustomed in h $ day and generation,
he was temperate man. | was the
youngest boz; and when the old man
was ready to 90, and he knew it, the
other boys agreed that, since had stay
ed at home and taken care Of the old
folks, the farm should be mine. And
to me it was wlled | had been mar
RED three years.
Well, father died-mother had gone
three ears beforehand left the farm to
me with "A mortgage of -. 600. | had
never thought so much of it before;
but thought of it now. | said to Mol.
w. my wife, Molly said !, look here!
Here's father had this farm i'm its first
strength of soil, with all ITS magn fcent
timber; and had six BOYS. as they crew
up, equal To so many men, 20 help him:
and he had WORKED early and late. and
vet look at II, \ mortgage of 2O0Jl
What can | doP And / went TO that
old jug-it had the bottom m il then
and took stiil drink of Medford rum
from H.
Il noticed a curious look ON the face
of my W fe Just then. and | asked her
what she thought of it; for supposed.
OF course, she was think ng of what |
had been talk ng about And so she
was. Says she:
Charles, have thought of this
great deal. and | have thought OF
way in which believe we can clear the
mortgage off before five years are end
ed.
Says l, Molly, tell me how you'll
do it,
"She thought little while. and then
She sad, with funny twinkle in her
blue eyes:
Charles. You must promise me
this. and promise me solemnlv and sa-
credly: Promise me that YOU will new
er again bring home, for the purpose
OF drinking for a beverage. at any one
time, more sp rts OF any kind than YOU
bring IN that jug that jug that your
father has used ever S nee | knew mn,
and which on have used ever since he
was done with it,
"NeIl, | knew thatEmy.father used
once IN while, especially in having
time and in the winter when we were
at work in the woods, 10 get The old GAL
lon jug filled So thought il over, and
after a while told her would agree to
it.
Now, mind sa d she. YOU are
never, never, to bring home for a com
men beverage more spirits than YOU
can bring in that ident cal jug. And |
gave her the prom Sc.
And before | went to bed that night
| look the last pull at that Jug As /
was turning it out Tor sort of night.
cap Molly looked up and said:
Charles, have YOU got a drop left?
81 told her there was Just about a
drop. We would have it filled on the
morrow. Aud then she said if | had
no objection she would drink that last
drop with me. | never shall forget
how she brought it out-that last
drop. However. tipped the old jug
bottom up and got about a great
spoonful. and Molly said that was
enough. She took the tumbler and
poured a few drops of hot water into
it and a bit of sugar. and then she
cl nked her glass against mine. just a.
she had seen us BOYS do when we had
been drinking good luck. and she SAYS:
Here TO the old brown jug.
"Sakes al We! | thought to myself
that poor Molly bad been drinking
more of the wine than was good for
her; and | tel on kind of cut me to
the heart ] forgot all about the many
t mes she had seen me when my tongue
was thicker than it ought to be. aud
my legs not qu te rs steady as good
legs should be; but SAID nothing. |
drank the sentiment-'To the old
brown jug and let it 20.
"Well, | went out after that and did
chores. and went to bed. and the last
thing | said before leaving the kitchen.
the very room where we now st, was,
eve il have the old brown Jug filled
tomorrow and then | went to bed.
And | have remembered ever since
that | went TO bed that chit. as | had
done a hundred times before. with a
buzzng n my head that healthy man
ought not to have. | did not think Of
it then, nor had ! ever thought of it be.
fore, but | have thought OF it a good
MANY times since, and have thought
of it with wonder and awe.
"WeH, | got up next morning and
did some work about the barn. and
then came in and ate breakfast. not
with such an appetite as a farmer
ought 10 have. AMI | could think even
then that my appel te began To fail me.
However. after breakfast | went out
and hitched up the horses. for to tell
YOU the truth. | was feeling the need
of glass of spirits. aud ] had not n
1 z. a.. 4 e.