The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-04-25
Four Drinks.

Policeman Number Slxty-SeVen was an
older and more thoughtful man than Is
usually found on the municipal force. He
was retained, in spite of his gray hairs. be-
in his leisure moments, to look below the
misery and CRIME which came in his way, to
find their cause.
81 was once standing in front of Tufts
salcon," he said one day, 'when the bar
keeper set down blue bottle on the counter:
and said: There are just four drinks in that
1t occurred to me Id like to trace up them
four drinks-where they went and what they
did. H.
s:Well," continued the policeman, "a
woman got the first glass. She wasn't an old
woman, nor used to whisky; about thirty
yearsold, had been pretty once, and accus-
toned to having gay time. suppose: She
was on her way home now from days hard
work, tired, and cold, and the whisky was
temptation. 1t would take the place OF the
dance and theatre and fun. She turned down
into by-street and stopped at the door OF a
"f knew her husband, Crafts, the carpen-
ter, cheerful hard-working fellow. He
opened the door, and her baby ran out to
meet her. She struck it down to the ground
with an OATH Her husband looked at her,
and fell back as though he, too, had been
struck. Then he picked up the child and car
ried it into the pretty, warm room. saw
the mother lying stretched across the hearth
as though she were dead.
"The second drink out of the bottle, the
barkeeper told me, was given to old Stacy.
He is nigh seventy, and soaked with liquor;
blood, stomach and brain poisoned by it.
body, not good feeling in his bAirt, nor
manly thought in his head: The drink only
helped, with all the liquor that he has drunk,
to kill him surely inch by inch.
SPY this time had got back to the saloon,
and in few minutes lsaw young man
named Waters stop for the next. He had
been drinking already; I cailel to him l
used to know Waters, young clerk with
good salary; had nice little home, and
pretty wife and babies He's quarrelsome in
drink, and glass or two upsets him.
Waters" said, don't drink that; you've
had enough.
'.But he laughed, took his drink, and went
down the street. A few minutes later heard
a row going on and followed him. He had
picked quarrel with one Of his friends and
Shot him dead Waters was sentenced to ten
years: his home is broken up, his wife takes
in washing to keep her children from starv-
ing; g,ou, u,, ~, ar;nt ,o,t IN tho hott,e
An hour later young lad came in. bright
faced boy, the son of DR.. Bunker. Hs's about
sixteen now. I've watched him grow up since
he was baby i'll his pretty lace dresses.
know what he is to his mother. They have
but this one child. think they never heard
of good or great man that they do not
fancy Jim will be like him.
s'He tossed off the drink, and went down
the street, with red face and leerins, stupid
eyes, He is on the same road as Waters and
old Stacy. They are a little ahead of him.
II only traced up those four drinks; but I
know there is not drop of liquor which goes
out of Tufts saloon which does not help to
carry discomfort, ill-temper, misery, disease,
poverty and disgrace into some wretched, ,un-
fortunate home."-Iouhs Companion.