Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-03-15
M. C. T. ". NOTES.
he WAS AFRAID.

WEI al ms, sf the yea" sn people sl,
thought it a remarkable
dinner. Such beautiful dishes and not
empty either, but heaped with deli
cious food. Several were there whom
Jimmy had never seen before I'd
friends, Captain Boswell said, whom
he CHANGED TO meet in the street, and
salor-like. he said he Just lowed the IN
into portn The captain spoke of one
as an sold chum, out of town, and hap
pening along. he had been towel into
port"
Jimmy did not catch the name, but
he liked the mans face. He would
have been still more Interested i'm the
man if he could have heard a converse
ton between this man and his wife ie-
fore he left his home in another city.
Husband, you'll promise me you
won't touch any liquor while you are
gomez" said the wife.
Mary, / give you my word on that.
You know / have made up my mind
to quit drinking. l shall keep my
word. God help me!''
''And you lleip yourself, too"
"I'll try, Mary"
Somehow Jimmy could not keep his
eyes off from this guest at Captain
Buswell's table. Jimmy liked his
handsome face, his very agreeable
manner, bis CHEEKY voice. He sat quite
near Captain Boswell, and he could
hear distinctly the conversation be-
tween the captain and ii o handsome,
the captain say:
'There, almost forgot one thing! /
believe am losing my memory"
He called aloul, "BobW A tall COL
ored waiter, whose face Jimmy had
seen several times on the street, sprang
forward to receive the order, briskly.
as if Lis master had tainted and needed
help.
Bring up few bottles" jim my
heard the captain say. Then the lat
ter added something about "beer for
the young folks"
Jimmy opened his eyes wide. Going
to be drinking at that table? What
would Jimmy do? Don't you touch it,
Jimmy" he heard his mother say. If
that mother bad understood what a
gauntlet her boys principles must run
at the captains table, she would not
have permitted him to go, though
absence might have offended all the
Buswells between here and Australia.
However, there was Jimmy at the
table, and "beer for the young folks"
was coming. Jimmy was uneasy. He
had felt like very strong temperance
boy at home; but, somehow, when he
saw the colored waiter slip forward
with the bottles that the captain order
ed, when he heard Charlie Evans
whisper "Good!" to Bob Tuck at the
sight of the beer, Jimmy's temperance
principles began to wsver. 1t was SO
much easier at home by his mothers
side, watching from the window that
old drunkard, to be an enthusiastic
teetotaller. But here! Jmmy's face
redeemed with excitement.
And somehow the stranger looked
uneasy. Jimmy saw him drop his fork
on the floor, pull his handkerchief out
of his pocket, wipe his face, hem, blush
plainly the stranger was embarrassed
in view of the bottles.
"Ha! har' said Captain Boswell,
elevating a bottle with purple fluid
that gurgled into dainty wine-glass
next him. II must have the pleasure
of filling it myself personally for YOU"
he said to the stranger. He handed
his neighbor the glass, filled a second
fer himself, and babe the waiter to give
"a little harmless beer to the young
folks"
What would Jimmy do? He looked
at Steve Ames. another youthful guest,
and Steve looked at him. Steve took
his beer and lifted it to his lips. What
would the stranger do? Don't touch
it," Jimmy heard his mother saying,
and allowed his glass to remain I'M
touched. The stranger nervously play
ed with his wiue-glass, while Captain
Boswell boisterously praised his por-
ton, and smacking his lips, said he
'must have another"
"Hem-m-m!n
1t was the stranger. He had lifted
his glass toward his lips, coughed and
then set it down again. Jimmy's glass
was still untouched.
Jimmy, Jimmy, "said Captain Bus
well, patronizingly, "are you not going
to take your beer?"
"No, thank you, sir"
Everybody at the table looked up in
establishment. To think that at the
great Captain Buswell's table just
boy should refuse what was set before
him!
''Are you afraid of it, Jimmy?"
The strangers glass was halfway to
his lips, but at this question his hand
halted.
''Yes sir, 'rang out Jimmy's answer,
prompt and bold and clear. The
strangers glass went down SO sudden
ly that part of the wine was spilled
Oh the table.
Indeed" said the captain. He tried
to laugh, and others joined; but 1t was
forced merriment. If Jimmy had
81, ora ,r,oc not r,,r1ah Il ~