The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1888-01-20
TEMPERANCE READING.
THE CAPTAINS PLEDGE.

'ln the campaign against Sitting Bull
in 1876. | was appointed Chief of
Scouts, to succeed Mr. Cody. Buffalo
Bill, he having resigned. Returning
one evening after n two days scout my
horse became lame. | determined to
turn him loose and push ahead on foot.
had halted to remove the saddle and
bride. when the sound of song and
laughter reached me from further down
the canyon.
"''Tis the command. unused. 'and
it is not far distant. Brace up Chief,
noble old fellow, and we will soon be
where you can secure food and rest.
IL soon came in sight Of large camp
fire, in the ruddy light of which were
grouped number of scouts and pack
ers-rough. grizzly old frontiersmen
whose lives had been spent on the
borders of civilization. As drew near
the spot they were singing border
song, the notes of which echoed and
re-cchoed through the great rock
ribbed gulch in weird and almost un-
earthly reverbations.
"The boys welcomed me warmly,
and | soon learned that the command
was u couple of miles below at the
mouth Of the canyon; that these boys
had secured q jug of whisky in some
way and had made their present camp
away from the troops to have good
time unmolested The jug was fire.
quently passed around. and fun and
laughter reigned supreme.
"Now, Captain Jack, said they, ms
approached, you must fill up with
us on this tarantular juice. We cum
up var fur jamboree. an we're
havin' it in valid West style. Flood yer
innards, Cap'n, an take hand in the
festivities.
"'No, thank you, boys l said, 4
never drink. This responc was greet
ed with loud laughter. rs if it were the
best joke of the season. The man
who held the jug approached and said;
That's all right, Cap'n, but on
special 'casions such aS this every body
must drink. Let us have a good time
while we kin, for on SIGH an expedi-
ton as this we don't know when we'll
run into Injuns an leave our unoccu-
pied bodies a-layin' sort o unconcerned
like among the sage. brush in state o
bald-headcd inactivity; SO let's make
all we kin o life while it stays with us.
Fasten yer claws on the jug, oil boy,
an down with the rejuvenatin' fluid.
II took the proffered jug and set it
down OH a pine stump near my side,
and then said:
"'Boys, | always like to do my
share toward helping out in camp
festivities, but prefer TO do it in my
own way. Before | drink with you,
want to tell you little story.
81 well remember when | was a
little barefooted, mischievouS young
ster ut my home in MncrSyillc, in the
coal region of Pennsylvania. My home
was happy one. My father was kind
| and indulgcnt and esteemed by all who
! knew him, and was never so happy as
when sitting at home in the evening
with his little ones grouped about him
listening to his entertaining stories.
We loved him dearly and thought
there never was such another father in
all the great wide world, My mother
was sweet. gentle creature, for
| whom our alteration almost vcrged
into worship She was bound up in
her children and they in her--bound
with the purest aud brightest links
ever forged for the golden chain of
| love.
when grew 10 be quite u chunk
of boy / had noticed gradual but
marked change in my fathers appear
ance and actions. His clothes grew
scedy, his face became flushed and he
would act strangely when he came into
the house. Mother would kindly but
sorrowfully get him to bed. and | often
noticed tears in her eyes when she
! came from the bedroom. In response
to my boyish inquiries as to what
gricved her, she would only say that
| father was not we'll and the subject
would drop. He seemed to neglect his
home and nevermore took pleasure in
entertaining us ~ he once did. In
stead of taking delight in being with
us in the evening. he would remain
away until late hour, and il l hap
pened to be awake when he returned |
noticed that he staggered so that
mother was always obliged to help him
10 bed. / did not know it then. but
when grew older realized that the
demon rum had fastened its relentless
claws on that once noble man and was
| drnuninnr him dnmn DOWN lnwn