Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-01-31
DIGBY'S REFORM CLUB.

| of. Peter Slade, ION LOWQen anu Oam
| Pepper were his associates. They were
| four young men, free he arted and gener-
Gus, with great capability for enjoy
ment.
! On certain Monday evening they
were assembled in a small parlor of
Lushton's tavern for the purpose of hav-
| ing a good time, as they were wont to
assemble often. The season was winter,
and the beverage they were INDUCING
| in was a compound of rum, sugar, milk
and eggs, familiarly known as 'Tom and
jerry"
! At the early stage Of the wassail, be-
| fore sense had been submerged, Peter
Slade bad suggested that he had COM
plant to make against one of the digni-
taries of the town, and thereupon he
opened up his walls of denunciation
against Parson Meekly, the old clergy
man of the place.
GAS near as I car find out" he said,
"the parson has just the same as called
us by name and held US up as set of
| graceless scamps."
"Not certainly as bad as that" said
John Digby. she did certainly allude to
us very plainly, but the worst he brought
against us was that we were prostituting
nobls powers and opportunities to base
and sinful pleasures. Rather fattering,
I thought-especialIy the noble pow
| ers."
"Flattering with vengeance" said
Tom Lowden. "WhRt business is it of
his?"
"Aye," said Sam Pepper, "what bust
ness is it of hisH And then look at the
hullabaloo they made over this foreign
mission business. 1t was in conn cotton
with that that Parson Meekly attacked
us. They had better look at home.
l think there is suffering enough under
their very noses that had better be looked
| to first"
"That's So" said Slade. ''I say charity
begins at home. What do you say,
Johnf''
John Digby had listened attentively,
and during the conversation he had tur
ed his glass bottom up on the tavern
table.
"There may be truth in what you say"
he slowly and thoughtfully replied, "bUt
people who live in glass houses should
not throw stores. We may object to
| furnishing money to these foreign mis-
sions upon the plea that charity begins
at home and all that but the question
may come back. What have we done for
this charity at home? What have we
| done to alleviate the distress of the poor
of orr town. And if we haven't done
any thing in that direction-if we don't
open our hands in charity at all-what
right have we to say in what direction
others shall aim theil good worksF"
Blank were the looks that greeted this
speech. The trio listeners were taken
abaok. They hadn't expected this from
their leader.
"Now look here boys" continued John
| Digby, pushing his inverted glass away
| to the center of the table, and leaving it
there. 81 don't like this overaauling
that Parson Meekly gave US any better
than you do, and propose to shut him
up"
"Hi-yahr' shouted Sam Pepper: "that's
the talk. I'm with YOU"
"Are you sure you have got the courage
Samf"
| Eyes, sir"
"Count me in" said Tom.
"And me,' added Pepper. "Let US
shut the old fellow up. What's the pro-
gramme, Jackf"
"Well," answered Digby, 81 have plan
ned that we take the wind out of Parson
Meekly's sails by establishing reform
club of our own, and starting mission
airy society On the same basis"
"Eh?"
"Look ye, boys; people beside the par
son aret alk1ng hard about Us, and We'll
shut them all up in a lump. I'd like to
hit back in the most effective way, I'd
like to make them take the back track
here in Burville in their own business"
His hearers were interested and listen
ed eagerly.
"What is its Tell us how this is to be
donef"
"Have you the courage to do itf" said
John.
"we'll follow you," said Peter Slade.
"Honor brights'
eyes"
"Then listen"
"Hold on" cried Sam Pepper. Let's
fill up before we commence"
"Not with old Lushton's Tom and Jer-
ry," returned Jack. 1--WE shall want the
cost of it for another purpose. Turn the
| glasses bottom side up for the present
Now listen. We are in the habit of meet
/ ing here at the tavern taree evenings in
the week; and our expenses for liquors
and cigars are at least two dollars an eve
ming, aren't theyf"
This was admit ed by a nod.
"And In addition to this spend al
| least dollar more week for beer and
tobacco on my own hook. How is it with
your"
The others admitted that a dollar a
week was enough.
"Thus," resumed John Digby, "we have
$40 week as the result of our combined
and individual expenses for rum and to-
baccc. ], for one think / could manage
to live through the rest of the winter
without any more of it; and for the sake
of the experiment would be willing to
put my share of that 80 to charitable
uses. Here it is the beginning OF De-
cember, and the winter has opened hard
There are poor families not far away
which We can bless with our sympathy
and help. We might organize banevo
lent society, or q missionary society, or
our own hook. Do you begin to under
stand.
They understood him perfectly; and
since ne would lead they were ready to
follow.
In fact, they rather liked the ides
There was charm of novelty and orr
ginality about il that captivated them
1t would be fun to purchase -four ano
meat and tea and sugar and fuel, and &c
around to assist the poor aud needy
They were young men, full of life and
, good feeling and had caroused only be-
cause of the fun of the thing. Here was
promise of fun in another direction, and
they would go into it.
The matter was discussed and finally
settled. They would make q square weeI
of it at the beginning.