Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-03-07
The Turning Point.
by HoRATIo ALGER, JR.

William Sprague had once been an
honest, industrious, temperate mechan-
ic, enjoying the respect of his fellow
mon, and maintaining his wife and
children in comfort. But in an evil
hour, he yielded to the invitation of a
cOmrade 10 take q drink" at the viii
lage tavern. From this moment his
downward steps became more and
more rapid-not that he loved drink.
At first it was distasteful TO him; but,
by degrees, he began to crave it for its
stimulating effect and to think it was
necessary TO his constitution. Besides,
he enjoyed the conviviality OF the party
that were wont to meet at the tavern,
night after night, to carouse and make
merry.
l am speaking OF time twenty years
since, when drunkenness was more
openly practiced than now.
OF course these habits were not
without effect upon his pecuniary in
terests. He had inherited from his
father cottage and q couple of acres
of land, which were worth, perhaps,
fifteen hundred dollars. Besides this,
his occupatiOu-that Of carpenter
brought him, in good times, two dol
lars q day; so that there seemed to be
nothing TO prevent his laying up 2
good sum every year. In fact, he had
already some four hundred dol
lars on deposit in the savings bank
when he first came to take the down
ward path. But this soon melted away,
being transferred to the landlord 5
pockets for rum.
BY and bye, the account at the tavern
had swelled to two hundred dollars
more. The landlord was perfectly
willing to give him credit, knowing
that his place would secure him. In
deed, he had fixed his eyes upon it, and
meant to get it into his possession soon
er or later.
When his bill amounted TO two hun
dred dollars, he presented it for pay
ment. The amount staggered William
Sprague, who had no idea it was so
much.
Il can show you the items" said the
landlord, confidently.
al suppose you are right" said his
victim; hut i can't pay you now"
Il am sorry to press YOU but l must
Insist upon it.
lDlb Il FCll II III NY pOSStS5lOl.
ooh, well, you can easily raise it,"
"Who would lend me?"
'Your Uncle Thomas"
''No hope there" said Sprague, who
well knew that his uncle disapproved
OF the course he had been pursuing for
some months past. mo hope there. /
am no great favorite with him"
"Well," said the landlord, after q
sGI'll foil tyn,t Nrbof 1911 do GaXnt,
owe me two hundred dollars. I'll lend
you three hundred more, and you shall
give me a mortgage for five hundred on
your house and land
William was ut first startled at this
suggestions; but, after all, thought he
''why shouldn't I? 1t will pay off my
debt and give me three hundred dollars
In hand. guess I'll do it."
The landlord received his ascent with
Joy, and would not let him rest till the
documents were drawn up and tho
mortgage given.
Mrs. Sprague heard of her husbands
action with pain. She tearfully ex-
oostulated with him, but in vain. She
well knew that the three hundred dollars
would go the same way with the other
two, and that the landlord would never
release the hold he had now got on her
husband. She could divine that, at no
distant time, she and her children
would be without home, and her hus-
band, perhaps, in drunkard's grave.
The course of subsequent events
seemed likely to verify her anticipation.
In just six months from the time the
mortgage was given. three hundred
dollars had wasted away. Most of it
had found its way back to the land
lords drawer.
William Sprague was about contemp-
lating a second mortgage, an unexpeet-
ed incident most fortunately set him to
thinking, and eventuated in restoring
him, a temperate man, to his wife and
children.
This is the way ithappened: One even
ing he left the tavern in a partial state
of intoxication, and directed his steps
homeward. 1t was distance of
mile, and when halfway, he sat down
by the side of the road TO rest. Pretty
soon he heard the steps, and soon after
the voices, of two men, who were APP
preaching, and appeared TO be earnest
ly engaged in conversation.
They proved TO be the landlord and
brother of his, who was visiting him
from neighboring town.
THAT is pretty place of Sprague's,
said the latter.
EYES," said the landlord, "but il
won't be his long"
"Ahl how is that?'
''Oh, he's n miserable fellow; gets
drunk every night In my bar room"
Getting rid OF his money fast, is
hep
Eyes, at galloping rate"
"Is his house mortgagedP"
''Yes; and the mortgage is in my
hands"