Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-03-01
The Turning Point.
BY HORATIO ALGER, JR.

honest, industrious, temperate mechan-
ic, enjoying the respect of his fellow
men, and maintaining his wife and
children in comfort. But in an evil
hour, he yielded TO the invitation of a
cDmrade to take drink at the viii
lage tavern. From this moment his
downward steps became more and
more rapid 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.
am speaking of Il 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 a cottage and "A couple Of acres
OF land which We're worth, perhaps,
fifteen hundred dollars. Besides this,
his occupation-that of n carpenter
brought him, in good times, two dol
lars "a day; SO that there seemed to be
nothing To prevent his laying up 1t
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.
Il suppose you are right" said his
victim; "hut can't pay you now"
Il am sorry to press you; bat | must
insist upon it
But haven't il in my possession"
''Oh, well, you can easily raise it,"
"Who would lend me?"
Your Uncle Thomas"
.'No hope there" said Sprague, who
we'll 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 a
pause, ''I'll tell you what I'll do. You
owe me two hundred dollars. I'll lend
you three hundred more, and you shall
give me mortgage for five hundred on
your house and land"
William was at first startled at this
suggestions; but, after ALL thought he
why shouldn't /? 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 the
mortgage given.
Mrs. Sprague heard of her husband
action with pain. She tearfully eX-
postulated 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 hex children
would be without home, and her hus-
band, perhaps, in drunl<ard's grave.
The course of subsequent events
seemed likely to verify her anticipation.
In Just six months from the time the
h,,,,
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 unexpect-
ed incident most fortunately set him to
thinking, and eventuated in restoring
him, Il temperate man, to his wife and
children.
This is the way il happened One even
ing he left the tavern in a partial state
of intoxication, and directed his steps
homeward. 1t was distance Of II
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
a brother of his, who was visiting him
from a neighboring town.
THAT is pretty place OF Sprague's,
said the latter.
Yes" said the landlord, "but it
won't be his long"
"Ah! how is thatpn
.'Oh. he's miserable fellow; gets
drunk every night in my bar room"
''Getting rid of his money fast, is
Ae?n
.'Yes. Mt galloping rate"
ais his house mortgaged?"
"Yes; and the mortgage is in my
hands"