The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-01-26
TEMPERANCE READING.
a LANDLORDS SCHEME.
The Turning Point in the Life of William
Snrapue.


The Turning Point in the Life of william
Sprague.
William Sprague had once been an
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
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 that
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 ca
rouse and make merry.
| am speaking of time twenty
years since, when drunkenness was
more openly practiced than now.
OF course these habits were not
without their effect upon his pecuniary
interests. He had inherited from his
father a cottage and couple of acres
of land, which were worth, perhaps,
fifteen hundred dollars. Besides this,
his occupation-thato of a carpenter
brought him, in good times. two dol
lars day; so that there seemed to be
nothing to prevent his laying up a
good sum every year. In fact, he had
already some four hundred dollars on
deposit in the savings bank when he
first came to take the downward path.
But this soon melted away, being
transferred to the landlords pockets
for rum.
BY and by 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
sooner or later.
When his bill amounted to two hun
dred dollars he presented it Tor pay
ment. The amount staggered Will
lam Sprague, who had no idea 1t was
so much.
II can show you the items" said
the landlord, confidently.
81 suppose you are right" said his
victim; "but l can not pay you now"
Il am sorry to press you; but must
insist upon it."
but l haven't it in my possession"
"Oh, well, you can easily raise it."
"Who would lend me?"
Your Uncle Thomas"
"No hope there" said Sprague,
who well knew that his uncle disap-
proved of the course he had been pur-
suing for some months past mo
hope there. / am no great favorite
with him."
"Well," said the landlord. after a
pause, I'm tell you what I'll do.
lend you three hundred more, and you
shall give me q mortgage for five hun
dred on your house and land"
William was at first startled at this
suggestion; but. after all. thought he:
why shouldn't l? Il will pay off my
debt and give me three hundred dol
lars in hand. / guess I'll do it."
The landlord received his assent
with JOY, and would not let him rest
till the documents were drawn up and
the mortgage given.
Mrs. Sprague heard of her husbands
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
her children would be without home,
and her husband, perhaps, in drunk
ards grave.
The course of subsequent events
seemed likely to verify her anticipa-
ton. In just six months from the
time the mortgage was given the
three hundred dollars had wasted
away. Most of it had found it's way
back to the landlords drawer.
William Sprague was about contem-
plating a second mortgage, when an
unexpected incident most fortunately
set him to thinking, and eventuated in
restoring him, q temperate man, to
his wife and children.
This is the way it happened: One
evening he left the tavern in state
of partial intoxication, and directed
his steps homeward. 1t was a dis
tance 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 approaching, and appeared
to be earnestly engaged in converse
| ton.