St. Landry democrat., 1889-08-10
WORTH SAVING.

WORTH SAVING.
THE STORY OF "OUR JOHN" AND WHAT
TIMELY, FRIENDLY HELP DID
FOR HIM.
"Jonas, come bere"
In response to this invitation from Jerry
Monks, lumber dealer, Jonas Sheppard,
wholesale fish dealer, came to Jerry's office
window and looked out upon the wharf
adjacent.
'"There, Jonas, that is sad sight
"That man Keeling drunk, jerry
yes"
''Disgusting Some rough and tumble
sailor"
Eyes, and there he goes to the ground
Now he is trying to pick himself up.
There He is up! He knows more than
thought he did"
''Brutes Such folks don't seem worth
saving"
''Oh, yes, they are worth saving, Jonas.
Look farther up the wharf There is one
of Uncle Sans boys from that man of war
off in the stream"
"Well, now, he has something aboard,
and is rather hilarious, but he looks much
more hopeful than the brute down here.
That man of wars man looks worth saw
ing" ,
"Why, he looks like Our John, ," said
the lumber dealer.
"Who is Our john should like to
know?'
war smart young fellow, and the son of
my wife's wasberwoman, Nancy. He took
to drink, they say, and l suppose is Keeling
- somewhere. Nancy has lost track of him
really should like to see some of these
mistaken fellows reformed"
"Why, Jerry, you have the tone of a
philanthropist | expect to see you rush
out most any time and tackle one of those
brrtes and try and make them decent"
"Well, if one try, he has got to believe
the case is worth saving. 1t is that convic
ton which makes a man in earnest. Take
that fellow who tumbled just now, but got
up. The man is in him, a fine fellow, l
dare say, when the rum-devil is cast out
energetic, bright. Yes you have got to
believe they are worth saving, if you start
to do anything, Jonas"
81 wish we had a Seamans Home in
our port not just boarding house, but
with lot of lively additions like music
games, and some good, wide awake lee.
lures now and then, some on temperance,
say. l tell you, talk about that chap, talk
about saving him Take him when he
comes ashore. He has had hard time on
board ship. He has got his freedom, got
SOME money, and can see that wants a
goou time. He goes where he thinks he
can get it, and finds the devil in waiting
for him. He doesn't see the horns and
hoof under '>e welcome he gets"
"Well, | appreciate all that, and it is q
capital idea. l don't see but that you ard
will have to give. when we get rich"
s'That's well put in
. "Ten thousand dollars apiece to start a
frst-class boarding house, or home and
all kinds of attractions for sailors. But
that won't help the present case. think
we ought to follow up that fellow"
Follow him If he hasn't tumbled over
lido the dock p
''You don't say p
The two men rushed out of the Office,
: ran to the edge of the wharf, and looked
down.
What sight, Jerry"
"Lucky the tide is out
"But, oh, the mud is in What a
sightl"
The sailor was sight indeed. 1t was
low tide in the dock, and into its ooze and
mud the sailor had pitched. He was gath
0T1UR ulu1SO1l up, dAo AOo SSOh4 Au1 Us
INT such muddied hands and bedaubed
clothes The shock of the fall was some
what SOLDERING him. He looked up confus-
eddy, pitifully, as if wanting somebody to
tell him what to do.
s'Here, friend up this way. Let me have
YOUR hand" cried the lumber dealer, step
ping promptly down rough stairway
leading into the dock
mt n | Inv
Yourself Let him wallow to the head of
the dock and get out himself
ono, Jonas, here is the place" and he
said in low tone: "You got to help, too .
Friend" cried Jerry, this way Here,
step on these stairs Now take hold OF
the railing, and there-I'll get behind and
shove you up. Jonas, Just come ana take
hold Of this mans hands and pull while
shove"
"Nonsense !" groaned Jonas, who was
rather fastidious in his tastes. Jerry
tboupht. was inexorable and would not lei
= Jonas off.
"Grab his hands, Jonas! Pull good
Heave-nowl There he rises Now
again All together, heave-now Good
Once more"
All this time Jonas was Juggling, hang
ino ont broad look of disgust on his face
"There Now let him go, Jerry. HI
is up!"
"Not yet, Jonas. | don't take hold of
lob of this kind without finishing 1t up
Come, friend, this way"
The lumber dealer now guided the
humanity rescued from the eoak into hi:
2 lumber yard, and then led him to shee
where on nal hung suit of old clothes
stNow strip, friend
"You going, Jerry, to put that suit or
him 2" as Jonas, his features still t"lseee
into an expression of disgust
81 reckon, as they say, Jonas. Some
that I have when want to work. | an
going to finish up this job. Thorough :
Sou know, is, or should be, the motto il
temperance work. am going to take this
man to his vessel and have him back as
soon as he is fully sober to sign the pledge
Thase muddied clothes I'll have Nancy, my
wife's washwoman, put through the suds.
ssWhat a man I" exclaimed the whole