Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1889-02-21
THE BARrENDER's STORY.

When / khowed him first there was suthin'-
A sort of a general air
That was very particular pleasin'
And what you might call. d bonair.
I'm aware that expression is Frenchy
And highfslution perhaps,
| Which accounts that | have the acquaintance
OF several quality chaps.
And su7h is the way they oonyerses!
But speaking of shis ERE young man
Apparently nature had shaped him
On a SORT OF u liberal plan.
Ha guv him good looks and good language
And all manners expressing; with vim
| HIS beli'f in hisself, and that others
We're Just as good fellows as him.
Well, this chap wasn't stuck up by no means,
| Nor inclined to be easy put down;
And was thought to be jolly, agreeable,
| Wherever he went around town.
He used to come in for his beverage
| Quite regular every night.
And took considerable interest
In mixin'the thing about right.
A iudicious indulgence in liquids
1t is natural for me to admire.
But l have to admit for some folks
They is p1zen complete and entire.
For rum. though a pleasant companion,
As q boss is the DEVILS own chum,
And this chsp, l am sorry to state it.
Was Hooreu in u wrestle with run
For he got to ipcreasin his doses
And took EN- more often, he did,
An it grow I'd or him faster and faster
Till into q hummer he slid.
/ was grieved to observe this ere Teller
| A letting himself down the grade.
And / lectured him onto it sometimes
at the risk of it iujurin' trade.
At last he got thunderin' seedy
| And lost his respect for h.Fself,
And all his high notions of honor
Was bundled awsy on the shelf.
But at times he was dreadful remorseful-
Whenever he'd stop for to think
And he'd swear to reform hisself frequentls
And end it-by takin' q drink.
What saved that young feller? A woman.
She done 1t the singlerest wayl
he come INT the bar-room one evenin'
And sot hisself down to the table
With q terrible s%orrowful face.
And sot there -groanin repeated,
A-oalling hisself a gone case.
He was thinkin' and thinkin' and thinkin',
And cusain' hisself and his fate.
Eut ended his shinkin' as usual
By ordering a "burbon straight"
he was holdin' the glass in his fingers
When into the place from the street
There can 9 a yourg gal Ike a spirit
With a face that was wonderfully sweet.
And she glided right up to thet Bile
Az IT. took the glass gently away.
l am only a W, man to-day.
L rejected You nee ia my anger,
But l come to you lowly and meek,
For ! can { live without you, ms darling,
] thought I was strong, but I'm weak.
"You are bound In a terrible bondage,
And l come, love, to share it with you.
Is there shame in the deed? / can bear it,
For at least to love / am true.
/ have turned from the home of my chi'dhoot
And come to you. lover and friend,
Leaving comfort, contsntment, ard honor,
And Ill stay to the terrible end.
els there hunger and want in the future,
III share them with you and not shrink,
And together we'll join in the pleasures,
The woes, and thu danger of drink"
Then she raised up the glass firm and steady
ABut her face was as pale as the dead,D
Here's to wine and the joys of carousals.
The songs and the laughter she said
Then he riz MP, his face like q tempest,
And took the glass out of her hand,
And flung it away. stern and savage.
And l tell you his name. was grand;
And be aays: 81 have done with it Nelly,
and l turn from the ways l have trod,
And III live to be worthy of you, dear,
80 help me a merciful God"
What more was rema ked it is needless
For me to attempt to relRta.
1t was some time ago since it happened,
But the sequel ia easy to state
L seen that same Teller last Monday,
Looking nobby and handsome and game,
DE was wheelin' q vehicle gentlemen,
And a baby was into the same.