The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-02-02
TEMPERANCE.
AN ATTRACTIVE SIGHT.


Good influence Exerted by heery
Home.
Yes, ma'am," he said, picking up
his two-foot rule, "Pll take the
measures directly. This is a nice
room. l like a room where the sun
shines in all day. Two feet six, by
Let me see-yes, you've a nice room
here; your plants look fine. Do you
ever leave your shades up of even
ings?"
Mrs. Mason laughed, then ques-
toned, her face flushing slightly:
"Why do you ask? Did you ever
pass in the EVENING""
Nom, nom! 1 never went past
here of an evening, but was just a
thinkin' what a pretty picter it would
make to any one a passin."
WELL" Mrs. Mason said, 81 do
leave the shades up often, especially on
dark or stormy nights. / always felt
as though every one would make fun
of me, but / wanted a little of the
pleasantness should go out to Those
who were obliged to face the cold or
storm"
"Well, ma'am, that's just it, and l
suspicion that that s-ery spirit is what
goes outside and sort Of cheers up
passers by more'n even the pretty
plcter does; but unless you've been
homeless and kinder lonesome, you
have no idea what sort of a lift such
q window is to fellow. Dunno but I'll
tell you story bout myself. Some
ten year ago or more l was workin'
in the foundry down here, an 1t was
pretty steady work an lots of it, and
we fellows got heated and grimy, and
we couldn't get very good board-you
see, first-class boardin' houses don't
open doors to men as come in black
with smut-and we were crowded into
small, bare rooms, and had pretty dry
pickin' at table, usually. Well, you
see. in such a case a fellow wants to
get off in tho fresh air as soon as his
supports over. In summer there's
the parks and the street corners, and
dry-goods boxes in the alleys amt
nigh so bad place to sit and gas as
you'd think; but when it comes winter
there's nowhere but the saloons. At
first a fellow sits around and chats,
then he pays five cents for a glass of
beer, and is glad of the little snack,
cold beans and brown bread mebby,
that's set out for a free lunch. 'Tain't
much, but fellow that's always
underfed gets to sorter banker after
something, he don't just know what.
There's light and warmth, and some
times music, and always jolly crowd,
and it amt much wonder fellows drift
into the saloons. Well, l used to pass
every night II pretty little brown
house; to tell the truth, just the one
I'm Twin in now, and the curtains in the
Bittin' room windows was always up.
There were lots of plants in the window,
just big geraniums and ivys and
things; didn't know the names of EN-
then, but they looked awful nice to
me. The windows were high from the
walk, so all could see was the heads
of folks sittin' about, but it looked
light and warm and CHEEKY, and I
used to stand there night after night
with my hands down in my empty
pockets; a kickin' my toes to keep 'em
from freezin, and just stare into them
windows. l was gettin' along first
rate ut the foundry, and I'd just made
sort of contriance that l found
out afterwards the mornin' papers had
all been talkin' about, and the boss
had given me twenty-five dollars in
cash for it, and on this particular
night l had it in my pocket, and was on
my way down to treat the boys and
have big old blow out.
II stopped as usual and stared up at
the window, sort OF wishin', In some
vague way. that had such a nome,
feelin' q little homesick. and mebby
pittyin' poor cusses like myself who
went to the dogs because they had no
where to stay but in the saloons, when
fellow about my size came tramping
along, and near run into me.
"He fetched up with a round turn,
and yelled: Hello. What you dom
there?'
"'None O your Internal biz I
answered, DRAWN my hands outen my
pockets. Il was just thinlin' how
nice an light an warm them plants
look.
why, yes said he. L believe
your names Kennerd, isn't it? and
won't you come in where the plants
are? Father was talking about your
invention to-day. He says he thinks
he used to go to school with your
father
"Ma'am, l didn't hesitate long. l
followed along in, and there was the
young fellows father and mother, a
grown-up sister. and three or four
younger children. l stayed there till
about ten o'clock. The children got
apples and popcorn, and we cracked
nuts. Then went home Well, you
can't think what queer feelin' came
over me. / sat down on the side of
the bed, holdin' one shoe half pulled
off of my foot in my hands, and sort
Of sized the difference. There was