The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1889-09-20
A STORY WITH THREE HEADS.

'Mother, Uncle John says we may go to
the city with him tomorrow
Tomorrow? Oh, don't know about
that, Rossl don't want you to miss school
for whole day"
'tHe says, mother" spoke up the other
curly headed boy, chat he is going to give
us three object lessons that will be worth
what did he say it wonld be worth,
Ross?"
"Three times three temperance lectures,
he said''
Temperance lecturesP" said the mother,
looking al her tall boys with sudden
anxious pang. eyes, you may go. Uncle
John would not ask you to miss school I'M
less he had very good reason for wanting
to take you with him.
Ross and John Pratt were twin brothers
so much alike as regards brown eyes, short
crisp brown curls, long, straight noses, and
loud, merry voices, that few people were
able to tell them apart. In their baby days
the black nanny called each s'Mars. John
Ross" not at all knowing which was
which.
Their mother had been left a widow
when they were only two years old; but it
was whispered among her friends that her
husbands death had saved her from
worse fate-that Of drunkards wife
And now her strong cry to God, day by
day, was that these two beautiful boys
might have strength given them to resist
the temptation in their blood to intemrer-
ance.
Uncle John had his way, and the boys
set out with him on the ears for the city
twelve miles off. There they took the
street-cars. 1t was a cold winter morning
and the idle feet ached with cold in spite
of the thick bed of straw in the street-car
Il say, Uncle John, can't we walk to
whatever place you are taking USE" asked
namesaked John; ''this old tram is Just
piece of the frigid zone"
mo, We couldn't put in the three visits
if We trusted to Shank's mare answered
Uncle John. "Shuffie your feet about in
the straw
The car presently left streets and stores
behind and began to travel through DESC
late-looking tracts, half field, half suburb.
on and on, over poor unused lands, past
scrubby timber, until suddenly great
bare-looking house came into view, look
ing lonesome and dreary.
sWell' exclaimed Ross, II have been
hearing all my life about the end of pea
time, and l think we have certainly come
to it,"
Don't you know what this place so"
asked Uncle John.
at looks like jail
s.Not exactly; it is an almshouse or 'po'-
house, where too old or sick or worth
less to earn living are supported by the
state
The manager knew Uncle John, and
seemed glad to see him; he allowed him to
take the boys all over the building. Such
sad, worn-out, hopeless, unhappy old lives
they were! John and Ross began to wish
themselves at school,"
"Now. Mr.. Piper" said Uncle John,
when they came back to the door, Il want
You TO tell these lads OF mine how most of
these people came here
"Humphr' said the big, gruff manager,
''that's short horse and soon curried,-
twas drink. Eff 'twasn' drinkin' them
selves, twas some un's else drinkin'. Ell
'twan't for drink, we could sell this here
pile for old brick.
'sThere, boys, here endeth your first les
son, said Uncle John. Then, seeing them
look depressed, he proposed race across
the country to catch another horse-car, and
soon the chaps were in fine spirits again,
racing, jumping, tossing up their heads
like pair OF colts.
The next car gave them long ride too;
it seemed to skirt the city, running past
machine shops, tan-y yards and the like.
''Looks as if we We're getting into town
by the back door," said young John.
"Hullo. hope that amt another 'po'-
house.
1t was the city jail and penitentiary, a
great, handsome pile of stone architecture,
clean and we'll kept, but awfully still and
somber
Ugh. it feels like grave" grumbled
Ross
They were shown prisoners in solitary
cells, and hundreds and hundreds of men
and boys in striped clothes aud shaver
heads, working in stone and wood and
leather.
Captain" said Uncle John TO their
keeper, 81 would like to ask if yon know
any one thing, more than another, that has
brought those wretches to this place
"Now go long, mister said the keeper,
who, to the boys great surprise. seemed a
very Jolly sort of fellow. 'sYou amt even
passed s'loon, likely, much less been in
ter one." And the man winked. as if it
was good joke.
"You think it was whisky them
Think be repeated Significantly, mo,
1 don't think nothin' t all bout it. +"
s.Here endeth your second lesson" said
Uncle John gravely, as the heavy door
swung behind them. shutting them ont
into the free. sweet air again.
Look here, Uncle John, said his name
sake sl'd like to graduate from these les