The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1890-04-10

And so the boy learned wisdom:
HE sha'n't grow rich on me;
For I'll quench my thirst with water,
Gods own free giftr'-thought he.
He kept his word, and prospered,
In honest, sober ways;
And, rich in health and happiness,
HIS life shows how it pays
Mary E. Bradley, in The Better Day.
CHARLIE, THE DRUNkARD.
How He Reformed and Made = Pleasant
Home for Wife and Children.
Charlie was an Englishman, q me-
chanic by trade, and could earn good
wages, but he had become addicted to
drink. One day he went into store
kept by little woman named mamie"
and got a penny's worth of tobacco.
She said to him: Don't you remem-
Der the nice house you used to live in,
Charlie? Would you like to know how
you can have that nice house back again
and be as happy as you once were?'
Charlie did not answer, but turned to
leave the store. Mamie called him
back and asked: "Would not you 20 to
the temperance meeting and sign the
pledge? will if you will" IF you
will" These words rang in Charles
ears all day long. Charlie knew Nam
ME was strictly temperate, and still
she had said: II will if you will"
Next night they were both at the
meeting. Charlie sat in the back
corner where he could not be seen. At
the close many signed the pledge.
Among them stood Mamie who said; Il
will sign my name" When the
meeting was over Charlie went to
his home, as if he was ashamed
to be seen by anyone. Next day
he went into the little store to get his
tobacco. II thought you was going to
sign the pledge" said Mamie. "You
said you would if I did" II know I
did," said Charlie. "Will you promise
to keep it secret for one month";" After
she had promised to do 80 he went to
the secretary of the Temperance society
and made him promise to keep the Sc
cret for one month. He then signed the
pledge, but, strange to say, Charlie, as
of old, went staggering every day to his
work. At night he staggered home. 1t
was quite easy for him to play the
drunkard, he had been one so long
When the month was at an end he spoke
to his employer about his pay. He said:
Eyes, Charlie, will pay you every cent
that is due you in hard silver He
found that he owed Charlie ten pounds
and six shillings. ''How is that, Char
lie? By my books it appears that owe
you ten pounds and six shillings?''
Eyes," said Charlie, land you promised
to pay me all in hard silver" Hadn't
you better let me keep part of
it for you, Charlie? You know you
will soon spend it all for
drink" mo won't, for am q tenn.
perance man now, and haven't drank a
single drop of liquor for one month. ="
''Didn't l see you come staggering to
your work this very morning, Charlie?''
Eyes, know you did" He then told
the secret, and his employer gave him
Ell and told him he hoped he would
continue in the same way, and that he
would have many friends. Charlie
thanked him and went straight to veg
etable store, and when he went in the
marketman brought out what no one
else would buy. Charlie told him he
did not want such stuff. He wanted
One-half bushel of potatoes and a
basket of turnips and carrots, and asked
him to take them to the house in half
an hour. He then paid for them. He
went to the butchers next and asked
him the price of a leg of mutton. ''Oh,
you don't want that, Charlie; it costs too
much" Eyes, d." said Charlie, and
he put his hand in his pocket and rat
tied the silver. 1t made tho butcher
open his eyes. He weighed the log OF
mutton and Charlie paid for it. He
asked it to be sent to the house
in just half an hour. He next went to
the baker and said: "Please send
me dozen loaves of bread
and two loaves of cake, two
pound of crackers, dozen sweet buns,
and send them to my house in just half
IN hour" Then he started for the coal
yard and asked the keeper If he would
send him ton of coal. He answered:
eyes. if can see the money" ''Here
it u.s." said Charlie. II can pay for it
now" He did 50, and said: ''Send tho
coal to my house in just half an hour. :"
On his way homo he said: my wife has
not had new bonnet for fifteen years. -
And he went into milliner's, who said
to him: This is not the place, Charlie
Next door is where they sell it," II
don't want any Of their rum. want q
new bonnet for my wife; she hasn't had
one for fifteen years. How much is
that one in the window?' Twenty
shillings; but you may have it for
eighteen" Charlie paid for it, and told
her to send it to his house in just half
IN hour: He then started home a. fast
~ he could go. He went in the back
way, and got behind an old piece of car
pet that hung over the fireplace that
had not been used for long time. And
he heard his wife say: ''Now children,
your clothes are all mended and clean,
and you can go to the Sunday-sohool
tomorrow. They are not very good,
but you shall have better when your
father is . reformed man." When
Charlie heard this the tears rolled down
his cheeka Just then there came q
loud knock on the door. The vegetable
man now came in. where will you
have these things9'' ''They do not b.
long here" she said. Eyes they do
And he turned them out in ono corner Of
the floor, and went out a. the butcher
came in. where will you have this
mutton?' II guess you have made .
mistake; it does not belong here" No,
l have not, it is for Drunken Charlie'n
for that is the name he always went
by-and he laid it on the clean, white
table. As he went out the baker came
In. where will you have this?" ''Oh,
1t don't belong here" 'sYah, /" said the
Dutehmsu. ''Dis vos Drunken Chaylio