The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-04-12
"DRUNKEN CHARLIE"
How He Reformed and Made Pleasant
Home for Wife and Children.

How He Reformed and Made Pleasant
Home for Wife and Children.
Charlie was an Englishman, 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 we-e%'
Charlie did not answer, but turned to
leave The store. Mamie called him
back and asked: "Would not you go 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 Nan
she had said: 81 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; 81
will sign my name" When the
meeting was over Charlie went to
his home, as if he was ashamed
to be seen by any one. 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 / did" 81 know l
did," said Charlie. evil you promise
TO keep it secret for one month";" After
she had promised to do so he went to
the secretary of the Temperance society
and made him promise to keep the Sc
eret 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:
''Yes, 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?'
YES" 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 l won't, for l am a 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?"
''Yes, 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 a bushel of potatoes and q
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 leg of mutton. ooh,
you don't want that, Charlie; it costs too
much" Eyes, do" said Charlie, and
he put his hand in his pocket and rat
tied the silver. 1t made the butcher
open his eyes. He weighed the leg 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
an 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 is" said Charlie. 81 can pay for it
now" He did so, and said: "Send the
coal to my house in just half an hour"
On his way home he said: my wife has
not bad 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
new bonnet for my wife; she hasn't had
one for fifteen years. How much is
that one in the Window" Twenty