The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1890-07-24
A DISAPPOINTED LANDLORD,

Bat 10 10 evil hour he yielded TO the /,
viisIiop Of ,mrsds TO "t.ke drink"
The village tavern. From this moment b
dovn~srd s.eps became more and mol
npid-n1t that be loved driuk. Al Or
I 4 vss dists.iefal to him. but by degree
be began 10 crave for Its stimulsiing o.
ieci. and TO think 1t vas necessary 10 b
constitution. Besides. be enjoyed Ii
convivislity of The party that were wont
meet st the tavern night after night 10 ca
rcuse and make merry.
| AN speskiog ef time twenty yesi
since when drunkenness wss more openl
prscticed than nov.
Ofconrse these habits were not ~iihou
effect upon bis pecuniary Interests. II
had inherited from bis father . cottag
and couple OF acres Of land. which va
worth. perhaps, fifteen hundred dollsr'
Besldes this. his occupation that Of ca
penter- brought him, 10 good times, tw
dollars . day; so that there seemed 10 b
nothing TO prevent his laying ups goo
sun every year. Ia fact. be had alresd
four hundred dollars on deposit 10 th
savings bank when he first came TO TAX
the downward path But this soon melt
ed away. being transferred to the land
lords pocket for rum.
BY and by the account vt the tavern hs,
twelled 10 two hundred dollars more. Th
landlord was perfectly willing to give hin
credit, knowing that his place would so
cure hin. Iadeed. he had fixed bis ey,
upon il. and meant TO get 1t into bis pos
session sooner or later
When his bill amounted 10 two hundred
dollars he presented 1t for payment. Tb,
smcubt staggered William Spraeue. wht
had ne idea it WAS so much.
can show you the items, said the land
lord, confidently.
l.suppose you are right. said bis victim
but cant pay you now.
am sorry 10 press yon; but must in
sist upon it.
But | haven't 1t 10 my possession.
Oh. we'll you can easily raise it.
Who would lend il to me2
Your Uncle Thomas.
No hope there, said Sprsgue, who well
knew that bis uncle disspproved OF the
course he had been pursuing for some
months past. No hope there. am no
great fsvorite with him.
Well, said the landlord after a pause
III tell you what I'll do. You owe me two
hundred dollars will loan you three
hundred more, and you shall give me 3
mortgage OF five hundred dollars on your
house and land.
Wilism was ct first startled at this sug.
,estion. But after oil. thought be. why
1? II will pay of my debt and
give me three hundred dollars in hand. l
yuess Ill do II.
The landlord received his assent with
oy, and would not let him rest till the
documents we're drawn up and the mort
yage given.
Mrs. Sprague heard OF her husbands &C
ion with pain, She tesrfully expostulst
d with him. but 10 vsin. She we'll knew
hat the three hundred dollars would go
be way Of the other two and that the
sndlord would never release the hold that
o be had now got on her husband. She
ould divine at no distant time. she and
er children would be without home,
nd her husband. perhaps 10 . drunksrd's 8
rave.
The course Of subsequent events seemed
kelly to verify be anticipation. Ia just
i months from the time the mortgage
'ss wasted away. Mort OF 1t had found
$ way back 10 tb. landlords drawer
William Sprsgue WAS about contemp
ting second mortgage when an unex
ected incident most fortunstely set bin
} thinking. and eventnated in restoring
i'm. temperate man. TO his wife and
iildreD.
This is how II happened: Oae night be
II the tavern In partial state OF intoxi 1
ltiou and directed his steps homewsrd.
Asot. ~ f., nj uI h.I
~, be sat down by the side OF the road
rest. Pretty soon be heard steps, and
ION after the voices Of two men, who we're
,proachiDg. and appeared to be earnest
engaged in conversation.
They proved TO be the landlord aud
other OF his, who was visiting him from
neig boring town.
That is pretty place Of Spragues, said
e latter
Y.s, said the lsndlord, bat il wopt bs
s long.
Ahl how is tbsl2
On. he's = miserable fellow; gets drunk
cry night in my bar room.
Getting rid Of bis money fast. is
!?
Yes. at a ealloping rate.
Is the place mortgagedY
Yes; and the mortgage is 10 my
nds.
For how much2
Five hundred dollars.
Il must be worth three times tbst
Richly. III tell yoa what | propose to
/. Lend him two hundred dollars on .
,snd mortgage. sni when the amount be
mes due. force sale Of the place.
And you bid it 10 yoarseli' |,
Precisely. shouldn't wonder il could I
! 1t for eleven bnndred dollars. There
4 probably be 20 one else 10 bid His I
Gle mig bt. bnt be hss io.t sli coo q f1ence q
him. When l gel il IsLali pnt my son q
hn ipte the house He is 10 marry this q
all this william Sprasue heard a. be
90 The grass by the roadside. The
|ht vss 10 dark that be sss not seen by