Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-14

How the Country sisnpieton Amused me W.
lsge aud .>pougcd" Drinka

lsge aud ">pougcd Drtnka
Prom the New Tcrk Herald.
Every country place has IT, queer character.
usually several OF them. ana the amusement 81
the native IL largely confined 20 tho e-ceusrie
sayings and actions Of these same natural
testers. Tie humor is all the more dfol be-
cause il is absolutely free from any attempt at
drollery.
Lucky il is for rural inhabitants thsi nature
provides this form OF entertainment ~ other
wise they would run n very good chance q
stagnating in the serious pool Of life aul never
getting the benefit OF a smile 20 soften their
faces.
And 80 George Stove in his humble wv w,.
quite benehcent gloam OF light in the aomber
life of a little Vermont hamlet. George was OF
| uncertain age and Of uncertain mentsl carac-
| ity. He seemed simple. but IN rcalitt he was
endowed with fun share Of shrcWd Eankee
/ cunning. He ckCd out prccaflons livelihood
by driving hack 20 the railway station ana
| trading on his deafness
Nobody really knew whether George was
deaf or not When n man dunned hin he vas
as deaf As a post and at Other times shen he
tried he could hear whispered conversation
| carried on IN the back OF his coach. 10 vas
always unwise to put any confidence IA Georges
| iahVmity.
George also drank stale aud bcvildcrius
| draughis OF beer such as J. aluavs sslrv.oa IN
Vermont whenever be could inveicle uur one
into buying Il for him. The wicked faiIroad
| restaurant was about the only rlace ID town
where ncouid he had, and there Georgf waited
and planned traps Tor tho uuwarv
what II You have. George" asked a stranger
whom he had just brought down from the VII
lage. - glass at beer or a piece Of pioy"
Yes, yes, thank you, replied George Affect
ing 10 mlsunderstaud the question. IN drink
the beer and take the pie right In my hand"
Another iaNoritc coup OF Georges Wa when
ever any one said Good day" To him TO
promptly reply:
'Ncs, thank you; don't care il d" and
steer straight AWAY Tor the bar.
And George worked this bit Of dipiorscv 40
often and so successfully that be was in danger
OF becoming a scandal IN tho Puritanioal com
munity through has tendency toward \ con-
dition OF inebriGtlon- Ono day whilo riding
down TO the station with deacon u the
church George was seized with lit Of repent
ance.
Deacon" said he. Il would like 20 brace up
and do bettor-stop drinking and shoW All tho
folks that am good deal more OF man than
they thought / can do il If I try. know.
only, You see. j have said I was going 10 stop
30 many times and didn't do Il that thoy won I
none OF them believe me now"
"A am very glad 10 near at but how can you
convince them"
I've got an idea Now when we get down
| to the station you ask me to have n drihk and
then u have chance TO refuse right before
them all and show them that mean business
this time"
An right, George wen do it. and hope
) you IL stick 20 your good intentions"
They reached the depot and went into thS
eating room. A large crowd was there wait
ing for the train. The deacon In his bTisk and
hearty way spoke up so that all could hear.
: Come, George, have a drtnk2' he SAID.
: YES, thank You. Don't care II do replied
A George, and he promptly walked up TO the bar
He had the drink and the deacon paid for Il
but the deacon lost great deal Of faith IN man
, kind thereby. That night he made George Ga,
: subject OF prayer at the Tuesday evenin,
! meeting.