The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1891-01-28
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
A GOOD CUSTOMER.
An Illustration of the Evil Effects q

When Rodney came into the club the |
other evening, one of the boys re-
marked:
"Ah, Rod, you're looking pretty
slick"
"Yes, and am feeling pretty slick,
as you term it. My eye teeth have
come through since the last time was
around here. One evening, not long
ago, dropped in at Brack's toget few
bowls; and while was sitting at table
drinking, Brack, after shaking hands
withseveral convivial friends and bid
ding them goodbye, CHANGED to come
near my table. The old fellow that was
waiting on me-the one we call Bis
marck-thought to pay me high COM
pliment by giving me an introduction
to his master, and, turning to Brack,
said:
This is Mr.. Rodney, good custom
er of ours
"Brack sat down and ordered the
drinks. He was exceedingly jestful,
and laughed immoderately at some lit
tie pleasantly uttered by himself, and l
attempted to be of good cheer, but if
smiled at all it must have been in a
constrained way, for certain words lay
with shudder-inspiring CLEANLINESS on
my mind:
MIR. Rodney is good customer of
ours
"Many time had I sat at that table,
studying the faces of the clamorous
crowd about me, and many an ill-spent
dollar had left there, but never be-
fore had it struck me that had been
picked out as good customer of ours
went out with the words still ringing
in my ears, and meditatively strolled
along Michigan avenue. Hundreds of
Respondent equipages whirled past.
A man gayly waved his hand at me. He
was driving a handsome span of horses.
/ recognized Brack. "A good customer
of ours Good customers of ours had
provided him with that striking turn
out. But where was my team?
81 went home. My wife was cooking
supper. We could not afford to keep a
girl. My wife had said so, and l had
agreed with her. She had often de-
clared that was working too hard, and
| that it was no more than right that she
should attempt to cut down expenses. l
had agreed to all this, for knew that
/ did work hard, and l prided myself
that had never been intoxicated, and
yeti was "a good customer of ours.
We sat down to supper. My wife-and
how weary she did look-sat with her
arms resting on the table. Aren't you
going to eat any thing?' asked.
"'Not now she answered; I'm SO
tired that haven't any appetite
"'Mr. Rodney is good customer of
ours the tea-kettle hummed; and a
cat, purring at the leg of my chair,
seemed to repeat the words. A chill
crept over me.
"'What have you learned at school
to-day? asked my little daughter.
81 didn't go to school to-day she
answered.
"Why?'
'My wife looked up YEARLY and
said Her shoes are worn out She'll
have to wait until we can get her new
pair
'Great God! "A good customer of
ours
II went into the sitting-room and lay
on the sofa. A troop of reproachful
thoughts skurried through my brain.
And then, old, villainous human nature
tried to sooth me: You were never
drunk it said, you have always been
kind to your family. You drink of an
evening when your work is done, but
you need some sort of recreation. You
spend money, it is true, but why does a
man care to live If he can not enjoy
himself occasionally All, how easy it
would have been to yield, but truth, in
a sad tone of reproval, waved aside
the tempting scoundrel and said:
The money you spend for beer
would make your home rest-inspiring
and happy place. You say that you
must have recreation. What recreation
has your wife? Whose Good customer
is she?'
"My wife came into the room and sat
down near me.
care you very tired?' she asked, in
avoice low and sweet with sympathy e
music.
MOI l could not help exclaim, 4
am not tired, but good customer Of
mean that am brute
"'Why, what dc va neanT she
asked in surprise.
"I mean exactly what say-that l
am simply brute. l have wasted many
dollar that l should have brought
home; my selhshness has kept you hard
at work when you should have beer
reading some entertaining book In
, truth, l am good customer at beef
hall and you are slave!
, oh, don't say that, DEAR she i'm
| plored, gently smoothing back my hair
Il am sure that your position demand,
the spending of some money. Yos
must not be made to appear selfish
; "'Oh, no. replied bitterly, 4 mus
throw money away-I must be /,
thoughtless brute at home so that msy
not appear thoughtfully selfish among
my downtown associates. Well NO
discuss it, but we shall see.'
"We have SEEM" Rodney continued
after short pause. "We have seen
girl in the kitchen; we have seen m,
daughter, bright and well clothed, 60
ing to school-have seen my wife reste,
, and cheerful, and especially have W,
r seen that am no longer a good custom
7 er Of ours "-Opie p. Read, in Arkan
e saw Traveller.
!. BREWERY AGENCIES.