The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-01-23
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
A GOOD CUSTOMER.
An Illustration of the Evil Effects of

IldThCus
"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 l was
around here. One evening, not long
ago, dropped in at Bracll's to get few
bowls; and while was sitting at a 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 a high com
pliment by giving me an introduction
to his master, and, turning to Brack,
said:
g This is Mr.. Rodney, a 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 |
attempted to be of good cheer, but if l
smiled at all it must have been in a
constrained way, for certain words lay
with shudder-inspiring clamminess on
my mind:
% Mr.. Rodney is good customer of
ours
MANY time had l 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
I ont with tho wards still r-inrinCr
in my ears, and meditativcly strolled
along Michigan avenue. Hundreds of
Respondent equipages whirlcd past.
A man gayly waved his hand at me. lie
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?
Il went home. My wife was cooking
supper. We could not afford to keep Il
girl. My wife had said so, and | 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.
had agreed to all this. for | knew that
| did work hard, and l prided myself
that / had never been intoxicated, and
yet 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?' l asked.
Mot now,' she answered; I'm so
tired that haven't any appetite
Mr.. Rodney is a 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 70 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 q new
pair
Great God! "A good customer o1
ours
Il went into the sitting-room and lay
on the sofa. A troop of reproachfu1
thoughts shurried through my brain
And then, old, villainous human nature
tried to sooth me: You were never
drunk, it said you have always beer
kind to your family. You drink of az
evening when your work is done, but
You need some sort of recreation. Ior
spend money, it is true, but why does I
man care to live il he can not enjoy
himself occasionally All, how easy i
would have been to yield but truth, il
IL sad tone of rcproval, waved aside
the tempting scoundrel and said
The money you spend for bee
would make your home rcst-inSpirins
and happy place. You say that yo,
must have recreation. What recreation
has your wife? Whose Good custome
is she?'
MY wife came into the room and sd
down near me.
care you very tired?' she asked, il
avoice low and sweet with sympathy
music.
mo" I could not help ezclaim. 5
am not tired, but good customer OF
mean that I am d brute
"'Why, what do you mean" ST.
asked in surprise.
~ mean exactly what I say-that
am simply a brute. have wasted man.
a dollar that | should have brough
home; my scltishness has kept you har
at work when you should have bee
reading Some entertaining book il
truth, am good customer at bee
hall and you are a slave"
d" oh. don't say that, dear she i'm
plored, gently smoothing back my hail
i am sure that Jour position demand
the spending of some money. fo
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 l ma
not appear thoughtfully selfish anon
my downtown associates. Wen nc
discuss it, but we shall see.'
1--WE have seem" Rodney continue
after short pause. eve have seen
girl in the kitchen; we have seen m
daughter, bright and well clothed, &c
ing to school-have seen my wife reste
and cheerful, and especially have w
seen that am no longer a good custom
er of ours. '"-Opie Z. Read, in Arkar
saw Traveller.
BREWERY AGENCIES.
4 system by Which the Saloon Cuisines