The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1891-04-09

TOO OFTEN so.
THE PRICE OF 4 DRINK.


pulled the team to the right, aud
the wagon jJstied over the roots of
a large oak, "there uaeter stand
the blacksmith shop Of the settle
ment.
Just over there, close by that Big
oak, was the dwelling of the smith,
where the children played around
the door, and just back yonder, a
mong those plum trees, Is where
the good wife was buried years
ago, and that is all that remains
Of the smith or the smiths family.
Il \
"Iwenty years ago the smith had
turned over new leaf-as the say
ing goes-and was happy with his
little family, and had the confidence
of all his neignbors, but in an evil
hour he touched upon the border
of his ola ways, not much, just long
enough to pour one drink, and it is
of that one drink | want to tell you.
"Ibe smith with his little boy
John, was on his way home from the
village. On the roadside stood lit
tie IL by 16 bar-room, and there the
wagon stopped.
Don't go in there, papa |" the
little boy pleaded, as he tugged at
his fathers coat sleeve, and looked
into his face with pleading eyes.
"Ah, John," said the father, "you
have all got to treating ne as it |
was er little child, | can control
myself now, and with this he raised
his little son with his strong right
hand, kissed him, bounded from
the wagon and in moment was
standing among his old associates
at the pine board counter of the bar.
"Just one drink, comrades" said
the smith. "Join me. Little John
is holding the team and [ must
hurry for they treat me now like |
was as weak and tender as er babe
and he'll be grievlng if don't get
right erlong."
''In haste the drinks we're poured
out in the glasses, for the smith
was sinceIe in wanting to get back
to his little SOD, but as he waited
for his change, a rough, rowdy tel
low staggered up from dark c0r>
ner of the room and getting between
the smith and the door. insisted
that he had been insulted by not
being invited, and nothing would
do but ell fight to settle it.
"The smith was no man to back
down, especially arter he'd got one
drink, and IN less time than it takes
to tell you, there Was er general row
in the little room. and one man
was lying dead upon the floor, the
team had runaway, smashed the
wagon, and up the road little Johx
lay dead at the root of er tree.
"Ihe smith Mas a-ested upon the
charge of murder. 1t was er long
and tedious trial, but he was found
guilty of enough to send him to the
coal mines for twenty years, and the
mother and the two little girls were
left alone in the world.
Sin two years the mother died
and, as have told YOU, she lies
buried among them plum bushes VI
there. The little giIls drifted of
and have been lost sight Off, the old
shop is gone, the house Is gone
while the fathers life has been fret
ting away for eighteen years in the
penitentiary coal mines,
| Last week as l sat upon the porch
at home, looking up the big road
| seed er bent, gray haired man
coming toward the gate. At the
gate he stopped and leaned upon the
post, He looked first at NE anG
then at the old 'oman, then at the
trees and Ground at all the sur.
roundings.
Come right in, stranger" said
"Not er word could we get from
him. aud not er movement did he
make, save to stare GROUND in er va
cant wild manner.
"The old oman vowed 1t was some
crazy fellow, but crazy or no crazy
| hobbled out to where he was, anC
there in the broken down old man
[ found the smith of eighteen yeal:
before.
"He had been released two year.
before his time. Oh account of gooC
behavior, but his life was wrecked
Not word did he speak, save Il