The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-09-21
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
ENSNARED BY RUM
IN Imperfect Life saved by q ChEd's
PrattIe.

IOuSt SlOOu Nlue open, dlltl, lHouSll tlt
sun shone with unusual fervency this
hot summer morning, there, on the
shady western side of the house the air
was still comparatively cool, and, oh,
so sweet
The yard was full of old fashioned
flowers. Ragged robins gayly Haunted
their red tatters; spicy pinks and
southernwood, sweet Williams and
balm perfumed the air for rods around.
At each end of the high steps grew
huge punches of dark blue larkspur
covered with great, buzzing, pollen
coated bees.
Two little girls came tripping
through the hall and out at the door
Brown-haired Bessie's checks glowed
pinher than ever with the heat and
pleasure of whole days visit with
Libbie, who lived at grandpa's all the
time. A great contrast these little
COUSINS presented; but they were de-
voted friends, and Libbie's somewhat
reckless spirits were often tempered by
Bessie's more quiet thoughtfu.ness.
~ uSl INV lINl NClt VI vi
iui plans for the day. Each had a wide
nouthed bottle and an old iron spoon.
"You stay at one end of the steps and
I'll go to the other" whispered Libbie,
land Wen soon catch one"
What could they be after! The
bees? Yes; each little girl was intent
upon capturing one of those big yell
low-banded honey seekers. First,
they put few flowers in their bottles,
thcn, watching until in his hunt for
money, Il big fellow had disappeared
within flower, they held the mouth of
the bottle ready, and the spoon deftly
applied sent INN into his prison where
he set up tremendous buzzing in
futile efforts to get out.
Holding the spoons snugly over the
bottles, the little girls sat down on the
steps to enjoy good look at their pris-
oners, and discover, if possible, how
they got honey" BIT the bees were
very perverse and seemed to have but
the one idea of how TO get away.
Why, " said Libbie, ''he acts Just like
a drunken man stumbling along and
falling over; his wings don't seem to do
him Il mite of good"
"Oh." said Bessie, with frightened
look coming into her face, that re-
minds me of something to tell you-
something awful! Dan Beckett hung
himself last night in his mothers
barn.
Libbic uttered a little scream, and
the tw, children edged nearer together
as the awfulness of that act took form
in their quick iinaginations. Bees and
bottles were forgotten as Bessie tried
to tell what she knew of the dreadful
story.
Papa said it happened just before
he came by the house on his way home
from market, and that Dams poor old
mother was crying and telling the peo-
pie how good her boy always was to
her And papa said if Dan could haFe
let the drink alone he would have been
good man. ] suppose he got 'scour-
aged trying" continued Bessie, STUN
bling little over the long word,
"iic was ever so good to poor folks
and little children, and was real funny
and pleasant. Sometimes I've heard
him singing nice songs when he went
10y our hoCs- on his way to work. My
papa said the poor fellow couldn't get
past saloon noway, and that Dan
said once he should be happy man If
there wasn't saloon to be found. Oh,
wish there wasn't one in the whole
world"
II .Tish that God would send His
lightainT right out of the sky and tear
'em all to pieces!" burst forth the ex-
cited Liboie,
And that every bit of money the
saloonkeepecs get for their WHISKY
would turn into great humble bees and
sting en- just awful" added Bess, with
tears falling over her hot checks.
Then, reminded OF their happy occu-
patton, the little girls turned to the
forgotten bottles and found that the
prisoners had escaped and were using
their wings again to some purpose.
Somehow the children dimly real
lied the incongruity os the brightness
of the sweet old garden with the dark
story just related, and could not con-
tinue their play Just then, so, with one
accord, they sought the loving arms of
dear grandma, who would be sure to
soothe and cheer the troubled little
hearts. Gleeful laughs from the cool
back kitchen soon showed how we'll she
had succeeded.
Sadness or gloom abide but momen-
tarily in the heart of child. Not so
with those OF mature years, and a young
man, resting on a lounge in the dark
upper hall, found it impossible for many
days to shake off the depression caused
by Bcssie's sad story. At first he had
listened in quiet enjoyment of the chill
dren's unique play and talk-they never
dreaming that jolly Uncle Ray was so
near - but the shocking story had
reached his ear with startling distinct
ness and power.
He sprang to his feet, horror-stricken.
Through his mind swept swift memories
of Dan Becket's careless, idle boyhood,
when he had known him we'll: the
weak-willed young man: his love for
liquor ard spasmodic efforts to combat
it for the old mothers sake; the fitful
CLEANS of a nobier nature-all these
passed in review through Rays mind.
With 4 groan he realized the utter
ruin of another's life and the desolated
heart of feeble old mother Then
visions of his own life-path came be-
fore his eyes. He had to confess that
it was a downward one, and growing
more dangerous. Few as yet suspected