Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1892-09-01
THROWING DICE ON A BIRLE.

Within sound of the chimes of Old
Trinity there stands a we'll known Ii
quor saloon, whose grimy walls are so
covered with cobwebs as to give them
the appearance of being festooned with
black drapery, Here gather night after
night the ions of toll to spend their
haId earnings in riotous living. A few
evenings since the place was crowded,
the usual number of FOUNDERS being
supplemented by a large outside con-
tingent drawn thither by the anoma-
lous announcement of "Bible Rattle"
The book was q handsome one, and
had been placed there by a person who
said he had no use for it, and would
rather have the money. AS each of
the blear eyed, dissipated denizens
went forward to shake the dice box.
there was a "a of laughter, followed
by any amount of chat and blasphem-
GUS testing. As the contest waxed hot
ter, a man, a little better dressed than
the rest of them, was awakened from
his slumbers and told to take a hand,
as he was always lucky. He staggered
up to the counter, took the dice box
and threw the number. A shout went
up from the boisterous crowd that
gathered around him, each with a Jest
and a query as to what he was going to
do with it. Where would he keep it ?
How much would he take for it ?
Would he stand treat, etc.?
The man seemed to become sober in
a minute and without noticing their
jibes, took the holy book in his hands
as tenderly as he would have lifted an
infant, and said to the bar tender,
PLEASE wrap this in the cleanest piece
of paper you have, Jim, but don't let
it have the smell of whisky about it.
Then turning to the amazed group,
who watched with open mouthed as
constituent, he said: Good evening,
Gentlemen. It's the last time we'll
meet here. I'm going home to make
one of the best wives in the world the
happiest woman in New York tonight,
and placing the Bible under his arm
he passed out of the crowd, jeered by
some, but Justify cheered by others.
He walked rapidly in the direction
of his squalid quarters, where from the
flicker of a dim light he knew that his
faithful wife awaited him, mounted
the rickety stairs, and entering the
room walked straight up to where she
sat sewing by a few expiring Goals, and
laid the heavy parcel on her lap. She
started, and looking up with a faint
semblance of the old and almost for
gotten smile said, why, you are early
tonight, John" She saw that q change
had come over him, and quietly opened
the package, while he stood watching
her. AS the blessed book was revealed
TO her she burst into tears, and taking
him by the hand said, John, I've been
thinking about you all day, and Won
dering if you would ever be your own,
old self again, when l could feel proud
OF you as | used to-and while | was
thinking little Agnes came up and put
ting her arms about ..ly neck said,
Mamma, why don't my papa have
prayers and read his Bible as grandpa
does when we go to see him p | could
not answer her, John, but now you
can"
Yes, I'll answer her, wife get me a
pen and some ink"
The wife rose as in a trance, for it
was the first time in weeks that he had
come home sober then he opened the
fly leaf and wrote upon ito my
faithful wife, whom l shall never
again voluntarily cause a sorrow or a
blush of shame-John.n
AS she read it their tears mingled,
and the bright lights of her far away
home seemed to glimmer in the dis
lance. The present was forgotten, and
they were once more respected citizens
where his name had been a synonym
for all that was honorable and loyal.
1t was almost morning when they re-
tired, but new resolves had been taken.
vows replighted, hopes revived and am
bition stimulated.