Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-03-10
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
SANS POOR LOT.

/ met sam. the neWsOoJ. ~
sawed-off, chunky chap twelve years
old. but doesn't look over nine. lie is
a very dignifed and solemn-looking
boy. and / never yet saw anything APP
preaching a smile on his face. The
mistake | made was in winking at
Sam and playfully poking him in the
ribs. as any man has right to do by
any bow. He stepped back pace,
looked me up and down in the most
cold-blooded manner, and quietly OBJ
served:
s,sir! If you have any business with
me please state your easel"
went among the boys and asked
about Sam, and / learned that he
treated everybody that way. He had
no chums. spent no money, and no one
knew anything about him except that
he had 10 be carefully handled. Then
went back and made up with him
that is, excused my hilarious conduct,
stood treat to a milk-shake and so
thawed him ont that we now and then
had talk about the weather, the crops,
and the outlook of matters in general.
/ Just happened to blunder on to his
living place in Baxter street the other
evening as was proving around l
saw him down in a basement and
when had called TO him he invited me
down.
1t was a two-room habitation and a
most wretched, woebegone home.
Sans father was lying drunk on the
floor and his mother reclined on an old
mattress in corner and muttered and
mumbled and tried to sing now and
then.
Home. Sweet Homel" quietly OBJ
served Sam. Take off your overcoat
and have a chair. Glad to see you down
this way"
And so this is where you live?"
Eyes. Elegant start on the road to
success. isn't it? Lots of things TO en-
courage boy to make man of him
selfr'
rs that your father and mother"
"Of course
'Shaml Shami Whoze that, Sham?"
called the mother.
Now, you hushl' he replied, as he
pointed at her II want you to keep
quiet and go to Sleep
IAN rize, Sham-all rizeH she re-
piled, as she fell back on the bed.
Drunk, Of course" said the boy, as
looked from father to mother Its
this way about four nights in the week
was figuring just before you came in.
and here's how came out Father has
been a drinking man for thirty years
He has paid out an average of 10 cents
per day during that time. That's
$50. so per year or about 81, 100 without
interest Mother has been drinking
for about ten years
"We'll call that $3.50 Here's about
81, 500 gone from our income. Am
right?''
Yes"
Owing to drink father has lost at |
least one day out OF week I've known
him to lose a job and not work for |
three months. Well call it only fifty /
days in year. That's 1900 days in +
thirty years, and being a mechanic he l
has never had less than 81 per day. 4
There's So, 600 more lost from our in
come. Am | correct9H
You are.
The father now turned over, groaned.
stretched and rose up on his bow and
thiclxly inquired:
SHAN, whaz time is it?n
Never you mindr' answered the boy.
You have gone to bed for the night,
md want you to stay right therer'
The man muttered and complained,
out fell back and was soon snoring
again, and Sam continued:
"A man who gets drunk generally
yets into trouble with the law. Father
las been arrested at least hundred
ines in the thirty years He has been
ined at least $500 and mother at least
100. While drunk father broke his leg
nee and his arm once, and mother once
'roke her arm. Mother also broke
amp and we lost $500 worth of furni-
ure. Loss of furniture, doctor bills,
TIC, about $780, Is that too high?"
II don't think So"
well, then, let's add up Here we
ave total of about 81, 500 in cash. to
ay nothing of interest, lost from one
income up 10 the present
ate. It's just as mp oSt as if flung
lto the fire and burn to ashes. II
asn't done us one iota of good. On
he contrary it has disgraced, degraded
nd brutalized us
II see"
''Shaml Shaml want to shing,-
allied the mother at this juncture.
Il want you 10 keep quiet" he stern
, replied.
AL rize, Sham-all rize!n
Now let's see what we could do II
Te had this money which has done no
God. continued the boy. Five thou