Middletown transcript., 1893-04-01
BILL AND THE eEEFsTEAk.

GOW one man was brought TO keai1Zar
tion of the Folly of Drink.
In the city of Pittsburg the mechanics
are well paid, probably better than any
other place in the Union. and among
this class of men there was one who was
employed in rolling mill who often at
the end Of the week had 500 in his
pocket. But this man, who was called
Bill by his fellows, was in the habit Of
spending few hours each evening in a
saloon, where in drinking and playing
cards his weeks pay was often squander-
ed. He was a good fellow and liked his
family. but he spent his money with the
boys.
Well, one Saturday night he went into
the saloon, and. after paying his bill and
after drinking and playing cards few
hours. he arose from the table without a
cent Then he thought of going home.
and it occurred to him that he had not
secured anything for Sunday dinner,
and that he had forgotten to pay his
weekly bill at the grocer's. Well, Bill
went home and went to sleep. The next
morning be awoke with a thirst upon
him beside which the torments Of hades
were mild in comparison. Going out,
he hardly dared to face his wife. He
soon returned. and his wife met him
with sad face and told him there was
nothing to eat in the house. The thirst
was consuming him, but he made reso-
luton not to drink anything during the
day He looked out again, and he saw
the wife of a man who worked beside
him, who did not make so much money,
going to church with her children. all
neatly clad
What a contrast was presented to him!
His wife miserably attired, his children
without decent garments, and, worse
than all, no food in the house He passed
a miserable day. and the realization of
his mode of life came upon him with
telling effect The next day he rose and
said to his wife, "I'll try to get some
thing for breakfast from the butcher
Going down the street he entered the
market hesitatingly, and behind him en-
tered the saloon keeper with whom Bill
spent his money.
The butcher hastened to wait on the
saloon keeper. and the latter quickly
said, Give me FIVE pounds of porter
house steak-the best you've got-and
cut it thick. if yon please Eyes, sir,
I'll send it around to your home inna@-
diately." was the reply, and the saloon
keeper went out. Then Bill said to tho
butcher: 81 want to get something for
breakfast. ! drank little too much
Saturday night. and spent all my
money. ! would like credit for tbs week.
/ have resolved not to drink another drop
SO long as live. and ] will come in here
Saturday and pay yoH in full.
BILL" said the butcher, you've told
me this tale many times before. and |
don't take much stock In your resolu-
tions'
"But," pleaded Bill, won't you give
me this opportunity? haven't drank
anything since Saturday night, and !
mean to keep my word at any cost. "
well" refectively replied the man Of
meats. 'T'll give you some liver" So
Bill took the liver. and as he got out on
the sidewalk he held it in his hand and
slowly esacs4lallla.tt.ed "Beefsteak-cutth thick
liver"
His family he'd liver for breakfast. and
he went into the mill to go to work.
About the middle of the forenoon q bog
came around with a beer pail, for they
'.&;raashed the growler" in this mill, and
approaching Bill said, How much are
you going to give as2" Bill was too
busily engaged with his own thoughts,
and he did not heed the boy with tks
.'growler," which had hydrophobia. in It,
and the youngster repeated his question
and emphasized it by poking Bill in the
ribs.
Then Bill looked up and shouted,
sBeefsteak-cut thick-iver." The boy
went off and reported that Bill was
crazy. The whole week he worked hard