Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-09-23
DIGBY'S REFORM CLUB

Sam Pepper were MS associates.
On a certain Monday evening they
were assembled in the small parlor OF
Lushton's tavern for the purpose OF
having a good time, as they were wont
to assemble often.
At an early stage OF the wassail, be-
fore the senses had been submerged,
Peter Slade suggested that he had a
complaint TO make against one OF the
d~ignitaries OF the town, and ~thereupon
he opened his vials OF denunciation
upon Parson Meekly, the old clergyman
Of the place.
LAS near as l can find out" be said,
"the parson just about the same as
called US by name. and held us up as a
set OF graceleSs scamps."
mot quite as bad as that" said John
Digby. He did certainly allude to US
very plainly; but the worst he brought
against US was that we were prostitut-
ing noble powers and opportunities TO
base purposes. Rather fatterlng, l
thought-especially tie ''poole powers.
well" chimed Sam Pepper, what
business is IL Of his? And then
look at the hullabaloo they're making
over this foreign missionary orsl-
ness. 1t was in connection with thai
that ParsoD Meekly attacked US. They'd
better look at home. l think we've
suffering enough under our very noses
that had better be looked out for first.
John Digby had listened attentively
aud during the conversation be had
turned his glass bottom upward upon
the table.
There may be truth in what you
saw" he slowly and t~houghtfully re-
piled, but people who live In glass
houses shouldn't throw stones. We
may.object to furnishing our money Tor
these foreign missions upon the plea
that charity begins at home, and ali
that; but the question may come back
what have we done for this charity
at home?
"Now look here, boys" continued
John Digby, pushing his inverted glass
away to the centre Of the tatle and
leaving it there. 81 don't like this
%overhauling that Parson Meekly gave
us any better than you do, and | pro-
pose TO shut him up. l have planned
that we will take the wind out of Par
son Meekly's sails by establishing a re-
form club Of our own, and starting 8
missionary society on the same basis"
Hold on" cried Sam Pepper. Lets
fill up before you commence
Not with old Lushton's Tom and
jerry returned Jack. 1--WE shall want
the cost of it for another purpose. Turn
your glasses bottom up for the present.
There-that's a 90. Now listen. We
are in the habit OF meeting here at the
tavern three evenings in the week, and
our expenses for liquor and cigars are
at least 81 an evening, aren't they?"'
This was admitted with a nod.
and in addition TO this / spend at
least 81 more each week for beer and
tobacco on my own hook. How is 1t
with you?"
The others acknowledged that q dol
lar a week was little enough.
Thus" resumed John Digoy, 1--WE
have $40 a week as the result OF our
combined and individual expenditure
for rum and tobacco. l, for one, think
| could manage TO live through the
rest of the winter without anv more OF
it, and for the sake Of the experiment
l would be willing to put my share OF
that $40 a week TO q charitable use.
Here it is the beginning OF Decem-
Der, and the winter has opened hard.
We might organize a benevolent So
riety, or a missionary society, upon our
hook. Dou you begin TO under
stand?"
They understood him perfectly: and,
since he would lead, they were ready to
follow. In fact, they rather liked the
idea. There was a charm OF novelty
and originality about it that captivated
them.
During the week." said Jack, I'VE
will look up the cases OF restitution and
suffering, and next Saturday afternoon
we will meet and compare notes. Then
we will take our $40 and do what we
can for those who are suffering most.
We are not to spend a penny in this
work OF charity which is not saved by
the cutting off Of some useless expendl-
ture OF our own; and he OF us who buys
a cigar through the week shall deduct
il from his contribution on Saturday."
IF we would be methodical," sug-
gested Peter, I'VE must organize. l say,
if we are going to do anything OF this
KIM, let US 10 IL snip Sndpe.
The organization arrived at was very
simple, but nevertheless effective. They
elected John Digby TO serve as presi-
dent and as treasurer and as secretary;
and then they elected an Executive
Committee OF four, consisting OF John
Dlgby, Peter Slade, Tom Lowden and
Sam Pepper. And then they settled
their bill and went home.
Saturday evening came, and the Re-
form Club met at Digby's shop, and
each member was ready with his re-
port. They were sober and thoughtful.
On that Saturday evening the widow
Bashlet bent over the bed of her sick
child weeping. The blast piped with
out and the keen frost nipped within.
The tramp OF feet at her door at
tracted her attention, and presently a
gentle rap followed. She answered the
summons, and found four young men
upon the stoop.
She knew them we'll, for they had
been school-mates with her son, who
had gone away TO sea and never return
ed. And they came into the house, and
they brought with them wood and pro-
Visions; and they piled up the fuel upon
the hearth until the bright fame leaped
and roared; and the sick child stretched
out its wasted arms to embrace its gen.
ial warmth. And they brought forth
bread and tea and sugar and butter and
cheese.
In another part Of the town. on the
outskirts OF the village, in q poor,
matched hut, lived Ben Driscoll and his
wife Sally.