Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-10
TOO PREVIOUS.
BY JOHN HABBERTON.
Copyright, 1850


Billy Blew was the most wide-awake boy
in the village of Crumpton. Even his
mother, who was not given to over-praise of
her own children, was often heard to say
that If Billy was as wide awake at break
fast time as he was at all other hours Of
the day she did believe her life would be
prolonged at least ten years.
No matter what might happen at Crump-
ton--a dog fight iowa election or the COM
ing of circus-Billy was among the first
to get the news and to get hold of the Incl
dent with both hands, SO to speak. He
was so quick to get hold of anything that
frequently he took hold Of the wrong end,
which sometimes led to awkward results.
For instance, he at one time took great in
terest in revival Of religion which had
been started by some Of the righteous in the
village. Billy was not a member of the
church at the time for he was only thirteen
years of age, but he Intended to join when
he grew old enough. and to become promi-
nent enough to pass the plate on Sunday.
AS all the local sinners were being '1abored
with by the local saints, Billy appointed
himself a committee of one to look after
strangers who CHANGED to stray into the vii
lage, and he was so quick of action that
when he saw a red-faced man Of uncertain
ternoon he made haste to beg him to fee
from the wrath to come, and he told him
where and how to do 1t. For this kind ser:
vice Billy got his ears boxed, and was told
to mind his own business. When he reached
home at supper time he found the red-faced
man the guest Of Mr.. and Mrs. Blew, for
the man was a noted exhorter whom the
church had persuaded to come from afar
ana give the revival a boom, but this in
Santer
for Billy to sit at table with him. Still, one
does not always need to be boy to get
hold of things by the wrong end.
After the revival the town took ire
mendous interest in temperance, and Billy
helped the good work along with all his
might. He signed every pledge he could
lay hands upon, and he argued SO per-
sistently with one Of the two local saloon
keepers that the wretched man offered
darby dollar and a bottle Of whisky to
coax Billy off for wild turkey hunt in the
next county, and promised double pay If he
would succeed in losing the boy until the
temperance storm should blow over. But
Billy wouldn't go; he said King Alcohol was
the game he was after, and he chased him,
in season and out of season. generally the
latter One night he slipped out of the
house. just before midnight. and with the
assistance of full moon and pot of black
paint he decorated the doors Of the two
long. painting on one 1.-The portal of death"
and on the other "PerditiOn'S fiery
draught." He might have had pleasant
time next day observing the effects of his
work upon the passers-by, had he not given
himself away by appearing on the street in
trousers much spotted with black paint.
These led one of the saloon keepers to have
suspicious and to lead Billy himself to a
secluded spot, where the boy was leisurely
but thoroughly kicked, and both saloon
keepers compelled Billy's father to pay for
making their doors appear as good as new,
and in such circumstances boys father
-, al - No !, III
But, in spite of all depressing Incidents,
Billy continued his warfare upon rum.
Hearing it whispered about that some
young men drank on the sly in the back
room of the drug store, he made observa-
tons at the keyhole after dark. and in
time he might have seen something had
not somebody at an upper window of the
drug store first seen Billy and dropped upon
Elm something which felt like two or three
barrels of the wettest kind of ice water.
Still dampened clothes could not dampen
Billy's ardor for reform. The town Cos
sips insisted that a lot of sly drinking was
going on somewhere. probably at some of
the stores. As whatever is said by Cos
sips is likely to be believed by boys, as
well as by many older people, Billy prompt
ly organized the Reform Spy Corps" the
corps consisting of himself and his friend,
Ted Salmon, to find out where liquor was
being sold. A new firm-Perks & Rushitt-
had just started in business in the town,
and as none of the natives knew anything
about the two new men, they were willing
to believe that they were no better than
they should be. Perks & Rushitt made a
speciality of the newest of new things, such
as steady-going villagers will never touch
if they can help it-such things as washing
machines and electric churns, and self
fastening clothes lines, and egg preserv-
ers. and goodness only knows what else.
They had even tried to interest some of
the well-to-do natives in self-making gas
for lighting houses.
One day Billy overheard a village gossip
OF the highest and most malicious standing
saying to an ordinary gossip that Perks &
Rushitt were in the whisky business, sure
for he had heard Perks say to Rushitt that
there would be twelve barrels along by the
reach town before dark to scare folks, and
Rushitt said they'd better get it beside the
store at once, to be put into the cellar
early In the morning before folks were
they'd smell 1t anyway. and Rushitt said
he hoped they wouldn't until it had a
chance to brighten up the town.
II ceesnt take gessips or boys very long
to put two and two together and tell what
they come to. Billy scurried off In search
OF the remainder of the Reform Spy Corps,
and the corps slipped down to the railway
| station, hid behind the water tank. and
watched. Yes, the gossip was right. The
freight train stopped and put Off a dozen
barrels exactly like those the boys had
seen delivered at the saloons from time to
time. They heard the station agent, who
was a temperance man, say to Perks that
the internal stuff-those were his yery
words-must be got away from the station
at once, and they afterward heard Rushitt
bargaining with a teamster to get the stuff
| to the side of their store, which was on a
corner at once, and to get around by day
light in the morning to help put it In, and
they further heard the teamster cautioned
not to say anything about it to any one.
because the firm had not yet got their
license.
Then the Reform Spy Corps withdrew for
a long breath and consultation,
Let's tell the authorities at once" sue-
gested Ted Salmon
said Billy, gloomily. Father SAYS thew
are paid to be blind to most of the Iiouor
selling that goes on. Something ought to
| be done, though" ~
AN right, then" assented Ted "You
fnd out what it shall be, and I'll help do
Tell you what" exclaimed Billy. sud-
denly, lets stay awake till all the Hphts
are out in the village houses, and then spiil
the whole lot into the gutter"
"Whew," whistled Ted "That'u take an
awful lot of work, and tools, too"
TWont take anything but big eimlet
| terrupted Billy.
"Weu" said Ted ssTu srnnlv , ,x;,,,.