Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1896-05-29

In the meantime the light diyertise.
ment which Billy Meekins was SEIZED
uled to furnish did not materiaIize, as
for some reason or other Billy devel-
oped remarkable staying powers. II
fact he and the general were about the
only persons left in a apparently nor
NAL condition, and TO all appearances he
was as normal as the general, which IS
saying a good deal of a beginner, for
the general had an interstate reputation
for his steady head. His enemies, in
fact, said he was a walking jug-a sort
of official jug with a slightly inHamed
palate in the neck, especially devised
for gubernatorial representation at state
dinners.
Well, after al the champagne had
gone off the crowd followed suit and
Billy Meekins walked home through
the gray early morning and tambled
into bed very soon before his wife, who
was very conscientious housekeeper,
got up. and fell into a sound sleep.
About 9 o'clock he woke up with a
very strange, confused feeling. such as
had never fallen TO his lot before, and
which alarmed him considerably, and
started ont Immediately 70 discover his
present approximate position in time
and space. In the course of his voyage
around the room he ran aground the
the washstand and capsized, taking with
him the water pitcher. When his wife
appeared she found her husband in a
truly alarming condition. He was ~
ing among the ruins of the water pitch
er, deathly pale, and so far gone that he
could not even articulate. 1t was some
thing she had never seen before. With
great presence of mind she hauled him
on the bed, dispatched three boys for
the doctor and sent out a general alarm
among the neighbors, who turned out
in great numbers. When the first doc
tor arrived he found her on the verge Of
collapse, but strenuous 10 be told the
truth. Unfortunately he was an old
school practitioner who Prided himself
on his ability to do just that very thing.
Madam" he said, "your husband is
drunk" When he came out of the room
the neighbors knew the worst
OF course Billy Meekins didn't know
the seriousness of the catastrophe at the
time, but it was promptly brought to his
attention when he regained conscious
ness. Under the circumstances there
would naturally be a certain amount of
tribute due to outraged womanhood in
the family, but Billy's wife was actually
vindictive. She said it was bad enough
70 be a newspaper mans wife anyway
without having married a drunkard, and
she started for home on the next train;
and It was full two months before she
was coaxed back again.
When she finally relented she return
ed with preparations for a wholesale re-
form. She instituted family prayers at
once and broke up half of Billy's sleep
o drag him 10 church She also pro-
posed him for special attention TO her
which he received. She said
: would not be her fault if he did
lot have good companions in the fu-
ure, incidentally making remarks
bout the other men in the Office which
ave forever precluded further relations
T friendship and amity between her and
nd the other mans wife. and she filled
be house with temperance enthusiasts
nd missionary workers, who come often
) dinner and sing psalm tunes a long
me after in the evening. All of which
lily takes oheerfully for the sake of
armony and as the price of mis- sins
aving found him out. OF course as
me goes on he has concluded to enter
TO the good work himself as a guaran-
{ Of good faith; he is really an ardent
importance man; It is fascinating 10
EAR his little addresses to the loyal
lildren's league. But he tells me pri-
.tely he is afraid this sort Of thing is
ling to drive him TO strong drink