The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1896-12-28

little children saw him coming they ran
to meet him and iu joyful glee they took
the meal and meat and scampered for their
mother with as much fuss over the little
pittance as though it had been a whole
storehouse.
old Jack was a good workman when
sober. and true 70 his promise TO the
miller no went to work che next morning.
and YOU never saw little family come ONT
as fast i'm an your life. The people quit
calling him 'Naeahcnd Jack after While.
ard his little children went to the sabbath
school as neat and clean as any children.
while his wife looked fresh and smiled as
she had never smiled before
SO things rolled along prosperoUsly with
the family of the old drunkard till Il christ
mas drew near and all the family were
imbued with he prospects for the happy
occasion They mad ali gathered around n
blazing fire on Christmas Eve night and
the little ones were preparing TO hang their
stockings and jabberinS about old santa
and the glad things h, would bring them.
while Old Jack was getting on his big coat
and the good wife made ready the BASKET
for a quiet visit 10 the village store The
children had come 10 think ii strange for
their father 10 70 ont Al night but they
kissed him go0dby and saw him depart with
never a though Of his drinking and never d
thought of his mission Poor little 1nno-
cents I doubt if they ever knew the love Il
his way and thought Of them ana OF the
good time coming on the morrow.
But unhappy fate, a The village old Jack
met mis- former mates and they began ~
once 10 b-ag on him. iaueh ~ his Jokes
and rate i'm 20 The sl~ ps a goGc and eo.-
erous fellow. They 10 owed aim 30 wner
ever ne went while making his purchases
and time and again they tempted him 70
just take one drink. aut never a drink had
~. taken. when his basket was full of nice
things for the children and q enc dressed
turkey FOR the next days dinner. lie now
started FOR his home. but mis- OH mates kept
with him tin they had stopped At the last
little bar on Jhc way To shake hands for
the night: This was the fatal stop. Old
Jack thought surely that he could venture
inside and "set them up TO his friends
and then 20 ON his way so it might have
been ordinarily. hirt Jhe four Young men
shat had pUf the backing on ais face the
last night that he was drunk were inside
and they saw their opportunity Of acting
mean once more. When old Jack called for
some lemonade for himself. just 20 be socia-
bile. these bad fellows gave the barl1eeper
the wink and the lemonade was dashed with
whisky As soon - old Jack pflt the lem
ouade 20 his lips he discovered the vl.iiany
but it was too late. his old mania AT once
took possession OF him and he forgot his
loved ones and had but one desire. and THAI
was for drink drink drink. and drink he
did till he was rs drlik as he had ever
been in an his life before The crowd nIlad
bottles at old Jacks expense. ate all the
good things iu his basket and then left him
10 make his way 20 his home as best he
could.
The story is short Daylight found old
Jack laying in The mad on the hill this side
his house frozen sim and dead. and what
should have been happy Christmas was
turned into day Of sorrow al the house
OF the druukari