The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-21
Epishes to St. Paul.

man who asked me for ten cents with which
to buy drink. His voice and manner at
tfacted me and I listened to his story. He
said he was an engineer on an Illinois rail-
road, and had been enjoying his annual out
ing or drunk" He would have money the
next day, he said, but needed more
drink to steady his nerves before sober
ing up. offered him silver dollar. but
he declined It, saying that ten cents was
enough to get good drink Of whisky. In
spite of myself I had become interested in
the man, and after he had shown me trip
pass issued in the name of an em1loye Of
the railroad he had mentioned, believed his
story. I told him that he could repay me
out Of the money he expected to receive the
next day. He finally accepted the dollar
and bade me good night, after had handed
him my card, bearing the address Of the ho-
tel at which was stopping. A busy evening
drove ell thought Of the man from my mind
so that when his card was sent to my room
the following forenoon 1 was unable to
imagine who my importunate caller could be.
To my surprise 1t was my acquaintance Of
the night before. He was shaved, neatly at
tired and bore little evidence, beside nerv-
BUSINESS, of the terrible debauch he had been
through. I wondered then as I have
thousand times since. to what depths will
men stoop that want liquor. But 1 resolved
to listen to their stories.
A night or two ago I was standing at a
street corner waiting for a car to bear me
nome when 1 was again accosted by man
who asked for ten cents to buy whisky Re.
memberng my former experience 1 gave the
man attention. After he had repeated his
reaust I asked him If he really thought he
needed the drink. He assured me that he
did and swore he would make any sacrifice
What would you give for drink Of
whisky?''
In voice as mild as woman's, but tram
bling with emotion. he repeated my question.
Not once, but two or three times.
"What would I give for drink Of whisky
If you'll listen, man, I'll tell you what have
given, and then maybe you'll know what
am willing to give now for a drink. I need
the drink. or God knows wouldn't stop
man on the street and beg 1t of him.
Il began to drink. like many another fool
1sh boy, before I was twenty, and by the time
was twenty-five the habit was fixed upon
me. MY wife married me in the hope Of
bringing about my reformation, and remem-
Der that did quit drinking for few weeks
entirely after We were welded. The cd de-
sire for liquor gradually asserted itself. 80
that when our blue-eyed baby was born
My love for my wife didn't grow less. but
my appetite for liquor had increased oonsid
eraoly during the few days Of my debauch.
IL seemed that could never quit absolutely
again. was rich-that Is, had considerable
property and business worth twenty thou
sano year-and we moved In the best circles
OF society In our city Of some sixty thousand
In spite Of my wifes earnest entreaties.
IN spite of business that demanded my daily
attention, in spite Of everything, I kept on
drinking, and 1t was not long before 1t baea,
to tell upon me and my source of income. It
had long before left its mark upon the woman
mad sworn to love and protect.
one night after 1 had been taken home in
mack my wife aroused me from my stupor
with an appeal to 60 for our physician. Our
darling child then three years old. was verv
III. few days later she died and l. like
the miserable coward that I was, left my
poor heart-broken wife to fight her battle with
grlef alone and drowned my sorrows in
drink. From bad to worse kept going until
my business was swept away and I was COM
pelied to give UP the room that had sheltered,
II 1t had never been a home for nv wife. We
went to boarding house, and I made an
other effort to be man. 1t was of little use.
for in spite Of my desire to overcome my
appetite, 1t got the best of me and lost the
situation that my friends had secured for me.
And then-God. then came the fatal blow
My wife, the only person I loved on earth
heart-broken and discouraged. left me. From
that time l becamesa wanderer, getting work
whenever it offered. but oftener begging for
the food 1 ate and the whisky that drowned
the remembrance Of my sufferings and the
misery 1 had caused the sweetest and best
woman that ever lived.
What would give for drink of whisky?
Anything, man. in Gods name. anything
have left in this wide, wide world
OF course he got his drink, and 1 feel no
conjunction of conscience in consequence.
''Freddie!" TIE sound struck the top Of
the green door, ricochetted on to the head
of young Mr.. Ames and exploded against the
other wall. Mr.. Hammer turned PALE He
pushed open the green door and entered the
sanctuary where Col. Kiefer sat gloomily
glazing out on to Fifth street.
"You called, your Worship"
L did, Freddie. Is there cabinet meet
ing called for today?' Mr.. Hammer consult
ed his tablets.
Not any, your worship"
''Then its very odd, Freddie and I fear
there is treachery aboard the ship Of state"
What disturbs your Worship" asked
Freddie.
L
looking up at the top floor OF that block over
there. just thinking I ought to hold an in
srection of the janitors around this building
and show them how to do their work
have noticed that they go about sweeping
with their coats unbuttoned and holding their
brooms and the spittoons in a most unsol-
dierly way. And that fellow that pushes
the lawn mower gave that lawn out there a
clipping that made it look like a ten-cent
hair cut. 1 was thinking about things when
1 saw Billy Johnson come to one of those
windows on the top floor over there ard de-
liberately give the hailing sign to somebody
in this building. I gave him back the high
sign but he paid no attention to me and
gave the hurry sign to some one over here
He wanted somebody to come over and to
come quick, and 1t certainly not me-
Go out Freddie and see If Aines is around the
building and send Mcintyre to Billys Office
If there Is treachery afoot we must know it.
If Mike Fitzgerald amt in his office and he
can be tracked across the street there'n be
a new junta established and Billy Johnson
won't be in it-not If he had ten Eighth
wards In his inside pocket. BECOME"
There is an old hard luck story about the
grocer who got home so rarely during the
working hours Of his rising descendants that
one Sunday the small boy of the family ran
into the house, bowling.
Whats the matter?" asked his mother,
alphabetically.
That man what stops here Sundays boxed
my ears was the response.
But st. Anthony hill man who has to get
acquainted with his family by minutes in
stead of my hours or days. has new form
OF complaint.
He says he must either move closer to his
place of business, or charge three dollars a
month to broken eye glasses which are I'M
noticed hx the nens. u-hn Inn