The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1898-02-03
THE DRUNKARD'S SERMON,
Addressed to Two Gilded Youths Before
Bar.

Bar.
1t was growing late. The tide Of hu-
manity that earlier in the evening had
ebbed and flowed through the streets
of the great city had swept onward,
leaving the strange and almost appaul-
ing sense of desolation that comes
when the noises of the town are hushed.
The electric lights flashed unnoted on
the corners, the street cars passed at
farther intervals, now and then night
worker hurried by, his footsteps ring
ing out loud and clear in the stiffness.
In front of saloon, whose lights shene
out bright and ruddy across the pave
ment, stood tramp, unshorn, ragged,
dirty, disgusting. He watched with
envious eyes the men who passed in
and out through the swinging doors,
and then turned his eyes toward two
young fellows in evening dress, who
were coming down the street toward
him. They had been drinking deeply,
ard they stopped before the saloon
door and looking curiously at him.
"By Jove," " said one, "think of having
thist like that and not the price of an
extinguisher in your pocket! Beats
old Tantalus all to pieces, Ell? Liquor,
liquor everywhere, and not a drop to
drink" He ran his hand in his pocket
and profered the tramp dime, but be-
fore it could be accepted the other
young fellow interposed "Say," he
said, let's do the good Samaritan and
set Hobo up to good drink" The
other hilariously consented, and the
tramp slouched into the saloon at the
heels of the two gilded youths The
barkeeper set before them glasses and
liquors, and, with a hand that shook
the tramp poured out brimming glass
and raised it to his lips, "Stop cried
one of the young men drunkingly;
"make us speech. 1t is poor liquor
that doesn't unloosen a mans tongue
The tramp hastily swallowed down
the drink, and as the rich liquor eours-
ed through his blood he Strengthened
himself and stood before them with a
grace and dignity all his rags and dirt
could not abscure. Gentlemen" he
said, 81 look tonight at you and my
self, and it seems to me / look upon the
picture of my lost manhood. This
bloated face was once as young and
handsome as yours. This shambling
figure once walled as proudly as yours,
man in world of men. 1, too, had a
home, and friends, and position. I
had wife as beautiful as an artists
dream, and [ dropped the priceless
pearl of her honor and respect in the
wine-cup, and, Cleopatra-like, saw it
dissolve, and quaffed it down in the
brimming draught. I had children as
sweet and lovely as the flowers Of
spring, and I saw them fade and die
under the blighting curse of drunkard
father. l had home where lOvelit the
flame upon the altar and ministered be-
fore it, and L put out the holy fire, and
darkness and desolation reigned in its
stead. | had aspirations and ambi-
tions that scared as high as the morn.
ing star, and l broke and bruised their
beautiful wings, and, at last, strangled
them that l might be tortured with
their cries no more. Today | am 6
husband without wife, father with.
out child, tramp with no home tC
call his own, a man in whom every
good impulse is dead. All, all swal
lowed up in the maelstrom of drink.
The tramp ceased speaking. The glass
fell from his nerveless fingers ant
shivered into thousand fragments OF
the floor The swinging doors pushed
open and shut again, and when the lit
tie group about the bar looked up tn
tramp was gone.-New Orleans Picay
une.