The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-08
THE DRUNKARD'S SERMON.
An Unexpected Response to Request
That He Pay for Drink With speech

II was growing late. The tide OF hui
mainly that earlier i'm the evening had
ebbed and flowed through the streets OF
the great city had swept onward, leaving
the strange and almost appalling sense OF
desolation that comes when the noises OF
the town are husbed The electric lights
ilared unnoticed on the corners; the
street cars passed at further Intervals
now and thea 4 night worker hurried by,
his footsteps ringing out loud and clear
I'm the stiffness. In front Of a saloon
whose lights shone out bright and rudy
across the pavement stood tramp. I'M
shorn. ragged. dirty. disgusting. lie
watched with enyious eyes the men who
passed in and out through the swing
ing doors. and then ne turned his eyes
toward two young fellows In evening dress
who were coming down the street tow
ard him. They had been drinking deep
~ and they stopped before the saloon
door and looked curiously at him.
by Jove." said one. think Of having a
thirst Ike that, and not the price OF an
extlnguishor In your pocket, Beats old
Tantalus all 20 pieces. eh2 Liquor, LIQUOR,
everywhere, and not drop TO drink
He ran his hand i'm HIS pocket and prof
fered the tramp a dime, but before II
could be accepted tho other young fellow
lnterposed.
say" he said. Tets do tho good sa-
maritan and set Hobo up TO a good
drink"
The other hilariously consented. and the
tramp slouched into the saloon at the
heels Of the two gilded youths. The bar
keeper set before them glasses and
liquors. and with hand that shook the
tramp poured out o. trimming glass and
raised It to his .ps.
stop" cried one OF the young men
drunkeniy. make us a speech. It is poor
liquor that doesn't unloosen a mans ton
que"
The tramp hastily swallowed down tho
drink. and as the rich liquor coursed
through his blood he Strengthened himself
and stood before them with grace and
dignity that all his rags and dirt could
not obscure.
Gentlemen" he said."I look tonight at
yon and az myself. and st seems TO me L
look upon the picture OF my lost man
hood. This bl0ated face was once as
young and handsome as yours. This
stumbling figure once walked as proudly
as yours. a man In a world OF men. L.
too. once had home and friends and po-.
sitiOn. ! had a wife as beautiful rs an
artists dream. and I dropped the price
less pearl OF her honor and respect In tho
wine-cup and CleOpatra-lil<e. saw II dis
solve. and quaffed II down IN the brlm-
ming draught. / had children as sweet
and lovely as the flowers Of spring, and
I saw them fade and die under the
blightlng curse Of a drunkard father. J
had a home where love In the dame upon
the altar and minstered before It. and
put out the holy fire and darkness and
desolatiOn reigned In its stead. l had as
pirations and ambitions that scared as
high as the morning star and / broke
and bruised their beautiful wings. and. al
last. strangled them that / might be tor
tured with their cries no more To-day
am a husband without q wife. a father
without a child. tramp with no home
70 cal his own. a man in whom every
good impulse Is dead. AL all swallowed
up In the maestrOm OF drink"
The tramp ceased speaking. The glass
fell from his uerve'ess fingers and shiv-
cred into a thousand fragments on the
floor The swinging doors pushed open
and shut to again. and when the little
group about the bar looked up the tramp
was gone.-New Orleans Picayune.