Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1898-02-10

nobody would hire him. Dad said he
wouldn't try again" Then, in answer
to look Of incredibly, he added, with
q sudden flush coming into his face:
"You see, it's Just this way. Dads the
best man in the world, an he's a splen-
did worker; but he's that easy like an
pleasant he won't say no to nobody.
He didn't drink any fore mother died,
an he often goes weeks without it now
he did when I was sick last summer.
Him an me is all there is, an some~
times he tries to give it up on my
count; but most folks like him, an
there's ten whisky shops in sight of our
door. 'Tain't easy for man to go past
all Of 'em. Dad says he just can't do it.
If we lived way off in the country there
might be some show"
"If he only drinks now an ag'in,"
said the old man, refectively, at seems
sort of strange that he can't git work
nowhere. I know good many hired
men who drink little"
Bob flushed and looked embarrassed.
"You see, he-he can't stop when he
once gets started" he eXplained hes
SO awful easy an'-an' good-natured."
"Um! Drunk most Of the time eh ?"
Bob remained silent, but shuffled his
feet uneasily along the rails.
mo, 1 don't want him." said the
old man, decidedly; 81 amt reformin'
drunkards."
Gle amt no drunkard!" cried Bob.
1iercely. Hes easy; an we've lived al
ways among rumshops. lie smells
whisky just as soon as he steps On the
street, an there's plenty of men to give
him a drink He can't stop, but 1 tell
you he amt no drunkard. lie amt! he
amt! he amt! guess I know, for I'm
most always with him. sit up with
him nights, an 1 fo!ler him when he goes
out. wouldn't be here now, only he
went off with lot of men for two
weeks, an I couldn't go long. l
thought maybe there'd be a chance for
US out here; an I worked for you just
as hard as ever I could, an hoped you'd
be willin' to help me- give him show.
lie amt no drunkard, an he don't use
no swear talk, an he don't fight, He
never struck me in all my life-not once.
Even if he does drink he's good man
an he amt no drunkard-no, not II
nobody in all the world will hire him.
Farmer Brownlees face had lost its
severity during this explosion. Now he
laid his hand detainingly upon the boys
arm.
mo, I don't believe your pa is ell
bad" he said, gravelyj "an' maybe I
said more than I meant. III think 1t
over tonight, an you come round
again in the mornln'. 1 once had a
brother who must a-been some like
your pa; but that's long time ago.
Well goodnight"
Bob watched him until he was lost In
the shadows, then he slipped down from
the fence, and went across toward the
Perkins farmhouse.
In the morning he was back again
long before Farmer Brownlee was astir.
When the old man appeared he was ex-
aiming the beets and carrots.
"H'm! more weedin' for you,"
chuckled the old man, as he approached.
well, about your pa. How'd you like
to farm it little for yourselves?"
Bob looked at him wonderingly.
How can we?" he asked; 1--WE amt
got no land"
I'll fix that. I cant hire you an
your pa both, but I've lots Of idle land.
I can let you have that house an about
10 acres round it for almost ncthin';
an you can work the rent out. I'll hire
you all the time, or both you an your
pa part of the time, an you'll be able to
git considerable work among the neigh
bors. Spare days you can work your
own land. II you're careful, as b'lieve
you will be, you can lay up money. An
as for your pa, there amt liquor shop
in nine miles. Does that suit?"
Bob did not answer; but the look on
his face made the old mans eyes twin
kle, then suddenly grow misty.
UNI" he said, as he turned away.
abruptly, "s'pose we go over an look
at the house; then you can go to the
Perkinses an tell 'em you're goin' to
stay with me after this. When it's
time for your pa to git back you can 60
to the city an bring him DOWN.. Y.
Independent.