The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1899-06-29
written for The PRISON Mirror.


Will Butler was big, strong boy,
and natural mechanic. Born on a
farm, and being genius to a certain
extent, his father apprenticed him to
blacksmith In the thriving town of
k. After he had worked out his
apprenticeship, he was re-engaged by
his master, for there was not a better
man at all classes of blacksmithing
than Will Butler.
Will had married daughter of
well-to-do farmer of the vicinity, and
settled down to life of happiness.
Butler, who was a jovial, generous
hearted man, was in the habit of being
in the company of his shopmates on
pay. nights, and taking convivial glass
with them, and as the years went on,
the drinking habit increased. Butler
seemed to recognize the hold it was
taking on him, and he would frequently
say to himself after a drunken spree,
81 will quit this accursed habit. l will.
] must stay, if it is only for the sake of
Ruth and the children" But, alas, he
did not stop. Day after day the NOR
bid desire for drink increased; he neg
lected his family, just so that he could
satisfy the cravings of his appetite.
A dreadful change had came over
him. He had lost his work and he had
became such notorious drunkard that
he could not get any steady employ
ment, and what few dollars he could
make by jobwork, went to satisfy his
appetite for drink. Poor fellow! Many
struggle he had to try and overcome
this desire for drink, but no avail.
The people that should have helped
him, passed him on the other side; and
his shopmates, who had drank with
him, sneered at him for a useless wretch,
He was an outcast.
His wife, a good, loving woman,
pleaded with him to stop drinking, and
at last he promised that he would.
Leaving his home he went to a place
some miles away to try and obtain en-
ployment. Failing in this and having
no money, he was destitute. By chance
he met man outside of a saloon. who
spoke to him in friendly way, and
Butler told him his strained circum-
stances. The man invited him into the
saloon to have drink. Butler refused
and told him that he could get some.
thing to eat for the five cents and
would he give it to him. The man said
he could get good lunch and a glass
of beer for five cents. So poor Butler
yielded consent.
If he had known the awful results of
that glass of beer, there would have
been no person in the world, who could
have cOaxed him to take it. One glass
followed another, until Butler became
intoxicated. That night Butler went
for walk with his new friend, who
had generously provided a bottle of
whisky to drink, and while under the
Influence of it, his friend broke into a
store and persuaded Butler to help him.
Butler awoke the next morning with
the consciousness of the awful thing he
had done. All his past life, in spite of
his drinking, had been honest in the
most trifiing things, and the pain from
that one act almost drove him crazy.
That night Butler was arrested; his
friend had disappeared with the booty,
and the result was, Butler was SEN
fenced to five years in the penitentiary.
We will not follow his life there. At
last the time had arrived for freedom,
and Butler was released, much wiser
man. All through those years the only
thought that cheered him, was the
thought of his loving wife. She was
working for her loved one, and had in
"a kind of way kept their little home to-
gether. But her eyesight was failing,
and her sewing was frequently returned