Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1901-03-15


throwing your money away for such
vile stuff, Oh, James, you are breaking
my heart" she moaned, plaintively,
"you are breaking my heart"
The man shook as with the ague, and
great tears rolled down his cheeks.
The children shrank together a few
moments later, as they caught sight Of
his pale face, and stern, determined
mouth. He uttered no word, but
strode past them into the house.
"He amt drunk now," whispered the
girl to the boy.
mo, but just wait till he comes home
from the saloon tonight. It's Saturday
night, you know"
Lets don't play that play no more"
said she, "for oh, Jimmy, you might get
that way really some time, when you
grow to be man."
"Never!" answered the boy, fiinging
the flask into the street. "Never! l
intend to be gentleman, sir, really.
truly gentleman"
There were tears upon the mothers
cheeks at the supper table that night,
but they were unmistakably glad tears,
and the unwonted expression upon the
fathers face, his gentleness of manner
and voice, made the little ones speech
less with delight.
1t was not long, however, ere the
shade returned to the face of the moth
er, as shortly after supper her hus-
band took his hat and started for the
door. The boy looked at his sister,
and sagely shook his head.
~ told you So" the nod said as plain
as any speech.
The man hesitated for a moment, as
he noted that nod and read its mean
ing, but only for moment did he
pause, then he was gone; gone to that
saloon in which he had been promised
good time"
The room was almost full when he
entered it. At table near the door
sat his comrades of the afternoon.
"a drink for Jim," boisterously
shouted one of them, already consid.
erably under the effects of liquor, tc
the bartender. "Come along, old fel
low"
James Meredith shook his head
mo, none for mel"
Everyone in the room who knew the
speaker stared in astonishment.
why" said the one who had called
for the drink, with sneer, "has the
parson been after YEP" A few laughed
"No!" firmly said Mr.. Meredith, "al
the temperance sermons in the world
are but as air in comparison with some
thing which l have seen and heard
since | last stood here"
No one spoke as he paused for mo-
ment.
II have seen a visionl" Slowly and
impressively he uttered the words.
Only the bartender smiled derisively
There was that in the speakers face
however, which commanded the re.
spect and silence of all n the room
And then, in the deep hush which fol
lowed, the man told of his innocent
little ones whom he had overheard en-
acting the role OF the heart-broken
ill-used mother, and the besotted, mis-
cradle father.
James, why will you do this
way"" repeated the narrator, feeling
ly. "Why, comrades, when | heard
that question put by those childish
lips. that question which had so often
jeel ~. when spoken by my wife;
VIII ethat boys sullen, repulsiv,
fa bterpart, l keenly felt, Of
\ have SO often seen il
here-why, felt it to bt
my good angel, working
spirit in the hearts of the
thus to present me to myself
Shame and degradation"
.e broke. But one movement
listeners marked the effect
rds and manner. One of {
oung men emptied the half
before him upon the floor
his feet, with head uncov
It," resumed the speaker
ling Of the eye, as he noted
pan's action, that it wa.
come and tell you tha'
shall have no need to com,
IN care; to drown care
he of my wife and little
God, from tonight" h,
Etly, my brain shall b,
1hy hand steady, for tht
& the pit of poverty into
by good times here hav,
With you, James Mere
said the young man
at, and in the silenc,
the two, with griI
went out together into
when prosperous, hon
r Of society, James Mere
ed in tattered, friendles
those comrades of Older
Dpne, indeed, who, upol
light, had ordered ,
y pluck" said the poo
ching nervously at tn
b him. 1--WE all admired
night, JIM begs ye
illin' yer by that ia
gir-but yer see ] hat
kr no visions, and So
heed for further words
poor old head, move
nd across the dim, wa
q the tramp shuffled of
ire in as much fiery fuit
)uld buy.-Elmon Signal
b Challenge.
ldents in the Universit,
we organized an anti
(Ilb announces the Chi