The times., 1901-05-12
GIVING A TEMPERANCE TALK.
Sermon of IA Claim Agent to n Maine
stock Farmer.
(From the Boston AdYcrtiser.)

! (From the Boston AdyertiseT.)
| j. S. Sanborn, the wealthy coffee mer-
| chant of Boston. has a stock farm at Po-
land, Me, which is one of the show
| places OF the country. Mr.. SausOrn.
| when he is there, among his coach sal
lions and mares. is having the best time
| OF his long and busy life. He gets right
| on to the farm, wears old clothes, talks
/ FARMER talk. and fOrgets that he ever
lived in the city. Here is the thing that
| mas tickled him most in ten years.
| Mr.. Sanborn occasionally orders from
the city a little something to keep in the
cellar for the horse-l0ving friends who
drop around at his place to see him. And
| as he admires his friends he has only the
/ best stuff Awhile ago a shipment was
started 20 him over the Grand Trunk
/ when the packages reached Poland il
was found that some thirsty individual
had lifted considerable portion Of the
/ best whisky Mr.. Sanborn complained to
( the railroads agent at Lewiston JUNCTION.
/ and the matter was reported. In course
/ OF time claim agent dropped off the
| train at the junction one day. The name
James 5. SanbOrn did not convey to
| him the significance II would to some 9TH
ers. That is to say. he wasn't looking to
| find j. s. Sanborn. of Boston, on a farm
! down in Maine.
| Now. it happened that Mr.. Sanborn had
arrived at the station only few mo-
ments before to look after some freight
that he expected. He had been assisting
/ some of his men who had been ploughing.
The wind had been blowing across the
We're the oldest he owned. There was
more or less CRIME on his face and as
he mad walked across lots to the station
he hadn't bothered TO wipe ii Off
He was sitting by the office stove when
the claim agent came in. The stranger
from Montreal pulled out his papers and
looked at them
Where will ! find one James s. San
born?'' he asked the station agent.
There sits Mr.. Sanborn. right there
replied the man whom he questioned.
Ahr The claim agent fixed his eye
glasses on his nose and looked at the
burly man in the rusty. dust stained
clothes. "Ah. So you are J. S. San
born?''
I am said sanborn, composedly.
Il find that you have put In a claim for
loss of certain goods in transit
thing | remember something about
it, replied Mr.. Sanborn.
Il see that you have listed here a GER
tain amount of whisky at IS a gallon"
continued the claim agent, looking severe
ly at Sanborn
Yes, as [ remember it, that's what l
What is your business. Mr.. Sanborn?"
Again the agent took a look at the old
clothes and the dirt.
"A farmer.
"Ahai A farmer. I don't know much
about the State of Maine. but l would
like to ask you if most farmers down here
buy whisky at 50 a gallon?" The agents
tone plainly indicated his opinion that
Sanborn was asking the railroad to pay
an eXorbitant price The station agent
started to interrupt, but Sanborn was en-
joying the situation too much.
We won't need any assistance from
you, Mr.. Blank" said Sanborn. Il think
this gentleman and myself can settle the
matter all right. Now, Mr.. Claim Agent.
here's the bill of that whisky from the
firm of which / bought it. You can see
for yourself that l am only asking to be
reimbursed. It really is eight-dOilar whis-
ky"
The ooapt Ioolxa5 tba Hill o,yar oaraft,rIt-
and then, fixing Sanborn with a severe
look, he said:
MIR. Sanborn, it is evident that what
you say is true We shall pay the bill
But l really do feel compelled to say that
| am surprised to think that a farmer in
your circumstances should be throwing
away hard-earned money in that way,
buying whisky that only men in comfort
able circumstances ought to buy / ad-
wise you TO stop using liquor altogether.
but If you must drink, then for heavens
sake buy cheaper grade and use your
money for yourself and your family"
Again the claim agent looked at the old
clothes
sanborn said very humbly: I'm very
much Obliged to you, mister, for your ad-
vice to an old farmer. 1 will think it
over. But" and here he rose and tower
ed over the man. how long has it been
since the Grand Trunk has been sending
blasted little runts around delivering tenn
perance lectures to the patrons of the
road2"
The station agent grabbed the stranger
by the arm at this juncture and whisper
ed fiercely in his ear. The man dropped
papers, pencil, and all on the floor and
stared at Sanborn.
'FWhat?'' he repeated. ''the Boston
He turned around and faced the other
'';The kick about the whisky has been
fixed" said he, but you've got more
kicks coming to you. Mr.. Sanborn-
But Sanborn closed that incident with q
that shook the building.