Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-06-09

was saying | knew not, but poor Billy
was protesting, waving his big hands.
The meeting came to order, with
Shaw in the chair and the handsome
young oxford man secretary. Shaw
stated the object of the meeting in a
few hating words. but when he came
to speak of the pleasure he and all
felt in being together in that room his
words flowed in stream, warm and
full Then there was a pause, and Mr..
Craig was called, but he knew better
than to speak at that point. Finally
Nixon rose hesitatingly. but as he
caught a bright smile from Mrs. Ma
vor he Strengthened himself as if for
fight.
IL amt no good at maxim speeches"
he began, but it amt speeches we
want We've got somethin' to do, and
what we want to know is how to do it.
And, to be right plain, we want to
know how to drive this cursed whisky
out of Black Rock. You all know what
it's dom for us, at least for some of us,
and it's time to stop it now, or for
some of us it'll mighty soon be too
late, and the only way to stop it's work
is to quit drinkin' it and help others to
quit | hear some talk of a league and
what l say is if it's a league out and
out against whisky, total abstinence
right to the ground, then Pm with it.
That's my talk. l move we make that
kind of a league"
Nixon sat down amid cheers and a
chorus of remarks: Good man!'
That's the talk!' ''Stay with it!' But
he waited for the smile and the glance
that came to him from the beautiful
face in the corner, and with that he
seemed content.
Again there was silence. Then the
secretary rose, with a slight flush upon
his handsome, delicate face, and sec
onded the motion. If they would par
don a personal reference, he would
give them his reasons. He had come
to this country to make his fortune.
Now he wa6 anxious to make enough
to enable him to go home with some
degree of honor. His home held every
thing that was dear to him. Between
him and that home, between him and
all that was good and beautiful and
honorable, stood whisky. 'I'm asham-
ed to confess" and the flush deepened
on his cheek and his lips grew thin
ner, that l feel the need of some such
league" His handsome face, his per-
feet style of address, learned possibly
in the Union, but, more than ALL his
show of nerve, for these men knew
how to value that, made a strong i'm
preston on his audience, but there
were no following cheers.
Mr.. Craig appeared hopeful, but on
Mrs. MAYORS face there was a look Of
wistful, tender pity, for she knew how
much the words had cost the lad.
Then up rose a sturdy, hard featured
man, with a bur in his voice that pro-
claimed his birth. His name was
George Crawford, | afterward learned,
but every one called him Geordie. He
was a character in his way, fond of
his glass; but, though he was never
known to refuse a drink, he was never
known to be drunk. He took his drink
for the most part, with bread and
cheese in his own shack or with a
friend or two in a sober, respectable
way, but never could be induced tC
join the wild carousals in Slavin'S sa
loon. He made the highest wages. bu
was far too true a Scot to spend hi:
money recklessly. Every one waited
eagerly to hear Geordie's mind. HI
spoke solemnly, as befitted a Scotsman
expressing a deliberate opinion, an(
carefully. as if choosing his best Eng
lish. for when Geordie became excit
ed no one in Black Rock could under
! stand him.
MASTER Chairmon." said Geordie
"I'm aye for temperance in a things.
There was a shout of laughter, a
which Geordie gazed round in paine'
surprise. "I'll no. deny" he went OF
in an explanatory tone, 'that TAX M
, mornin' an maybe nip at noon an
wee drap after wark in the evenin
an whiles sip O. toddy wi free
: the cauld NIGHTS, but I'm no. a guz
: zler, an l dinna gang in wi the loon
= flingin' ABBOTT guild money"
!, "And that's thrue for We, me bye" il
. terrupted rich Irish brogue, to tn
delight of the crowd and the amaze
ment of Geordie. who went calmly or
:. "An' l Gamma bide yon saloon whau
they sell sic awfu'like stuff-it's mai
;, like I've nor guild whisky-an' whau
we're never sure O. yer RIGHT change
It's an awfu'-like place. Man." an
b, Geordie began to warm up. I'VE ca
;. just smell the sulphur when We gan
!, in. But | dinna care ABBOTT the ten
perance societies, wi their pledges al
! havers, an | Gamma see what hairr
can come till a man by takin' a bottl
u o. guild Glenlivet hame wi him. l cal
: ma bide the teetotal buddies.'
Geordie's speech was followed b
" loud applause. partly appreciative {
Geordie himself. but largely symp;
: thetic with his position.
= Two or three men followed in til
same strain, advocating league fl
mutual improvement and social pu