Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1902-12-25

out against whisky, rotar apsrhlence
right to the ground, then I'm with 1t.
That's my talk. I move we make that
kind of league"
| Nixon sat down amid cheers and
chorus of remarks: Good many'
THAT'S the talk" "Stay with It'll" 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 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 was 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 I 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 strong i'm
preston on his audience, but there
were no following cheers.
Mr.. Craig appeared hopeful, but on
Mrs. MAYORS face there was look of
wistful, tender pity, for she knew how
much the words had cost the lad.
Then up rose sturdy, hard featured
man, with bur in his voice that pro-
claimed his birth. His name was
George Crawford afterward learned,
but every one called him Geordie. He
was character in his way, fond of
his glass; but, though he was never
known to refuse 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
friend or two in sober, respectable
way, but never could be induced to
join the wild carousals in Slavin's sa-
loon. He made the highest wages, but
was far too true Scot to spend his
money recklessly. Every one waited
eagerly to hear Geordie's mind. He
spoke solemnly, as bef1tted Scotsman
expressing a deliberate opinion, and |
carefully, as if choosing his best Eng
fish, for when Geordie became excit- |
ed no one in Black Rock could under
stand him.
"Maister Chairmon," said Geordie,
'I'm aye for temperance in a. things"
There was shout of laughter, at |
which Geordie gazed round in panied |
surprise. "I'll no. deny" he went on
in an explanatory tone, "that tax ma
mornin' an maybe a nip at noon an |
wee drap after wark in the evenin'
an whites a sip O. toddy WI freen
the cauld NIGHTS, but I'm no. guz-
zler, an dinna gang in WI the looms
fingin' ABBOTT guild money"
"And that's thrue for We, me bye" in
terrupted rich Irish brogue, to the
delight of the crowd and the amaze
ment of Geordie. who went calmly on:
AN l Gamma bide yon saloon whaur
they sell sic awfu'-fike stuff-it's mair
like I've nor guild whfsky-an' whaur
we're never sure O. yer RIGHT change.
It's an awfu'-like place. Man." and
Geordie began to warm up, Eye can
JUST smell the sulphur when We gang
in. But I dinna care ABBOTT the tenn
perance societies, WI their pledges an
havers, an Gamma see what harm
can come till man by takin' bottle
O. guild Glenlivet hame WI him. can
ma bide the teetotal buddies"
GeOrdie's speech was followed by
loud applause, partly appreciative of
Geordie himself, but largely sympa-
thetic with his position.
Two or three men followed in the |
same strain, advocating a league for |
mutual improvement and social pur-
poses, but without the teetotal pledge. |
They were against the saloon, but did |
not see why they should not take a
drink now and then.
Finally the manager rose to support |
his friend. stah-ah-Cwafoad, rid |
iculing the idea of a total abstinence
pledge as fanatical and indeed "ab-
suad." He was opposed to the saloon
and would like to see a club formed, |
with comfortable clubroom, books, |
magazines. pictures, games, anything,
"dontcherknow, to make the time pass
pleasantly" but it was "absuad to ask
men to abstain fwom pwopah use of |
-aw- nouwishing dwinks" because
some men made beasts of themselves.
He concluded by offering $50 toward |
the support of such club.
The current Of feeling was setting
strongly against the total abstinence
idea, and Craigs face was hard, and
his eyes cleaned like Goals. Then he
did bit of generalship. He proposed |
that since they had the two plans
clearly before them they should take
few minutes intermission in which |
to make up their minds, and he was
sure they would be glad to have Mrs.
Mavor sing. In the interval the men
talked in groups, eagerly, even fiercely,
hampered seriously in the forceful ex-