St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-10-01
BLACK ROCK.
CONTINUED from Sept. III

see the innocent guile with whi h she
caught Billy Breen and drew him to
her corner near the organ. What she
was saying I 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 a stream, warm and
full. Then there was 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 a
fight.
II 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 league, and
what l say is if it's a league out and
out against whisky, total abstinence
right to the ground, then I'm with it.
That's my talk. l move we make that
kind of league
Nixon sat down amid cheers and a
chorus of remarks: "Good manw
'"Thats 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 slight flush upon
his handsome, delicate face, and sec
onded the motion. If they would par
don personal reference, he would
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. "Tm asham-
ed to confess" and the flush deepened
on his cheek and his lips grew thin
ner, 'that 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 a look of
wistful tender pity, for she knew how
much the words had cost the lad.
Then up rose 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 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 to
join the wild carousals in Slavins sa-
loon. He made the highest wages, but
was far too true a Scot to spend his
money reeklessly. Every one waited
eagerly to hear Geordie's mind. He
spoke solemnly, as befitted 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,
"Pm aye for temperance in a things"
There was shout Of laughter, at
which Geordie gazed round in panied
surprise. "Fll no. deny" he went on
in an explanatory tone, that tax ma
mornin' an maybe a nip at noon an a
wee drap after wark in the evenin'
an whites a sip O. toddy wi a freen
the cauld NIGHTS, but Pm no guz-
zler, an | dinna gang in wi the looms
flingin' ABBOTT guild money"
"And that's thrue for We, me bye" in
terrupted a rich Irish brogue, to the
delight of the crowd and the amaze
ment of Geordie, who went calmly on:
"An' | Gamma bide yon saloon whaur
they sell sic awfu'-like stuff-it's mair
like I've nor guild whisky-an' whaur
we're never sure O. yer RIGHT change.
It's an awfu'-like place. Man." and
Geordie began to warm up, I'VE can
just smell the sulphur when ye gang
in. But I dinna care ABBOTT the tenn
perance societies, wi their pledges an
havers, an I Gamma see what HARM
can come till a man by takin' a bottle
O. guild Glenlivet hame WI him. cam
ma bide the teetotal buddies,"
Geordie's speech was followed by
loud applause, partly appreciatiye 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-
nocnc hu+ without +ho tantotoI nlndUn