Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-05-22

made good paigh and sent it 'ome reg.
ular to my poor old mother. She's in
the wukus now, she Is. OF hain't sent
'er hany for year and a 'alf. Once
Billy was good fellow and 'ad plenty
| G friends; now Slavin ITSELF kicks I'm
hout, e does. Why? Why" His
| voice rose to a shrek. Because when
Billy 'ad money in is pocket hevery
man in this bloomin' camp az meets
un at hevery corner says, 'Ello, Billy,
watll We aver And there's wisky at
Slavln's, and there's wisky in the
shacks. and hevery 'oiday and hcvery
Sunday there's wisky, and wen We
feel bad it's wisky, and wen We feel
good it's wisly. and heverywhere and
| Railways it's wisky, wisky, wisky And
now ye're goin' to stop it. and 'ow i?
The manager, e says pcters and mag
azines. e takes rs wine and is beer
like a gentleman, e does, and e don't
ave no use for Billy Breen. Billy,
'e's beast. and the mana ger, e kicks
un bout. But supposn' Billy wants
to stop bein' beast and starts a-tryin'
to be man again, and Wen e gets
good an dry along comes some un
and says, 'Ello, Billy, ave a smile? it
han't picters nor magazines 'ud stop
un then. Picters and magazines.
Gawd 'elp the man as hain't nothink
but picters and magazines to 'elp IN
Wen 'e's got devil hinsidc and dcv.
IL houtside a-shovin' and a-dra win Of
un down to ell. And that's were Oi'm
a-goin' straight, and yer bloomin'
league, wisky or no wisky, can't 'clp
me. But" and he lifted his trembling
hands above his head, "if ye stop the
wlsky a-flowin' round this camp yell
stop some o. these lads that's a-follow-
in me ard. Yes, you, and you. and
you.' And his voice rose TO wild
scream as he shook trembling finger
at one and another.
Mon, it's fair gTewsome tac hear
him." said Geordie. Hes no canny."
And, reaching out for Billy as he went
stumbling past. lie pulled him down to
a scat beside him, sayin: "St doom
lad; sit doom. Wei max mon o. We
yet" Then he rose and. using many
RS said, "Maister Chairmon, a doot
wc'll just haze to gle it up"
GIVE it up?" called out Nixon. "Give
up the league?"
"Na, ma. lad. but just the wee drap
whisky, It's nae that guild anyway,
and it's terrible price Mon. gin We
gang tae Henderson's in Buchanan
street. in Gleska, We ken. yell get mair
for three an saXpence than ye wull at
Slavin's for So an it'll no pit We mad
like yon stuff, but it gangs doom smooth
an saft-like. But" respectfully, yen
no can get it here, an I'm thinliin' I'll
just sign yon teetotal thing" And up
he strobe to the table and put his name
down in the book Craig had ready.
Then to Billy he said: Come ava, d!
Pit yer name doom, an we'll STAN by
ye."
Poor Billy looked around helplessly,
his nerve all gone. and sat still. There
was swift rustic Of garments, and
voice that only Billy and could hear,
sad
you'll sign with me, Bily?"
Billy gazed at her with a hopeless
look In his eyes and shook his little
head. She leaned slightly toward him.
smiling brightly, and touching his arm
gently. said
Come. Billy: there's no fear" and in
lower voice. "God will help you"
AS Billy went up. following Mrs. Ma.
vor close a hush fell on the men until
he had put his name to the pledge.
Then they came up, man by man, and
signed. But Craig sat with his head
down till touched his shoulder. He
took my hand and held it fast, saying
over and over under his breath:
THANK God! Thank God"
And SO the league was made.