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

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 tc
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 fol-
tome 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 ! say is if it's league out and
out against whisky, a total abstinence
right 10 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 MANI
That's the talk.' Stay with it!' But
he waited for the smile and the glance
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
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 | feel the need of some such
league" Ills 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 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. lie
was Il 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 a
friend or two in 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 Scot to spend his
money recklessly. Every one waited
eagerly to hear Geordies mind. lie
spoke solemnly, as beiitted Scotsman
carefully, as if choosing his best Eng
lish. for when Geordie became excit-
ed no one in Black Rock could under
stand him.
"Maister Chairmon," said Geordie.
Tin aye for temperance in a. things"
There was shout of laughter Mt
which Geordie gazed round in panied
surprise. I'm mo- deny" he went on
In an explanatory tone, that tax ma
mornin' an maybe nip at noon an
wee drap after wark in the evenin'
an whites sip O. toddy WI a freen
the cauld NIGHTS, but I'm no. a grz-
zlep, an | dinna gang in wi the looms
fiingin' ABBOTT guild money"
And that's thrue for ye, me bye" in
terrupted 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
Geordle began TO warm up, Eye can
JUST smell the sulphur when We gang
In, But dinna care ABBOTT the tenn
perance societies, WI their pledges an
havers, an | Gamma see what HARM
can come I'll man by takin' a bottle
O guid Glenlivet hame wi him. l can
ma bide the teetotal buddes"
Geordie's speech was followed by
loud applause, partly appreciative of
Geordie himself, but largely sympa-
thetie 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 total abstinence
pledge as fanatical and indeed "ab-
suad." He was opposed to the saloon
ana would Ike to see club formed,
with comfortable clubroom, books,
magazines, pictures, games, anything,
"dontcherknow, to make the time pass
pleasantly" but 1t was "absuad to ask
men to abstain fwom a pwopah use Of
-aw - nouwishing dwinks" because
some men made beasts Of themselves.
lie concluded by offering $50 toward
the support of such a club.
The current of feeling was setting
strongly against the fetal abstinence
Idea. and Craig's face was hard, and
his pyps pIpa mad Iiyn 400 lie, rpbn,, Lo