Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-05-03

- SAAeht oiNpiOll1 lliluStOU was dtSU
occasionally observable in the atmos-
phere of Oyster Point and a chrcGi-
cally infiamed nose marked more than
one prominent citiZen-notably the
mayor. who was also the doctor. both
horse and human. of the village. But
whatever drunkenness there was-and
| do not now recall any means of di
version beyond alcoholic indulgence
which the place presented-was car
riei On. as rule. with sobriety. so
10 speak. and decent reserve. which
precluded scandal and offense.
One day heard Mrs Carruthers, as
| thought, declining chickens or other
household supplies at her back door.
and Idly looking out at my window.
then saw that she was speaking to Mr..
Sprcckett. who, standing on the step.
with his hat pushed back upon his
heal at peculiarly unbecoming angle,
listened wit countenance absolutely
devoid OF any expression whatsoever.
I'm nightly obliged TO you. Mr..
Sprockett. she was saying. "and if
was thinking about getting married."
! drew back with such ill-considered
haste as 10 bump my head loudly
against the window sash. and so doubt
less made my unintended eavesdrop-
ping perfectly apparent. apologized
when she came over later in the day.
"Oh. that's all right" she said,
good naturedly; there want much to
near-you know Mr.. Sprockett's
mighty quiet. But certainly was sur
prised. He's been after me more than
once lately about going into the pickle
business on big scale: but didn't
know he wanted to be taken in or was
thinking about me. MIR. Sprockett's
mighty inoffensive-Id just as soon
marry him as anybody-but | kind o.
think marrying amt what it's held out
TO be. And so | thought Id better let
well enough alone-specially as he
want very pressing"
The next morning he did not appear
at breakfast. and upon investigation
it was found that he had not come
home the previous night.
Il don't think / could have hurt his
feelings" Mrs. Carruthers said TO me
over the hack fence; and he didn't
seem to be bit set on it. just hope
he alma sick off somewhere"
The potato man arrived just then.
MIR. Sprockett?" he said. with
grin. Mr.. Sprockett got shut up for
being drunk last night. They say he
carried on terrible. He'll be up before
the mayor this morning He'll be up
before the mayor this morning. He's
up now. | reckon
Mrs. Carruthers had dropped the tn
bers she was examining. shut up for
being drunk last night" She looked at
me in way that did not in the least
understand. but l saw that she was
strongly moved. Shut up" she re-
peated. Before the mayor this morn
ing, Go long. / don't want any po-
tatoes,"
| had never seen her in a towering
rage. should have believed her as in
capable of it as Mr. Sprockett of the
outrageous. violent and truculent con-
duct of which / learned he had been
guilty while under spirituous excita
tion-conduct of which the guardians
of the law could but take cogniZance in
the interest of public safety. But
could nc: help suspecting that If it
had been a comparatively nice Of
Tense" it would have met its com
ment" What bushes did he have get
ting drunk, when he neve: had been
drunk before in his nfe, so far as APP
peared?
That Mrs. Carruthers was in tower
ing rage her very back showed as she
hurried into the house. saw her
emerge in a moment, with her bon
net strings tied very tightly under her
chin. and rapidly disappear up the
street. To the (unsolicited) kindness
of the milkman | owe an account of
what followed.
Things was most over when she
got there" he said. .'all out of breath;
the mayor was just fixing to fine him
heavy-anybody could see that-when
SIC walked right up and looked him in
| the eye( there was a crowd there, but
they gave wayl, and she says, says
| she. Look ahere. Doctor Blanks she
says. you let Mr.. Sprocket alone she
says. What ! say is she says, them
| that live in glass houses shouldn't
throw stones, she says. You amt the
one. she says. with that nose. to be
setting in judgment on anybody for
| getting drunk. she says. and you
know it. YOU ought to be ashamed of
| yourself she says There amt any use
in being hypocrite il you are a
drunkard. she says. which Mr..
Sproc..ett aint-and never will be.
| Come long. Mr.. Sprockett.' ?"
The case. | understood. was hu-
richly. even precipitately dismissed
No enc. think thought the occurrence
| especially notable. least of all Mrs
Carruthers herself She dropped in to
| see me next day and sat tanning her
self placidly. her bonnet strings com
fortably united. and talked Of a variety
Of TOPICS. embracing. as remember,
tomato catehup. measles. thunder
storms. oistcrn and well water. moths
and moth-eXterminatoTs. ways of util
ling cold meats. the effects of tea and
coffee Oh the nerves. dreams and pre-.
sentiments. mosquitoes. Mrs. Browns
bonnet. methods of pickling oysters
dahlia culture. and powdered oyster
shells as medium for Furnishing
table knives.
| thought she looked a little occu
1 - ,4T.ts