The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-03-16
What Closed
the Saloon
%A TX


To~ the dusky mills and fac
tories which usually looked
30 black and dreary. At the window
of dingy little garret, looking toward
the glowing west, crouched child,
watching the river as it sparkled and
quivered where the golden arrows
struck it, and looking at the great rosy
column of smoke that rose to the sky,
making one think of the pillar of fire
which Jehovah once sent to be the
guard and guide of His people. She
was a. queer, elfish-looking little crea-
fure, sadly crooked and misshapen,
and roughly carved crutch which lay
near told that she was lame, too.
She took her crutch and crept slowly
down the old stairs, which shook and
creaked most dismally at every step.
When she reached the front door she
stood looking at the lamps as they
were lighted one by one, and at the
people as they moved quickly to and
fro. Suddenly, just as the stars began
to remble out into the darkened sky,
q deep-toned church bell commenced to
ring slowly out on the evening air; an
other chimed in and still others, till
Ut seemed as if all the bells in the
city were ringing together; and to
little Mamie Burke it sounded as
though they were calling. crying out
some solemn message. which she could
not understand An awkward, honest
looking boy hurried past her, toward
the better part of the town, where the
broad streets and handsome houses
were, going in such haste that he did
not notice the little figure on the steps,.
till she called out:
Dick! I say, Dick Townsend, what
are the bells ringing for? 'Tisn't Sun
day"
why, it's for the League" answered
the boy: they're to have a prayer
meeting for them in all the churches,
while they're going around"
whats the League?" asked the
child, wonderingly.
well. now. you are green,' said
Dick, with a look of compassionate su-
periority; why, where have you been
for this week and more?"
MY legs been worse than common,
and have had to stay in the room all
the time" said Mamie; but please,
Dick. what is it?''
why" said Dick, 'it's the ladies
who are joined together into what they
call a Temperance League, and they
are going around to get folks to sign
pledge that they won't drink any
more; and then they are trying to
make the saloonkeepers shut up, and
promise never to sell any more whisky,
never, never"
20 Dickp' cried the girl, while her
great eyes glowed and flashed; land
do they really do it?"
do itw said Dick; "well. I should
rather think they did. Why, those
women go to them AMI sing and pray
until they Just can't stand it. What
do you think, Nan! I saw that old fat
Keyser, who kept a saloon on Broad
street. sobbing like baby yesterday,
and he knocked out the heads of his
old barrels till the whisky and beer
poured down the cutters like dirty
water Father signed q pledge that
MRS. DR.. Graham took down to the
mill, and, Nan. he's come home sober
ever since, and that's four days"
"Dick." said Mamie. while her voice
quivered with eagerness, has Ben
4 Brannan shut up?"
NO" said the boy; Everybody else
kas given in but him and two fellows
on Market street. and they're hoping
g. to bring them tonight; so / must
hurry. for l want to be- in when it
happens"
=
AT last they reached the establish
ment whose proprietor had so persist
emily refused to yield. The saloon was
brilliantly lighted and Brannan himself
stood in the door. AS the ladies
paused, he spoke to them very politely,
and they commenced their meeting.
Ut continued half hour, and in the in
HHSTVdI UelNeeu 81 prayer anu hy LII, hS
8told them that he had listened to them
very patiently. and now thought it only
civil that they should hear what he had
10 say. Brannan began by compli-
mentng their music, telling them how
much he and his customers had en-
joyed it: he said be hoped that it had
amused them to come there day after
day. and that he had no objection to
their doing so for few days, but that
= it was now assuming the shape of a
nuisance. and. if they did not discOn-
Btinue their visits, be would appeal 10
the law.
He said he had as good right to
make a living for his family as any
man in the city. and if he chose to do
dt by selling liquor, it was nobody's s
business. He closed by an emphatic
DECLARATION that he had never harmed
Any one by his saloon, and again told
the ladies that if they annoyed him
any more he would haye them ar
eested.