The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1904-10-06

| mousse ana IaceQ Stretcn OF SnOW-cOV-
cred country he paused under the lee
Of the house to escape the wind. II
was house fast going to rack. Sew.
| eral planks were loose on the sides
and some shingles seemed to have
leaped from the roof 1t was inhabited
though, for through the window Capt
Pruitt caught the sound of a child's
voice. 1t was not a pleasant sound
either, for it was a wall. The captain
moved up pace or two and, finding
hole in the window where piece OF
paper had been placed in lieu of glass
and had yielded to the wind, he peered
into the room. What he saw moved
the cookies of his punchwarmed heart
The room was almost bare of furniture
and before an empty stove woman sa,
budding to herself two small, shiv-
ering children, wrapped in old pieces
of carpet
Mamma" walled the smallest child
Pm so hungry"
my DEAR" said the woman, despair
ingly, there's not thing in the house
and nobody'll give us anything"
by gum!" said the captain, to him
self, "by gum!" and wheeling he walk
ed back into Bent's lane. Feeling IL
his left trousers pocket he nodded to
himself.
1--WE got enough" he muttered, and
then, unmindful Of the blast. he re-
traced his steps back to the highroad.
Entering a country store by the roadside
he demanded of the proprietor if he
sold coal. To an affirmative reply came
the request that he Immediately send
half ton to the last house on the left
hand side of Bent's lane.
It'll be SENT" said the man languid-
ly, when it's paid for"
"I'll pay for it, you swab." snapped
the captain.
Cali right, I'll send 1t right away.
knows those people for no good"
THAT isn't all l want to co." called
the captain. Here take down this
here cargo of eating things: Sugar.
coffee, flour, beans, potatoes. apples,
pork, ginger cakes and molasses."
The dealer put down the articles in
the required quantities and assured the
captain the order would be sent out
forthwith. The captain settled the bill
and then paused as he started for the
door.
Here" he called, did order any
reezins?"
"No, you didn't" replied the dealer.
They'll want plum duff for Sunday,
sure" muttered the captain, put down
two pound O. reezins."
That night as Capt. Pruitt lay in his
snug bunk and heard the nor'west wind
whistling in the rigging, he felt the
grateful consciousness of having made
some one happy.
Six months later Capt. Pruitt was
killing time one night at port some
so miles from the town where he had
his wrestle with the law. His atten-
ton was attracted by singing Glanc-
ing around he noted a sign over a hall
giving notice that the Soldiers of Tenn
perance were holding meeting nightly.
"I'lI go in and hear some hymns"
said the captain, 81 like good singin'"
But the singing ceased as he entered
and man announced that Brother
Cuff would make an address.
Cuff" muttered the captain, ARE
there two Cuffs, wonder?" The iden-
teal Cuff, victim of the captains direst
hate, neatly dressed in black suit.
walked briskly on the platform.
"Bretherin! and sisterin!" he began,
II was saved from the demon drink by
merrikle. l was a drunkard and |
was awful saucy to the good temper
ance folk who tried to save me. When
they asked me to sign the pledge I'd
say wanted bread for my family and
they couldn't eat paper. One man tells
me that satin had his grip on me and l
recolecks tellin' him that mebbe he
had but as I had no fire in my house
he didn't grip long, but knocked off
and went home to warm up. Oh, l was
saucy to those good people. One night
there wasn't feed for a mouse in the
house and not spark O. fire, and it as
cold as ice. l was layin' on the floor
upstairs, weak from a spree, when up
comes a wagon and dumps a lot O. coal
and groceries at the door. My wife
asks who sent ct and the driver says
he didn't know, but they was to come
here and was all paid for. He didn't
know the man what paid for em.
Bretheren, it wasn't a man at ALL 1t
was the Lord and from that day l
haven't tasted drink and I never will
again"
by gum" muttered Capt. Pruitt.
Cuffs house, and he ate the plum
duff, by gum"