The Jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 18??-1907, 1905-06-24
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{ ". c. I. j. COLUMN. !
A DRUNKARD's VISION.
We Edited BY MRS. n. A. BENEFlELD. Z

anu ulngureu Dy vice, eyes cleared and |
sunderland this one of Gods crea-
lures.
He lies still and quiet, deal to all
around him, deaf to the noise and bus
tie of this New Years Eve, this season
of joyousness and of mirth. There are
no children in his mockery of home,
no wife to tell the prattling little ones
what New Year should mean to them,
no pleasure for bim save in the bottle
which has helped him to forget the
past, Rousing himself, he places the
bottle to his lips, takes one more drink
and then sinks back again, but this
time not to forgetfulness.
"My God! why can | not forget?'' is
his despairing cry. cone more drink,
l must forget"
Once more he sleeps, and ere long
there falls upon his ear pattering of
tiny feet. In the dim light stands
beautiful, fairhaired boy with bright.
ny face. AS the man looks he says,
who are you. and why do you come
when l would forget?'
childish tones: :'Do you not know me?
l am the spirit of your childhood days.!
l n of the time when we played our
games of marbles and ball. Our days
were spent in frolic and in glee, and at
night, do you not remember the sweet
faced woman who took us in her arms
and sung such soft, sweet lulabies that
we can seem to hear them yet? And on
New Years eve do you not remember
as she tucked US into bed she told us of
the little New Year, and when she had
herd our evening prayer, she added
this petition: 80 God, keep my boy
pure and UPRIGHT"
The voice ceases and the spirit of his
child vanishes from his sight.
The drunkard raises himself to a sit
ting posture, and searches again for his
boon companion, the bottle. AS he
does 30, he hears boyish whistle, and
near him, where the little child had
stood, is boy of perhaps fourteen
years Of age. Like the little child, the
boy wears a familiar look, and to him
the drunkard puts the same question
which he had addressed to the young
child. Then the boy make answer:
II am the spirit of your school days.
Do you not remember we are preparing
to leave home for the first timer We
are going away to school. You know,
mother said she wished to keep us at
home awhile longer, but we said we did
not wish to stay all our days in the dull
old place. Do you not remember on
our last night at home when she came
and knelt at our bedside and prayed,
% God, keep my boy pure and upright?'
Has her boy kept himself pure and up
right? Did he not learn to smoke, to
bet, to drink while at school. Did he
keep himself pure and upright as his
mother prayed he might be kept?
Once more the drunkard reaches for
his bottle, but between him and it
stands the form of young and beauti-
full girl: and by her side is stalwart
youth-a handsome face his seems at
first glance. but closer inspection shows
lines of dissipation that mar it's per-
feet beauty.
AS the drunkard sazes upon these
two. the young man speaks:
II am the spirit of your youth and
this is Mary. sweet Mary, whom you
have just won for wife. Oh, we were
proud of Mary, you and l.. Do you re-
member that night when she would
give herself to us to keep forevermore?
What a. gift! The love Of pure, good
woman! We drank again and again,
we were so happy"
The two spiri4s pass on. and with a
moan the drunkard mutters, "Can !
never forget? Oh, for drink to drive
away these memoriea!"
The fire dies down and blc2es up
again, and in its brilliant glow he sees
a beautiful room. Great palms and
costly flowers are everywhere. Under a
canopy of roses stands young and
beautiful woman, (the Mary of his
YOUTH and himself. He can hear the
bridegroom promise to love and cher
ish his beautiful bride. Would moth.
ing take rhese pictures from before hit
eyesP Where is the bottle? Hark! They
are drinking the health of the young
couple, and Mary's soft hand touches
his as she whispers gently, 81 would
rather you would not take cny more
wine, dear"
He hears the bridegroom say Yol
did not know me, did you, man? / an
the spirit of your manhood, and you
and | are happy tonight with the hap
piness of lifetime"
Happy" echoes the drunkard
"Oh, for one drink to drive away these
visions of my youth"
A tiny hand touches his, baby
hand, and as the little fingers GRASP
his, baby's voice cooes softly, sweet
> ly, in his ear, Papa, o papa"
"Who calls me papa? Take her away
cannot listen to that voice. | canno
look upon that face"
Before the drunkard stands woman
holding in her arms little child, TIT
womrn is worn and weary; the chi, d il
moaning weak. pitiful vail. Its tiny
hands are thin and emaciated end iii
lips are blue with the cold. The doc
opens and man staggers in. Thu
child stretches out its little hands anC
cries, "Papa, o papa" The man will
,, an oath, plunges forward and with on
blow strikes down the mother andchild