The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-05-17
4 Temperance story.

A Temperance story.
DO you see that tall man, bent over,
and walking little neryously toward
us?" asked Oliver D. Loucks, Of North
indianapolis, as he stood on street
corner for a moment to greet an old
friend Would you believe that he
once held high government position?
Well, he did, and the last time ! saw
him In a salocn he told me that he
considered himself. now little better
than a barrel-house bum He said
chat after starting to drink he had
gone down, down until he had about
reached the gutter Yet he was high
ly educated and cultured man You
can see that in his face, in spite OF the
drink marks BY the way, did you
know haven't touched a drop Of
liquor for pretty nearly two years
now?"
oliver Loucks is a millwright at the
cerealine works, now a deputy assessor
for two months. He is known to every
one in North indianapolis whose ac-
quaintance extends beyond their next
door neighbors. Although living more
quietly of late, he has been one of the
characters OF the suburb on account Of
his wide acquaintance, his CHEEKY dis
position. in liquor or out Of IT, and his
readiness to discuss politics, and be
active In civic affairs. He tells the
story OF how his reform from tie drink
habit came about.
--It was two years ago the 7th day Of
June coming, my little girl Esthers
birthday. 1 was getting ready to go
TO my work when she came into the
room where was
~ am 10 years old to-day, papa
she said.
YES know it, little girl, and I've
got just Is cents In my pocket What
will get your
81 don't want you tc get me any
thing. papa.
"'Oh. | answered.
"'But want you to promise me
something, papa, she said.
Well, go ahead; let's hear IT,
81 want you to promise me you
won't drink any more That will be
my birthday present, she said.
"'Oh. run along little girl an
swered; your mother has been talking
TO YOU
II heard her go outside and slipped
into the kitchen where my wife was
and asked her why she had been talk
ing to Esther about my drinking. She
said she had not. and burst out cry
ing. Then got little ratified. l had
never suspected that my children knew
drank 1t is true reeled home many
night and that scarcely ever drew
sober breath, but they were in bed and
BY morning | was always over the
worst effects Of the liquor. | do not
know how she learned it; possibly by
instinct But It was shock to me
and unnerved me. | went back into
the sitting-room and began to choke
up. tried to clear my throat by swal-
lowing, but couldn't do it. My eyes
we're filling with tears, although l
couldn't cry. threw myself full
length on the lounge and blubbered
out sort Of prayer: lord, if you'll
help me. I'll never touch liquor again
In little while Esther came running
in. saw me, and said:
Papa, you've made up your mind
to promise, haven't you? know 1t.
Yes. have, little girl. / am going
to try never to drink again, and. more
Than that. am going to put a penny
in your bank every time refuse a
glass
DO you know that in seven weeks I
had 277 pennies in that bank? But
election time came on. and one morn
ing found that some one during the
night had rolled keg of beer to my
door. That settles the penny propo-
sition, Esthev,' said when saw it.
4 guess there are more glasses in that
keg than have pennies. Children,
roll it over there on the commons
They did so, and it remained there a
couple Of days but was gone the third
morning. My old boon friends have
given UP trying to get me to break
my promise. When I saw that man
there in a saloon, last April, one Of
the men at the bar. to test me, put a
SO gold piece in the bottom Of a glass