The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-19
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.iIid of cOnNelStuoiis OUT
r 1he pedestrian who had
stopped to drink mug II
ale beneath The shade Of the doors was
not happy in his choice of subjects.
He would only talk Of the pernicious
euects of beer en- the constitutions Of
the aged. and he listened with iil-con-
ceaIed impatience to various points
which the baf9ed ancient opposite
urged in It's favour.
Conversation languished; the travel
er rapped on the table and had his
mug renled He nodded COurteousiy
to his companion and dSank.
Seems to me. said the latter,
sharply. you like II for all your talk. %
The other shook his head gently, and,
leaning back. bestowed a covert wink
upon the signbOard. He then explained
that it was the dream of his iife 10
give up beer.
You're another Job Brown said
the old man, irritahly. that's wot you
Jrc; anotEer job Brown. I've seen
your kind afoTe."
He shifted farther along the seat,
and, taking up his long clay pipe
from the table struck match ana
smoked a few whins which remained.
Then he heard the traveller order Il
pint oil ale with gin in 1t and a paper
OF tobacco. His dull eyes glistened'
but he made a feeble attempt 40 eN-
press surprise when these Injuries
were placed before MIN.
"Wot ! said just now about YOU be
ing Ike job Brown was only iE joke
like. he said anxicusly. as he tasted
the brew. IF Job adj been like you
he'd hI been a better man.
The phnanthropist bowcd. lie also
manifested a little curiosity concern
ing one 40 whom he had. for however
short time, suggested a resemblance.
lie was one o the 'ardest drinkers
n these parts" began the old man,
slowly. hlling mis- pipe.
The traveller thanked him.
-Nut / meant wus'-said the old
IMAM. hastily-''that all the time e was
'iriaking = vas talking agin beer
Sam" as you was just now, and he
used 10 toy ali sorts o. ways and
plans uf becoming teetotaler. He
USED go sit up ere OF night drink
ing is ardest and talking All the
tm- of Ways and means by which -
cJulC siv, il up. lie used 10 talk
about hissclf as IL e was somebody
else e. was trying TO do good 10.
Tine chaps about ere got sick of
Is talk They was poor men mostly,
same as they are now, and they
could only drink little ale now and
inon; an while they was drinking OF
10 ,ncy 'ad 20 sit and listen To Jchr
LIuWn. who make lots o. money deal
Hs. drinking pint arter pint o. gin
7lo h,er and calling il pison. an say
h- they were killing themselves.
Sometimes e used to get pitiful
yer "a. add sit shaking is cad at EN-
for Irovning their selves in beer. as
Doe called it. when they ought 20 be
rs ,-HS The money TO their wives and
.a.-. jos. He sat down and cried one
go. over Bill Chambers wife's toes
f..-.- out OF 'er boots. Bill sat
-. ok all in a cap, and IL might
-,e passed off. only Henery White
-. 's- up for i'm. and said that he
,,rcrly ever 'ad a pint but wot
somebody else paid for H. There was
"apiuasantness all around then, and in
tue row somebody knocked one O.
emery s teeth out.
md that wasn't the only unpleasant
tss. and at last some of the chaps put
go Cdds together and agreed among
themselves to try and help Job Brown
10 give up the drink They KEEP it
secret from Job. but the next time e
came in and ordered a pint Joe Cub
bius-'aving won the toss-drank it by
mistake, and went straight off ONE
a. ara as e could. smacking is lips.
lie 'ad the best OF IL. the other
Chars aving to old Job down in is
char. and trying their 'ardest 10 ex-
plain that Joe Gubhins was only do
,n- him a kindness. Tie seemed to I'M
uersiand at last, and arter long time
e. said @ could see Joe meant TO do
i'm kindness. but ed better not do
SO amy more.
lie kept a very tight old o. the
neNt pint. and as e set down at the
tab.e ne looked round nasty like and
asked 'em whether there was any more
as would like to do i'm a kindness.
md Henery White said there was.
and ne went straight of 'ome arter
fust dropping a handful O. sawdust
INTO Jobs mug.
I'm an old man. an I've seen a
good many rows in my time, but I've
never seen anything like the one that
'aIpened then. II was no good talking
10 Job. not a bit. he being that IN
reasonable that even when is own
words was repeated TO i'm he wouldn't
h>,en. lie behaved like a nadman. an
the laugwidge e used was that fearful
AID that wicked that Smith the land
Lord said wouldn't ave it in ia
house
Arter that you'd ha' thought that
Job Brown would ave left on is talk
bout being teetOtaler, but he didn't.
II, said they was quite right in trying
90 10 i'm a kindness, but he didn't like
Tie way they did il. He said there
was a right way and a wrong way Of
doing everything. and they'd chose the
vrorr.
'i was All very we'll for i'm to talk.
on ihr chaps said e might drink his
sell 'n death for all they cared And
l'st"4d "i seeing i'm safe 'Ome as they
VS'n io when e was worse than usual
1d 10 look srter hisself and get
ONE Hs best ne could.
III Was through that at last e came
10 oHer 50 reward TO anybody as could
clip I'm To become a teetotaler. He
went of ONE one night as usual. and
arier stopping few seconds in the
- Tor To pull hisself together. crept