The L'Anse sentinel., 1908-05-30
THE SOBRIETY OF
MICAH DODGE
BY wALrEa RAYMOND
(copyrisht.)


WhsA Miss Georgina Prowse had
taken but some half dozen steps on
the broad path within the iron en-.
trance gates, she stopped and gazed
with close attention upon the great
building before her.
Miss 'Georgina Prowse was the new
lady member who had but recently
been elected to a seat upon the board
Of The House." a7
II was early in the summer, and two
aged paupers were wedding border
before the door. Another, the eldest
of the three, was cleaning away the
grass from the edge Of the path, but
he stopped and leaned upon his hoe to
look at her. Miss Georgina Prowse
advanced, then stopped again to speak
to him.
Good afternoon" said she. TT is
very pleasant here in the sun"
The old man stood upright as well
as he was able, for he was bow-legged
from his trade and bent In the back.
There's nothing the matter wi the
sun, that know off, drawled he, shad-
ing his eyes to take a glance at the
heavens.
What Is your name?"
Micah Dodge"
"Well, Micah. there is nothing the
matter with you. Is there?" smiled
the lady guardian.
Il don't know" growled he, for
at this question his one perpetual
grievance arose in the old mans mind.
Then, Micah, II you don't know. it
is clearly impossible that anyone else
can"
At this, Micah, as he afterwards
fully explained to his fellow-inmates.
up and spoke"
well, ma'am," said he. 81 do call 1t
q very wrong thing that can't go
out. Not foot have l set on t other
side o. the garden-wall. not for so
much as a errand, not since the sum-
mer afore last. 'Tis very hard
thing, and no mistake. A man, ma am,
Is not calf or pig. to be penned up
all his time. He do want to walk out
round for his recreation. An do
most terrible want to go across and
look at Liddleston once more. for
that's where was born and bred. do
long to see the old place again. l do
Platt, and old Uncle Gregory and one
| or two more. 'Tis but three mile over
the hill II had but day out. could
walk over and spend an hour and walk
back II 'twere only of an afternoon"
At that moment a tall figure came
into the doorway. The approach OF
Miss Georgina Prowse had been oh.
served from the window. and the mas
ter promptly fetched.
| Miss Georgina Prowse passed hur-
riedly on.
The incident worried her. 1t GER
tainly seemed hard that Micah Dodge
was not allowed an occasional day to
go to Liddleston. All the while that
she was being shown over the house
this thought was in her mind. 1t made
her ear alert to every word the work
house master muttered. They came
again to the door when her visit was
at an end.
do these old. people sometimes
have a holiday, for instance? Or to
see their friends?"
Some OF them now and then" said
he and laughed. But see old Micah
has been airing his grievance. He's
very angry with me because won't
give him leave. But there are none of
his kin left in the village, and he al
ways gets drunk. He's q bit Of q
character. People talk to him and
stand him glass, and then he Is done
for. Otherwise he might go, for he's
harmless old fellow. He comes back
drunk, and kicks up row and sings.
Last time he did not come, and we
had to send out and fnd him. So
since then he has been stopped"
| rs there no chance for him."
"Oh, don't know. It Is inconven-
lent and it's q bad example. Still, he
might have one more trial."
IF he were to promise?" pleaded
Miss Georgina Prowse, with sudden
| enthusiasm.
| "He would do that readily enough" ("
chuckled the master. But no power
on earth could make him keep It."
He walked down the path to where
Micah Dodge was wedding. The old
man did not look up, but kept steadily
| on with his work.
well. Micah, this lady has been
kind enough to ask me to let you out.
But you know what happened before.
| Now. what am to say?"
"I.il take good care not to have too
much" murmured Micah, in low
| voice, which faltered In his anxiety
to know how this would turn out.
You must give your word not to
i touch a dronto crtod Misa CoorOina