The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-11-20
DOMAIN OF TEMPERANCE.
A GLASS or TEA.

A humble cottage, a wife and four
children, supper is waiting, frugal as
it is. The hour is almost eight
o'clock; the father, where is he? 1t
is Christmas eve. No Santa Claus in
that cottage.
The streets are filed with merry
laughter and salutations Merry
Christmas. Every one has presents
to give to the loved ones at home, but
there are none for the waiting wife
and children in that humble cottage.
Boisterous laughter, maudlin songs,
sounds of glasses from drunken men,
come from a nearby gilded saloon.
The men are having, as they call it,
glorious Christmas eve; dirty stories
are told, games of chance to lure the
money from the poor unfortunate men,
nothing for the Christmas dinner but
the grog. The hour is getting late;
some are going home to homes such
as they are, where the poor loving
wife is watching and waiting, her
heart heavy.
The proprietor of this gilded hell
large, pompous, magnificently cloth
ed in the finest of raiment, a four
karat diamond stud in his shirt bosom
lis talking to one poor man, God
help him. We will call him Joe; the
other man, the proprietor, we will call
George. The following conversation
takes place: well, George said
Joe, this is Christmas eve and it has
been ten long years since | have been
coming here and took my first drink;
you have always taken my money,
also drank with me from your private
bottle and always charged fifteen
cents straight. 1t must be awful good
liquor for the price" Eyes, joe" said
George, ''that is fact, and as it is
Christmas Eve, shall show you what
I have bought for my wife. See this
beautiful diamond necklace? 1t cost
me $1,500.00 and nice four-karat
ring for myself, which cost $1,80000
Yes, they are certainly fine" said
Joe, land all my money has gone to
help pay for it."
Eyes, Joe," said George, like all the
rest.
Nov, George" said Joe, con the
strength of that, let's have a drink
and let me taste that precious liquor
from your private bottle
"All right, Joe, if you insist" The
drink is poured out and Joe lays down
his last thirty cents, tastes the liquor,
looks at George and says: This is
only TEA"
Eyes, Joe," says George, ''that is all
ever drink"
Poor Joe began to muse. The hour
is midnight; his poor wife is still
watching and waiting and Joe thinks
of the beautiful presents which his
money has helped to purchase for
Georges wife and none for his own
poor wife and children.
1--WE been paying fifteen cents for
every drink I've bought of him all
these years, What can I bring home
to my little family? Nothing but a
hellish temper, foul breath, head
ache; worse than that, an immoral
mind, wrecked nerves. No thought Of
God; my poor neglected wife and chill
dren scarcely clothed"
Joe makes up his mind. 81 will
do it. George, you have very fine
home, wife well clothed, your chill
dren living in luxury, presents for all
of them while / have nothing to bring
to my poor neglected wife and chill
dren. You taught me to take my first
drink and for ten long years I have
been spending my money with you
and neglected my home and running
my health, forgetting my church and
my God all these years and you have
always had clear head drinking your
TEA. | can do the same thing and
by the help of God shall go home to-
night, for I know that my dear wife
is waiting for me and / will take the
pledge and keep it."
y VI Ew7gyp
One year later. 1t is Christmas
Eve. Joe has made good and sees
the folly of the past fading away be-
fore him. His wife and children are
all well clothed he has presents for
all of his children; the cottage is we'll
furnished and he has a bank account
and all for that glass of TEA.
Joe has his TEA at home now and
for every drink of TEA he takes he
puts away fifteen cents and by the
time ten years roll by, has a nice sum
saved up. I'D