The North Cumberland Reformer. — 1891-04-23 (Carlisle, Cumbria, England)

GOOD LOAD.  Are words changing their meanings! They do become greatly modified, but do they ever mean the opposite of what they once meant? "Cunning," two hundred years ago meant skill, and it was high praise to call a man a cunning workman; now he would reckon it a very poor compliment, and would probably resent such faint praise. Cunning now applies to animals mainly, especially fox3s, and men don't care to be called "foxy." Still, cunning has a trace of "craftiness," anot'ier greatly modified word, and "artfulness," very ofte,) used of the "dodger," but it does not yet me in unskilful, a poor workman. What, then, did a man mean when he said, "Joe's got a good load tonight ! " I was coming up English Street one night just after 11 o'clock, and wondering at the number of people about, until I remembered, "Turning out time." When passing Swift's Row, I saw a man staggering very badly, and overheard the emark from another, who also had been draining tankards, and who couldn't walk straight." "What did he mean by ' good ? 'Would Joe's wife consider it a good load? Would his cuildren run to the door, and laugh, and clap their hands because of the good load father hal brought home, or would they not rather creep under the bed to get out of the way, lest father, staggering under such a good load, should trample upon them with his great hoofs? Would there be peace and happiness in that home, or misery and strife? Good! In what sense? AS, perhaps he was serving another master, and what seemed evil in my eyes, and in my Master's eyes, seemed good in his. But no; I don't think either God or the Devil were in his thoughts. Very likely he meaa "heavy." "Joe's got a heavy load on to-night." How true! in a wider sense, and with deeper meaning than lies on the surface.  The heavy load speaks of light pockets, and the publican's till. Then you cannot eat your cake, and still have it to eat. Money spent in drink means shortness in the home. Want of proper food, want of proper clothes, want of every comfort, but no want of trouble, or care, or misery. Want of harmony, but not of discord; want of songs, but not of sobs. When Joe's put heavy loads of liquor on board their stomachs, they put a corresponding load of care on their wives at home.  It speaks, too, of what is so often overlooked. A load that must be carried throughout eternity. "No drunkard shall enter the kingdom of heaven." There are no drink shops there. No one ever shall stagger about the streets of the New Jerusalem. There they drink of the Water of Life. How shall two walk together except they be agreed. "While what Heaven loves, I hate; shut for me is Heaven's gate." Is there anything in common between God and the drunkard? Heaven to the sot is an eternal booze without its helplessness, idiocy, and headaches. A for ever just on the point of getting drunk. But what saith our Lord,— 'This 6 eternal life that we may know Thee, the only true God." If the drunkard is to spend eternity in heaven, there will have to be a great change either in him or in heaven.  A heavy load. Who is responsible for the destruction of his home, and the murder of his soul? It seems to me there are more loads than his. Have I not seen men taking hold of others by the arms and almost forcing them into the bars? Have I not heard men cursed because they would not go in. How many have been sneer d into drunkenness and into hell?  The Public houses are so many they are always getting in some poor Joe's way. He walks well for a time, perhaps, knowing where his drinking will land him, but Easter comes, or the Races, or Christmas, and he catches his toe, as it were, on the Public house step and falls. Ah ! so heavily. Who is responsible for the open doors of Temptation? Law framers, brewers, magistrates, publicans—false friends—what if ye be charged at the Bar of God as equally responsible for Joe's " Heavy Load."