Year: 1859

CHAPTER II.


Bones Bones /! Bones q !" rent tL'
night air. Groans and imprecations hiied VI
the interval between each exclamation an'
night was made hideous. After the commit
tee on blocking the City had adjourned larg'
number of men and boys assembled on th'
pavement opposite the City Hall, while cor
responding crowd assembled on the opposite
side of the street, OH the stoop OF Mr.. Turn
er's Hotel and the adjacent pavement. Th'
Democrats upon the City Hall side and the
Wings over the way. The Wings were bawl
ing at the top of their lungs "Bones
Bones u" The other side, exasperated al
most to fury, retaliated by groans, hissees
and all kinds of disagreeable noises. Hours
were spent in this kind of political phrenzy,
until fairly tired both crowds naturally died
out. Among the last to leave the ground was
Frank Baker. He and his tall friend were too
closely associated together to part so easily.
The tall man was an ofice-seeker and had too
much at stake to hazard parting with his
friend until he had completely got him with
in his grasp. 1t is apart of the business of the
politician to inveigle into his tolls intelligent
mechanics and make what they call "active
men" of them. But woe to the mechanic
who falls into this snare his doom is sealed
for ever his character, the only capital he
possesses, is gone so far, that no resurrection
can ever establish it again. 1t incites an am
bition in their breasts that leads them from
act to act from excess to excess, until wreck
and ruin is the grand finale.


Frank and his companion, leaving the
scene of so much confusion, repaired to an
eating saloon not far-distant to procure some
refreshments to recruit the inner man. The
landlord was all attention; he was anxious
that they should want for nothing on his ac-
count to make them comfortable. The best
yiands that the house could afford were placed
before them, and they enjoyed real regal re-
past. After the substantials had been dis
posed of the tall. man called for whiskey.-
Mine host informed the customers that he
did not sell anything strong. The demand
was imperative it would not do to merit the
displeasure of an influential politician; his
future custom might be lost, and the matter
was compromised by the host going to hotel
and procuring a very black bottle with mys-
terious looking wax-headed cork. This i'm
portant article being placed before thecu
ers, the host retired. " Well done, good and
faithful servant, ''exclaimed the politician; ~
never trust to the resources of that man but
he brings out the things that make fellow
feel good all over. Here is some real good
old bourbon it smells right good and tastes
very much like something have tasted some
where before.


''Frank, my boy, take little, il will do you
good. know you don't often imbibe, but a
little good old bourbon won't hurt any body.
1t will warm you up, elevate your spirits, and
make you at least an inch taller" Frank
thanked his friend but told him that he did
not drink. The tall gentleman insisted on
his drinking, but Frank as vehementlyrefus-
ed. At length he consented to take aglass of
mineral water. The host was called in and
the beverage furnished Just as he was 60
ing to raise the glass to his head loud hur-
rah was heard in the outer portion of the sa-
loon. In an instant he rushed out to see the
cause of the noise; no sooner had he turned
his back than the tall gentleman took up the
whiskey bottle and poured large portion of
the beverage into his tumbler. Frank return
ed and taking up his glass, toasted his friend,
and drank it of. AS soon as the liquor was
down his throat he found out thathe had been
deceived. At first he was very angry at the
landlord, the mineral water maker, and every
body else but the right person. The tall gen.
tleman laughed immoderately he seemed to


d, hislly pleased with the joke. He ordered
In more oysters and the pair ate and chatted
away some ten or fifteen minutes. The tall
gentleman proposed that they take another
drink this time Frank did not refuse; the
first drink in the mineral water, had created
All appetite; he po ured out goodly quantity
of the whiskey, and quaffed it of. From that
time out there wasno trouble to induce Frank
to drink his glass when the call was made.-
The merry laugh and loud talk soon indicated
the inebriate.


Hours rolled away and still Frank and his
companion weresitting around the table laugh
ing and joking AWAY quite merrily. There
was no knowing when the politicians would
have parted had it not been that the landlord
came in and admonished them that he desired
to close up his house. Without waiting to
be kicked out they left for their respective
homes. Frank fancied that he was more buoy
ant than usual that his spirits were never
lighter in his life than on this occasion.


When he arrived at his own door he thought
that he would slip in quietly and not disturb
his wife. Quietly he took out his night-key,
and in bungling manner opened the door and
walked in. To his surprise his wife was sit
ting in rocking chair wide awake. Her eyes
were red with crying, and her pallid cheek
told full well the anguish she suffered from
anxiety and watching for her liege lord
When he entered she ran TO meet him, and
threw her arms around his neck. But, oh !
horror what must have been her feelings
when the odor of tobacco smoke and whiskey
struck her olfactories. She never had seen
him under tho influence Of liquor before; she
gave one shrek and tainted. Is 1t not enough