I merely state it, and you can draw your own
conclusions. It is one of the many facts, on the other side of
this tavern question, which it will do no harm to mention. I have
noted a good many facts besides, and one is, that before Slade
opened the 'Sickle and Sheaf,' he did all in his power to save his
early friend from the curse of intemperance; now he has become his
tempter. Heretofore, it was his hand that provided the means for
his family to live in some small degree of comfort; now he takes
the poor pittance the wretched man earns, and dropping it in his
till, forgets the wife and children at home who are hungry for the
bread this money should have purchased.
"Joe Morgan, fallen as he is, sir, is no fool. His mind sees
quickly yet; and he rarely utters a sentiment that is not full of
meaning. When he spoke of Blade's heart growing as hard in ten
years as one of his old mill-stones, he was not uttering words at
random, nor merely indulging in a harsh sentiment, little caring
whether it were closely applicable or not. That the indurating
process had begun, he, alas! was too sadly conscious."
The landlord had been absent from the room for some time. He left
soon after Judge Lyman, Harvey Green, and Willy Hammond withdrew,
and I did not see him again during the evening. His son Frank was
left to attend at the bar; no very hard task, for not more than
half a dozen called in to drink from the time Morgan left until
the bar was closed.
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