Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 January 1880 — Only a Hask. [ARTICLE]

Only a Hask.

Tom Darcey, yet a youngfman, had grown to be a very b*d one. At heart he might bare been all right, if his head and hits will had only been all rights but these being wrong, the whole machine was going to the bad very fast, though there were times when the heart fMt something of its old truthful yearning?. Tom bad loot his place as foreman in the great machine shop, and what money be now earned came from odd jobs of tink aring which he was able to do, here and there at private houses; for Tom was a genius as well as a mechanic, and when his head was steady enough, he could me- d a cl< c , or clean a watch, as well aa he could setup and regulate a steam engine—and this latter he could do bett r than anv other man ever employed by Scott Falls Mannr'acturingCorapanv. One day Tom had a job to mend a broken mowing machine and reaper, for which he received five dollars, and on the following morning he started out for his old haunt—the village tavern. He knew his wife sadly needed the mnne , and that his two little children were in absolute suffering from want of clothing, and iliat morning he held a debate with ttie better part of himself; but the better part bad become very weak and'shaky, and the domon of appetite carried the dav, 8o a wav to the tavern Tom w -nt, where for two or three hours, he fed th’e exhilarating effects of the a’coholic draught, and fancied himself happy, as he could sing and laatrh: but as usual, stupefaction follower), and the man died out, He drank while ue could stand and then lav down in a comer, where *bis companions left hitn. •

It was late at night, almost midnight, when the landlord's wife came into the bar-room to see what kept her husband up and she quickly saw Tom. “Peter,” said she, not in a pleasant mood, “why don’t you send that mis Table Tom Darcey home? He’s been hanging about here long enough.” Tom’s stupefaction was not sound sleep. The dead coma had left the brain, and the calling of his name had suing his senses to keen attention He had an insane love lor rum, but did not love the landlord. In other years Peter Tindar and himself had loved and wooed the sweet maiden—Ellen Goss —and he won her, leaving Peter to take up with the vinegary spinster who had bought him the tavern, and he knew that lately the tapster had gloated over the misery of the woman who had once discarded him. “Whj don’t you send him home?”demanded Mrs. Tiuaar, with an Impatient stamp of her oot. “Hush. Betsy! He’s got money. Let him be, and lie’ll be sure to spend it before he goes home. I’ll have the kernel ot the nut, and his wife may haye the husk.”

With a sniff and a snap Betsy turned away, and shortly afterward Tom Darcy lifted himself upon his elbow. “All, Tom, are you awake?” “Yes ” “Then rouse up aud have a warm glass.” Tom got upon his feet and steadied himself. “No, Peter, I won’t drink anymore to-Dight.” “It won’t hurt you, Tom—just a g]a<s.” “I know it won’t,” said Tom, buttoning up ins coat bv tlie only solitary button left. “I know it won’t.” And wiiti tliis he went out into the chill air of night. When he got away from the shadow of the tavern he stopped and looked op at tho stars, and -then he look-* ed upon the earth. ‘iAye,” he muttered, grinding Ins heel in the gravel. “Peter Tindar is taking the kernel and leaving poor Ellen the husk, and I am helping him <lo it. I»m robbing my wife of joy, robbing mv children of honor and comfort, robbing myself of love and life—just that Peter Tindar may have the kernal and Ellen the husk! Weil see ” It was a revelation to the man. The tavern keepar’s brief speech, meant n >t for his ears, had come upon his senses as fell tlie voice of the Risen One upon Saul of Tarsus “We’ll see,” he continued, setting his foot firm!v on the ground , and then he wended his way homeward. On tlie following morning he said to his wife.

“Ellen, have you any coffee in the house ?” “Yes, Tom,” She did not tell.him that her sister had given it to her. She was glad to hear him ask for coffee instead of the old, old cider. “I wish you would make a cup, go id and strong.’ 7 There was really music, in Tom’s voice, and the wife set about the work with a strange flutter in her heart.. Tom d- snk two cups of the strong, fragrant coffee, and then weut out —went out with a resolute step, and walked straight to the munufaclory, where he tourd Mr Scott in the office “Mr. Scott. I want to learn my trade over again.” “Eh Tom! what do you mean? ’ “I mean that its Tom Darcev come hack to Ihc old place, asking forgiveness for the past, ’ and hoping to do better in the future! ‘Tom!’ cried the manufacturer, starting forward and grasping his hand, are you in earnest? Is it really the old Tom?’ ‘lt’s what’s left of him, sir, and we’ll have him whole and strong very soon if you’ll only set him at work.’ ‘Work! Aye, Tom, and bless you. too! There is uq engine to be B<‘t up and tested to.day. Come with me.’ Toni’s hands were weak and unsteady, but his brain was clear, and under h is skillful supervision the engine was set up and tested, nut it was not perfect.— There were mistakes which tie had to correct, and it was late iu the evening when the work was completed. ‘How is it now, Tom?' asked Mr Scoit, as? he came into the testing house and found the workmen ready to depart. ‘cflie’s all right, sir. You may gi e your warrant wilhout fear.’ ‘Goi bless you, Tom! You don’t know how like sweet music the old voice sounds. Will you take vourplace again?’ ‘Wait till Monday morning, sir. If you offer it. to me then, I will take it.’ At the little cottage Ellen Darcy’s fluttering heart was sinking. That morning, after Tom was gone, she had found a two-dollar bill in her cotfee cup. She knew that lie left it* for her. She had been out and bought tea and sugar, and flour and butter, and a bit bf tender steak and all day long a ray of lignt had been dancing and skimming befote Sier—a ray from the blessed light of other days. With prayer aud hope she set out the tea-tabie and waited, but the sun went down aud no Tom came. Eight o’clock came—and almosr nine. Qh, was it but a false glimmer after all?

Hark! The old step; strong, eager for home. Yes, it was Tolu, with the old grime upon Ins hands, and the odor ot oil upon his garments. ‘I have kept you waiting, Ellen.’ ‘Tom!’ ‘I didn’t mean to but the work hung on,’ ‘Tom, Tom You have been to the old shop.’ ' ‘Yes, and I’m to have the aid place, and—’ *Oh, Tom.’ And sue threw her arms around his neck and covered his face with kisses. ‘Ellen, darling, wait a little, and you shall have the old Tom back again*’ ‘Oh, Tom. I’ve got him dow —bless him, bless him. My own Tom. My husband, uiy darling.’ And then Tom Darcey realized the full power and blessing of woman’s lore. It was a banquet of the gods all restored with the blight angels of peace and love and j‘>y spreading their wings over the boaras. On the following Monday morniDg, Tom Darsey assumed his place at the head of the great machine shop, and thoss who thoroughly kuew him had no fear of his going back to the slough and joylessness. A few days later Tom met Peter Sindar on tfye street.

‘Eh, Tom, old boy, wbat’s up?’ •I am up—right side up.’ ‘Yes—l see. Hut I hope you haven’t forsaken us, Tom.’ ‘I have forsaken only the evil you have in store, Peter. The fact is, 1 concluded my wife and little onse had fed on husks Jong enough, ana If there wm a kernel left in my heart, or in my manhood, they should have it.’ ‘Al*. you heard what I said to my wife that night.’ ‘Yes. Peter; and I shall be grateful to you for it as long as I live. My remembrance of you will always be relieved by’ that tinge of warmth aod brightness.’