FullReads

Thus re-assured, Gordon felt better. On the next day he tried a third party to whom he owed fifteen dollars. This man happened to keep a retail grocery and liquor store. That is, he had a bar at one counter, and sold groceries at the other. Two-thirds of the debt was for liquor. “I want to wipe off that old score of mine, if I can, Mr. King,” said Gordon, as he met the storekeeper at his own door.

“That’s clever,” replied Mr. King. “Walk in. What will you take? Some brandy?”

And Mr. King stepped behind the counter and laid his hand upon a decanter.

“Nothing at all, I thank you,” replied Gordon quickly.

“Why how’s that? Have you sworn off?”

“Yes. I’ve joined the temperance society.”

The storekeeper shrugged his shoulders. “I didn’t expect that of you, Gordon. I thought you were too fond of a little creature comfort.”

“I ruined myself and beggared my family by drink, if that is what you mean by creature comfort. Poor comfort it was for my wife and children, to say nothing of my own case, which was, Heaven knows, bad enough. But I have come to talk to you about paying off that old score. Now that I’ve given up drinking, I want to try and be honest if I can.”

“That’s right. I like to see a man, when he sets out to be decent, go the whole figure. Have you got the money?”

“No. I wish I had. I have no money and not half work; but I have time on my hands, Mr. King.”

“Time? That is what some people call money. You want to pay me in time, instead of money, I presume? Rather rich, that, Gordon! But time don’t pass current, like money, in these diggins, my friend. There are a plenty who come here–and throw it away for nothing. I can get more than I want.”

“I have no wish to throw my time away, nor to pass it upon you for money, Mr. King. What I want is, to render you some service–in other words, to work for you, if you can give me something to do. I have time on my hands unemployed, and I wish to turn it to some good account.”

“O, yes. I understand now. Very well, Gordon; I rather think I can meet your views. Yesterday my barkeeper was sent to prison for getting into a scrape while drunk, and I want his place supplied until he gets out. Come and tend bar for me a couple of weeks, and I will give you a receipt in full of all demands.”

Gordon shook his head and looked grave.

“What’s the matter? Won’t you do it?”

“No, sir. I can’t do that.”

“Why?”

“Because I have sworn neither to taste, touch, nor handle the accursed thing. Neither to drink it myself, nor put it to the lips of another. No, no, Mr. King, I can’t do that. But I will sell your groceries for you three days in the week, for four weeks. Part of my time is already regularly engaged.”

“Go off about your business!” said the store-keeper, his face red with anger at the language of the reformed man, which he was pleased to consider highly insulting. “I’ll see to collecting that bill in a different way from that.”

By this time Gordon was learning not to be frightened and discouraged at every thing. His wife had so often showed him its folly, that he felt ashamed to go to her again in a desponding mood, and therefore cheered himself up before going home.

In other quarters he found rather better success. Not all of those he owed were of the stamp of the two to whom application had last been made. In less than six months he had worked out nearly a hundred dollars of what he owed, and had regular employment that brought him in six dollars every week, besides earning, by odd jobs and light porterage, from two to three dollars. His wife rarely let a week go without producing her one or two dollars by needle-work. Little comforts gradually crept in, notwithstanding all their debts were not yet paid off. This was inevitable.