THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 Here goes to the success of the Sheriff." Page 30.
 
 NICK PUTZEL; 
 
 OR 
 
 ARTHUR GURNETS RUIN. 
 
 A NARRATIVE SHOWING THE INS AND OUTS, THE TRICKS 
 AND DEVICES, THE FRAUDS AND FALSEHOODS, PRAC- 
 TICED BY ADEPTS IN THE ART OF POLITICAL 
 WIRE PULLING, AND ESPECIALLY EXPOS- 
 ING THE RESISTLESS POWER OF THE 
 
 BAR-ROOM AND BEER-SALOON, 
 
 THAT GREAT INVISIBLE POWER BEHIND THE POLITICAL 
 
 THRONE, BY WHICH CANDIDATES ARE ELECTED OR 
 
 DEFEATED; WHICH YOUNG MEN OF GENIUS, 
 
 ENTERING THE "DIRTY POOL," MUST 
 
 FACE, AND BY WHICH MANY OF THE 
 
 ABLEST, AS WELL AS WEAKEST, 
 
 ARE IRRETRIEVABLY RUINED 
 
 IN PURSE, POWER AND 
 
 CHARACTER. 
 
 BY GEORGE KOEHLER. 
 
 WITH STRIKING ILLUSTRATIONS BY " BOZ." 
 
 PUBLISHED BY 
 
 HUBBARD BROS., PHILADELPHIA ; SPRINGFIELD, MASS.; CHICAGO, 
 
 ILL.; CINCINNATI, O.; ATLANTA, GA. N. D. THOMPSON & Co., 
 
 ST. Louis, Mo. T. PROTHERO, KANSAS CITY, Mo. 
 
 A. L. BANCROFT & Co., SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.
 
 Copyrighted, according to Act of Congress. 
 
 C t 
 
 WM. F. FEU & Co., 
 
 Ekctrotypers and Printers, 
 
 1220-1224 Sansom St., 
 
 Philadelphia.
 
 PUBLISHERS' PREFACE. 
 
 We boast of the freedom of the ballot, but 
 the ballot is sadly in bondage. "Invisible Em- 
 pires" exist all over our land. Various sove- 
 reigns rule them; various motives move them; 
 and their thrones are set up in widely differing 
 places. 
 
 Over all these empires, however, one supreme 
 empire extends its sway. There is in politics a 
 king of kings, a supreme arbiter who setteth up 
 and casteth down, according to the good pleas- 
 ure of his own sweet will. This sovereign has 
 hosts of willing subjects, and still larger hosts 
 who though not so willing are nevertheless even 
 more obsequious and dutiful. This sovereign 
 has hosts of opposers also, but many of them 
 are weak-kneed, others are unsuspecting, and 
 some are traitorous, while the well-organized, 
 well-officered and vigilant opponents are com- 
 paratively few. 
 
 v 
 
 743485
 
 VI PREFACE. 
 
 Who is this monarch? He is the embodied 
 Liquor Interest of the United States. Where 
 is his throne? It is in every still-house, in every 
 brewery, in every bar-room, and in every beer- 
 saloon of the land. Who are his subjects? 
 They are the hosts whose revenue is derived 
 from the sale of liquors; plus the hosts whose 
 appetites demand the use of liquors; plus the 
 many who on various pretexts indulge in drink 
 as occasion offers; plus the many who gain some 
 advantage, pecuniary, political, or otherwise, by 
 truckling to a power so potent. 
 
 "All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt 
 fall down and worship me," said Satan to our 
 Lord; and so says King Alcohol to aspiring 
 men to-day, especially if their aspirations be for 
 the doubtful honors and the questionable emolu- 
 ments of the average political position. 
 
 An exposure of the "Invisible Empire" of the 
 Bar-room has been attempted in the following 
 pages. The liquor-power in politics is the chief 
 point of attack. But politics supposes politi- 
 cians, and politicians are men. They are fathers,
 
 PREFACE. Vll 
 
 sons, brothers, husbands; they are in many cases 
 men of genius, men of promise, men of wealth, 
 men beloved by mothers, wives, daughters, sis- 
 ters. Whatever touches politics, therefore, 
 touches men, women and children; touches one's 
 person, possessions and fireside. 
 
 Is the Liquor Interest, then, a ruler, ruling us 
 all? Do we even unconsciously yield him 
 unanimous allegiance? Read these pages and 
 see. Fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers, 
 friends and kindred of political candidates may 
 here find useful hints. Aspirants for civic hon- 
 ors may in this narrative see some unsuspected 
 political pitfalls. Public sentiment may here be 
 aroused to demand much needed reformation. 
 In any case the reader will here find an entertain- 
 ing story, which may without hesitation be read 
 to his family or among his friends.
 
 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 BY "BOZ." 
 
 SUCCESS TO THE SHERIFF, . FRONTISPIECE 
 
 PAGE 
 
 THE GENERAL, 66 
 
 THE ANXIOUS MOTHER, . . . 1 78 
 
 THE SAD BRIDAL, 251 
 
 DYING A SOBER MAN, . . . .275 
 NICK PUTZEL'S END, .... 304
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE YOUNG CANDIDATE, . . . . 15, 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 SALOON STATESMANSHIP, . . . 22 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 HOPELESS NOMINEES, . . . . 32 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 POT- HOUSE POLITICIANS, 39 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 ANXIETY AT HOME, . . . . 54 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 A COUNCIL OF STATE, . . . . 61 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 POLITICAL HYPOCRISY, . . . . 81 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE CAMPAIGN BARBECUE, . . 103 
 
 xi
 
 Xll CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. PAGE 
 
 STRONG DRINK AS A MEDICINE, . . 133 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 SAVING THE YOUNG MEN, . . . 151 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 WORKING ON ELECTION DAY, . . 162 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 SUCCESS, . . . . . .173 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 SUBMISSION, . . . s . .187 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 SETTLING THE BILLS, . . . 1 94 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 How SON-SAVING WORKS, . . .204 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 GAMBLING OFFICE HOLDERS, . . . 219 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 MATCH-MAKING, ..... 232
 
 CONTENTS. Xlll 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 A NEW HOPE, ..... 243 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 FROM BAD TO WORSE, . . . .254 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 SINKING DOWN, . . . . .269 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 DEAD, 282 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 "THE MILLS OF THE GODS," . . .291 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 SAD MEMORIES, ..... 306
 
 NICK PUTZEL; 
 
 OR, 
 
 ARTHUR GURNET'S RUIN. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 "I think you took a step in the wrong direc- 
 tion, dear husband, when you encouraged Arthur 
 to bring his name before the convention for 
 Prosecuting Attorney." 
 
 "Why so? What makes you think so?" re- 
 plied Mr. Gurney, in astonishment. "He never 
 will have a better opportunity in his life than the 
 one just offered. But what makes you have 
 .such thoughts?" 
 
 "I do not know," replied Mrs. Gurney; "but 
 it has disturbed my slumber ever since you and 
 he were first talking about it. He is so.young ; 
 just finished his study of law, with no practi- 
 cal experience; and I know how it is with can- 
 didates ; they have to go all over the county, 
 and are thrown in all classes of society, good 
 15
 
 16 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 and bad, even the worst, from all the saloons 
 and other places of vice, and it takes a strong 
 mind to withstand all these temptations." 
 
 "Don't give yourself any unnecessary trouble, 
 dear, about Arthur. He is now past twenty-two, 
 and at that age a man's character is pretty well 
 formed. He is an excellent scholar, quick in 
 perception, and I have it from Judge Campbell, 
 under whom he studied law, that he stands fore- 
 most as a speaker among all his students." 
 
 "I am not questioning his ability. But dis- 
 appointment has been the ruin of so many, that 
 I fear more from that source than from success." 
 
 "But we'll have no disappointments. If he 
 gets the nomination, we are sure of success ; and 
 I have laid my plans so that there will be no dis- 
 appointment in his getting the nomination.' 
 
 "But what makes you so sure of success ? Mr. 
 Walker, the candidate for the opposition, has 
 the reputation of an honest, moral, Christian 
 gentleman ; a very successful lawyer, and is re- 
 spected, by all who know him. To make the 
 race with such an opponent is not a very easy 
 undertaking, I should judge." 
 
 "Yes, it would seem so to any one not ac- 
 quainted with political affairs ; but although not
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 17 
 
 a politician myself, yet I have watched political 
 wire-working for years, and I am confident that 
 Arthur, if nominated, could not have had a weak- 
 er opponent than Mr. Walker." 
 
 "Will you please tell me the reason why?" 
 
 "You just stated it," replied Mr. Gurney. 
 "As you said, he is an honest, moral, Christian 
 gentleman, and has one virtue more, he is a 
 temperance man, and belongs to the temper- 
 ance society ; and, as I cannot recollect that a 
 candidate belonging to the temperance society 
 has ever succeeded in being elected to an office 
 in this county, therefore I am of the opinion that 
 Arthur will have an easy race." 
 
 "Dear husband, you surely don't wish our son 
 to go to drinking for the sake of getting an 
 office?" 
 
 "Oh no, not at all ; but to meet with success 
 a candidate must act the hypocrite a little. He 
 must go into the saloons, treat his friends, and 
 make acquaintances ; for, without the aid of sa- 
 loons and barkeepers, he would have few chances 
 for an office." 
 
 " Then I wish he never would, for nothing is 
 more disgusting to me than a saloon," said Mrs. 
 Gurney.
 
 18 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 "Your imagination makes you unjust. I have 
 been in saloons almost every day since I became 
 of age, ate my lunch, and drank when and what I 
 wished, and I do not think any one can say he 
 ever saw me intoxicated. If a man wants to make 
 a brute of himself it is his own fault. I am not 
 afraid of Arthur doing it." 
 
 " Well, God grant that he may not," said Mrs. 
 Gurney, with a sigh, and seated herself on the 
 sofa. 
 
 " You must excuse me," said Mr. Gurney, " I 
 have some orders to give to the servant, and 
 will be back in a moment." 
 
 Mr. Gurney was a man about fifty years of 
 age, tall and well built, his blonde hair and 
 whiskers slightly sprinkled with gray, for he 
 carried his age remarkably well. He com- 
 menced life as a clerk in a hardware store, and 
 after a few years of faithful service was admitted 
 junior partner. A few years later the senior 
 partner died, and Mr. Gurney became manager 
 of the firm, and shortly after the sole owner. By 
 close attention to his business he acquired con- 
 siderable wealth, and honest, upright dealings 
 made him numerous friends. A short time ago 
 he retired from business, wishing, as he expressed
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 19 
 
 himself, to spend the remainder of his days in 
 ease. His wife was nearly ten years younger 
 than he, still handsome, but in delicate health. 
 She was highly esteemed by her acquaintances, 
 for her many virtues and true Christian -life. 
 They had but two children, the eldest a daughter, 
 and the other our hero, Arthur. 
 
 " I see Arthur coming," said Mr. Gurney, as 
 he returned to the room. " He must have good 
 news to tell us, to .judge from his walk and 
 countenance." 
 
 At this moment a tall, handsome young man, 
 the very picture of Mr. Gurney, only twenty- 
 five years younger, without ceremony, entered 
 the room. 
 
 "Well, how about the convention?" asked 
 Mr. Gurney, as he looked smilingly at the young 
 man. 
 
 "Oh, I was nominated on the first ballot," 
 replied Arthur, with many exhibitions of personal 
 satisfaction. 
 
 " And do you feel yourself competent to con- 
 duct the campaign successfully?" 
 
 " I have no fear at all, father, although I have 
 in Mr. Walker a formidable opponent," said the 
 young man.
 
 20 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 " He won't be anywhere if you manage things 
 rightly. But we will talk of this hereafter, as I 
 have some business to attend to," and saying 
 this, Mr. Gurney left the room. 
 
 Mrs. Gurney was at this time sitting silently 
 on the sofa, her head resting on her hand, and 
 her countenance wearing a troubled expression. 
 Arthur, noticing it, said, mildly 
 
 " Mother, are you sick ? You have no word 
 of congratulation for me." 
 
 " Dear son, I wish I could rejoice over your 
 nomination ; but ever since you and your father 
 had it under consideration my peace has left me, 
 and something has taken possession of me that 
 I cannot account for. I fear for your safety." 
 
 "Well, mother, now, indeed, don't you think 
 me old enough to take care of myself, and have 
 I not done so for the last three or four years ? 
 Is there one human being that can say a word 
 against the character of Arthur Gurney?" 
 
 " Dear son, your character was always such 
 as brought joy to the hearts of your parents, 
 but now you enter into a new field. In canvass- 
 ing the county you will be thrown into all kinds 
 of company, perhaps into saloons, and you know
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 21 
 
 many noble hearts, many strong minds, many use- 
 ful lives, have been wrecked on those breakers." 
 
 " If this is all that troubles you, mother, then 
 rest easy, for your son will never suffer from 
 this source." 
 
 " Arthur, dear son, cried the mother, bursting 
 into tears, promise mve that you will beware of 
 strong drink, and perhaps my mind will be 
 reconciled." 
 
 " Mother, you have my promise."
 
 22 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 "Who is dat Arthur Gurney, nominated for 
 Prosecuting- Attorney? I never heard of him 
 pefore," exclaimed Nick Putzel, proprietor of the 
 Court-house Saloon, as he .arose from his chair, 
 throwing the morning paper on the table. 
 
 Nick Putzel, well known as " Uncle Nick," 
 was a very extraordinary character. He came, 
 when quite young, from Germany, in which 
 country he was employed from childhood until 
 his departure to America, as a cow-boy. His 
 first employment here was that of a hostler, but 
 he swore he did not come to America to work 
 himself to death, and that he never knew any 
 one to get rich at such work. So he changed 
 his employment, and was for some time engaged 
 as a bootblack, roust-about and assistant in a 
 saloon. His experience soon discovered that to 
 be successful in life one must give his attention 
 to politics. He rapidly gained notoriety by 
 making votes for candidates with full purses. 
 In this work, an uncommonly large portion of 
 cheek, and impudence superior to that of a 
 Camanche chief, came greatly to his assistance.
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 23 
 
 To reward him for the valuable service rendered 
 to his employer by the increase of cash in the 
 money drawer, he was soon installed as bar- 
 keeper in chief, in which capacity he had a larger 
 field of operation. The services of Nick Putzel 
 were soon found to be indispensable to those 
 wishing to succeed in their political career, and 
 he was courted, flattered, and honored by every 
 one who ever expected to become a candidate 
 for office. He was not one of those, however, 
 who would gratuitously render his services for 
 the benefit of others ; but he was true to the 
 old adage, that " every service is worth its 
 reward." That he demanded, and that he re- 
 ceived. He soon became a member of the 
 fire department, but the constant use of malt 
 juice made him short-winded, slow of locomo- 
 tion, and nearly unfit for that service. Not 
 wishing to take his wages without giving value 
 received for it, he tendered his resignation. It 
 was accepted, but not wishing to lose the service 
 of such a valuable person, he was offered a 
 situation on the police force, and was soon found 
 attired in a blue coat, and doing duty as a mem- 
 ber of that honorable body. He was, for some 
 time, alternately policeman, market master and
 
 24 NICK PUTZEL ; OR 
 
 city marshal, and was tendered the nomination 
 for the legislature, which he, however, declined, 
 saying that " he would not bother his brain by 
 learning, in his old days, to write, read, and talk 
 them high, good-for-nothing words of the Eng- 
 lish language." He was not a spendthrift. 
 Although he drank nearly a small keg of beer 
 every day, yet he managed so that it did not 
 make any serious impression on his pocket-book. 
 He had a little official business in nearly every 
 saloon, looking after rogues, gamblers, and 
 counterfeiters, and met everywhere with men 
 of every class, and soon he had such a reputa- 
 tion that all were anxious to gain his favor, and 
 times out of number he was invited to take a 
 social drink. He got tired of official life, how- 
 ever. " I have served my country long enough," 
 he would exclaim, and having accumulated quite 
 a sum of money, he started the well-known 
 Court-house Saloon. 
 
 When Nick Putzel came to America, which 
 was about twenty years ago, his whole weight 
 was, perhaps, about one hundred and forty 
 pounds. He was of medium height, with fea- 
 tures anything but attractive. His skin was of 
 a delicate hue, which might be accounted for by
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 25 
 
 the fact that cow-boys spend the greater portion 
 of their time under shade trees. Nearly a quar- 
 ter of a century has made great changes. The 
 delicate color has disappeared, and a dark brown 
 has taken its place ; the nose, not very small 
 then, has doubled in size, and the cheeks, orna- 
 mented with pimples and warts, have grown in 
 proportion. The head, that formerly rested on 
 a very short neck, seems now to have sunken 
 between the shoulders ; and the body has ex- 
 panded to such an enormous size that it is with 
 the utmost difficulty that his short legs propel 
 it. This is a short sketch of the life of Nick 
 Putzel. 
 
 The busiest time in Uncle Nick's establish- 
 ment was at night. Back from the bar-room 
 was a billiard saloon ; also a secret chamber, 
 for the retreat of gamblers, a knightly order, to 
 which only those initiated found admittance. 
 Here late hours were kept every night of the 
 week, and many sums of money changed owner- 
 ship. Uncle Nick would look to the wants of 
 all ; he would be alternately at the bar, in the 
 billiard-room, and in the sanctum of the frater- 
 nity. Every order was executed with dispatch 
 by the attaches of the establishment. At
 
 26 NICK PUTZEL ; OR 
 
 twelve o'clock, after counting his cash, and giv- 
 ing his orders to his chief barkeeper, he usually 
 retired. His wife had orders to awaken him at 
 nine in the morning, at which time he would 
 arise, and half an hour later he could be found 
 in his place of business. Then, the first thing, 
 he would look over the morning papers. It 
 was at this time of the day he was heard to make 
 the above expression. There were, perhaps, 
 half a dozen persons in the room, but the words 
 were not directed to any one in particular. One 
 who had just refreshed the inner man with some 
 of Uncle Nick's best, answered 
 
 "Arthur Gurney is a son of old David Gur- 
 ney, the retired hardware merchant. They say 
 he is a splendid scholar, and an excellent young 
 man." 
 
 " He never vas in mine saloon, dat I know of," 
 said Uncle Nick. " Is he a demperance ? " 
 
 Nothing on earth was more disgusting to 
 Uncle Nick than the word temperance, and any 
 one belonging to the temperance society was" a 
 fool, not to be trusted with any business. " Dem 
 demperance," he would say, "ruined der pusiness, 
 and should not be dolerated." 
 
 " I do not know anything about him being
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 27 
 
 temperance," replied the first speaker. "I know 
 his father is not, for I have often met him in 
 saloons at lunch times, and seen him drink his 
 glass of beer." 
 
 " Yes, der olt man has peen in my saloon, put 
 he don't spend much. He eats a leetle lunch, 
 unt drinks von or dwo glass of peer, den he is 
 off again. Such beeple don't amount to much, 
 and if dat young man is de same, he will not 
 git de wotes of der poys, you pet." 
 
 Uncle Nick picked up the paper again, and 
 glancing over it, said, "'For Sheriff, Michael 
 O'Brien.' Is dat dat Irishman dat keeps dat 
 saloon up down, dat feller dat fights de brizes?" 
 
 " The same," answered several at once. 
 
 " Oh, dat is der right man a pusiness man, 
 unt a man dat can knocks 'em down if dey don't 
 pehave. Dat's der man I likes to see 'em put 
 up fur canderdate. Und who is de Henry 
 Welch dey nominated fur Treasurer? " he con- 
 tinued. 
 
 "That is the fellow that drives those fast 
 horses," said one of the company. 
 
 "Yes, and he keeps fast company, too," re- 
 joined another. 
 
 " Dat's der man," said Uncle Nick. " Not
 
 28 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 keeps de money in der preeches bocket, but lets 
 it circulate, unt lets it come amongst der beeple." 
 
 " By Jove ! " exclaimed one of them ; " here 
 they come now every one of them; Arthur 
 Gurney, Mike O'Brien, and Henry Welch, and 
 a good many with them. Now comes your 
 harvest, Uncle Nick." 
 
 " Oh, if dem mans want to git der office, dey 
 must shell out. De poys vill not wote fur dem 
 demperance beeple; und dey can make it again 
 ven dey gets der office. Is dat young man 
 Gurney ? " said Uncle Nick, pointing to one of 
 the company, and without waiting for an answer, 
 he continued, "He's a vine looking veller; 
 looks as if de sun never shone on him." Uncle 
 Nick, at this moment, must have recollected the 
 shade trees of his boyhood days. 
 
 The door opened at this moment, and a large 
 company of men entered the saloon. Consider- 
 able time was spent with the formality of intro- 
 duction, when, at last, one of the new comers, 
 with the remark, " enough of this," called to Uncle 
 Nick to hand out some of his best. He was of 
 a dark complexion, marked with several large 
 scars, stoutly built, and showed more the traces 
 of the lower order of beings than those of a re-
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 29 
 
 fined, cultivated, educated gentleman. This was 
 Mr. Michael O'Brien, the candidate for the office 
 of Sheriff. 
 
 " Give me a glass of lemonade," said Arthur 
 Gurney to the barkeeper, who politely asked 
 his order. 
 
 " Lemonade ! In de morning ! Pefore lunch ! 
 Dat won't do, mein young friend. Lemonade 
 tos bery veil in der afternoon, at von or dwo 
 o'clock, ven der sun is hot, put it vill never do 
 in der morning pefore lunch. You must trink 
 de gute French brandy, to seddle de stomach 
 for de lunch." 
 
 "You must excuse me, Mr. Putzel," said Arthur. 
 "I've got a headache already, and brandy would 
 only make it worse." 
 
 "Uncle Nick, mein friend! If you calls me 
 Mr. Putzel der poys wouldn't know who you 
 vas dalking apout. Put Uncle Nick is known 
 all over der coundy." 
 
 "Don't let him play off on us, Uncle Nick. 
 He played off on us last night, when we sere- 
 naded him, but then his mother was watching 
 him too closely," said one of the company. 
 
 Arthur's cheeks crimsoned slightly, as his 
 companion mentioned his mother.
 
 30 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 "Yes, der American vimens is all demper- 
 ance," Uncle Nick interrupted. "Dey drinks der 
 tea, unt der lemonade, unt der soda water, unt 
 den dey have de dyspepsia, unt die mit de con- 
 sumption. Dat is not der vay in der old coun- 
 dry." 
 
 Arthur Gurney's blood rushed to his face upon 
 hearing this rough, vulgar remark, but he recol- 
 lected being a candidate, and that Uncle Nick 
 was a power in the land. Forgetting the prom- 
 ise he gave his mother, he took the bottle and 
 poured a little into his glass. It was only for this 
 time, so as not to offend the company. " Here 
 goes to the success of the Sheriff," and the con- 
 tents were emptied. It was the first that ever 
 polluted Arthur Gurney's lips. 
 
 "Dell der cook to vix an extra vine lunch for 
 to-day, unt blenty of it ; de candidates are here." 
 
 It kept the barkeeper busy for some time to 
 execute the orders for drinks that followed in 
 succession, and not until the lunch was served 
 did he get any rest at all. 
 
 " Cum up, men, unt helb yourselves to de 
 lunch, unt see if der cook has done his duty." 
 
 Oyster soup, roast beef, roast veal, the finest 
 weiner wurst, all kinds of sauce and salad, the
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 31 
 
 famous herring salad included, served in supe- 
 rior style, was in waiting to be partaken of by 
 the company. 
 
 "Dis herring salad is bery vine, Mr. Gurney," 
 said Uncle Nick. " Shust taste it, it gives a gute 
 abbetite for der peer after lunch." 
 
 Arthur went through the motion, but he ate 
 very little. His head felt dizzy, and he wished 
 he could be with his mother, whom he had so 
 grossly wronged. Lunch over, the beer was 
 ordered, but he could drink no more. He was 
 sick, indeed sick in mind and body; and he 
 never felt more relieved than he did when a boy 
 came with a message for him from an old friend, 
 who had just arrived at his home. 
 
 He excused himself, and left, taking with him 
 a dizzy head and disturbed mind. 
 
 "A first-rate feller, dis young Gurney ; a leetle 
 dimid, put he vill pe all right pefore de election 
 comes off." 
 
 "You bet," exclaimed half a dozen voices. 
 "He means success, and will leave no stone un- 
 turned to achieve it." 
 
 By this time the company broke up, and all 
 went their way rejoicing, Uncle Nick remark- 
 ing "dat dis vas de pest dicketdey eberput up."
 
 32 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 " Let me congratulate you on your nomina- 
 tion," said an elderly gentleman, entering the 
 office of Mr. Walker, and extending his hand, 
 which was grasped by the person addressed, 
 who, while holding it, smilingly replied 
 
 "Thank you, thank you, friend Gilbert, even 
 if the chances are not very promising for 
 success." 
 
 "You are only joking, Mr. Walker, for I hear 
 everywhere that the party could not have made 
 a better nomination, and all seem sure of suc- 
 cess," said Mr. Gilbert. 
 
 " Well, then, I'll tell you they'll find themselves 
 sadly mistaken. The whole ticket will be de- 
 feated, and that very badly, too," said Mr. 
 Walker. 
 
 " Are you, indeed, talking in earnest ? If you 
 are, will you grant me the privilege of asking 
 the reason why ? " 
 
 " Certainly, certainly. Why, they forgot to 
 put sporting and drinking men on the ticket, 
 and though all of them, except myself, will drink 
 their glass of beer occasionally, yet they are not
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 33 
 
 looked upon as belonging to the fraternity, and 
 will be considered by them as temperance men ; 
 and did you ever hear of a temperance man 
 getting elected to office in this community ? " 
 
 " But the temperance cause has made such 
 progress that I think the days are past when 
 elections are conducted and ruled by whisky 
 and its agents," said Mr. Gilbert. " And they 
 tell me the opposition have nominated some of 
 the worst characters in the community," he 
 continued. 
 
 " The temperance cause has made very little 
 progress in that direction, and some of their 
 candidates don't enjoy a very high reputation as 
 to their character for honor, morals, and virtue. 
 Yet young Gurney has the reputation of an ex- 
 emplary young man, of fine talents, and well 
 educated. I can't help but feel for him," replied 
 Mr. Walker. 
 
 "That's all well enough, but they say he is 
 very young, just finished his studies, with no 
 practical experience whatever. How can he 
 combat with such an opponent as you ? You 
 are known all over the county, and I do not 
 flatter you when I say that you are highly spoken 
 of by every one ; even the opposition admit that
 
 34 NICK PUTZEL ; OR 
 
 you are by far the best qualified for the posi- 
 tion." 
 
 "No flattery, no flattery, Mr. Gilbert. I admit 
 I have some practical experience in law, and 
 perhaps very few personal enemies, but this is 
 not the guaranty of success. On the contrary, 
 it is a drawback. To be successful, you must 
 belong to rings, you must go from saloon to 
 saloon, shake hands with every gambler, loafer 
 and bummer, address them as your friends, and 
 call them up to partake of a social glass. You 
 must tell the saloon keepers that temperance 
 laws are a gross violation of the liberties of the 
 people ; that you will do all in your power to 
 work against such laws ; that temperance socie- 
 ties are ruinous to the community, and that the 
 laws compelling them to close their establish- 
 ments on election days which, of course, they 
 never comply with are a trespass on the rights 
 of a free American citizen, who carries on a 
 legitimate business. You know very well," con- 
 tinued Mr. Walker, "that I will not do this, and 
 David Gurney, the father of the young nominee 
 a very fine old gentleman, who drinks his glass, 
 never gets drunk, is strict and honorable in all 
 his dealings has his head set that his son shall
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 35 
 
 be successful, and money will not be wanting 
 to carry it out. The young man is his only son ; 
 he has high expectations, and wants his son to 
 occupy high positions in life ; and this, he thinks, 
 is the first step toward it, and he will make it a 
 success. May he never live to regret it. Many 
 have started in just such directions, and have 
 succeeded to ruin." 
 
 "Well, I confess I do not know much about 
 saloons and their doings. I know our country 
 drug stores are bad enough ; still I do not think 
 they meddle themselves with politics ; and if they 
 did, we could soon put a stop to it. And I should 
 think if the sober, industrious citizens of your 
 city would unite they could soon bring the sa- 
 loon keepers to reason." 
 
 "Exactly so," said Mr. Walker; "but they 
 never do unite. Every party wishes to be suc- 
 cessful, and to this end uses means not alto- 
 gether in accordance with the law. The majority 
 will generally vote a strictly party ticket, and 
 the floating vote is carried by the party that 
 spends the most money for whisky. Unscrupu- 
 lous demagogues know this, and spend large 
 sums of money, sometimes more than their sala- 
 ries amount to, to secure these votes. If not
 
 36 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 sufficient, voters are imported from other places, 
 and their object is accomplished." 
 
 "But have you no laws to prevent that, and 
 can they not be put in force ?" 
 
 "Yes, we have laws, but they are so loose 
 that they can be easily violated without bringing 
 the guilty party to justice. The laws of some 
 States require that a person shall reside in them 
 a year, others only six months, before he is en- 
 titled to a vote. A foreigner must have filed 
 his intention of becoming a citizen of the Uni- 
 ted States. Yet on election day many of these 
 foreigners, fresh from the old country, the soil 
 of Europe still attached to their feet, without 
 the least knowledge of our political affairs, and 
 with very little knowledge of our language, 
 customs, wants, and needs, are hurried to the 
 polls and vote." 
 
 "You surely have challengers at your polls, 
 and if they are challenged, they have to swear 
 that they are citizens, and long enough in the 
 State, and this, too, has to be certified by a free- 
 holder." 
 
 "Exactly. That is the law; but you see, 
 before they are driven to the polls they are tho- 
 roughly saturated with whisky, and half of the
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 37 
 
 poor fellows are not aware of doing wrong ; and 
 freeholders are always on hand to accomplish 
 the desired object." 
 
 "I cannot see how they can make anything 
 by it, if they spend, as you say, more than their 
 salaries amount to for success in getting elected. 
 They surely don't do it for the honor of being 
 public servants." 
 
 "Oh, there are some. For instance, young 
 Gurney ; his father will spend perhaps double 
 and treble the amount of his salary, and yet, if 
 elected, he will make a good, faithful, honest and 
 trustworthy officer. It's the honor he wants, 
 and with the honor promotion. He is one out 
 of a hundred, however, for the most of them 
 want the office to "make money out of it, and 
 they get it back with interest. Rings are formed, 
 schemes are plotted, fraudulent contracts are 
 made, and sometimes not altogether a correct 
 book is kept. In short, another burden is, in 
 some way, added to the tax-payer, to reimburse 
 them for their outlay." 
 
 "This is a sad picture of affairs, if your imagi- 
 nation has not led you to judge too severely," 
 said Mr. Gilbert. 
 
 "I do not talk from imagination, Mr. Gilbert.
 
 38 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 I talk facts derived from years of experience 
 and personal observation. And you have not 
 heard half, nay, the tenth part, that the monster, 
 king Alcohol, and his agents have done to de- 
 moralize our civil service and to ruin our free 
 and republican institutions." 
 
 "I have heard enough, however, to satisfy me 
 that we must do our utmost to get rid of them. 
 But I have detained you already longer than I 
 expected, and have a little business myself to 
 attend to, so I'll bid you good day." 
 
 "Good day, Mr. Gilbert. Don't forget to call 
 again."
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 39 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 The unusual activity of the bartenders in 
 Dublin Exchange,, and the throng of customers 
 who were busily engaged in filling and emptying 
 their glasses of corn juice, lager and ale, and 
 amusing themselves by playing cards, dominoes, 
 dice and billiards ; the smoke that filled the room 
 by the consumption of dog-leg tobacco in clay 
 pipes and the puffs from a few " Kentucky " 
 Havanas, scented by the breath of decaying 
 corn juice; the costumes, which represented 
 nearly every nationality, and the chatting in 
 almost every language spoken in American cities, 
 would have furnished an artist sufficient material 
 to give the world one of the most interesting 
 pictures of Modern Art. 
 
 Whatever might have been said of hard times, 
 the depression in business, scarcity of money 
 and low starving wages for workingmen, no 
 signs of it were visible here; and the words "No 
 Trust" conspicuously posted behind the bar 
 must have appeared to any observer unneces- 
 sary, if a correct judgment could be formed from
 
 40 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 the ready cash that exchanged hands at every 
 call for the bottle. 
 
 Mike O'Brien, the proprietor, and now candi- 
 date for Sheriff, acted as overseer, and was 
 evidently the most attractive of all. He tried, 
 as much as possible, to lay aside his " Bull-dog " 
 appearance, and had a friendly word for every 
 one present. At the entreaties of some friends 
 he went through some pugilistic exercises, and 
 exhibited his liberality by frequent calls for the 
 bottle. " You must not leave yet, gentlemen," 
 he said, as a party of half a dozen or more were 
 in the act of departing ; " we'll have some dis- 
 tinguished personage with us after a while, and 
 will no doubt have a jolly time, and not a dry 
 one either ; but for better acquaintance I pro- 
 pose that we take another round, and in de- 
 ference to my other customers, we will all have 
 a social drink together ;" and turning to one of 
 the waiters he gave orders to attend to the wants 
 of every one present. 
 
 " Oh, if the party only had sinse enough to 
 nominate all such men as our friend Mike for 
 office, we'd soon drive those other fellows to the 
 wall, and a better time for the poor workingman 
 would not be far distant. But there never is a
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 41 
 
 convention but what some flops manage to get 
 nominated, which was done in the last one, when 
 they nominated that little flop, Arthur Gurney, 
 for Prosecuting Attorney. I met the young 
 upstart on the street the other day ; he passed 
 me, dressed in the finest of broadcloth, never 
 took any notice of me, and his countenance 
 spoke, plainer than words, 'The devil a bit do 
 I care for a poor workingman.' " 
 
 These words, spoken in the broadest of Hiber- 
 nian English, were answered by several, "That's 
 a fact," " that's a fact." 
 
 The speaker, a robust Irishman, laid down his 
 pipe and cards, and arose to take his social drink 
 with Mikjs. If we could judge from his gar- 
 ments as to his daily earnings for support we 
 would come to the conclusion that he, for one, had 
 a right to bring charges against his employers, for 
 oppression and for appropriating to themselves 
 what rightfully should have been his ; his shoes, 
 if such they could be called, had the appearance 
 of many years' service ; his toes protruded and 
 the heels figured as a side show ; his trousers, 
 buckled around his waist with a leather strap, 
 would scarcely have been of any value to the 
 rag pickers ; his shirt, ornamented with tobacco
 
 42 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 juice, looked as if soap and water were at a pre- 
 mium ; his hat, through which several bunches 
 of stubborn hair appeared, would have been of 
 no service even as a hen's nest ; the upturned 
 nose was of copper color, and the eyes swollen 
 and heavy. But ere he could speak further, 
 Mike O'Brien interrupted : "you are mistaken, 
 my friend^ and judge our friend Arthur Gurney 
 wrongfully ; 'tis true he is a little proud in his 
 dress, but that will all wear off when he gets 
 older ; but otherwise he is a jolly, good-hearted 
 fellow, and not a particle stingy, and you cannot 
 help but like him when you get acquainted 
 with him." 
 
 "That's all well enough," interrupted one of 
 the speakers, "that's all well enough; but I would 
 rather have seen some one else nominated in 
 his place, Pete O'Flaherty, for instance, or Fred. 
 Kuntz, the Dutchman ; they are as liberal-hearted 
 as anybody could be found, shake hands and 
 treat whenever they meet you, and always have 
 a friendly word. Then they are old country men, 
 and I'd rather they would always have the office 
 than the Americans." 
 
 "Dat's so," put in old Fritz, the hostler en- 
 gaged in the livery stable near O'Brien's saloon,
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 43 
 
 setting down his empty glass and wiping his 
 mouth with his shirt sleeve; "dey knows more 
 dan all the Americans. A lawyer in Shermany 
 has to study six, seven years, pefore he can get 
 in the courts ; unt he must know all the lan- 
 guages,de Latin, untde French, untde English, unt 
 de Greek, unt I pelieve de Russian too ; unt dey 
 all wear sphecks pefore dey get to be dwendy 
 years old ; all cums vrom studying so much; unt 
 I 'spects it's the same in Ireland too." 
 
 "You're talking sense now," was responded 
 by several as the speaker finished the last sen- 
 tence. 
 
 "I'll tell you," said another one, "the foreigners 
 should stick together and vote for nobody but 
 old country men or such Americans as are with 
 us and will see that the workingmen get their 
 rights ; and above all, that the white man shall 
 rule ; and that those negroes shall be shown their 
 places and not mingle with white persons and be 
 allowed to put the wages down so that a white man 
 can scarcely make a living and have a cent left 
 to get him a dram and a pipe of tobacco. And 
 this is just what I don't like these Gurneys for ; 
 there they have a big buck 'nigger' strutting 
 around, dressed up like a judge and as digni-
 
 44 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 fied as a priest. Oh, I tell you, if they can't em- 
 ploy white men to do their work white men ought 
 not to vote for them ; that's just exactly the way 
 I stand, and I think I'm right." 
 
 " And that's just exactly the way I stand, too," 
 interrupted another of the party. " Before these 
 cussed negroes overflowed the country (they are 
 now as thick as fleas around a hog pen) a white 
 man could always get plenty of work and make 
 a living, and have a penny left for his morning 
 'bitters,' and a pipe of tobacco, just what the 
 workingman needs to keep off the chills and 
 keep up his constitution. A white man can 
 scarcely earn enough to keep body and soul 
 together. I tell you, it's no use talking, these 
 negroes have ruined the country." 
 
 " Yes, and these temperance are just as bad," 
 went on another one, as the former ceased 
 speaking. "And there's another objection I 
 have to these Gurneys. The old lady is one of 
 these big temperance women, that looks on 
 every saloon as a hell, and every saloon keeper 
 as an accomplice of the Devil, and gets horrified 
 on hearing of a laboring man taking a dram to 
 keep off the chills, of which this country is full." 
 
 "Wall, I do not know anything about the way
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 45 
 
 they live up here," interrupted a tall, raw-boned 
 individual, as he extricated a great wad of tobacco 
 from his mouth. " I was borned and raised in 
 Car'lina, and niggers thar know very well how 
 to keep thar places ; and if they did'nt we'd soon 
 larn them how, as we have done when they got 
 sassy, after the war, when they thought them- 
 selves as good as white folks, as the Abolitionists 
 taught them ; we just use a few yards of rope, 
 and a few pounds of lead and powder, and once 
 in a while a hickory ; I tell you, it has a mighty 
 good effect. They aint as sassy any more as 
 they have been, an^they know darned well that 
 the white man wont stand it. I'll tell you wat's a 
 fact, the nigger is bound to sarve a master ; God 
 has willed it so. We had an old Baptist preacher 
 down thar, who was a well larned man ; he 
 knowed the whole Scripture by heart, and he 
 said he could prove it with the Bible, that God 
 made the nigger a slave before he was borned. 
 He said thar was a feller got into a fight with 
 his brother and killed him. I don't know that 
 I know exactly his name, but I believe it was 
 Cain, or something like that, and for fear of 
 getting into the calaboos, or of swinging on a 
 tree with a rope around his neck, he run off into
 
 46 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 another country, and thar was no women thar, 
 and he got acquainted with a baboon and mar- 
 ried her, and God cursed him for this unnatural 
 alliance, and told him right down that their off- 
 spring should be slaves to the white man for all 
 time to come. So, you see, when the Abolitionists 
 freed them they acted entirely against the will 
 of God, and against the Bible. They may go to 
 church as much as they please, I cannot call them 
 Christians. But you kin bet thar's a better time 
 comin' ; these Abolitionists won'thavetheirwayall 
 the time, and you just wait until our party gets 
 in power, and we'll larn them another song. But 
 as to your wages here, I tell you, they are a good 
 deal better than down south, with us, where a 
 man can scarcely earn fifty cents a day." 
 
 "Mein Got in Himmel," put in Fritz, "how 
 can a man live mid dat ? it would not more than 
 do to keep me in mein beer, and I drinks not 
 much neither." 
 
 " Oh, the white people in Car'lina that have to 
 work for a livin' live much cheaper than they 
 do up here ; they don't care to live in fine houses, 
 and have beefsteaks, sweet cakes, wheat bread, 
 and all those nick-knacks, or to have tea parties, 
 or send the children to college, and all the other
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 47 
 
 new fangled things, as they do up here ; and thar 
 women don't dress in fineries, or go to church 
 with ten dollar bonnets on their heads. No 
 sir ! they live in good old-fashioned log houses, 
 that have on each side a door large enough to 
 drag a log into the fire, with a 'hoss' hitched 
 to it ; they have no use for windows ; they can 
 open the door if they want to look out ; the fire- 
 place is large enough for the whole household 
 to sit comfortably around it; you need'nt be afraid 
 of being scolded when you chaw your tobacco 
 and spit in the fire, except when it flies too near 
 the skillet, as it does sometimes, when the women 
 are cooking. Our women have no use for stoves ; 
 fire-places are more handy and convenient ; then 
 you don't need to scrape your shoes and boots 
 a half hour before entering the room, for fear 
 of soiling the carpet ; I've always looked on them 
 as a nuisance, since I came up here ; and we don't 
 need any coal oil or candles ; the fire in the fire- 
 place lights the room better than either ; and we 
 don't need to have two or three partitions in the 
 house, one for a dining room, one for a kitchen, 
 one for a bed room, one for a sitting room, an- 
 other for a servant ; I tell you, its all nonsense ! 
 We generally build our houses twenty by twenty-
 
 48 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 five, and have it all in one room ; cook in it, eat 
 in it, wash and sleep in it. I tell you, it's a 
 good deal handier, and a heap warmer in win- 
 ter. And then we live plainer; our women 
 hold on to the old-fashioned corn dodger, sweet 
 'taters,' and bacon. The men sometimes bring 
 home a coon, possum, or turkey. I tell you, 
 when fixed by a fire-place, it is lots better than 
 a stove ; and then we aint agoing to spend every 
 year three or four dollars for school books, pay 
 taxes to hire these Yankee school marms, and 
 send our children thar to have thar heads stuffed 
 full of a pack of nonsense ; no sirree ! we give 
 them the hoe, and tell them to go out and hoe 
 'taters' and cotton ; and we generally give them 
 a patch of ground to raise goober peas, I believe 
 you call them peanuts here. I tell you, they 
 are good when roasted in a fire-place. And 
 our women work; they spin, weave, help to plant 
 corn, and all other kinds of work in the field ; and 
 if you Yankee folks do make fun of them smok- 
 ing and chewing, I, for my part, see no wrong in 
 it, and think more of them with a pipe in thar 
 mouth and a hoe in thar hand, than of all your 
 fine ladies here, sitting in rocking chairs reading 
 story books. Then they don't run to stores to
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 49 
 
 buy a pair of three-dollar shoes every month, as 
 they do here. In summer we all go barefooted, 
 and in winter a pair of stogies is all they ask ; 
 we are also more economical with our fanning 
 utensils. Here a farmer must have a half-dozen 
 plows, he don'tknow himself what for, just to be up 
 with others ; we make out with a diamond plow 
 just as well ; and we don't lay out every other 
 year twenty-five or thirty dollars for a set of 
 harness ; our women make straw collars and 
 straw pads ; we have rope halters, rope bridles 
 and lines, which are better and cheaper, and 
 easier on our horses. Yes, I tell you, men, I have 
 worked lots of times for half a dollar a day and 
 board myself, and thought I was making big 
 wages." 
 
 " Yes,"said another one," that's all well enough; 
 but if you had to pay ten cents a dram for whis- 
 ky down there, as you do here, you'd soon find 
 out where you stand. But you fellers have a 
 still-house in every county, and pay neither license 
 nor a darned cent of revenue, and can get your 
 whisky cheap ; and if a revenue officer feels 
 sassy enough to sniffle around a little, you gene- 
 rally send him home with his head bandaged, that 
 is, if you send him home at all. That is just
 
 50 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 what I like about you Southerners ; they aint 
 going to be made slaves of by these Yankees : 
 I glory in their spunk ! I just wish it could be 
 done here the same way." 
 
 The Carolinian broke out in a big laugh that 
 nearly shook the floor ; fortified himself with a 
 fresh wad of tobacco, and then went on : " Oh, 
 my friends, I could tell you something about that ; 
 I was in one of those scrapes myself once, and 
 it was not so much fun either ; but I tell you, we 
 closed the nigger's windpipe that acted as in- 
 formant." 
 
 " Oh, those darned niggers ; they all ought 
 to be packed in one vessel together, sent out to 
 sea and drowned ; if they don't do it, this country 
 won't be worth a cent in twenty years from now." 
 
 "Oh, it won't take twenty years ; it's gone to 
 the dogs already," put in another one. "When I 
 came to this country you could buy a gallon of 
 whisky for twenty cents, and five cents' worth 
 of tobacco did you a whole week ; but now twenty 
 cents scarcely buy your morning bitters, and five 
 cents' worth of tobacco won't fill a Dutch pipe." 
 
 "Yes," said Fritz, "when I came here I pought 
 beer for five cents a quart, unt now you get for 
 five cents a leetle glass mit foam, such as in
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 51 
 
 Germany would not cost half a cent, unt it would 
 took all my wages if I was to trink all I wanted ; 
 unt if they go unt elect dem demperance I go 
 unt leave the place." 
 
 "Well, the way to keep them out," put in a tall 
 New Yorker with a stovepipe hat, "is for all of 
 us to work together. Make every vote we can ; 
 try to bring those that are undecided over to 
 our party; even if it does cost a few dollars. And 
 I think it no sin if we can get in a few crooked 
 votes; especially in as good a cause as ours. 
 I always thought it wrong to keep the foreigners 
 four or five years in our land before they are 
 allowed to vote. They are all well educated, 
 and soon get acquainted with our political affairs, 
 and five or six weeks would be long enough. 
 But I tell you, we don't care much for the natu- 
 ralization laws in the city of New York. I saw 
 them voted there before their clothes got dry 
 from the sea water, and we didn't make much 
 of a secret of it either." 
 
 "And we will vote some of them this year, 
 remarked Mike O'Brien; we can do it just as 
 well here as they do in New York. People are 
 getting their eyes opened, and finding out who 
 are their friends, who work for their interest, and
 
 52 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 will vote accordingly. There are already heavy 
 bets made that we will beat them, and if any one 
 doubts this, you just send him to Mike O'Brien, 
 who is ready to stake one thousand dollars 
 against five hundred, that our entire ticket will 
 be elected." 
 
 "Three cheers for Mike O'Brien and the 
 ticket," was proposed by one of the company, 
 and ere that gentleman could command silence 
 a rousing hurrah for Mike O'Brien and the 
 ticket shook the house to its foundations. It 
 was some time before quiet was restored, but 
 at last this was done, by the proprietor saying 
 that he would make a few remarks if they would 
 listen and be quiet. 
 
 Here the door opened and two men entered 
 the room ; all eyes were turned toward them ; 
 both were plainly but neatly dressed; the older 
 about medium size; but while the other was 
 much younger, his tall figure, frank and open 
 countenance, in which was pictured a noble heart, 
 was at once the centre of attraction. 
 
 Just as the wild beast of the forest shrinks 
 and cowers down before the gaze of man, so 
 did these debauched wretches stand mute in 
 admiration, as if confronted by a superior being.
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 5*. 
 
 It was a moment of holy stillness in this temple 
 of iniquity, and was only interrupted when Mike 
 O'Brien advanced and shook hands with both, 
 and turning to the crowd, said 
 
 "I told you before I expected some dis- 
 tinguished visitors, and I have not been disap- 
 pointed. I now take pleasure in introducing to 
 you my friend Arthur Gurney our candidate 
 for Prosecuting Attorney, and Henry Welch, 
 our candidate for Treasurer." 
 
 Again three rousing cheers shook the house, 
 given this time for Arthur Gurney and the 
 ticket.
 
 54 NICK PUTZEL; on 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 "Mother, dear, don't you think it best to go 
 to bed," said Mrs. Annie Emmit, the daughter of 
 the person addressed. "It is now past nine 
 o'clock, and in your weak state of health you 
 cannot bear this loss of rest and sleep." 
 
 Mrs. Gurney was sitting in a large easy chair, 
 her head resting on a soft pillow. Her pale 
 face was shrunken, and her large, bright eyes 
 were moist with tears. Once very beautiful, she 
 yet retained a sweetness of expression which 
 gave a tenderness and charm to every wasted 
 feature. You saw at once that she was a woman 
 of refinement, but a sufferer, bodily and men- 
 tally. 
 
 "Past nine o'clock," she repeated, "and not 
 here yet. He promised me so faithfully to be 
 here to tea;" and with a heavy sigh her hands, 
 which were folded on her breast, sank upon her 
 lap. 
 
 "Dear mother, don't give way to such grief. 
 Perhaps he met with some friends, or has called 
 at my husband's store, and they will come to-
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 55 
 
 gether, for Edward promised to call for me as 
 soon as he closed his establishment." 
 
 Edward Emmit, Annie's husband, was a well- 
 to-do dry' goods merchant, of steady habits, and 
 an energetic business man. They had been 
 married about three years, and the fruit of this 
 marriage was a boy about two years old, named 
 after his uncle Arthur, and at present sleeping 
 on the sofa, near by. 
 
 "Met with some of his friends," she sighed 
 again. "That is what I am afraid of, if you can 
 call such men as he associates with of late friends 
 at all;" and shaking her head, she said, in a low 
 tone ; " Oh, husband, husband ! May you never 
 see the day when you will regret the steps taken 
 for the promotion of your son." 
 
 "Don't trouble yourself so much, and so un- 
 necessarily, about Arthur. He'll be here soon; 
 and you are only injuring your health." 
 
 "Perhaps I am a little over-anxious, but I can't 
 help it. I feel such an awful weight here," said 
 Mrs. Gurney, putting her hand on her breast, 
 "and since his nomination Arthur has changed 
 so much. He promised me that he would not 
 drink, yet I know he has broken that promise. 
 Before his nomination he never entered the
 
 56 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 door without giving me some token of affec- 
 tion and obedience, and my slightest wish was 
 law. Out of his bright eyes spoke truth and 
 benevolence, and his noble features 'disclosed 
 the good qualities of his heart. But, oh, how 
 changed is all this! He shuns me; the bright 
 eyes are too frequently swollen; they do not 
 look me honestly in the face, as in former days, 
 and when spoken to by me, seek the floor. His 
 features, once beaming with health, are at times 
 flushed by an unnatural color; his steps are un- 
 steady, and his. speech thick and heavy. He 
 comes home at late hours; never rises until 
 nine or ten o'clock in the morning, and is fitful 
 and irregular in his habits and appetites." 
 
 "Has father noticed all this, and if so, what 
 does he say about it?" said Annie. 
 
 " He does not seem to pay any attention to it 
 at all. I threw out some hints this evening, be- 
 fore he started to lodge, but he makes light of 
 it; says Arthur is a Gurney, and no Gurney was 
 ever known to be a drunkard, or seen drunk, 
 although every one of them that he kne'w drank 
 their glass of wine, beer, or brandy, if they felt 
 like it; and the way Arthur is situated at present 
 may lead, in all probability, to his drinking once
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 57 
 
 in a while a glass, as it is often impossible to 
 refuse without offence. He always ends by say- 
 ing, 'you never mind, Arthur will be 'all right 
 after the election.' " 
 
 "Well, perhaps father is right; and, mother, 
 do not give way to grief. Father is experienced 
 in these matters, and would not lead his son to 
 ruin and destruction if he saw any danger." 
 
 " God grant that you speak the truth. But so 
 many young men have started out on their 
 youthful voyage full of life, full of hope, full of 
 promise, and were wrecked in mid-ocean, not 
 thinking of danger, being too self-reliant, and 
 not heeding the warning voice of experienced 
 navigators. May he be spared such a fate; I 
 only have to pray, may God guide and protect 
 him." 
 
 "And I think your prayer will be answered, 
 mother, and that you will live to see your son 
 one of the foremost in the nation, and honored 
 and respected by all. He will not always be 
 thrown into society like the present, and com- 
 pelled to associate with such men as Michael 
 O'Brien and Henry Welch, The campaign will 
 soon be over, and with it all this will be at an 
 end."
 
 58 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 "I wish it was to-morrow," replied Mrs. Gur- 
 ney. " Oh, when I remember the evening of the 
 nomination! We were just about to retire, 
 when we were surprised by the sound of music. 
 They came to serenade Arthur, and, of course, 
 were invited in. Your father introduced me to 
 Mr. O'Brien, the candidate for Sheriff, and to 
 Mr. Welch, the candidate for Treasurer. The 
 breath of the former nearly stifled me, when he 
 grasped my hand and said, with a heavy tongue, 
 'happy to make your acquaintance, madam.' 
 He has more the countenance of a brute than a 
 human ; his face adorned with scars, received, 
 undoubtedly, in drunken brawls, does not show 
 a sign of intelligence or refinement. Oh, how 
 can a party nominate such a man! The other 
 has more the appearance of a gentleman, but 
 there is something in his looks that I do not like, 
 either." 
 
 "Edward says he is by far the worst of the 
 two. He was in his father's employ before Ed- 
 ward took charge of the establishment, and was 
 discharged for embezzlement. Of course, they 
 did not make it public, not wishing to ruin his 
 character, for the sake of his relatives, he being 
 very highly connected ; but he has not done any
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 59 
 
 good since, and is connected with most of the 
 gambling houses in the city, enticing young men 
 to gambling, and to ruin. He keeps fast horses, 
 and his female associates are anything but re- 
 spectable." 
 
 Little Arthur made himself heard at this time, 
 which interrupted the conversation, as his mother 
 went to attend to him. 
 
 "I wish Edward would come; it is getting 
 late," and turning, she said, "Mother, had you 
 not better retire ?" 
 
 "Yes, I think I'd better, for my waiting here 
 for Arthur will be useless, and I do not expect 
 your father for some time yet." 
 
 At this moment the ringing of the bell denoted 
 that some one had come. 
 
 "It's Edward," said Annie. 
 
 The door opened, and with the words, "Well, 
 mother, you up yet?" Edward entered the 
 room. 
 
 "I am glad you. have come," said Annie. 
 "Little Arthur is getting very restless, and an- 
 noys grandma. It is getting, late, and mother 
 has been sitting up too long already." 
 
 "We were a little later than common," said 
 Edward; "but, we had a very busy day, and it
 
 60 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 took some time to straighten out the books. 
 A business man cannot always shut up when 
 he wishes." 
 
 "Can you not stay all night with us," said 
 Mrs. Gurney. 
 
 " Not this time, mother. I have left no word 
 at home to that effect." 
 
 By this time little Arthur had his wraps on, 
 and was snugly nestled on the breast of his 
 papa, when both took their departure, but not 
 without kissing mother good night. 
 
 "Good night, children," she replied, with a 
 trembling voice, as she closed the door.
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 61 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 The door had just closed behind a company 
 of about half a dozen men who had entered the 
 sanctum of Uncle Nick's establishment, and took 
 seats around a fine marble-top table, when one 
 of the company, a stalwart individual, dark com- 
 plexioned, and in every respect a true type of 
 the Celtic race, said to the proprietor, who was 
 one of the company 
 
 "Now, Uncle Nick, no fooling this time. We 
 want some of your best, and as there is no Dutch 
 among us, except yourself, I think we all will 
 have something strong, instead of that slop they 
 call lager." 
 
 The speaker was no other personage than 
 Mike O'Brien, the well-known prize fighter, 
 saloon keeper, and now the candidate for Sheriff. 
 Perhaps it will not be uninteresting to our read- 
 ers to have a short sketch of the life of this re- 
 markable man. As far as it came to our knowl- 
 edge it is about as follows 
 
 Mike O'Brien was born in Ireland, of poor 
 parentage, and never had the advantage of an
 
 62 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 education. He had to assist his parents, from 
 early boyhood ; to plant and raise potatoes, and 
 do any kind of work that could be obtained, 
 to make a livelihood. As he grew up, he devel- 
 oped great physical strength, and was very fond 
 of bruising his neighbors' children whenever an 
 opportunity offered. He soon became the terror 
 of the whole neighborhood, and everybody was 
 glad on hearing the news that Mike had received 
 money from his uncle in America for the pay- 
 ment of his passage, and that he was about to 
 emigrate to that country. He was not long in 
 preparing, and soon bid old Ireland adieu, "to 
 try," as he said, "his luck in the new world." 
 He arrived without accident, was warmly wel- 
 comed by his uncle, who was very proud of the 
 young man's physical strength, and more so of 
 his skill and convincing knock-down arguments. 
 Used to hard labor from early boyhood, he sought 
 and obtained work as a section hand on a rail- 
 road. His co-laborers soon found out that it 
 would not do to fool with Mike, and all both 
 hated and feared him. Soon he became section 
 boss, and the slightest disobedience of his orders 
 was punished by a knock or kick. He soon be- 
 came notorious as a fighter, and many of his class
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 63 
 
 came from a distance to measure his strength, 
 and try their hand, but always came out second 
 best. Mike's fame was established. He was 
 persuaded to enter the ring, and being some- 
 what ambitious for distinction, he consented. A 
 match was agreed upon with a notorious bruiser, 
 and Mike went into training for the coming fight. 
 The day at length was at hand. Heavy bets 
 were made, and Mike, although it was his first 
 fight, came out victorious. He now abandoned 
 the shovel and the spade, and with the money 
 he made by this operation started a saloon. He 
 was the hero of the day. From near and far 
 the bruisers came to see him, and his saloon was 
 considered one of the best-paying establishments 
 in the city. He never could be persuaded to 
 enter the ring again, but was soon noted for the 
 active part he took in politics. He was often 
 heard to say: "Why can't I arise to political dis- 
 tinction and power?" And why not? He had 
 seen his fellow-countrymen, in several noted 
 instances, come from the prize-ring, the saloon, 
 and the gambling den, to seats of honor and 
 fortune. So far all the omens were good; and 
 when his name was called at the convention as a 
 candidate for Sheriff, all opposition was silenced,
 
 64 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 and Mike O'Brien was unanimously announced 
 as the nominee. 
 
 To-day he and Mr. Welch were on one of 
 their grand rounds, for electioneering purposes, 
 and, with some of the boys, dropped in to spend 
 a few minutes with Uncle Nick. 
 
 The abrupt manner in which he called for 
 refreshments was not calculated to please that 
 gentleman, who, rising in all his dignity, and cast- 
 ing a look of contempt at the speaker, scornfully 
 replied 
 
 "Vat does an Irishman know 'bout vat's gute? 
 You give him whisky, dat bites on der tongue, unt 
 cuts de trote, unt burns de stomach, unt he calls 
 it furst-rate ; unt if you gives him de vine Cog- 
 nac, such as I got, de best in der State, dat runs 
 down a man's trote like oil, he calls it a hum- 
 bug." 
 
 "Well done, Uncle Nick; hit him again, he 
 deserves it," laughingly interrupted Mr. Welch, 
 the candidate for Treasurer. " But we have no 
 time to quarrel over whisky, and as I can vouch 
 for your Cognac, we will all take of it." 
 
 "And in friendship, too, as I meant no insult, 
 and hope Uncle Nick did not take it as such," 
 enjoined Mike O'Brien.
 
 "What kind of a fellow have you here, Uncle Nick?"
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 67 
 
 "Oh, all a joke," said Uncle Nick, as he 
 stepped to the speaking trumpet, which com- 
 municated from the sanctum to the bar-room, 
 and gave his orders. 
 
 A few moments later a waiter with the ordered 
 refreshments appeared. 
 
 " What kind of a fellow have you here, Uncle 
 Nick? He looks more like a Captain of the 
 regular army than a barkeeper; he looks as 
 dignified as a Supreme Judge, and his mustache 
 is long enough for a Chinaman's pig-tail," laugh- 
 ingly said Mike O'Brien. 
 
 "Captain, you say?" replied Uncle Nick. 
 "You missed de mark dis dime. He ish our 
 General, unt I tought ebery poty in de city 
 knowed him. He's pin mit me fur de last dwo 
 years, put you neber come here to see me, ex- 
 cepting ven de election is close at hand." 
 
 This was a thrust at the candidate for Sheriff, 
 but he evaded an answer by saying: "Well 
 where is the General's glass? He surely will 
 not object to take a drink with common folks 
 such as we are." 
 
 "I neber allows mein men to trink mit de cus- 
 tomers. It ish a pat vay, unt brings no gute.
 
 68 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 Dey can trink by demselves, lint must know 
 der blaces," interrupted Uncle Nick. 
 
 "Well," said Mike O'Brien, "I shall not try to 
 break the rules of your establishment; but you 
 must allow me to pay him for a treat, and he can 
 drink it at his leisure, to our success." So say- 
 ing, he slipped a bill into the hands of the Gen- 
 eral, which was received with a military salute 
 of thanks. 
 
 "A very soldierly-like fellow, this General of 
 yours," remarked Mike, as the former retired. 
 "You should try to get him on the police force. 
 He would make a fine appearance." 
 
 "I would hab got him a situation on der per- 
 lice force dish shpring, put der feller ish so shlow 
 in learning to dalk der English; put I dink he 
 vill do by der next shpring, unt I have dalked 
 mit Councilman Drickey already about de mad- 
 der, unt he says it ish all right, if I wish it. I 
 bidy de poor feller; he don't know how to vork; 
 he vas, since he growed up, in de Prussian army, 
 unt I jhust keeps him to do de shores, unt gives 
 him a little someting till I find a situation fur 
 him. He's not a fool, you mint. I posted him 
 a leetle in de political matters last shpring, unt
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 69 
 
 I dell you der feller, as green as he ish, mate 
 more as a dozen votes fur us." 
 
 " My stars ! We must take good care of him." 
 remarked Mr. Welch, when Uncle Nick finished 
 speaking. "We don't run across such fellows 
 every day." 
 
 Franz Spreutzhanz, or the General, as he was 
 called by Uncle Nick and his customers, was, as 
 Uncle Nick said, an old Prussian soldier, who 
 by merit and good behavior had advanced to 
 the rank of Corporal. He was all through the 
 Austro-Prussian war, and never grew tired of 
 telling of the heroic deeds he and his regiment 
 performed; how many times they whipped twice 
 their number of Austrians, and on several 
 occasions a whole army corps. Being used to a 
 busy life, he got tired of the inactivity after peace 
 was concluded, and was truly glad when, shortly 
 afterward, his term of service expired. He had 
 often heard how fond the Americans were of 
 military organizations; how every young man 
 sought to have his name enrolled in one of the 
 home-guard companies ; the money they spent 
 for the finest of uniforms, and what large sala- 
 ries they paid for good drill-masters, and that 
 many a rich father spent large sums to procure
 
 70 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 a suitable person to teach his son how to handle 
 a sword. There he would go, for a man of his 
 qualifications could not fail to procure a lucra- 
 tive position and rise to distinction. There he 
 did go, but, alas ! 
 
 " Never mortal state can form perpetual truce with fate; 
 Swift are the steps of woe." 
 
 He found home-guards, with their splendid 
 uniforms, everywhere, but they wanted no 
 instruction; and when he told them about the 
 superiority of the Prussian tactics, they laughed 
 at him, and told him they had Hardee's, and that 
 they were the best in the world. He was not 
 more successful in getting a situation as private 
 tutor, and found, to his dismay and disgust, that 
 young America, in cases of emergency, would 
 rather use a six-shooter, or an Arkansas tooth- 
 pick, sometimes called a Bowie-knife. He was 
 disgusted with America when he found all his 
 hopes blasted, and would have gladly returned 
 to Germany, but had no money to do so. He 
 was offered work in a lumber yard, and a coun- 
 tryman of his wanted to employ him to work on 
 his farm, chopping wood, ditching, milking cows, 
 etc., but he was horror-struck on hearing this 
 proposition, and indignantly refused, saying it
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 71 
 
 never should be said that a Prussian officer has 
 stooped so low. And so, wandering from saloon 
 to saloon, sweeping- bar-rooms, and doing other 
 service, he was finally taken in charge by Uncle 
 Nick. 
 
 " Has our friend, the Parson, been here yet, 
 Uncle Nick?" said Mr. Welch, after a short 
 pause. 
 
 "I hab not seen him fur several days," replied 
 the addressed. 
 
 "He was to meet us here at six o'clock, but 
 it is now nearly seven. I wonder what keeps 
 him ?" 
 
 At this moment the bell sounded the well- 
 known signal, announcing one of the brother- 
 hood. 
 
 "Dat's him, I bet," said Uncle Nick, as he went 
 to attend to the call, and a few minutes later the 
 new-comer entered the room. 
 
 He was a gentleman in the prime of life, nearly 
 six feet-in height, well built, light hair, large fore- 
 head, light complexioned, nicely cultivated "Burn- 
 sides," and a keen, penetrating eye. He was 
 dressed in the height of fashion, his clothes were 
 of the finest material, ornamented with a fine 
 gold pin, gold buttons, heavy gold watch-chain,
 
 72 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 and as he removed his kid gloves, a heavy ring, 
 with a large diamond, attracted attention. On 
 the whole, we see before us a gentleman of taste, 
 culture, and refinement. This was James Dun- 
 lap, of the firm of Dunlap & Co., life insurance 
 agents. Who constituted the company we never 
 were able to learn. 
 
 Mr. Dunlap was well known all over the 
 city, attended church regularly, was an active 
 temperance worker, and moved in the most 
 fashionable society. In meetings he was known 
 as brother Dunlap, in society as Mr. Dunlap, 
 and by the brotherhood as Parson Dunlap. The 
 latter name was of recent date, acquired by his 
 moral and temperance speeches. Before that 
 event he went by the name of "Baltimore Jim!" 
 He was greatly admired by the ladies of fashion, 
 and was said to be engaged to a young lady of 
 wealth, refinement, and education. It was whis- 
 pered by those who professed to know, that this 
 was not the Parson's first experience in matri- 
 mony, and that several ladies would claim him 
 as their husband, if they could find his where- 
 abouts. But this whisper was kept strictly to 
 themselves, for he was looked upon as indis- 
 pensable among the fraternity.
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 7S 
 
 "Do you call this six o'clock," said Mr. Welch, 
 addressing the new comer before that gentle- 
 man had time to be seated. 
 
 ''Not exactly," was the reply. "I met with 
 several gentlemen on my way, and you know, 
 business is business." 
 
 "Well, you missed the first round, but we will 
 not talk over empty glasses, so have them filled 
 again, and add another to the number." 
 
 "Mine in lemonade, if you please," ordered 
 the Parson. 
 
 "Dis demperance excitement has mate quite 
 a change mit de Parson. Pefore he joined dem 
 demperance he coult take a whisky shtrate, unt 
 another von, unt another von; put now it must 
 pe de lemonade," remarked Uncle Nick, shaking 
 himself with laughter. , 
 
 "None of your nonsense, Uncle Nick. I'm 
 invited to a social to-night, and I don't want the 
 ladies to faint from the smell of corn juice." 
 
 "And you are goin' to hab it spiked mit gute 
 Madeira vine?" asked Uncle Nick, and not wait- 
 ing for an answer, he went to the trumpet, called 
 for six Cognacs, and one lemonade spiked with 
 Madeira. 
 
 "Well, how are the signs among the temper-
 
 74 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 ance people?" Mr. Welch went on. "Will Mr. 
 Walker do us much damage, and will the rest 
 of our ticket suffer on his account? You surely 
 have found out enough to know by this time?" 
 
 "I have satisfied myself," replied Mr. Dunlap, 
 "that there is nothing to be feared from that 
 source. I have talked with Deacon Butterfield 
 and Judge Grabber, who, you know, are very 
 active politicians, and also very zealous temper- 
 ance workers, and good authority in such mat- 
 ters. They say temperance has nothing to do 
 with politics ; if it had, they would withdraw from 
 it in less than an hour. The temperance mission 
 is peace, love, and good- will to all; to redeem 
 such as have fallen, by kind words and prayers, 
 and not to interfere with persons who are doing 
 a legitimate business, such as saloon keepers. 
 On the contrary, they should be protected, as 
 they pay heavily for their privilege, and contri- 
 bute largely toward paying the national debt. 
 Walker, they say, is an extremist, and will not 
 get a vote from members of temperance socie- 
 ties, outside of his party." 
 
 "Gute, gute !" said Uncle Nick. "Dat ish de 
 right kind of demperance dalk. You must tell 
 dese fellers dat trinks so much not to do so unt
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 75 
 
 not boder beeple dat does a legitimate pisness. 
 Dese fellers are no profit to de saloon keepers. 
 Ven dey trink, dey vill der glasses plum full, unt 
 puts der hand around it so it holds more, unt 
 half de dime dey aint got der money to bay fur 
 it. It's right to dell dem to quit, unt to pray fur 
 dem. Dat's gute doctorin, unt if de demper- 
 ance folks would pe all dat vay, I would jhoin 
 dem meinself. Der ish some dat vill make a 
 prute out of demselves. Dey would trink all 
 tay unt not bay fur it, unt dey might pe dalked 
 to. Put ven fellers trinks unt bays fur it, unt 
 acts de gentleman, der ish nopody's pisness how 
 much he trinks. You see, der ish 'Squire Bliss; 
 he trinks a tram early in de mornin,' to keep off 
 de tamp air, unt den he trinks von pefore break- 
 fast, to give him an abedite ; he trinks von after 
 breakfast, to shettle de stomach; den he trinks 
 von to steady de nerves; unt von pefore lunch, 
 unt den he dakes von after de lunch, unt he 
 always dakes von before dinner; never misses 
 to dake von after de dinner; dakes dree, four 
 in de afternoon, to keep off de chills; von pefore 
 supper, unt von after supper, unt always von 
 pefore he goes home unt to bet. He never 
 dakes pig glasses full, always bays fur it, unt
 
 76 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 always tends to his pisness. Now, who has a 
 right to shay de 'Squire shant trink? I say, sing 
 unt bray, lint dalk to dese fellers dat ish no 
 account, put let other beeple alone." 
 
 "And that will be about as effective as sing- 
 ing psalms in a graveyard for the resurrection 
 of the dead," rejoined the Parson, laughingly. 
 
 "You bet," was heard from several, all joining 
 in a hearty laugh. 
 
 The contents of the glasses served by the 
 General were now disposed of, and after another 
 order was given the Parson resumed 
 
 "But I have met with one stubborn fellow, 
 Mr. Bolton, the blacksmith, who seems to be 
 very much dissatisfied with the way things are 
 going on. He says, there never can be a nomi- 
 nation without the saloon keepers having their 
 say-so about it, and trying to boss the job, 
 and every appointment to the lower offices is 
 given to saloon keepers, barkeepers, and whisky 
 rats, just as if there were no others capable and 
 qualified for these positions. He got very much 
 excited when he said; 'Here are the descend- 
 ants of those patriots who fought in the revolu- 
 tionary war, in the war of 1812, and perhaps^ 
 themselves in our late rebellion; the German
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 77 
 
 and Irish, who assisted, and who are working 
 hard, year in and year out, in workshops, on 
 streets and railroads, to make an honest living 
 for themselves and their families; who, by their 
 brains, muscles and industry, add wealth and 
 prosperity to our cities and country; and yet 
 they have to stand back, and see the stations 
 which of right belong to them occupied by those 
 who never were any benefit to the country, to 
 God, or to mankind.' " 
 
 "Dis 'ere placksmith is nodings put a grand 
 fool. Vot does der mans dat works in der shops 
 do mit offices? Dey got vork,and dat is enough. 
 Dey never does anyting fur de bardy; dey come 
 out from de shop unt votes der dicket, unt goes 
 pack to de shop unt works again. It's de saloon 
 keeper unt de barkeeper dat keeps up de bardy, 
 unt makes de votes. Vere would de bardy pe 
 if it vas not fur dem ? Unt if dey makes de 
 votes unt keeps de bardy alive, dey has a right 
 to de offices." 
 
 "That's what's the matter," said Mike O'Brien, 
 who had been silent all this time. 
 
 "I told him," the Parson went on, "that he 
 ought not to get excited over such trifles, and 
 that all would be remedied after a while; that
 
 78 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 the campaign is a very exciting one, and that we 
 all must work harmoniously together if we wished 
 to meet with success. He said: 'Sometimes I 
 think I won't go to the polls at all any more; 
 then, again, when I think my grandfather always 
 voted the ticket, and my father always voted the 
 ticket, and I always voted the ticket, then I say 
 to myself, I'll try it once more, but this is the 
 last time, if things don't go different.' " 
 
 "Yes, unt der fool will vote it next year again, 
 you see." 
 
 The Parson went on : "Mr. Walker, however, 
 will run exceedingly well. He has many warm 
 friends in the city, and the county is nearly 
 unanimously for him; and if he was not a temp- 
 erance man, I would say he would be elected." 
 
 "And you think that is against him," remarked 
 Mr. Welch. 
 
 "Fully three hundred votes. From the mem- 
 bers of the temperance society he will not get 
 a vote outside of his party, and we can unite all 
 the loose element against him and the ticket, as 
 a temperance combination. This, of course, is 
 expensive. We must get every saloon to work 
 for us, and these sharks know their power, and 
 want their reward. It also may be necessary, to
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 79 
 
 import a few hundred votes. That's expensive, 
 but it can easily be done. A larger force than 
 common may be necessary to work on the streets. 
 I hinted it to Alderman Slimer the other day. 
 He understood me, and said he would attend to 
 it. To sum up all in a few words: If you have 
 plenty of money to spend, gentlemen, you will 
 be elected ; if not, you will be defeated. And I'll 
 tell you, before I go any further, I must have 
 two hundred dollars next Saturday. I have 
 had, already, considerable outlay of my own, and 
 my purse is well-nigh empty." 
 
 "Well, we must make a draw on old David 
 Gurney. He seems to care nothing for ex- 
 penses, just so his son will be successful, and he 
 can well stand it. He told me the other day to 
 never mind expenses ; all he wants is success 
 to the ticket," said Mr. Welch. 
 
 At this moment the General came with the 
 refreshments, and with a repeated "Success to 
 the ticket," the glasses were emptied. 
 
 "Gentlemen, you must excuse me," said the 
 Parson, as he set down his glass. "As I said 
 before, I'm invited to a social, and I must be off 
 this minute."
 
 80 . NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 "And we, too, must be on our journey," re- 
 marked Mike O'Brien, taking his hat. 
 
 All arose, and when the last man had left, and 
 Uncle Nick had closed the sanctum behind him, 
 he remarked, " Nothing like a political cam- 
 paign."
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 81 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Seated in his parlor, surrounded by comfort 
 and luxury, with a bottle of wine and a couple 
 of glasses on the table by his side, the former 
 as yet not uncorked, sat Henry Welch, the can- 
 didate for Treasurer, in his easy chair, frequently 
 casting his eyes up and down the street, as if 
 expecting some one to come. As minute after 
 minute went by he grew uneasy, would occa- 
 sionally open the door so as to have a better 
 view, and when disappointed, as his looks plainly 
 indicated, retire again and take up his old posi- 
 tion. This was repeated time and again, and 
 when minutes grew to be hours, he got quite rest- 
 less and said to himself: "Well, it's no use wait- 
 ing any longer, the hour is past when he pro- 
 mised to be here, and I may just as well uncork 
 this bottle and take a glass by myself, for no 
 doubt he has forgotten his promise, or what is 
 more likely, was prevented by something beyond 
 his control." 
 
 These words were scarcely spoken when a 
 phseton drove up, and the occupant, a tall, hand-
 
 82 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 some young man, alighted, fastened his horse to 
 the hitching post and turned to enter the house. 
 
 The disappointed look of Henry Welch dis- 
 appeared and one of pleasure assumed its place. 
 He sat down his bottle of uncorked wine and 
 ran out to meet his visitor. 
 
 "Oh," said he, as he extended his hand, which 
 was shaken by the former, "Is this the way you 
 keep your engagements? Have your friend 
 here waiting for you until his patience is ex- 
 hausted, and the wine which I brought up from 
 the cellar loses its flavor by the heat of the 
 day? But, walk in, and make yourself comfort- 
 able ; you no doubt feel tired and heated; it is 
 considerable of a drive from your house to mine, 
 and I think a glass of good sherry, a bottle of 
 which I was just in the act of uncorking when 
 you drove up, will be all that is necessary to 
 bring you all right." 
 
 The addressed, who was no other personage 
 than Arthur Gurney, the candidate for Prose- 
 cuting Attorney, seated himself in the offered 
 chair, and while his host laid aside his hat and 
 whip, said 
 
 "I feel sorry for having disappointed you and 
 kept you waiting, but some legal business that
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 83 
 
 I was compelled to attend to kept me beyond 
 the promised hour. But I hurried as soon as I 
 could get off, and hope my disappointing you 
 has not caused you to disappoint others." 
 
 "Oh, not at all," said Mr. Welch, "only made 
 me a little uneasy; but let me uncork this bottle 
 and have some refreshments, before we proceed 
 to business." 
 
 "Thank you, Mr. Welch, I do not want to 
 partake of any stimulants to-day, but would 
 like to have a glass of water." 
 
 "Oh, I see," said Mr. Welch, laughing, "you 
 formed a bad opinion of wine, from that you 
 drank at O'Brien's, but I assure you this is a 
 different article. It's pure, nearly five years old, 
 and acts like an ointment on the stomach. So 
 just give it a trial and convince yourself of what 
 I have said; and you can partake of your good 
 ice water afterward, of which I have a plentiful 
 supply in the cooler." So saying, he filled the 
 glasses from the bottle he had uncorked, and 
 turning, drew the water from the cooler near 
 by, and placed the same before his friend. 
 
 But the words spoken in regard to his wine 
 had no effect on his visitor, who drank the
 
 84 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 offered water, but staunchly refused to partake 
 of the stimulant. 
 
 "No, my friend," he said, earnestly, after the 
 former had exhausted his persuasive powers in 
 vain, "I cannot, I dare not partake of your offered 
 hospitality, even if I should offend you by re- 
 fusing. It does not agree with me, and even if 
 this were not the case, I dare not, I cannot, for 
 my mother's sake." 
 
 The young man's lips trembled when he 
 uttered the last words, but before the other had 
 time to reply, he recovered himself and calmly 
 went on : " My mother has taught me from child- 
 hood to beware of strong drink, and when nomi- 
 nated for Prosecuting Attorney she exacted from 
 me the promise to abstain from intoxicating 
 liquors. I gave it readily, and never doubted 
 for one moment but what I would keep it. The 
 persuasive powers of my friends, who assured 
 me that a political campaign could not be carried 
 on successfully without the aid of saloons and 
 barkeepers, and the partaking of a social glass, 
 got the better of my judgment, and I for once 
 disregarded the promise given to my mother 
 and fell in the snare. I did not drink because I 
 liked it, but, as I said before, to please my friends,
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 85 
 
 and make myself popular. The watchful eyes 
 of a mother soon detected this, and I have no 
 doubt caused her many a painful hour, many a 
 restless night, and it would, in her already feeble 
 health, soon bring her to an untimely grave. I 
 pray to my God to save my mother, and have 
 resolved, and hope successfully, to shun saloons 
 and never drink again." 
 
 The countenance of Mr. Welch, who listened 
 attentively to every word his visitor said, grew 
 very pale, and when the latter had finished he 
 heaved a sigh and said 
 
 "Mr. Gurney, if you carry out this resolution, 
 we can consider this campaign at an end, and 
 look upon ourselves as defeated men ; for I re- 
 peat with positive certainty, that without the aid 
 of saloons and their occupants we never can 
 succeed. You should have considered this, or 
 rather your father, as he was the principal actor, 
 before your name was brought before the Con- 
 vention. But, as we have made considerable 
 progress, and you, who have been looked upon 
 by many of these men as a temperance man, an 
 aristocrat, and a negro worshiper, and whose 
 chances at first were very doubtful, have turned 
 many of your former enemies into warm friends,
 
 86 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 and by a few hundred dollars more expenditure, 
 a few hot speeches, in the delivery of which you 
 have no superior, in districts where Walker is 
 likely to have some advantage, a few more 
 visits to saloons in the city, with an occasional 
 glass of beer or wine with friends, will assure 
 our success. And now will you disappoint your 
 father, who has done everything to get his son 
 nominated, and who has set his heart on his 
 son's success? Will you disappoint the candi- 
 dates with you on the ticket, and will you disap- 
 point and receive the curses of the party you 
 will be looked upon as having betrayed. Re- 
 flect, deliberate, and answer for yourself." 
 
 "And so, to be successful in political life," 
 replied Mr. Gurney, with a bitter smile, when 
 Mr. Welch had ceased speaking, "You must 
 cast off virtue and everything that is sacred to 
 man { throw yourself on the bosom of ignorance 
 and vice; associate with the most debauched and 
 degraded of mankind; curse capitalists and ne- 
 groes; promise every scoundrel a lucrative posi- 
 tion ; look upon every one who abstains from the 
 use of stimulants as an enemy to the laborer 
 and a drawback to industry; delude these poor 
 debauched wretches with a promise of high
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 87 
 
 wages, cheap whisky, and an earthly paradise, 
 and act traitor to your God, to your country, 
 and to yourself, in concocting plans to stuff 
 what should be sacred to every American, the 
 ballot box, with illegal votes. I admit I am 
 young and a novice in politics, but when I con- 
 sented to have my name brought before the 
 Convention as a candidate I did so with the be- 
 lief that the questions at issue were of a higher 
 order, a nobler purpose than those which have 
 been laid before me since my nomination; and 
 could my father, who, by the way, is not more 
 versed in politics than I am, have known what 
 I have learned since I entered the political arena, 
 I am sure he would have been the last man to 
 lay in a claim for his son." 
 
 A lengthy pause ensued; both men seemed to 
 be greatly agitated; when at last Mr. Welch 
 broke the silence, and said 
 
 "Mr. Gurney, you are unjust, and judge the 
 party from a wrong standpoint. I discover in 
 your words that the evening we spent at 
 O'Brien's, and the appearance and conversation 
 of those poor wretches present, have made a 
 wrong impression on your mind. The party 
 cannot help what they say, nor what they want
 
 88 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 and demand. I, for my part, let it go in at one 
 ear and out at the other ; all that we want is 
 their votes, and these we cannot get except by 
 flattering them, treating them, and promising 
 them things we never think of fulfilling. We 
 cast them off like useless rubbish after the elec- 
 tion, and repeat the same again when we enter 
 into another political campaign. This has been 
 done ever since the party was in existence, and 
 will be done for a good many years to come. 
 It's the only thing that assures us success, and is 
 not looked upon as disgraceful or dishonorable." 
 "The evening you allude to," replied Mr. 
 Gurney, "has indeed made an impression on my 
 mind, and I think not a wrongful one either. 
 It has set me to thinking, and convinced me of 
 what man would do if given the power. I am 
 satisfied, from the looks, appearance and con- 
 versation of that Carolinian present, that had 
 he the power, the work of a Joshua Giddings, 
 Lloyd Garrison, William Seward, Lovejoy, the 
 martyr, Charles Sumner, and numerous others, 
 would speedily be demolished, and slavery again 
 be inaugurated as a divine institution; and I think 
 he only uttered the sentiments of his country- 
 men. So the others, without any exception,
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 89 
 
 lit with law and order, and look upon 
 can form of government as an institu- 
 hich they can do as they please. I un- 
 well the hint they gave me as to our 
 :rvant; yet when I compare him with 
 cannot help exclaiming, Thank the 
 it he has created a black man, and 
 s from being compelled to engage the 
 of such men of our own race. He is 
 Dur service for over ten years; scrupu- 
 san in person and dress, trustworthy in 
 ig, agreeable and polite, industrious, 
 'e intelligent than all those assembled 
 O'Brien's saloon. When he came to 
 mid neither write nor read, yet by his 
 rtions, and without the aid of a teacher, 
 nplished the art of reading and writing, 
 i fair scholar in arithmetic ; something 
 -etches never would have been able to 
 ish under the most favorable circum- 
 and yet they cry down the negro. Mr. 
 you know my mother is a devoted Chris- 
 I she has tried, perhaps unsuccessfully, 
 ; up her children in the same way; and 
 ho have been taught to love my neigh- 
 myself, to lend a helping hand to the
 
 90 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 needy, and to lighten the burden of the oppressed, 
 yes, can I conscientiously take the stump, and 
 in my speeches denounce the negro as an evil 
 among us, and promise to assist in enacting 
 laws depriving a class of our citizens from 
 enjoying equal rights with others ? I think the 
 struggle for independence, so dearly bought by 
 the hardships and blood of our forefathers, was 
 not for the benefit of European emigration alone, 
 but for the benefit of all oppressed, regardless 
 of clime, nationality, race or color, and I fully 
 appreciate the motto of Lloyd Garrison, 'The 
 world is my home, and mankind my country- 
 men/ Why, then, this persecution and hate 
 against negroes? Is there not room_ enough 
 for all ? Look at the millions of acres yet un- 
 cultivated; look at the vast territories of land 
 of which we as yet have scarcely any knowledge, 
 and then answer these questions for yourself.' " 
 " Oh, I agree with you very well," said Mr. 
 Welch, after a pause, in many things you have 
 said; "but you must not judge the whole party 
 from that standpoint, and not all the foreigners 
 by those assembled in O'Brien's saloon. Neither 
 can you look upon your colored servant as a 
 pattern for the colored race."
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 91 
 
 "May God forbid that I shall be found guilty 
 of accusing anybody wrongfully," replied Mr. 
 Gurney, "or be classed as an enemy to foreign- 
 ers. The memory of a Carroll, of Carrolton, of 
 a Steuben, Kosciusko, DeKalb, Lafayette, and 
 others, are as sacred to me as they should be to 
 every true American. And well can I appre- 
 ciate the service the foreigners have rendered, 
 in war or in peace, on the battle fields or in the 
 workshops. But, are these the ones that croak 
 and find fault with every existing law, with 
 capitalists and negroes ? I think not. It was 
 only a few weeks before our Convention was 
 held that I took a drive with my mother, in the 
 country. It was by the advice of her physician, 
 who thought pure country air would have a 
 beneficial influence on her constitution. We 
 happened to get into a German settlement. The 
 fine houses, large barns, large orchards, nicely 
 arranged gardens, and fine looking horses, sheep 
 and cattle, everywhere we passed, told of pros- 
 perous and happy homes. We stopped at one 
 of these farm houses, as mother wished to get a 
 drink of good, fresh milk; and I found the in- 
 terior corresponding very well with the exterior. 
 Comfort and luxury combined. Oh, how de-
 
 92 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 licious tasted the milk and butter offered by our 
 hostess, and how neat and clean was everything 
 arranged. 'How long have you lived here, 
 madam,' I asked, after enjoying our repast and 
 asking for our bill, which she, smiling, said was 
 nothing. 
 
 "'It is twenty-eight years' she said, in somewhat 
 broken English, ' since my husband and I came 
 from Germany and settled here. It was quite 
 a wilderness then ; but we were used to hard work 
 and hard living too,' she added, with a blush, 
 'and I'm not ashamed to say we were very poor; 
 hardly had enough to pay our passage. So we 
 went to work, assisted each other, cleared patch 
 after patch of timber, until we had a nice little 
 home, and added to it each year a little more, 
 and have now enough to spend the rest of our 
 days in ease.' 
 
 "Such foreigners, and we have thousands of 
 them, are worthy citizens of a free government, 
 indeed. And while the scum of foreign element, 
 combined with our own, centres in cities, there are 
 also exceptions; for some of our most enterpris- 
 ing business men, as well as some of our most 
 skilled mechanics, were born in foreign lands. 
 But these men do not curse capitalists, and
 
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 93 
 
 persistently traduce the colored man. They 
 attend to their business, use their earnings eco- 
 nomically, lay something by every year, and can 
 be found, in advanced age, enjoying the fruits 
 of their labor equally as peacefully and pleas- 
 antly as their countrymen on their farms. 
 Neither do I take our servants for a pattern for 
 the colored race. I know they have their faults, 
 and perhaps a good many; but the criminal 
 record of the country does not show a greater 
 amount of crimes committed by colored persons, 
 in proportion to their number, than by whites, 
 and even if it did, could they not be to some 
 extent excused? Have they had the advantages 
 of schools that we have? No ! kept in bondage 
 for centuries, they had almost every vestige of 
 the image of God crushed and smothered by 
 their oppressors, who only cultivated their animal 
 nature, and by their own example led them into 
 vice. And, says one of Germany's favorite 
 poets 
 
 " From the vice the virtue flies, 
 And universal crime is law." 
 
 And I think, instead of cursing them for what 
 we are responsible for, it would be better to lend 
 them a helping hand in bettering their condition
 
 94 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 socially and morally. But as to their being the 
 cause of low wages, and that our cities are over- 
 stocked with unemployed laborers, it is sheer 
 nonsense. No man who carries on a business 
 will think it advisable to discharge sober, indus- 
 trious, skillful mechanics for the sake of hiring 
 negroes ; and if he has some after the pattern of 
 those we saw at O'Brien's, who could blame him 
 for so doing. Labor always will be low as long 
 as the multitude of our workingmen flock to 
 already overcrowded cities, and have to go beg- 
 ging for an existence. Reverse this, and you 
 will change the condition of the workingman. 
 The farmer pays double and treble at harvest 
 time than at any other time during the year, 
 and why ? Because he seeks the laborer, the 
 laborer not him. Will you pay fifty dollars for 
 a suit at a merchant tailor's establishment, when 
 his next door neighbor offers the same to you 
 for thirty-five ? Most assuredly not. But, says 
 the former, I pay so much more for my machines 
 than the other, that I must charge higher prices 
 to save myself. Yet this does not induce you 
 to buy his goods, and you close the bargain 
 where you can save fifteen or twenty dollars; 
 and when day after day and week after week
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 5 
 
 pass by, and the fifty dollar suit is still not dis- 
 posed of yet during the same time hundreds 
 were sold by his neighbor he finds, to his cost, 
 that he is compelled to lower the wages of his 
 employees, to combat with his neighbor, or shut 
 up shop. This holds good for every branch of 
 business, and can only be remedied by a demand 
 for labor, instead of the laborer begging for 
 work. Double our machine shops, factories, 
 and other places of business, still the condi- 
 tion of affairs will be the same. The only 
 remedy that I can see is, to get this surplus 
 away from cities, and get them to enter into the 
 cultivation of the soil, where they could make, 
 with a little exertion, an independent living for 
 themselves and their families. But this is just 
 the thing they will not do. They would rather 
 huddle together in crowded tenement houses, 
 equally as filthy, if not more so, than those of 
 the filthiest of the Chinese, spend their pitiful 
 earnings which they make through the summer 
 for whisky, and foster a miserable existence 
 through the winter by drawing support from 
 soup houses and other similar institutions. 
 Then, they complain that it is impossible for the 
 working man to get along."
 
 98 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 Again a pause ensued, which at length was 
 broken by Mr. Gurney asking his host for 
 another glass of water, which was handed him, 
 and after taking some himself Mr. Welch said . 
 
 "Mr. Gurney, there may be a good deal of 
 truth in what you have said, but I think your 
 imagination has overdrawn the picture. Yet, 
 were it not overdrawn, and every word a reality, 
 it should only act as a spur in urging you to a 
 grander effort for your success. For only by 
 the election of such men, and with your talent, 
 can the evils of which you speak be remedied. 
 But this must be done gradually, and takes time 
 and patience. One thing at a time, for more 
 would be incomprehensible to many; you can 
 work reform after you are elected. But, as you 
 have a powerful antagonist in this campaign in 
 Mr. Walker, who has many warm friends, I would 
 advise you not to utter one word which would 
 be likely to make you an enemy. We need 
 every vote to assure us success. Yet we will 
 lose thousands if you carry out your resolu- 
 tion in not entering saloons. Has your father 
 lost any of his reputation as an honest, upright, 
 business man; as a good moral citizen; as a 
 useful member of society, by going to saloons
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 97 
 
 and eating a lunch and drinking a glass? Most 
 assuredly not. Has he turned out a drunkard, 
 by the use of stimulants ? Nobody dare say so. 
 Has he acquired bad habits, formed bad associa- 
 tions, or turned gambler? Ha! the name of 
 David Gurney stands too high for such accusa- 
 tions. And why will the son tremble at the 
 mention of a saloon, with such a pattern before 
 him. If stimulants don't agree with you, take 
 a glass of lemonade or soda-water. All that we 
 want is to show friendship, sociability, liberality, 
 in fact, a disposition to please. If in your speech 
 you don't want to bring in the negro, you don't 
 need to do so. You are a master in the delivery 
 of a speech, and that is all that is necessary, 
 for one-half will not understand what is said 
 any how, and Mr. O'Brien and I can give the 
 preliminaries and the explanations after you are 
 through; it is for this that I desired this in- 
 terview. You know Mr. Dunlap, the Life In- 
 surance agent, a man of large experience, a de- 
 voted Christian, and also a strong temperance 
 man, and a man strongly attached to our party. 
 His business takes him to every part of the 
 county, and his chances of observation and ac- 
 quiring knowledge as to public sentiments are,
 
 98 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 by far, greater than any one in our party, to my 
 knowledge. I had an interview with him yester- 
 day, and he told me, unhesitatingly, that it will 
 take the greatest effort on our part to meet with 
 success. Walker, he said, has hosts of friends, 
 and even men of our own party will vote for him, 
 if a great effort is not made to change their minds. 
 Walker, they say, is an experienced lawyer, and 
 his character stands unimpeachable. While 
 they look upon you as a very fine young man, 
 from an excellent family, they question your 
 ability, not for the want of scholarship, but for 
 the want of practice. Now, in your first race 
 in political life, should you vanquish, triumph 
 over, such an antagonist as Mr. Walker, which 
 is only optional with you, what is to hinder you 
 from climbing step by step up the ladder of re- 
 nown, and filling the highest stations in political 
 life ? I say there is nothing. And when this 
 political campaign is over, and excitement has 
 died out, nobody not even saloon keepers will 
 care if you visit their places or not. In fact, they 
 don't expect you to. It is a custom the party 
 holds to during a political campaign ; or, if you 
 want^ it otherwise, a genteel way of stealing a 
 couple of hundred dollars out of a candidate's
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 99 
 
 pocket. But the victory is well worth the price. 
 So, cheer up, lay aside your gloomy appearance, 
 be cheerful, and all will be right. Let us make 
 arrangements for public speaking in the differ- 
 ent localities, fix date and day to suit your own 
 convenience, and I guarantee Mike and I will 
 do the rest. Now, what do you say to this ? 
 We must act. Act with despatch, and with a 
 united, harmonious feeling. Every hour's delay 
 will cost us dearly, and may assist in our defeat. 
 And now, as I have laid the whole before 
 you, I am ready to hear your answer, plans, or 
 anything you may wish to say." 
 
 The speaker ceased, and fixed his eyes in- 
 quiringly on his friend, while the latter sat mute, 
 his eyes on the floor. 
 
 Waiting for some time without getting an an- 
 swer, Mr. Welch resumed 
 
 " Have I been understood ?" 
 
 At this Mr. Gurney drew a long breath, 
 turned toward the speaker, and slowly said 
 
 " Mr. Welch, I have listened to every word 
 you have said, and my silence when you ceased 
 speaking was not out of disrespect to you. 
 When you mentioned the name of Mr. Walker, 
 my mind fastened itself on an address of his, 
 
 7
 
 100 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 which he delivered a short time ago, at Hawks- 
 ville, and which was given in full in one of our 
 daily papers. I reacl and re-read it, and must 
 confess that in the language chosen, in points of 
 facts and force of argument, I have not as yet 
 found its superior; and if I were called upon 
 to express my sentiments, I only need to repeat 
 his words. He wants an honest administration, 
 economy and reform where necessary, equal 
 rights to all, and the enforcing of existing laws. 
 This should be the aim of every true American 
 citizen, and all should work to that end." 
 
 "Mr. Gurney," interrupted Mr. Welch, "If all 
 existing laws were strictly enforced, it would 
 damage a good many of our citizens without 
 doing any good, and would make, for the one in- 
 strumental in enforcing them, a good many ene- 
 mies." 
 
 " Then, if useless, why not strike them from 
 our statute books ?" 
 
 " Mr. Walker," resumed Mr. Welch, " is a 
 very good speaker, and no doubt means what 
 he says ; but you can make the same argument, 
 if you choose to, without infringing on his rights; 
 but my experience has taught me that the 
 masses don't appreciate such addresses, and a
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 101 
 
 speaker who tells them about the heroic deeds 
 of Washington, and of Thomas Jefferson, the 
 great statesman and writer of the Declaration 
 of Independence, and of Old Hickory Jackson, 
 will raise higher in their estimation than the one 
 whose arguments are based on facts and deep 
 thoughts. But I have not, as yet, heard your 
 answer to my proposition." 
 
 " Mr. Welch, my brain is somewhat disturbed, 
 and I cannot come to a conclusion, and conse- 
 quently cannot give you a final answer. But I 
 shall give your words careful consideration, and 
 will be prepared to give you my decision to- 
 morrow evening." 
 
 He called for his hat and whip, bade his friend 
 good day, who, however, accompanied him to 
 his phseton, and only returned after his visitor 
 was clear out of sight, with a sarcastic smile. 
 Emptying a glass of the untouched wine, he 
 said, laughing to himself 
 
 " Well, the saying is, the stubborner the colt 
 the better it works when once broken into the 
 harness. A little patience, prudence and cun- 
 ning will bring this moral, virtuous, high-toned, 
 Christian, temperance chap all right. And I 
 would not be afraid to bet that by the time we
 
 102 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 enter into another political campaign he will 
 call for the bottle instead of refusing it" 
 
 Emptying another glass, and reaching for his 
 hat and cane, he went on 
 
 "And now to see Parson and Mike O'Brien." 
 And so saying he turned and left the room.
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 103 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 The sun was not yet warm enough to sip up 
 the heavy dew, which sparkled on the grass 
 and foliage, and yet the roads, that were in very 
 good condition, dry but not dusty thanks to a 
 good shower that fell a few days previous 
 were already alive with vehicles, that were seen 
 moving in all directions toward -the village of 
 Hawksville, where the great barbecue was to 
 be held to-day. 
 
 Hawksville was one of the oldest towns in 
 the county, and situated only a few miles from 
 the county line. The country surrounding was 
 mostly settled by Carolinians, Kentuckians, and 
 Tennesseeans, and the founder of Hawksville 
 was of Carolinian parentage. Richard Mikly 
 now one of the wealthiest and most prominent 
 men in the county went through a great deal 
 of hardship in his younger days. To tell his 
 own story, he never had the handling of a shoe 
 or boot until he was about fifteen years old, nor 
 a hat, or cap, or whatever you may call it, except 
 such as his mother plaited him out of straw.
 
 104 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 He never had the advantages of an education, 
 for in his youth there were no school-houses in 
 his neighborhood. He was very industrious 
 while yet a little boy, and laid, in early days, 
 what is considered by many the foundation for 
 riches, by holding fast to everything, even of 
 the smallest value, that came into his grasp. In 
 the fall he would, gather walnuts, hickory nuts, 
 and hazel-nuts, carry them for miles on an old 
 pony that his father lent him, and dispose of 
 them at paying prices. He did not spend his 
 money foolishly, like most fellows of his age 
 would have done, but held on to it, and when 
 yet in his teens had quite a little sum. His fre- 
 quent visits to the city, and his inquisitive na- 
 ture, made him acquainted with many articles in 
 trade, and he was satisfied that there was more 
 money in whisky than anything else. Every- 
 body in the settlement, to the best of his know- 
 ledge, drank it ; and no log-rolling, house-rais- 
 ing, shooting-match, or horse-racing, could be 
 successfully accomplished without it. Whisky 
 was cheap then, so why not invest a few dollars 
 and give it a trial. If people had not the ready 
 cash, scarcely a settler but what had more or 
 less raccoon, opossum, mink, and other fur, and
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 105 
 
 to barter it off that way w mid only make him 
 double profit and quicker sales ; so try he did. 
 He built him a little log house at the cross- 
 roads, and stocked it with a barrel of whisky, 
 and so laid the foundation of his wealth and the 
 town of Hawksville. His stock was soon ex- 
 hausted, and he was compelled to lay in a larger 
 supply, to keep up with the daily increasing de- 
 mand. Dick, as he was familiarly called, was 
 now looked upon as a real benefactor to the 
 country. People did not need to travel thirty 
 or forty miles any more, to get rid of their fur, 
 and on returning nearly kill their ponies for 
 wagons were not in vogue then by overloading 
 them with jugs of whisky, and bags of lead and 
 powder. They could get it close at home, just 
 as cheap, and whenever they wanted it. 
 
 But he was not contented with the sale of 
 liquor alone. His penetrating mind soon disco- 
 vered money in another channel. The country 
 was full of hogs ; of course they were not 
 Chester Whites, Berkshire, Suffolk, Poland, 
 China, or any other improved stock, kept in 
 clover pastures in the summer and corn-fatted 
 in the fall. They lived on wild grass, acorns 
 and nuts, and weighed about a hundred or a
 
 106 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 hundred and twenty-five pounds when fat, and 
 were nicknamed by passing Yankees as " hazel- 
 splitters" and "elm-peelers." They were not 
 owned or raised by any one in particular, but 
 were looked upon as common property, and any 
 one who felt like partaking of a mess of pork 
 helped himself. Dick heard of pork-packing, 
 and what enormous fortunes some had made in 
 that line. Why not give it a trial ? Even if the 
 hogs were not as good as those he heard spoken 
 of, the meat would sell at some price, while the 
 hogs would scarcely cost him anything worth 
 mentioning. 
 
 This enterprise was as successful as his first, 
 and Dick Mikly became a man of note. 
 
 The land was productive and cheap, which 
 attracted the attention of Eastern people, and 
 an influx of Eastern immigration was percep- 
 tible. 
 
 The keen, gray eyes of Dick quickly discov- 
 ered that their wants, habits, and mode of living 
 were greatly different from what he was used to. 
 They detested log huts; wanted lumber to 
 build frame houses ; wanted something better 
 than homespun clothing, sugar, coffee, tea, and 
 many other articles for which his country people
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 107 
 
 had no use ; and so he resolved to enlarge his 
 building, lay in a full stock of goods likely 
 to be called for, and start what is so neces- 
 sary for the prosperity of a country a saw-mill. 
 He had by this time acquired large tracts of 
 land, and owned considerable where his store 
 was situated. The idea now struck him to lay 
 out a village, to divide off his land into lots. In 
 this, as in every other enterprise, he met 
 with unusual success, and very soon he had 
 disposed of nearly every lot of land laid off. 
 And while it brought competition in his trade, 
 the saw-mill more than compensated him for 
 his loss. Several business houses sprung up, in 
 short succession, and a blacksmith shop, boot 
 and shoe shop, and several saloons quickly fol- 
 lowed, and Buzzard's Glory the name some in- 
 genious Yankee had given the village became 
 the centre of attraction. Scarcely a day passed 
 without a horse-race or shooting-match, and if 
 this was not accompanied by one or two fights, 
 it was looked upon as a dull day. 
 
 I wonder if it would not pay, he said to him- 
 self one evening, after witnessing three or four 
 horse races to clear out the underbrush and 
 surplus trees from five or six acres of land, en-
 
 108 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 close it with a high board fence, rent it out for 
 horse-racing, shooting-matches, and circuses? 
 I've got the lumber, and can use such as I can- 
 not dispose of otherwise. It was a capital idea, 
 and soon carried into execution, and opened 
 another avenue to Dick's income. 
 
 Buzzard's Glory grew rapidly, and although 
 some pious settlers, not accustomed to such a life, 
 and deprived of their churches, pulled up stakes 
 and left, others took their places, and German 
 and Irish saloons, to a goodly number, were soon 
 in full blast. 
 
 Dick had quit the business of selling whisky, 
 and in connection with his store and saw-mill 
 established a loan office. He did this, he said, 
 more to accommodate people than to make any- 
 thing by it, and was ever ready to lend a help- 
 ing hand, in the shape of a loan, to any one who 
 could make him safe. He did not exact exorbi- 
 tant prices, but only bank rates, as he called it, 
 which was two per cent, per month, with a 
 year's interest in advance, taken out of the loan. 
 He was equally modest in shaving paper, which 
 he did for twenty-five to thirty-five per cent, and 
 he declared, upon his honor, that he never made 
 a cent by that operation, as it was always worth
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 109 
 
 that amount to collect it. He had a horrible 
 dislike to national banks, "For," said he, "by 
 the old banking system a person could occa- 
 sionally make a penny by charging discount on 
 exchange, but this is all done away with now, as 
 their notes go at par everywhere. That is a 
 miserable swindle, and prevents a good many 
 making an honest living." 
 
 Buzzard's Glory was as yet without a church; 
 but when Dick got converted, at a religious re- 
 vival which was carried on in his enclosure, he 
 went earnestly to work, headed a subscription 
 list with five dollars, and soon a modest struc- 
 ture invited the sinner to come and listen to the 
 word of God. Dick often said he never did a 
 better work in his life. " It's true," he would 
 add, " it costs a good deal to keep up a church 
 and parson, but it helped me in my business 
 powerfully." 
 
 Gradually the village increased in size, and 
 now, with about a thousand inhabitants, it can 
 boast of a flouring-mill, several dry goods stores, 
 groceries, harness shops, tin-shops, photograph 
 gallery, drug stores, numerous saloons, and all 
 kinds of mechanics generally found in a country 
 village. A few years ago the citizens voted to
 
 110 KICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 have it incorporated, and designated by a 
 more suitable and better sounding name, instead 
 of the hateful one it was known by. So the 
 wise committee appointed for that purpose, in 
 which Dick Mikly figured as chairman, adopted, 
 after rejecting several others, the high-sounding 
 name of Hawksville. 
 
 To-day was a gala day in the village. The 
 national flags were displayed at most of the 
 dwellings as well as business houses. The un- 
 usual activity of its citizens in arranging every- 
 thing tastefully, and the arrival of vehicles of all 
 kinds in great numbers, heavily loaded with 
 human cargoes, would have convinced any ob- 
 server that something extraordinary was in pro- 
 gress or expected. And so it was. It was, as 
 we mentioned in the beginning of our chapter, 
 the day for the great barbecue to be held at 
 Mikly's Grove. The surrounding neighborhood 
 for miles was informed of this fact by the dis- 
 play of large posters at every available place of 
 note, which invited them to come and partake 
 of the citizens' hospitality, and to hear the young 
 lion orator, Arthur Gurney, the candidate for 
 Prosecuting Attorney, who had accepted an in- 
 vitation to be there and address the people on
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. Ill 
 
 the issues of the day. Henry Welch, the candi- 
 date for Treasurer, and Mike O'Brien, the candi- 
 date for Sheriff, also promised to be present. A 
 good time was generally anticipated, and the 
 kind-hearted people of the village had made all 
 necessary arrangements to entertain their 
 guests. 
 
 They roasted a whole beef, as well as several 
 calves, hogs, and sheep, and the women vied 
 with each other in the display of cakes, jellies, 
 and knick-knacks too numerous to mention. 
 Several wagon loads of beer had just arrived, 
 for the benefit of those suffering with torpid 
 livers ; and lemonade venders were busily en- 
 gaged preparing for their customers. While in 
 the village everything was activity, it was even 
 more so at Mikly's Grove. The man with a 
 swing had arrived and was busily engaged. 
 Next to him was the man with the big hammer. 
 Not far distant was the man with the peep-show, 
 in which he said the whole world could be seen 
 and seven additional villages. The wheel of 
 fortune had already begun operations, and at the 
 lifting machine the work had commenced in 
 earnest. In one corner preparations were being 
 made for a bran dance, and numerous venders
 
 112 NICK: PUTZEL; OR 
 
 of fermented and distilled liquors were already 
 very busy waiting on customers. 
 
 The owner would never charge political par- 
 ties for the use of the Grove, but a reasonable 
 amount, ranging from five to twenty-five dollars, 
 to such parties exhibiting and selling, as we have 
 already described. This was, as he said, to de- 
 fray expenses and keep the grove in good 
 order. 
 
 But time passed on and the sun was not far 
 from showing the mid-hour of the day. The 
 people of the village as well as those from the 
 country grew restless, and already began talk- 
 ing of disappointment, but it was only for a mo- 
 ment. The sight of a band wagon and several 
 carriages approaching in the distance satis- 
 fied every one that those expected were coming. 
 Nearer and nearer they approached ; the mu- 
 sicians were seen preparing their instruments, 
 and with a beautiful performance of the Star 
 Spangled Banner, they entered the village and 
 slowly made their way, amidst the shouts of the 
 multitude, to the headquarters of the party, 
 
 Three men riding with bared heads in an 
 open carriage behind the band wagon now 
 alighted and were warmly welcomed by a com-
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 113 
 
 mittee appointed for that purpose. It was use- 
 less to try to get to the entrance ; every passage 
 was blockaded, and shouts of Arthur Gurney, 
 Mike O'Brien, and Henry Welch, rent the air. 
 
 Seeing that no progress toward the entrance 
 could be made, Judge Burton, the police magis- 
 trate of Hawksville, and spokesman of the com- 
 mittee, mounted the carriage and in a thunder- 
 ing voice commanded silence. 
 
 When quiet was somewhat restored he said 
 
 " Clear the passage, so that our visitors can 
 enter the house, and I assure you you will not 
 have long to wait before making their acquaint- 
 ance." 
 
 His words had the desired effect, and a few 
 minutes later a tall, handsome young man made 
 his appearance on the balcony by the side of the 
 Judge. 
 
 The commanding figure, and frank, open 
 countenance of the stranger must have drawn 
 the attention of the spectators, for all were silent 
 when the Judge, stepping forward and waving 
 his hand toward his companion, said 
 
 "Fellow citizens, ladies and gentlemen: it 
 gives me great pleasure to introduce to you 
 our distinguished visitor, Arthur- Gurney our
 
 114 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 candidate for Prosecuting Attorney, who has 
 consented to address you at one o'clock, at Mik- 
 ley's Grove, on the political issues of the day." 
 
 Three rousing cheers were proposed and 
 given for Arthur Gurney and the ticket. 
 
 And when the same performance with Henry 
 Welch, the candidate for Treasurer, and Mike 
 O'Brien, the candidate for Sheriff, had closed, the 
 marshals appointed for the day formed the crowd 
 in procession, and, with the band in the lead and 
 the candidates following, marched to the Grove, 
 where dinner was announced and everybody in- 
 vited to partake. 
 
 The village now looked as if deserted. Only 
 the bar-rooms showed signs of life. Here, with 
 the flow of grog and lager, politics and the dis- 
 tinguished arrivals were the topic of conversa- 
 tion. 
 
 " Dis," said Hans Mauser, the proprietor of 
 the Walhalla Saloon, "looks like Shermany; all 
 der difference der ish dey haf der picknics on 
 Sundays. Dey haf not got de dime in de week 
 tay. But on de Sunday dey go in de morning 
 into de church, unt after dey eat der tinner dey 
 go to de peer garten unt peer cellars, where 
 dey have music and dancing, unt dey have lots
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 115 
 
 of fun. Unt den de shtudents, dey climbs up on 
 high hills, where der is olt broken down castles ; 
 dey haf de peer brought up dere, unt dey always 
 haf horns unt odder, dings mit dem, what dey 
 trink out of, and sometimes get so trunk dey 
 haf to pring dem home mit de wagon, unt de 
 fellers dat cannot trink enuf has to bay for de 
 peer. Oh, man, I seen dat lots of dimes, unt 
 nopoty says a word apout it. Dey calls dis 
 here a free country, unt ven a person trinks a 
 glass of peer or whisky dey tinks dat's awful ; 
 unt ven a man sells one on Sunday dey wants to 
 shut him in de jail. Mein Gott, I'd rather live 
 unter a king or queen dan in such a country as 
 dat. Put dis all cum vrom dem demperance 
 unt dem Medodist. Dey wants everypody to 
 do nudings put praying, unt have no fun at all. 
 Dey wants to git to elect der dicket dis year, 
 unt when dey gets into power dey'll preak us 
 all up. You could see dat plain sticking out 
 ven dat feller Walker spoke here. You seen 
 dem olt, pig, fat Quakers, mit dem proad- 
 brimmed hats, unt dem fat wimmen, mit dem 
 ugly ponnets, triving in der vine carriages, 
 coming and going, mitout spendin a cent ! Yes, 
 dey shtop in de shtores unt puy dings dere, but 
 
 8
 
 116 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 you wait until a shaloon-keeper gets a cent out 
 of dem, will you ? Unt dese stiff Presbaterians, 
 unt howling Medodists is shust as pat ; unt shust 
 such stuff is what der bardy is mate out of. I 
 tell you we must all help togedder to beat dem." 
 " Oh, the country is nothing like it was 
 twenty-five years ago," said a tall Tennesseean. 
 " When I settled here you didn't need to work 
 hardly any to make a living. We planted a 
 little corn and raised a little baccer for ourselves, 
 which our wimmen generally tended. Then we 
 took our rifles and dogs and went out hunting. 
 The country was full of wild turkeys and deers, 
 and our whisky money we made out of furs ; 
 coons, possums, and mink were plenty; and when 
 we wanted a mess, of pork, we went out with 
 our gun and killed a hog they belonged to 
 one as well as another. And how much fun we 
 used to have at shooting-matches and horse- 
 races ; 'tis true there was occasionally a fight, 
 when the whisky got the upper hand of them, 
 but there wasn't half as much harm done as they 
 do now with the pistols that these Yankees in- 
 vented. Ever since these Yankee and Quaker 
 Abolitionists and them Pennsylvanians settled 
 here everything is changed. They never can
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 117 
 
 get enough always clearing, and fencing, and 
 improving, hogs, horses, and cattle, and even 
 commencing on the chickens. They have driven 
 all the game off; deers and wild turkeys can't be 
 seen any more, and it keeps a fellow hunting 
 all day just to get a squirrel. The fur business 
 is all played out, too, and instead of going out 
 in the woods and shooting a hog, where they 
 used to run wild, you now have to keep them 
 up, and work yourself to death raising corn to 
 fatten them. We didn't think nothing of walk- 
 ing a mile or two with our wimmen, dressed in 
 homespun and barefooted, to meeting, to lis- 
 ten to a good sermon from our old-fashioned 
 Baptist preacher, who, by-the-by, knew more 
 than all their educated flops. But if you would 
 do it now, they would snicker at you, and call 
 you a heathen. Whisky wasn't looked upon as 
 a monster; it was kept by every family, and even 
 preachers carried it along in their saddle-bags. 
 Taxes were a mere trifle then, as we didn't have 
 every half a mile a school-house ; we didn't 
 work four or five days every year on roads or 
 pay road-tax, because we didn't keep fine car- 
 riages and buggies, that needed fine, smooth 
 roads to dash along. Our ox-teams could pull
 
 118 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 all that we wanted to haul, in any kind of roads, 
 without getting stalled either. 
 
 " This is, as I say, all changed now, and I'm 
 afraid the good old time will never come back 
 again. But I have made up my mind if things 
 don't go better, and they bring on a few more 
 niggers, of which they seem so fond, I'll pull up 
 stakes and move out to Texas." 
 
 " You won't find it better out there, man," in- 
 terrupted an Irishman. "These Yankees and 
 negroes are like fleas, they are everywhere. 
 The best thing is to stay where you are, and go 
 to the polls and vote the right kind of a ticket. 
 And I tell you if we get in such men as Mike 
 O'Brien, we'll soon send them with their ne- 
 groes to the dogs. But I'm afraid their choice 
 for Prosecuting Attorney wasn't a good one. 
 That fellow looks a little too dignified for me." 
 
 "I thought so too," interrupted another 
 speaker, " but Mr. Dunlap, the insurance agent, 
 with whom I spoke the other day, said he was 
 a first-rate fellow, but never was away from 
 home very much, except in school, and is a little 
 shy, but get him started and he never knows 
 when to stop, and spends money as freely as 
 any one you ever saw. He's just got over a
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 119 
 
 spell of sickness, he said, and dare not drink any 
 whisky now, on account of his lungs ; but it's 
 all the same, he makes it up treating others. 
 Mr. Welch, too, they say, is a very clever fellow. 
 He has lots of friends, and you never catch him 
 without a bottle in his pocket. I tell you, I think 
 it's a very good ticket, and if that fellow Gurney 
 can speak as well as he looks, and they say he 
 can do it a durn sight better, Walker and them 
 others will be beat as sure as you are born." 
 
 "Oh," said the proprietor, laughing, "dat 
 young man ish all right. He send me wort by 
 de Judge to dreat all his friends, unt he would 
 foot de pill dis evening. Dat sounds like pisness, 
 eh ! And so, barkeeper, you petter ask de gen- 
 tlemens what dey dake, unt we all trink a glass 
 at his expense, unt trink for de success of Arthur 
 Gurney unt de ticket." 
 
 And to the success of Arthur Gurney and the 
 ticket the glasses were emptied. 
 
 It is not necessary that the reader should fol- 
 low me to every saloon, as the topic of conver- 
 sation was, with very little variation, the same. 
 And so we will leave the saloons and their oc- 
 cupants, and see what is going on in the Grove. 
 
 The dinner-table had long since been cleared
 
 120 NICK PUTZEL ; OR 
 
 away, and Arthur Gurney was addressing those 
 assembled. 
 
 Was it the clear, ringing voice, or the subject 
 upon which he was speaking, that attracted the 
 attention of all ? For the swing, the wheel of 
 fortune, the hammer, and the man with the lift- 
 ing machine had stopped operations. The man 
 with the peep show had ceased telling the people 
 of the wonders of the world, the dancers were 
 silent, and even the venders of refreshments 
 stood motionless, with open mouths, and had 
 their gaze, like all the others, fastened on the 
 speaker. 
 
 It w r as a triumph for Arthur Gurney, and 
 when he ceased speaking, three cheers, such as 
 never were heard before, crowned the speaker's 
 effort. 
 
 Mr. Welch was called and took the stand, but 
 excused himself by saying that he did not wish 
 to be made a laughing stock, which surely would 
 be the case if he should attempt to speak after 
 his friends had listened to such an orator as the 
 one who had just addressed them. But he 
 would say that if elected he would try to 
 serve the people faithfully, to use the money 
 entrusted to his care economically, and do all
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 121 
 
 in his power to better the condition of the 
 working men. 
 
 Three cheers again were proposed and given, 
 when Mike O'Brien, the candidate for Sheriff, 
 was called and took the stand. 
 
 He said he was no speaker; he never was 
 educated to that; but he had as big a heart as 
 any one, and if elected wouldn't bring the county 
 to the expense of paying two or three deputies 
 for helping to arrest a man ; he would give his 
 pledge to do that himself. He had handled a 
 good many fellows in his life, and knew just how 
 to do it. This was about all he had to say, but 
 before closing he added, that he wished to 
 be elected by white folks, and he didn't want an 
 abolitionist or negro to vote for him. 
 
 Again three rousing cheers rent the air, when 
 the president announced several appointments, 
 and dismissed the crowd. 
 
 The band now struck up the Red, White and 
 Blue, and while the candidates went through 
 the usual ceremonies of hand-shaking and con- 
 gratulation, the different exhibitors, as well as 
 the venders of spirits, resumed operations. The 
 dancers took their places, and the greater num- 
 ber of those present took their departure.
 
 122 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 A buggy driven by Mr. Mikly made its way 
 to the speakers' stand, in which Mr. Gurney, 
 who seemed very much fatigued, took his seat, 
 and was driven off to the residence of the 
 former. 
 
 The two other candidates remained, and 
 wending their way to the refreshment stand, in- 
 vited all to come and partake of a social drink. 
 
 " This reminds me of the time General Jack- 
 son, ' Old Hickory,' as he was called, ran for 
 President," said a man somewhat advanced in 
 years. " I was living in Kentucky, then, and I 
 tell you, when we had a picnic, or barbecue, we 
 just rolled in two or three barrels of whisky, 
 took the head out of one end, and everybody 
 just helped himself. We didn't bother with 
 glasses, we just had tin cups and gourcls, and I 
 like that a good deal better, for if one fellow 
 took a little more than another, it couldn't be 
 noticed. But they were not particular there, no 
 how. And stars ! what fights we sometimes 
 had ! When a little excited we'd call each other 
 liars, which never was settled without a fight; 
 but when a fellow hollered enough, it was taken 
 for granted he acknowledged that he was wrong, 
 and they would make it up again, shake hands,
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 123 
 
 drink together, and that was the end of it. I 
 tell you, give me old Kentucky ! If they do call 
 the people a little rough and high-spirited, they 
 never act the sneak and hypocrite." 
 
 " Yes," interrupted another, " and this is just 
 what I like about our candidate for Sheriff, and 
 he shall have my vote, and I'll make him fifty 
 others," and turning to that gentleman, who 
 stood close by, he added 
 
 " My friend, your remarks suited me better 
 than anything I heard to-day, or have heard for 
 some time. You hit the nail on the head when 
 you said you didn't want any abolitionist or 
 negro to vote for you. That means business, 
 and it didn't take two hours to tell the people. 
 They are plain words, that everybody can un- 
 derstand. I despise this high-flowered, sweet- 
 scented stuff that young Gurney fed the people 
 with. I tell you, I didn't understand one-half, 
 and a good many other people said they didn't. 
 And he seems to be too proud to mix with com- 
 mon people, and too stingy to treat his friends 
 to a glass. I must form a better opinion of him 
 before he gets my vote." 
 
 " My friend," interrupted the candidate for 
 Treasurer, " you judge Mr. Gurney wrongfully.
 
 124 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 He has just got over a severe spell of sickness, 
 which affected his lungs, and his physician told 
 him that if he was not very careful it might re- 
 sult in something serious. That's the reason he 
 drove off with Mr. Mikly, to have a few hours' 
 rest. But as to his stinginess, you are entirely 
 mistaken, for there is not a man to be found 
 more liberal than he." 
 
 While speaking, Mr. Welch had opened his 
 pccket-book, from which he took two ten-dollar 
 bills, and laying them on the table, added 
 
 " Before 'he left the stand he slipped these two 
 bills into my hand, and said 
 
 " ' Mr. Welch, I'm unable to be with my 
 friends ; take this and have them take a glass to 
 our success.' " . 
 
 The sight of such a sum of money worked 
 like magic, and hurrahs, mingled with "good," 
 " noble fellow," " he's my man," " he'll have my 
 vote," and " I'll go through thick and thin for 
 him," were heard long after rounds and rounds 
 were disposed of. 
 
 But the candidates had business in the vil- 
 lage. They had mingled with the people in the 
 Grove, had spent quite a sum of money, and 
 had made many a warm friend. They could
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 125 
 
 not leave Hawksville without calling on the 
 friends there, so, ordering another round to the 
 success of the ticket, they bade their friends 
 adieu and left for the village. 
 
 Most of the country people had departed. 
 But while the stores and workshops were de- 
 serted, there were still enough left to fill every 
 saloon to its utmost capacity, and when the can- 
 didates, after first paying their respects to mer- 
 chants and other prominent partisans, entered 
 the Working Men's Hall, John Luz, proprietor, 
 political conversation was at fever heat, and the 
 most excited of all was the proprietor himself. 
 
 John Luz was only a few years in the country. 
 He was by profession a linen weaver, and 
 served, before coming to this country, as a dra- 
 goon in the German army. He had a very sol- 
 dierly bearing, and spent every leisure moment 
 in cultivating his moustache, without which, he 
 said, no man looked well. 
 
 Not finding any employment at his trade, by 
 the help of some friends he raised a few dollars 
 and started the above named saloon. 
 
 When the committee .of arrangements for 
 the great barbecue met, the question arose who 
 would likely be the most suitable person to act
 
 126 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 as marshal of the day, and their choice fell 
 unanimously on John Luz. 
 
 When he was informed of their decision he 
 was thunderstruck. 
 
 " Is it possible no, it cannot be it must be 
 a mistake me, a stranger, crowned with such 
 honor!" and when, recovering" himself, he was as- 
 sured it was no illusion, a positive fact, the 
 tears trickled down his cheeks, as he stammered, 
 in broken English 
 
 " Banks, gendlemans, danks." 
 
 It was now several years since John had 
 mounted a horse, so, making arrangements with 
 Mr. Mikly for the loan of one, he went into 
 training, to make himself master of the situation, 
 and show the people that their choice had not 
 fallen on an unworthy one. 
 
 We have not inquired whether the people 
 took any notice of him during the day, but 
 John was satisfied that he had done his duty 
 that he, too, was one of America's honored sons. 
 
 Just as the candidates entered he brought his 
 fist down heavily on the counter, and said to the 
 barkeeper 
 
 "Jhake, waide on de gendlemans, whatever 
 dey call for; dey shall trink one mit John Luz,
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 127 
 
 if he ish poor. Den I dell you der is no such 
 coundry as America," and spying the candidates, 
 he added 
 
 " Make room, gendlemans, here comes our 
 candidates, de best dicket de bardy ever put up. 
 Unt you, too, must trink a glass mit me." 
 
 Of course, round after round followed, and 
 temperance men, abolitionists and negroes met 
 with their usual portion of abuse. They all 
 would bring the country to the dogs. If they 
 only could they'd have the foreigners stay here 
 twenty-one years before they could vote, and 
 vote the negro as soon as he is born. They are 
 no friends to the foreigners, they are their ene- 
 mies, and every one of them that votes their 
 ticket cuts his own throat. 
 
 " Dat's what I say," interrupted the proprie- 
 tor. "Dey never would have tone what dis 
 here bardy has tone fur me. What was I in 
 Ghermany, eh? Nodings put a poor linen 
 weaver, yet dey mate me a marshal. Mein 
 Gott! if I writes dat to Ghermany, dey wont 
 pelieve it, unt I hartly can pelieve it mein self." 
 Again refreshments were handed, and after sev- 
 eral rounds more were disposed of, the candi- 
 dates excused themselves, saying they promised
 
 128 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 to call on Pete McCarthy and several other 
 places, and took their leave, amid a rousing 
 hurrah. 
 
 The day had drawn to a close, and in most 
 houses the lamps were lighted. But with a 
 clear sky and the moon at its full, it would have 
 been unnecessary to light the street lamps, if 
 such they had at Hawksville, or to illuminate 
 Mikly's Grove, in which, aside from the already 
 manifold attractions, a free concert was to be 
 given by the band, which was engaged by Ar- 
 thur Gurney for that purpose, for the benefit of 
 the people of the village ; to which, for fear of 
 not getting seated, the crowd began to gather. 
 
 Most of the business houses had closed, to 
 give their employees as well as themselves an 
 opportunity to attend, and had it not been for 
 cursing, swearing, drinking, and carousing at 
 the saloon, and an occasional barking of a dog, 
 the place could have been rightly called the vil- 
 lage of the dead. 
 
 A quarrel had already arose at Pete McCar- 
 thy's when the two candidates entered, but the 
 fame of Mike O'Brien as a fighter, and the call 
 for a bottle, was all that was necessary to restore 
 quiet. And while Mr. Welch entertained the
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 129 
 
 company, Mr. O'Brien had to follow the propri- 
 etor, to make, as he said, his distinguished coun- 
 tryman acquainted with his wife. But scarcely 
 were the formalities over when Pete commenced 
 talking business. Said he 
 
 "Mr. O'Brien, it's going to be pretty hard 
 pulling, but I can make you lots of votes. There 
 is a lot of fellows laying around here, doing 
 nothing, and they vote any way I want them to. 
 Mr. Lafferty, the street commissioner of your 
 city, is a friend of mine. He said, the other day, 
 that the party could make away with three or 
 four hundred votes very easily. I asked him 
 how. He said just send them, a few weeks be- 
 fore the election, to the city, either to me or to 
 Mr. O'Brien, Morgan, or Nick Putzel, and we 
 will take care of them, and after we have voted 
 them we can send them back, and you can vote 
 them here. That I think a first-rate plan. Of 
 .course it costs a little money, but I'll not charge 
 you more than just my outlay. I shall try to 
 get an office myself, and expect when I help 
 you, you'll assist me. You see I was for some 
 years overseer, in the old country, at Lord Strat- 
 ton's, and I know all about farm life, horses, 
 cattle, sheep, and hogs, and know just how to
 
 130 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 get work out of a fellow. I thought there was 
 no man more suitable to superintend the county 
 poor-farm than I am. Pat Ryan, my nephew, 
 who has done nothing but ditching in his life, 
 would like to be sexton at the cemetery. It's 
 our countrymen, mostly, that makes the party, 
 and we ought to have the offices. I expect a 
 cousin in a few days from Ireland, and I wish 
 you'd see some of your Councilmen to get him 
 on the police force. There is nothing to hinder 
 us from being successful if we manage the thing 
 right, and I shall not be wanting in doing my 
 part." 
 
 Both men pledged themselves to assist each 
 other, and went back to the saloon, where a 
 parting round was drunk, to the success of the 
 ticket. 
 
 Several other places were visited, when they 
 wended their way to the Walhalla, before taking 
 a final leave of the village and its inhabitants. 
 
 " Oh, I dought you hat forgot me," said Hans, 
 shaking hands with the new comers, " put it ish 
 petter late dan never, so you shust cum up unt 
 dake von mit me, den your coming here has 
 mate dis de pest and purtiest tay in Hawks- 
 ville."
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 131 
 
 So, drink they did, but not at the expense of 
 the proprietor, as Mike O'Brien put a ten-dollar 
 bill on the counter, with the remark that that 
 had to be used first, before he could drink with 
 the proprietor, who he hoped would not take 
 the offer as an insult, which was not intended ; 
 that was to be used for " the success of the 
 ticket." 
 
 And again, to the success of the ticket the 
 glasses were filled and emptied. 
 
 "Gendlemens," said the proprietor, "we are 
 going to elect you mit a pig majority, unt I hope 
 when you get into der office you ain't going to 
 forget your friends, unt help dem to a little 
 sometings too. You see I have pin educated 
 in Shermany ; I shtudied a long dime ; I went 
 through all dem pig schools oh, a good deal 
 pigger dan dem schools here unt I've shtudied 
 how to pleed, unt to cup, unt to put leeches on, 
 unt I shaved many a one who hat peen killed 
 py drounding demselves, or shoot demselves 
 mit a pistol der brains out, unt some of dem dat 
 hat cut mit de butcher knife der trote. Unt I 
 know all apout der post-mortem examinations 
 when dey cum mit de dead. Yes, I know more 
 apout dese dings dan any one you got in your
 
 132 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 city, unt I dinks next fall of running- for Coroner, 
 mein self, unt if I do all I can for you, of course 
 you must do all you can for me." 
 
 The promise was given and repeated under 
 a lengthy hand-shaking, and a call for the bottle 
 by Mr. Welch. 
 
 By this time a messenger arrived from Mr. 
 Gurney, who stated that that gentleman, with the 
 band, were in waiting to take their departure. 
 Hans Mauser, the proprietor of the Walhalla 
 Saloon was permitted to treat the company, 
 when, after three rousing cheers, they left, ac- 
 companied by some friends to their place of 
 rendezvous, where quite a number of both sexes 
 had gathered to bid their distinguished visitors 
 farewell. 
 
 All were ready to start, the signal was given, 
 the band struck up " I'm mighty glad to get out 
 of the wilderness," the guests lifted their hats, 
 ladies and gentlemen waved their handkerchiefs, 
 and the day of the great barbecue was closed.
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 133 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 The sun had made its appearance in the east- 
 ern horizon, the birds had finished their morning 
 concert, but as yet scarcely a sign of life was 
 visible in the village of Hawksville. 
 
 What could be the matter ! Was it because 
 the shrill whistle of the steam flouring-mill had 
 forgotten to sound the hour of the day, as was 
 its wont to do, or was the village deserted ? 
 
 Most assuredly not the latter, for here comes 
 Judge Burton, wending his way to the butcher- 
 shop. The fact was, the people were taking a 
 rest, after the work they had been engaged in 
 on the day previous the day of the great bar- 
 becue. 
 
 It seemed as if the appearance of the Judge 
 acted as a signal, for one by one the stores and 
 shops were opened, and clerks and shopkeepers 
 were soon found busily engaged, sweeping and 
 dusting, and preparing for the day. The issuing 
 of smoke from chimneys, which now was per- 
 ceptible, proved that busy life had commenced 
 in dwellings, and the hurrying to the butcher-
 
 134 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 shop was a sure sign that preparations for 
 breakfast were in progress. But as yet no sa- 
 loon was opened, which was very unusual in- 
 deed, as they were nearly always the first ready 
 for business. But they had done a rousing busi- 
 ness the night before, needed rest, and could 
 well afford to do so, even at the expense of 
 some of their customers suffering for the want 
 of their morning bitters. 
 
 There is, perhaps, no better paying institution 
 in a village than a high-toned saloon, close to a 
 good butcher-shop, especially where civilization 
 wages war against barbarism, churches and tem- 
 perance war against saloons, and society black- 
 balls all who are known to use stimulants 
 except for medical purposes. Yet the article is 
 manufactured, it's in the market for sale, and, of 
 course, finds its consumers. So, occasionally, 
 the deacon gets troubled with the toothache, the 
 judge with the colic, -the squire with cramps, and 
 often the colonel is troubled with indigestion. 
 To quote their own words, they have tried every- 
 thing, all remedies known for such diseases, but 
 never found anything yet that acted as promptly 
 and as satisfactorily as whisky or brandy. They 
 get it in the drug stores, not adulterated, genu-
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 135 
 
 ine article, but outrageously high-priced. Get 
 it just as good in a saloon, and a great deal 
 cheaper; but people, especially women, are down 
 on saloons, and so they have to go to drug stores 
 and pay high prices, or use all precautions in 
 getting it from saloons, so as not to lose reputa- 
 tion and character, or give offence to society. 
 
 " My dear," says the deacon to his better half, 
 after the clock strikes four, " I believe I'd better 
 get up and go to the butcher-shop ; I saw the 
 butcher bring in such a nice beef last evening, 
 and when a person is a little late the best steaks 
 are always gone." 
 
 " Do, dear," he receives, in response, " for 
 there is nothing I detest more than tough steak." 
 
 And so he gets up, dresses, takes his basket, 
 and starts for the butcher-shop. But the chill 
 air of the morning brings on his old complaint, 
 and, of course, who wants to suffer when relief 
 is near, and in he hurries, not to the butcher- 
 shop, but to the saloon, which the proprietor, 
 well acquainted with these complaints, always 
 opens at the first sound of the saw and cleaver. 
 Early as it was, he is not the first one. The 
 Judge, the Colonel, and several others had 
 preceded him, all sufferers like himself, all seek-
 
 136 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 ing relief. One dose sometimes has not the 
 desired effect, and very often, as the deacon 
 says, especially in his advanced years, the attack 
 repeats itself; so, not to be caught unawares, he 
 thinks it best to carry a little of the remedy con- 
 stantly with him, which the others think a very 
 wise plan, one well worth trying. But the dis- 
 ease has become chronic, and while it relieves 
 for the time being, it never effects a permanent 
 cure; so the remedy is repeated at every attack, 
 which is more or less every day, and which never 
 fails manifesting itself at an early morning 
 hour. 
 
 " Nothing like being up early, my dear ; if I'd 
 been a little later I'd a missed it. The Squire 
 and Colonel came in just after I did, but I had 
 the choice and the joke on them." 
 
 " Have you started the fire ?" says the wife, 
 when the good deacon ceased, "and put the 
 kettle on. I smell coffee ?" 
 
 " No, dear," is the reply, " but I took out a few 
 grains, for the coffee didn't taste right to me, 
 yesterday, and I thought perhaps the girl burnt 
 it in roasting. But I guess I was mistaken. 
 I'll start a fire and lie down until breakfast is 
 ready."
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 137 
 
 Such or similar conversations could be heard 
 in many sleeping apartments, were our readers 
 permitted to listen. 
 
 Judge Burton must have suffered severely 
 this morning. He looked wistfully at the closed 
 doors of the Walhalla, and a deep sigh escaped 
 him when he entered the butcher-shop and 
 wished the proprietor good morning. 
 
 "You're rather late; Hans must have 
 taken morphine or laudanum, which has pre- 
 vented him from hearing your saw and cleaver, 
 which always acts as a signal for his opening. 
 But I guess the poor fellow needs rest after sudi 
 work as they had yesterday and last night. Yet 
 I think they got well paid for it, and had a good 
 harvest. But I wish the fellow would open, I 
 never felt worse in my life. I exercised too 
 much yesterday, got overheated, overworked, 
 and it always is very injurious to my nervous 
 system. Takes me a whole week to get right 
 again ; find a little whisky or brandy to be the 
 best remedy, and Hans always keeps a pure ar- 
 ticle. But " 
 
 " Hallo, Colonel, I didn't notice you coming 
 in. Rather late this morning ; people all seem 
 to be taking a rest "
 
 138 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 " Yes, and I would be resting yet," interrupted 
 the Colonel, " but for this old complaint of mine; 
 it won't let me rest, so I thought I'd get up, walk 
 down here, get a little steak, slip in to Hans's, 
 and get me a little Bourbon, which seems to be 
 the only thing? that gives me relief. But the fel- 
 low is rather late, and had not opened as I 
 passed by. Oh, dear, how I suffer !" 
 
 The Judge, who had stepped to the door, no 
 doubt to see if Hans had yet made his appear- 
 ance, cut short the Colonel's further remarks, by 
 announcing "We don't need to suffer any 
 longer, Hans has opened." 
 
 The two sufferers left the butcher-shop and 
 stepped into the Walhalla, where Hans was just 
 in the act of taking his morning* bitters when 
 they entered. 
 
 " Mein Gott, you are jhust in dime ; I never 
 likes to trink by mein self; so hant out dwo 
 glasses unt de pottle mit de Bourbon, for de 
 Colonel, unt de odder mit de olt rye whisky, for 
 de Judge, unt we will take de trink at my ex- 
 pense. Unt, by George, here conies Mr. Mikly, 
 unt he shall take von mit us too." 
 
 " Good morning, gentlemen," said the new 
 comer, as he advanced and shook hands.
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 139 
 
 "I feel rather worn this morning, after so 
 much exercise; thought to take a little something 
 to buoy up, but do not like to drink at other's 
 expense." 
 
 " You neber mind dat, Mr. Mikly," interrupted 
 the proprietor. " It would pe nice if Hans 
 Mouser couldn't dreat his friends after such a 
 day as we hat yesterday. I pelieve it was de 
 piggest I ever saw in America. Mein Gott, I 
 do not know where all der beople dat vas here, 
 cums vrom. Unt mein saloon vas full, vrom de 
 morning till long way after de mitnight. I neber 
 saw so much whisky unt peer trunk while I'm 
 in Hawksville. I dink de bardy never put up 
 better candidates. Dey shook hands mit every- 
 poty, unt never tought demselves a bit petter 
 dan anypoty else. Dey haf mate lots of friends, 
 unt will pe elected mit lots of votes. Put, gen : 
 dlemans, here's luck." 
 
 And the remedies for the different ailments 
 were speedily despatched. 
 
 " Yes, gentlemen, I think our barbecue was a 
 grand success," said the Colonel, setting down 
 his glass, and taking a few fennel-seed, which 
 Hans always had on hand, "and brought a 
 good deal of money to Hawksville. We were
 
 140 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 fortunate in having such a nice day, which made 
 people turn out in great numbers, and I believe 
 all went home very well satisfied." 
 
 " Yes," interrupted the Judge, " and I can say 
 I'm well pleased with our ticket, too. I thought, 
 for a while, the party made a bad selection when 
 they nominated such a young man as Mr. Gur- 
 ney, but since I have made his acquaintance, and 
 heard him speak, I have changed my mind, and 
 think the choice of the party could not have 
 fallen on a more suitable person. He is tho- 
 roughly versed in every point of law, an orator 
 not to be excelled, is as free and liberal-hearted 
 as any one I ever met. The others, too, I think, 
 are just the men for their position." 
 
 "Oh, I think we will have no difficulty in 
 electing our ticket," said Mr. Mikly ; " the people 
 are opening their eyes, and are beginning to see 
 who their friends are, and who work for their 
 interest. I profess to be a Christian, and do not 
 like to see people make brutes of themselves, 
 by drinking too much, but if they will do it, we 
 cannot prevent it. This is a free government, 
 and everybody has a right to eat and drink what 
 they please. And, after all, if it was not for 
 those big distilleries and breweries, farmers
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 141 
 
 would have to feed the corn and barley they raise 
 to the hogs ; they couldn't make enough to pay 
 their taxes; and business men could just shut 
 up. Only see the difference. When Walker 
 spoke, there was nobody there, only a few abo- 
 litionists and temperance men. Not a particle 
 of amusement for the young folks ; nothing but 
 long, dry faces coming, and long, dry faces 
 going. Young people and showmen know this, 
 and they will not turn out. I did not take in a 
 cent, then, but yesterday it paid me very wety 
 and I think it paid every business man in the 
 village. No, no, it won't do to carry piety to 
 such an extent as to shun all amusement and 
 pleasure. You see, I'm a firm believer in the 
 Bible, and Solomon says everything has its time, 
 and I think so, too. There is a time when peo- 
 ple ought to pray, a time when they ought to 
 work, and a time when they ought to amuse 
 themselves. Laws, when I think back at the fun 
 we had at our horse-racing, shooting-matches, 
 house-raisings, and log-rollings, I can pity our 
 youngsters, who have to work year in and year 
 out, with scarcely an hour of pleasure, just to 
 keep themselves in clothing, scarcely a cent left 
 for a drink of whisky. Well, as I said long ago,
 
 142 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 they just freed the negro to enslave the whites, 
 and they are making very good progress. Fix 
 up schools for the negro, and make the whites 
 pay for it ; hire the negro to work for them, and 
 let the white man go begging. That is not all ; 
 they monopolize all branches of business. You 
 see, a while back I did a nice business in pork- 
 packing ; hogs didn't cost me much, and yet it 
 paid those fellows who brought them to me, very 
 well. This is all changed. They have, with 
 their machinery, got so that they can pay for 
 live hogs nearly as much as they sell cured 
 meats for. I don't know how they can, but they 
 do it, and that has ruined my business entirely. 
 I also could make a penny or so by a loan, but 
 now comes these big capitalists, and scatters the 
 money everywhere, for a good deal less than I 
 can afford to handle it. I made, for a while, a 
 nice thing out of my saw-mill. Before they had 
 these railroads running in every direction, I 
 could set my own price on my lumber; but now 
 they send ready-made doors, window-sash, 
 dressed flooring, and everything else, all over 
 the country, and sell it for less than I could get 
 for my rough boards. The trade in hides paid 
 me very well, too ; there were no butcher-shops,
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 143 
 
 then, and nearly every farmer killed a cow or 
 yearling; as there were no other buyers but 
 myself, I could have it at my own price. A jug 
 of whisky, or a pound of powder or lead, was 
 all I ever paid for one, and they were very well 
 satisfied; but now they have started big tan- 
 neries everywhere, have their agents traveling 
 all over the country, who pay more for the raw 
 hides than we used to pay for them already 
 tanned." 
 
 " It's just so with our business," said the Judge, 
 after the speaker paused. "When I commenced 
 practicing law here, and when I first entered 
 into official business, I could find scarcely a 
 leisure hour, and my office was nearly always 
 crowded. Some one wanted a deed written, 
 another one a title bond, perhaps the third one 
 a promissory note, and hundreds of other little 
 things. It's true, I charged but a trifle, but it 
 amounted to considerable during the year. 
 But since we are blessed with ' fine ' school- 
 houses, and high-salaried teachers, and parents 
 have got it into their heads that it is a disgrace 
 for their children to work ; that their daughters 
 must make school-marms, and their sons be 
 lawyers or doctors, the whole thing is changed.
 
 144 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 They do their own writing, and leave us to get 
 along the best way we can. There were but 
 very few lawsuits then, because people were 
 more honest and could trust each other; but we 
 did a lively business in cases of assault and bat- 
 tery, disturbing the peace, and other little minor 
 offences. When a difficulty arose between par- 
 ties, they generally settled it with the fist. Of 
 course, as guardians of the law we were bound 
 to arrest them, and although we very seldom 
 fined them over a cent, only to show that the 
 law had to be respected, the amount we received 
 in costs could be considered a right nice reve- 
 nue. But in this, too, there is considerable fall- 
 ing off, and if it were not for the saloons, the 
 business in that line wouldn't amount to any- 
 thing at all. People may say what they please 
 about saloons ; they have brought me a consider- 
 able amount of business, and I think if they 
 were looked at without prejudice, they would 
 soon find they are a grea"t help to a town. I 
 tell you, a change is all that can save us from 
 ruin." 
 
 " And we'll have it," said the Colonel, after 
 the other had ceased speaking, " even if we have 
 to fight for it. I have been all through one war,
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 145 
 
 and I can stand another one, and there is a good 
 many more like myself. I saw that spirit mani- 
 fest itself yesterday, when the boys went after 
 that negro. I believe if it hadn't been for me 
 they would have beaten him to death." 
 
 "What was the fracas about?" interrupted 
 Mr. Mikly. 
 
 " Well, from what I heard the boys say, it was 
 about this : he passed by McCarthy's saloon, in 
 front of which a lot of Irish were gathered, and 
 I believe one of them gave him a kick, and told 
 him to leave, in a hurry. He stopped and re- 
 monstrated, when several pitched on him, but 
 he was too much for them, and, I was told, 
 knocked fully half a dozen on the ground. This, 
 of course, raised the blood of all of them. He 
 was overpowered, and came very near being 
 killed. I was, as you know, appointed assistant 
 marshal, and when informed, hurried, with seve- 
 ral others, to restore peace, and took him and 
 about half a dozen others to the calaboose." 
 
 " Were there any more fights ?" inquired Mr. 
 Mikly. 
 
 " Not as many as I expected. Not, altogether, 
 over half a dozen, and I think we did not make 
 over twenty or twenty-five arrests."
 
 146 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 "Oh," laughed Mr. Mikly, "you and the 
 Judge get your pay to-day for yesterday's work. 
 Just put it on to those fellows ; they spend their 
 money, anyhow, and you might as well have it 
 as anybody else." So saying, Mr. Mikly, who 
 had as yet not been to the butcher's shop, bade 
 his friends good morning. 
 
 Another attack of the Colonel's complaint 
 called for the bottle again, and while pouring 
 out the remedy, he remarked 
 
 " By-the-by, Judge, what time do you think 
 of opening court ?" 
 
 To which that dignitary replied : " About ten 
 o'clock." 
 
 Both then took their departure, in different 
 directions, for their homes. 
 
 Judge Burton was, with the exception of Mr. 
 Mikly and a few others, one of the earliest set- 
 tlers in Hawksville. His first occupation was 
 that of a clerk in a dry goods store. He took 
 a great fancy for the study of law, and spent 
 most of his small salary in the purchase of law 
 books, to make himself master of that profes- 
 sion, and when confident of doing justice to his 
 clients, and prepared with a license to do so, he
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 147 
 
 opened a law office for the accommodation of 
 the people. 
 
 The people in those days were lacking in edu- 
 cation. Scarcely one in the surrounding country 
 could read or write, and Mr. Burton was just 
 the man they needed to attend to their business. 
 He was thronged every day, and was looked 
 upon as indispensable. He also could be con- 
 sidered Mr. Mikly's right hand, having taught 
 him, with the greatest difficulty, to read and 
 write his name. He kept his books, and added 
 greatly to the prosperity of that gentleman. But 
 in proportion as civilization and education ad- 
 vanced Mr. Burton's business declined, and 
 at present, as he said before, if it were not for 
 the saloons, it would be worth nothing at all. 
 His title was only an empty one, and no doubt 
 acquired by being a standing candidate for that 
 office. He served for a number of years as jus- 
 tice of the peace, and when the town of Hawks- 
 ville was incorporated, was elected as police 
 magistrate, which office he held up to this day. 
 He was a widower, living with one of his 
 children, who were all married, but he had the 
 reputation of being admired by the fair sex, and 
 
 a cartoon, in which he tries to extricate himself 
 10
 
 148 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 from half a dozen children, who are hanging" to 
 his coat tail, and looking up wistfully at the hor- 
 ror-stricken man, saying " Papa, we'll kiss you 
 if you'll buy us some candy !" brought his down- 
 fall in the last Convention. Yet, in all reverses, 
 the Judge held on to the party, waiting for a bet- 
 ter time coming, and attended promptly to his 
 business. So, when the clock struck ten, we 
 find him at his office, declaring that Court had 
 opened, ready to administer justice. The Col- 
 onel was in waiting, and it was not long ere the 
 first culprit was brought into the presence of 
 the Court. 
 
 It was a fair specimen of those seen in police 
 courts of larger cities. Poorly clad, with swollen 
 eyes, trembling hands, in short, with all the un- 
 mistakable signs of a drunken debauchee. 
 
 "You are charged with disorderly conduct: 
 answer the Court, are you guilty or not guilty ?" 
 
 " Guilty, your Honor," said the wretch, " but 
 you see it was a public day, and the whisky had 
 a good deal to do with it ; so, if your Honor will 
 let me off this time, I promise that it never shall 
 happen again." 
 
 " We are here to dispense justice," was the 
 reply from the Court ; " but as this is your first
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 149 
 
 offence, and committed in an exciting time, the 
 Court will be lenient with you, and will fine you 
 only one cent and costs." 
 
 " Bring the next, Colonel." 
 
 Case after case was disposed of, in quick suc- 
 cession, mostly of a similar character. When 
 the last case was called, the Colonel ap- 
 peared with a stout, well-built mulatto, appa- 
 rently in the prime of life, and no doubt intelli- 
 gent, to judge from what was recognizable of 
 his features, for his face was swollen to double 
 its size, his eyes nearly closed, and his flesh cut 
 and bruised. 
 
 " You are charged with assault and battery ; 
 do you plead guilty or not guilty ?" 
 
 " Not guilty, your Honor ; you know me for 
 years, and so do the citizens of Hawksville, and 
 I think no one can say I seek to quarrel with 
 any one. I was walking along peacefully, last 
 evening, and when passing McCarthy's saloon 
 was attacked by a crowd of ruffians, and in self- 
 defence knocked down 'a few, when the whole 
 gang fell upon me and nearly killed me, without 
 the slightest provocation or cause. This is all 
 I have to say." 
 
 The Colonel was called as a witness, and took
 
 150 KICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 the stand, stating what we are already ac- 
 quainted with. 
 
 The Court, after hearing the testimony, de- 
 cided that the accused had no right to take the 
 law in his own hands, but should have left it to 
 those in authority, and therefore he must pay a 
 fine of five dollars and costs. 
 
 All the cases having been disposed of, the 
 Court adjourned, and the Judge and the Colo- 
 nel, having forebodings of another attack of 
 their complaint, hastened to get relief, saying, 
 " this picnic was a great success."
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 151 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Mr. Walker was busy in his office, preparing 
 his papers for Court. He had no partner or 
 assistant, and, having a reputation as one of 
 the foremost criminal lawyers in the country, 
 his counsel was sought by the prosecution as 
 well as the defence. A knock at the door called 
 his attention. He opened it, and a gentleman, 
 saluting him, stepped in. "Take a chair, Mr. 
 Rogers, take a chair. You are the last man I 
 expected to see this morning at my office, and 
 if I had not known you for years as a church 
 member and a Christian, I would judge from 
 your looks that you had committed a trespass 
 on our laws, and wished to engage my service 
 to see you safely through." This was said in a 
 joking manner by Mr. Walker, but Mr. Rogers, 
 in an earnest tone, replied 
 
 "It is not exactly that I have committed a 
 trespass, and yet, after all, it is a trespass against 
 the law that brought me here, and for which I 
 wish to engage your counsel." 
 
 " Indeed ! I am anxious to hear what that
 
 152 NICK PUTZEL ; OR 
 
 can be; hope nothing very serious," said Mr. 
 Walker. 
 
 " Serious enough to me and my family, for it 
 affects one of the members, and, consequently, 
 all of us." 
 
 "Please explain," said Mr. Walker. 
 
 "You know my oldest son, James? He is 
 now past nineteen, and has been, until of late, 
 an exceptionally good youth ; always obedient, 
 industrious, of strict temperate habits, diligent 
 in his studies, and never missed church nor 
 Sunday-school. His mother and I were proud 
 of him, and we had great expectations for his 
 future. I noticed, however, a change of late. 
 For some time I paid little attention, although 
 his mother brought it to my notice on several 
 occasions. He would come home later than 
 usual of evenings, and when asked the reason, 
 would seek to get out of it by trifling excuses. 
 Several times I noticed his speech was heavy 
 and thick, as if he had been drinking, which he, 
 however, when asked, would sternly deny. Last 
 night revealed the whole truth. His mother 
 and myself were waiting anxiously for him ; we 
 knew something was wrong. Hour after hour 
 passed by ; the clock struck the hour of mid-
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 153 
 
 night, yet no sign of James. I was just in the 
 act of putting on my boots, to start out and no- 
 tify the police to search for his whereabouts, 
 when I heard the footsteps of several approach- 
 ing the house. My heart was beating heavily 
 as I went to meet them ; and there, what did I 
 see ! Two men, one on each side, leading my 
 boy, thoroughly intoxicated, to his home. We 
 put him to bed. While his mother, in tears, was 
 bathing his face, I asked the men where they 
 found him. They said he was lying in front of 
 the Court-house Exchange, and as they knew 
 him and his parents, they brought him home, 
 rather than let the police find him and take him 
 to the station-house. I thanked them very 
 kindly, and they left. But there was no sleep, 
 no rest, for me. While I deliberated how to 
 bring those violators of the law to justice, the 
 poor boy lay groaning and suffering, and his 
 mother moaning and weeping. 
 
 "I went early this morning to the Court- 
 house Exchange, said to be the most notorious 
 den of degradation and vice in our city, and in- 
 quired for the proprietor. He wasn't up yet. 
 I was told to call at half-past nine or ten o'clock. 
 The time seemed to me very long, but when it
 
 154 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 came I was on hand. I told him my boy was 
 found lying before his door, intoxicated, and that 
 I had reason to believe he got his drinks in his 
 establishment, and that if he sold him another 
 drop I would prosecute him to the extent of the 
 law. The man, more the shape and appearance 
 of a brute than a human, said : ' Prosecute and 
 pe d m. You petter dends to your pusiness, 
 unt I dends to mine ; unt if you don't pehave 
 yourself, I has you daken up for disturben de 
 bease.' I left, and came straight to you ; and 
 now you know all, and I would like to have your 
 advice." 
 
 Mr. Walker, who was sitting in his chair, his 
 elbow resting on the table and his head on his 
 hand, had listened very attentively, and it was 
 some minutes before he replied : 
 
 " Well, I cannot see that we can do much in 
 this matter. You have no positive proof that 
 he got the drinks there, and if you had, I would 
 not advise you to bring it to court, for the sake 
 of your son." 
 
 " And is there no way by which these violators 
 of law, these destroyers of happiness and life, 
 can be brought to justice ?" 
 
 " Oh, yes, there is ; but to prove that they
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 155 
 
 have violated the law is the question. If your 
 son should be called upon to testify where he 
 got the drinks and he would state, under oath, 
 that he got it at the Court-house Exchange, they 
 would have half a dozen witnesses ready to tes- 
 tify that he came in drunk, was refused drinks, 
 and ordered to leave the premises. And, even 
 if you had sufficient proof, I would not advise 
 you to take action in this matter." 
 
 " And will you please give me your reasons," 
 interrupted Mr. Rogers. 
 
 " Certainly, certainly," Mr. Walker went on. 
 "You say your son is nineteen years old. He 
 has, as you stated, a liberal education ; is ener- 
 getic and industrious. Soon he will be his own 
 governor, and have to fight the battles of life 
 with his own weapons ; or, in other words, pad- 
 dle his own canoe. He seeks employment by 
 which he can make use of his talent and educa- 
 tion. Of course, satisfactory reference, as to 
 his character for morality, honesty, and sobriety, 
 is required. Can he give that, after having once 
 been brought before a court of justice, to testify 
 to his own degradation? He may have reformed, 
 but the stain is still there, and when applying 
 for a situation, he is politely informed there are
 
 156 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 no vacancies. Disappointed everywhere, he 
 gets discouraged. He has tried hard to make 
 himself, with his education, useful to obtain, 
 with it, an honorable living. He has failed. In 
 despair, he throws himself in the arms of vice 
 and sin. The fact is," continued Mr. Walker, 
 "we neglect, to a great extent, the moral train- 
 ing of our children. We send them to school, 
 buy all books necessary to advance them in their 
 studies ; we are proud of their scholarship, and 
 make ourselves believe that we have done all 
 in our power to prepare them for the contest of 
 life. We send them to church and Sabbath- 
 school, to be instructed in the faith of Chris- 
 tianity; yet their own home is icy and cold. 
 Not a ray of love, nor a sunbeam of kindness, 
 penetrates their hearts. The father commands, 
 and the children obey not through love, but 
 through fear. To spend, every day, an hour 
 with them, for the purpose of cultivating the 
 mind, or training the heart and soul, and guid- 
 ing them to the paths of righteousness and vir- 
 tue, is not thought of. And by neglect of this, 
 and with the advantage of an education, we give 
 them a weapon, powerful, but often disastrous 
 to them. Make home cheerful ; make it attrac-
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 157 
 
 tive, lovely and pleasant for your children ; min- 
 gle with them in their innocent play, and as they 
 advance, and their minds grow stronger, keep 
 pace with them in your work of moral training, 
 and introduce, besides your games of innocent 
 amusement, light and healthful literature. If it 
 form the centre of attraction, they will not seek 
 enjoyment, pleasure or amusement, away from 
 home, and perhaps be led astray ; but they will 
 circle around the fireside, and amuse and in- 
 struct each other. Let us do this, and few of 
 our children will go astray, because we have laid 
 a true foundation for their future." 
 
 The speaker paused, and after a few moments, 
 Mr. Rogers, who had been listening very atten- 
 tively to every word, said 
 
 " Mr. Walker, your words have taught me a 
 lesson I never dreamed of before. If I were not 
 positive that you have no acquaintance with my 
 family affairs I should come to the belief that 
 you had singled me out for a subject." 
 
 " Perhaps nine-tenths of the citizens of our 
 county could say the same thing, if approached 
 on the subject," replied Mr. Walker. "Nor is 
 this all," he continued: "We all talk about the 
 evil of intemperance the destruction of life and
 
 158 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 happiness by whisky yet we do nothing to stop 
 or prevent it. On the contrary, by our own acts 
 many are driven into the jaws of the monster. 
 The stranger comes to our city, seeks employ- 
 ment, obtains it, and next looks for a boarding- 
 house; he finds one, perhaps, with a bar attached 
 to it. But no sister, no brother, no friend, is 
 here to welcome him ; he is alone. Perhaps he 
 is born in a foreign land, unacquainted with our 
 language, unaccustomed to our habits ; or he 
 may be born on our own free soil, and is yet a 
 stranger among us a stranger in a strange 
 land. One familiar sound, however, attracts 
 his attention. It is the church bell, inviting him 
 to the temple of worship to the house of God. 
 He finds it, filled with worshipers, but no one 
 has a kind word for him ; no one extends his 
 hand in brotherly love; no person expresses 
 sympathy for the lonely one, and none invite 
 him to a social entertainment. He goes away 
 as he came alone. Whittier says : 
 
 ' To worship rightly is to loVe each other 
 Each smile a hymn, each kindly deed a prayer.' 
 
 Have they worshiped in that spirit ? Perhaps 
 they have. I fail to see it." 
 
 " But would it be good policy to invite stran-
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 159 
 
 gers, of whose characters we are entirely igno- 
 rant, to our family circles?" interrupted Mr. 
 Rogers. " There are so many frauds, rascals, 
 and dangerous characters, that it looks to me as 
 though it would be dangerous to do so." 
 
 " You are perfectly right, if we view the mat- 
 ter from a philosophical standpoint," said Mr. 
 Walker. " But while our doors are closed, 
 where will he find an hour's recreation or amuse- 
 ment ? Nowhere, except in a theatre, beer-gar- 
 den, or a saloon. Here he learns to gamble, 
 here he spends his hard-earned money, to drown 
 the memory of happy childhood days. Thou- 
 sands of dollars are spent every year for charit- 
 able purposes, but, to my knowledge, no effort 
 has ever been made to better the condition of 
 this class of men. Every city should have one 
 or more libraries, with light, instructive, and 
 healthful literature ; and, as this class represents 
 many different nationalities and different lan- 
 guages, care should be taken to introduce read- 
 ing matter suitable for the different languages ; 
 German, English, Irish, and French newspapers 
 and periodicals, as well as the papers from our 
 large cities, should be on hand; a room for 
 amusement should be attached, in which all
 
 160 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 kinds of innocent games, such as chess, check- 
 ers, dominoes, etc., should be introduced. 
 Here the strangers should be invited to pass 
 away a leisure hour, or to find some news from 
 the home of their youth. The outlay would be 
 comparatively small. A small entrance fee 
 would cover the current expenses, and the re- 
 sult would be beneficial to all except saloon- 
 keepers." 
 
 Mr. Walker paused, and Mr. Rogers, after a 
 short interval, replied 
 
 "Mr. Walker, I came here this morning in 
 a not altogether very pleasant spirit. I came 
 here to get your advice how to proceed in bring- 
 ing a scoundrel to justice, and you have given 
 me a lesson which I shall never forget, and for 
 which accept my thanks ; and you, also, have 
 directed my attention to a subject of great im- 
 portance one which has escaped the eyes of 
 the most devoted Christians ; a subject that, if 
 reduced to practice, would do more damage to 
 the saloons than all our efforts in law." 
 
 " That's what I think, and that is what I have 
 advocated for some time ; but the most I have 
 spoken to think it not practical, or calculated to 
 produce the desired result," replied Mr. Walker.
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 161 
 
 " I'm not of that opinion/' said Mr. Rogers, 
 " and shall study the matter very closely." And 
 rising to start, he remarked ; "Mr. Walker, I 
 have already detained you for quite a length of 
 time, and will not impose upon you any longer; 
 but I can tell you, with all sincerity, that our con- 
 versation has made a deep impression on my 
 mind, and taught me many things I never knew 
 before." 
 
 Extending his hand, which was warmly shaken 
 by Mr. Walker, he bade him good day.
 
 162 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 "Goot morning, gendlemans," said Uncle 
 Nick, as he entered the bar-room of his estab- 
 lishment. 
 
 "Good morning, Uncle Nick," repeated a 
 dozen voices around the bar. At the same time 
 a bottle of Uncle Nick's best was passing around. 
 One of them remarked, " Have you changed 
 your hours of rising ? It is only eight o'clock." 
 
 " It is a leetle sooner than I pe in de hapit of 
 getting up," replied Uncle Nick, " put do-tay is 
 election tay, unt blendy of work to do." And 
 turning to the barkeeper, he said, "A leetle 
 from the stomach bitters." The order was 
 obeyed, and when Uncle Nick raised it to his 
 lips, saying, " To de success of Gurney unt de 
 dicket," the contents quickly disappeared. 
 
 " To Gurney and the ticket," was repeated by 
 all, as they emptied their glasses. 
 
 " Barkeeper, hab de lunch early dis morning, 
 unt keep it all tay. Der vill pe a gute many 
 hungry fellers, unt dey shall have plendy ; unt 
 ven de peer comes, dake five kegs more. It is
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 163 
 
 warm weather, unt de poys vill pe dry ; dey has 
 to vork hart do-tay." 
 
 " Don't you shut up your establishment, Uncle 
 Nick ? The law requires, on election days, that 
 every bar-room shall be closed from sunrise 
 until sunset." 
 
 " D m such laws. I came to America to pe 
 a free man. I got my license to legitimate pis- 
 ness, unt obens unt shuts ven I blease." 
 
 " You may get into difficulty, Uncle Nick,** re- 
 marked another. " I heard some of them say, 
 yesterday, that they were going to watch pretty 
 close, and are going to prosecute any one who 
 violates the law ; and they have their eyes set 
 on you." 
 
 " Veil," he replied, " dey vill get ahold of de 
 wrong customer, if dey fools mit Uncle Nick." 
 
 The company called for the bottle again, and 
 after all had drank and supplied themselves 
 with roasted coffee, they went away to see what 
 was going on at the polls, saying they would be 
 back after a while and report. 
 
 " Dit dey bay ?" asked Uncle Nick of the bar- 
 keeper, as soon as the door closed. 
 
 " They said to charge it to the candidates," 
 
 replied the latter. 
 11
 
 164 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 " Veil, ven you charge to de candidates, you 
 must charge double de amount. Dis is de last 
 chance to pick dem ; dey won't spend quite so 
 freely after de election ; not until dey neet our 
 assistance again. Uncle Nick had enough ex- 
 perience in dese madders, unt I dink de Ameri- 
 cans speak de druth ven dey say, ' strike while 
 de iron is hot.' " 
 
 At this moment the door opened, and two 
 strangers, followed by some of " the boys," en- 
 tered. 
 
 "What will you take, gentlemen ?" said one 
 of " the boys " to the two strangers. 
 
 " Some good whisky, if you please," was the 
 answer. 
 
 "Well, you'll find it here," said the one that 
 first spoke. " Uncle Nick, as we call the pro- 
 prietor, has the name of keeping the best in the 
 city." 
 
 "You live in dis blace?" interrupted Uncle 
 Nick. 
 
 " No ; we are traveling. Out of employment, 
 and out of money, and trying to get into work. 
 We slept, last night, a couple of miles from here, 
 in a barn, as nobody would keep us."
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 165 
 
 " Hat your breakfast ?" asked Uncle Nick, 
 after the stranger had finished. 
 
 " Neither supper nor breakfast," replied the 
 man. " There is no feeling of charity nowadays, 
 for tramps, as they call everybody who is obliged 
 to travel on foot." 
 
 "Id's outrageous. I would not dreat mein 
 tog dat vay ; put dese are de gute Christians, 
 dat goes to de church, unt dalks demperance ; 
 dey wants every ding in der own bocket, unt do 
 not wants de money to circulate." Then, turn- 
 ing to one of the waiters, he said : " Dell de cook 
 to hurry up mit de lunch ; id's nearly dime, any- 
 how ;" and, turning again to the strangers, he 
 continued: "You shall have blendy to eat, 
 shortly ; jhust set down unt rest yourselves." 
 
 " Uncle Nick, do you think you can use them," 
 whispered one of " the boys," as the two men 
 walked away from the counter, to be seated. 
 
 " To pe shure," he replied ; " nodings more 
 certain." 
 
 Lunch was served, and the company increased, 
 as is always the case at lunch time. The con- 
 versation was lively, and the topic, the election. 
 
 " How are the boys getting along at the upper 
 wards ? I heard it said we will have hard work
 
 166 NICK PUTZEL; OR . 
 
 to make it," said one of the company, as he fin- 
 ished the last remnant of the fried sausage. 
 
 " We'll be pretty close," replied another, set- 
 ting down an empty glass. " But," he added, 
 " Mike has posted half a dozen of his bull-dogs 
 at every poll, and Pat Murphy's saloon and 
 Morgan's boarding-house are full of strange 
 faces." 
 
 "And they had better not fool with Mike's 
 bullies.; they are ugly customers, especially 
 when they are about half drunk." 
 
 "Dem is de fellers yust in de right blace. 
 Dey see dat de poys puts in der votes right, unt 
 dat de demperance men don't cheat," put in 
 Uncle Nick ; and ordering two glasses of beer 
 for the strangers, he walked toward them, and 
 said ; " Frients, you must wait a leetle ; dem is 
 my regular customers ; der vill pe room for you 
 directly." But, changing his mind, perhaps on 
 account of their dress, he said to the waiter, who 
 had just brought the beer, " You petter pring 
 dwo blates, unt knives unt forks, over here, unt 
 vait on dem gendlemans, unt give dem all dey 
 vant." Uncle Nick had, by this time, seated 
 himself by the side of the strangers, and con- 
 tinued, " It must pe purty hart draveling midout
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 167 
 
 money. How long have you peen draveling dis 
 vay ?" 
 
 "Over four weeks, sir," was the answer. 
 " We had money when we started, but it gave 
 out, and all our efforts to obtain work were in 
 vain." 
 
 " Veil, dat is de vay mit de demperance ; dey 
 would drow us all out of employment. We 
 must fight dem whenever we can. We are 
 fighting dem do-tay." 
 
 Here Uncle Nick was interrupted by one of 
 the company, who laughingly said, " How are 
 we fighting them, when they have no ticket in 
 the field?" 
 
 "You know nodings about it," was Uncle 
 Nick's reply. " Dese fellers on de oder dicket 
 are all demperance." 
 
 " Well, have it so, Uncle Nick ; we won't fall 
 out about it. Come, let us have something to 
 drink ; the candidates have to foot the bill, any- 
 how," responded one to Uncle Nick's last re- 
 mark. 
 
 " Gentlemens," said Uncle Nick to the stran- 
 gers, as he arose from his seat, " emdy your 
 glasses, unt come up to de counter unt dake von 
 mit us ; it vill give you a petter abedite."
 
 168 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 The two strangers, who all this time had been 
 working vigorously on Uncle Nick's roast beef, 
 hams, sausage, cheese, rye bread, bumbernickle, 
 etc., arose and walked to the counter. The 
 glasses being all filled, one of them proposed to 
 drink to the health of the candidates, and to the 
 success of the ticket. All responded, after which 
 the contents disappeared. The two strangers 
 walked back to their seats, and resumed their 
 unfinished work. Customers came and went, 
 and the waiters were kept busy replenishing the 
 lunch. A new party had just come in, and 
 Uncle Nick asked if they knew how the election 
 was going on. 
 
 " Pretty close," was the reply, " and those fel- 
 lows work like ants. We must have more men, 
 or else be beaten." And, turning to the bar- 
 keeper, he said, "Let's have the beer," which 
 order was quickly obeyed. 
 
 "Have any of you seen Gurney, to-day?" the 
 speaker continued. " O'Brien and Welch have 
 been on the lookout for him this whole fore- 
 noon." 
 
 " Dey wond see much of him do-tay," inter- 
 rupted Uncle Nick. " He done his bard of elec- 
 tioneering yesterday. He went mit de poys all
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 169 
 
 over de cidy, into every saloon. Dey came here 
 about ten o'clock last night, unt stayed until 
 nearly one, when de poys led him home ; he vas 
 doo trunk to be drusted alone. He is a vine 
 young man ; he lets de money circulade, you 
 may pet. He vill pe on hands at de heatquar- 
 ters, to-night." 
 
 "Well, Uncle Nick," interrupted the first 
 speaker, "I must be off again. Let's have 
 another drink, barkeeper." Looking around the 
 room, he added, "All of you men come and 
 have some." 
 
 The contents of a dozen glasses were quickly 
 dispatched, when the speaker, after whispering 
 something to Uncle Nick, left the room. 
 
 "Veil, gendlemans, dit you get enough to 
 ead ?" asked Uncle Nick of the two strangers, 
 as he seated himself again at their side. 
 
 " Thank you, sir ; we have had plenty, and are 
 under many obligations to you, and " 
 
 "No obligations at all. It is the duty of every 
 Christian to feet de hungry, but dem demperance 
 are no Christians," replied Uncle Nick, and, 
 lowering his voice, he continued, " Now, mein 
 frients, if you wand to make a dollar or dwo 
 honestly, mitout hart work, unt get your boart-
 
 170 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 ing unt trinks in de bargain, I pelieve I coult as- 
 sist you." 
 
 " Oh, we will do most anything, no matter how 
 hard, if we only can make a little money," was 
 the answer of both. 
 
 " You see," Uncle Nick went on, " dese dem- 
 perance folks are preaking up de coundry ; dey 
 give nopody work, unt drive dem away mit de 
 dogs if dey ask for anyding to eat ; unt do-tay 
 dey dry to peat us in de election. It is de duty 
 of every free man dat loves his coundry to help 
 us, unt you, mein frients, should help us a leetle 
 doo." 
 
 " We gladly would, dear sir, but we are not 
 citizens of your State." 
 
 " You are citizens of de United States, unt as 
 such you have a right to vote wherever you 
 blease, unt I stand between you and all danger," 
 was Uncle Nick's reply. 
 
 " They might put a person to a good deal of 
 trouble, and " 
 
 " No drouble unt no danger, whatever," inter- 
 rupted Uncle Nick. " All you have to do is to 
 state, if you are asked, dat you are a citizen of 
 dis State, unt dis blace is your home. De poys 
 will addend to de odder madders. It is easy for
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 171 
 
 you to make dwo dollars apiece, your boarting, 
 unt all you vant to trink." Rising from his 
 chair, Uncle Nick tapped one of the strangers 
 on the shoulder, and said : " Come, mein frients, 
 it's a bargain. Let us have someding to trink." 
 
 They looked at each other, and one of them 
 said, as they arose and started for the counter . 
 
 " We have to do something to keep us from 
 starving. I'm in for it." 
 
 " And I too," replied the other. 
 
 "What will you have, gentlemen?" politely 
 asked the barkeeper. 
 
 " We vill take peer dis dime," put in Uncle 
 Nick. Brandy pefore de lunch, de balance of 
 de tay peer, unt pefore going to pet, a goot 
 night-cap. Dat's mein rule," he added, laugh- 
 ing, and, turning to one who had just come in, 
 he said, in a low tone : " Frank, you are de man 
 I want to see. Fix out a couble of dickets for 
 dese gendlemans, unt see dat dey are not im- 
 posed upon, unt get der votes in." 
 
 " I'll see to that, you bet," responded Frank, 
 and, after taking another round at the bar, he 
 left with his charge. 
 
 Uncle Nick's saloon was crowded all day, and 
 " the poys," as he called them, were coming and
 
 172 NICK PUT^EL; OR 
 
 going ; and in the afternoon several fights were 
 reported, Mike's bullies always coming out best. 
 Toward evening they began to be pretty bois- 
 terous, as the whisky was beginning to operate, 
 and a loud hurrah for the ticket was given when 
 the news came that the polls had closed.
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 173 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 i 
 
 " Made a pretty good race. Three hundred 
 and forty majority over two hundred ahead of 
 the ticket ; that speaks very well for Arthur as 
 a beginner." 
 
 These words, uttered by Mr. Gurney as he 
 laid the morning paper aside to take his seat at 
 the breakfast table, where his wife was already 
 seated, were spoken more to himself than to any 
 one in particular, but his wife, being the only 
 person present, replied, in a somewhat agitated 
 voice 
 
 "I thought you knew that last night. You 
 came home so well pleased over the result of 
 the election, and over Arthur being elected, that 
 you could talk on no other subject." 
 
 " Oh, we knew he was elected, but did not 
 know by what majority. The returns had not 
 all come in from the country when I left head- 
 quarters," he answered. 
 
 "Thank God," said Mrs. Gurney, with tremb- 
 ling voice and great agitation, "that this campaign
 
 174 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 is over, and may God, in his mercy, spare me 
 the pain and suffering of ever witnessing another 
 such a one, with my son as a participant." 
 
 " Why, my dear, this campaign was in nowise 
 different from former ones. It only looks so to 
 you because you gave it more attention, your 
 son being a candidate ; and you must admit, 
 Maria,, long illness has made you a little nervous 
 and excitable." 
 
 " Perhaps it has, but it is a wonder to me how 
 I kept up as well as I have, when I review my 
 situation for the last two months, and with such 
 a night as last night fresh in my memory. 
 Cursing and swearing seems to have been the 
 order of the day, and when night set in the 
 drunken rowdies must have had charge of the 
 city. At midnight it was perfectly frightful ; it 
 was as if the wild animals of a menagerie had 
 been let loose, and were devouring each other." 
 
 So saying Mrs. Gurney stopped for a moment, 
 as if to get breath, and then continued : " You 
 were sound asleep when I got up and walked to 
 the window. I thought I heard Arthur's voice. 
 I trembled, but, happily, I was mistaken. Slowly 
 I walked back, and lay sleepless by your side. 
 Shortly after the clock struck four I heard foot-
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 175 
 
 steps ; it was Arthur coming at last. I felt re- 
 lieved; his steady steps assured me that, for 
 once, he had kept his promise, and had not been 
 drinking." 
 
 " Yes, and I think you accused him of it when 
 he was innocent," said Mr. Gurney. After a few 
 minutes' silence, he went on : " Arthur has been 
 drinking a little during the campaign, and has 
 been in company with men not altogether desir- 
 able, but he had to do it to be successful. It's 
 over now, and he will be the same he always 
 was ; so do not let anxiety get the better of you ; 
 it only adds to your afflictions, and is entirely 
 unnecessary." 
 
 " May heaven grant that this will be true ; 
 however, it will be a long time, if ever, before I 
 get over it, for, during these two months, I, as 
 well as your son, have grown ten years older," 
 replied Mrs. Gurney. 
 
 "And may I ask," he said, laughingly, "what 
 fertilizer has produced such a rapid growth ?" 
 
 Slowly, with great emotion and trembling 
 voice, she answered ; " Mine was sorrow and 
 grief, and your son's, beer, whisky, wine, and 
 brandy. Do not look angry at me, dear hus- 
 band," she continued, as a cloud seemed to be
 
 176 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 gathering on Mr. Gurney's brow ; " my heart is 
 so full, I must speak, to get relief. If the zeal for 
 Arthur's success had not blinded you, you would 
 have noticed, long ago, the change that has 
 taken place in him. The clear, ringing sound 
 of his voice has disappeared, and in its stead a 
 heavy coarseness is perceptible ; his eyes, once 
 so bright and clear, look dull, inflamed and swol- 
 len ; and his step, once so quick and firm, is slow 
 and unsteady. Nature has not worked these 
 changes, but the abuse of nature. And what 
 has abused it? Sleepless nights and strong 
 drink. Now, if this agent of destruction can 
 make such progress in a few months, how long 
 will it take to destroy the whole fabric ? Can 
 you blame me, then, when I feel for the safety 
 of my child of our son ?" 
 
 A pause ensued. Mr. Gurney remained silent. 
 It was hard to tell whether he was listening or 
 meditating. Waiting for some time in vain for 
 a reply, she continued 
 
 "I have tried to do my duty as a mother. I 
 have warned him of the danger by which he is 
 surrounded. But I have failed in receiving the 
 support of his father the support of my hus- 
 band. Oh, may that son never have cause to
 
 ,: 
 
 K 
 
 "Her eyes were closed, and her hands folded."
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 179 
 
 say, 'Father thou hast laid the foundation of my 
 ruin." ' 
 
 Exhausted, her head sank back on the cushion. 
 
 A long pause ensued, and had it not been for 
 the heaving of her bosom, an observer would 
 have thought himself in the presence of two 
 statues, instead of living beings. Her eyes were 
 closed, and her hands folded as if in prayer. 
 She remained in this attitude until an arm was 
 encircled around her neck, a kiss pressed upon 
 her lips, and she heard, in a soft whisper, the 
 word "Maria." 
 
 Opening her eyes, she saw her husband by 
 her side, his arm around her neck, and the words 
 spoken came from his lips. 
 
 "Maria," he repeated, "will you forgive me 
 forgive me for the pain and suffering I have 
 caused you ? I acknowledge to being very care- 
 less, but I promise you that I will do my duty 
 hereafter. I will talk with Arthur to-day; so dry 
 your tears, and relieve your mind of this bur- 
 den." 
 
 The tears were not dried up so quickly, but 
 flowed more freely down the sunken cheek than 
 at the beginning, for they were not tears of sor- 
 row, but tears of joy.
 
 180 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 " Oh, thank you, thank you," she said, her eyes 
 brightening under the flow of tears. "Your 
 words are ointment to my wounded heart. They 
 will give me strength, and will bring new life. 
 May God bless you." 
 
 " And now, my dear," said Mr. Gurney, when 
 her agitation had somewhat subsided, " you must 
 allow me to assist you to your room ; you are 
 exhausted, and must have rest. My business 
 calls me away for an hour or so, and I hope you 
 will feel rested and refreshed when I return." 
 
 The ringing of the door-bell denoted that 
 somebody had come. He stepped to the win- 
 dow to see, and exclaimed, "Annie and little 
 Arthur. I wonder what caused her to come so 
 early?" 
 
 " It is not so early as you think, dear husband. 
 We slept very late this morning, and then we 
 lingered quite a while over breakfast." 
 
 Mr. Gurney, as he looked at the time, said, 
 " Nearly ten o'clock much later than I thought. 
 I must be off this moment." 
 
 The voices of Annie and little Arthur were 
 heard approaching. Mr. Gurney opened the 
 door, and a moment later the little fellow was
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 181 
 
 swinging up and down in grandpa's arms, seem- 
 ingly enjoying the sport. 
 
 "What on earth is the matter!" exclaimed 
 Annie, looking over the breakfast table, after 
 greeting her mother. " Breakfast must have 
 been served an hour ago, and it looks as if not 
 a morsel of it had been tasted ;" and, looking 
 from mother to father, she added, " I know you 
 have not been quarreling over it, for you both 
 look so cheerful and happy." 
 
 " And we are," interrupted the father. " But 
 you must persuade your mother to lie down. 
 Rest, more than anything else, will assist her in 
 recruiting her health, and perhaps some good 
 beef tea would be more nourishing than coffee. 
 But I must be off." Saying this, he seated little 
 Arthur, and pressing the thin hand of his wife 
 to his lips, he bade her good-bye, and hurried 
 away. 
 
 " I do not know when I have seen father so 
 cheerful, and in such good humor," remarked 
 Annie. "And you, too, mother, look like 
 another person from what you did yesterday." 
 
 " And I feel like another person," replied the 
 mother.* 1 " But I am too much exhausted to talk 
 12
 
 182 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 much. I had better lie down ; it rests me 
 better." 
 
 So saying, she arose, and, with the assistance 
 of Annie, retired to her bedroom. When she 
 had been made comfortable, and after the fire 
 had been replenished, the mother said 
 
 " Annie, get a chair, and sit by my side. I 
 will tell you all." 
 
 " Would it not be better to have the beef tea 
 made ? It will rest you while I prepare it, and 
 you need some nourishment, as well as rest," 
 said Annie. 
 
 " Perhaps you had better. I feel as if I could 
 drink some." 
 
 Annie, after assisting the servant in taking 
 away the unfinished breakfast, prepared with her 
 own hands the tea for her mother, while little 
 Arthur was playing with his numerous toys on 
 the carpet. 
 
 It was not over fifteen minutes from the time 
 Annie left the room until she came back with 
 the tea, but nature had demanded her right, and 
 she found her mother sound asleep. She looked 
 at the pale sleeper for some time, and then, with 
 tears rolling down her cheeks, walked silently 
 away. Placing the tea on the table, she ordered
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 183 
 
 the servant to take and keep it warm, and then, 
 snatching up her boy, she covered him with 
 kisses, and with a flood of tears and quivering 
 voice exclaimed 
 
 " May my son never cause me the trouble and 
 sorrow his uncle has caused his mother, and all 
 through the illusive ambition of a father." 
 
 Mrs. Gurney slept soundly for over an hour, 
 and when at last she awoke she told Annie, who 
 was sitting by her side, that she felt like a new 
 person. 
 
 The tea was ordered, and when handed to 
 her, she smilingly said 
 
 " If this does me as much good as my sleep, 
 then I will be under many obligations to your 
 father for his prescription. It tastes, indeed, 
 very good," she added, after drinking half a cup, 
 and eating a small slice of buttered toast. Hav- 
 ing finished her lunch, she continued, "I feel very 
 much refreshed ; and now, Annie, if you will sit 
 by my side, I will tell you what your father and 
 I were talking about before you came in." 
 
 " I am anxious to hear," said Annie, seating 
 herself by the side of her mother. " The subject 
 must have been an agreeable one, for you both 
 looked cheerful and happy."
 
 184 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 " It was not in the beginning, but proved to 
 be so in the end," said Mrs. Gurney. She then 
 related to her daughter the conversation that 
 took place at the breakfast table. 
 
 " Oh, I am so glad you came to an understand- 
 ing with father, and that he promised to talk 
 with Arthur. It will have more effect than from 
 anybody else," said Annie, after her mother 
 had finished. 
 
 " He acknowledged to me yesterday that he 
 did wrong, and that he nearly broke his mother's 
 heart. ' But,' said he, with tears glistening in 
 his eyes, 'Annie, dear sister, it was not altogether 
 my fault. Father wanted me to be successful, 
 and told me : ' This you cannot be without the 
 aid of saloons and barkeepers. You must visit 
 them, be liberal and treat, no matter if it costs a 
 few hundred dollars, and your success is assured, 
 and a foundation to your political career laid.' 
 I followed his advice, and tried to carry out his 
 instructions. Of course, he did not tell me to 
 drink, tut how could I refuse, when, in such dens 
 of vice, I called up a dozen or so of men, who 
 are in nothing above the animal except in speech, 
 and all refused to drink unless I drank with 
 them ? My short experience with strong drink
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 185 
 
 has satisfied me that, although very disagreeable 
 at first, it soon creates a craving, uncontrollable 
 appetite. But, thank God, the election is over, 
 and if my mother will forgive me, she shall have 
 no cause to complain hereafter.' " 
 
 Tears of joy filled the hollow eyes of the suf- 
 ferer while Annie was speaking, and when she 
 paused, her face brightened, a smile played 
 around her lips, she folded her hands, cast her 
 eyes toward heaven, and murmured 
 
 " Lost, but found again ! Oh, Lord, Heavenly 
 Father, I thank Thee ! Thou hast answered my 
 prayers." 
 
 The clock struck twelve. 
 
 " Is it that late !" exclaimed Annie, somewhat 
 surprised. " I promised to be at home by noon, 
 and perhaps another hour's sleep will do you 
 more good than my company." 
 
 Little Arthur, who had enjoyed himself 
 hugely, playing with his little horses and wagons, 
 was lifted up to kiss grandma good-bye, just as 
 Mr. Gurney entered the room. 
 
 "And grandpa must have one, too," said 
 Annie. 
 
 " Grandpa must have more than one for all
 
 186 NICK PUTZEL; QR 
 
 this," he replied, pulling from his pocket a pack- 
 age of bon-bons. 
 
 The little fellow ran to his arms, and when 
 snatched up began to pay off his indebtedness. 
 At last both seemed to be satisfied with the bar- 
 gain, and promising her mother to come back 
 and spend an hour with her in the evening, 
 Annie started off with little Arthur, rejoicing.
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 187 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 " I have no desire to contest the election. 
 When I suffered my name to be brought before 
 the Convention, I did so to please a number of 
 my friends, and not with the expectation of being 
 successful. My defeat, therefore, is no disap- 
 pointment." 
 
 These words, spoken by Mr. Walker, were in 
 answer to an inquiry made by Mr. Gilbert, in 
 regard to contesting the recent election on ac- 
 count of fraud. 
 
 " You may not be disappointed, Mr. Walker," 
 replied Mr. Gilbert, " but your friends, and our 
 party, and a good many respectable citizens, are. 
 Shall we submit silently to be ruled by igno- 
 rance, brutal force, and whisky ?" 
 
 " We have submitted to it for a number of 
 years, and shall, in all probability, for some time 
 to come," said Mr. Walker. " King Alcohol i 
 and his subordinates, as well as his agents, are 
 a power in the land, and all who seek to occupy 
 prominent positions in public life court their 
 favor. Here you see a candidate for the Presi-
 
 188 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 dency of the United States lying prostrate be- 
 fore the monster's throne. ' Mighty monarch/ 
 says he, 'without thy aid I will be defeated. 
 Assist me, and I will be under lasting obliga- 
 tions to you.' ' I am a candidate for Governor,' 
 says another. ' I cannot be successful without 
 your aid, and I promise to be merciful, and re- 
 prieve you, if you should happen to be convicted 
 of murder, arson, rape, burglary, or larceny.' 
 ' I am a candidate for Judge,' whines a third one. 
 ' It depends altogether upon you whether I will 
 be elected or not. Aid me, and I promise you 
 that if you are brought before me for violating 
 the law, I will be merciful in my judgment.' ' I 
 am a candidate for Prosecuting Attorney,' says 
 a fourth. c Help me to get elected, and if they 
 file complaints against you, I will tell them to go 
 home and mind their own business.' Still 
 another says, ' I am a candidate for the Legisla- 
 ture. Help me to defeat my opponent, and I 
 will do all in my power to protect you in your 
 legitimate business.' Even the candidate for 
 policeman seeks his help, and promises to move 
 in another direction when, at a late hour of the 
 night, a row is raised in a saloon or grog-shop. 
 You see, Mr. Gilbert, to go into a contest with
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 189 
 
 an enemy so strongly supported, is not an easy 
 undertaking." 
 
 " But something must be done," said Mr. Gil- 
 bert, when Mr. Walker had finished speaking, 
 " or do away with the ballot-box the bulwark 
 of American liberty and let whisky, ignorance, 
 and vice reign supreme." 
 
 "If our people could once understand that 
 politics in local elections work injury, and should 
 be disregarded, then the first step toward reform 
 would have been made. Respectable citizens, 
 regardless of party politics, would guard the 
 ballot-box, and it would be difficult for those 
 whisky candidates to carry out their designs," 
 said Mr. Walker. " But I am afraid they never 
 will see the necessity of it ; and as long as tem- 
 perance men will vote for candidates who un- 
 blushingly go from saloon to saloon to secure 
 the whisky vote, just because they belong to the 
 same party, we cannot expect anything better." 
 
 "I never should have believed that a true 
 temperance man would do this," replied Mr. 
 Gilbert. 
 
 " Strange as it seems to be, it is none the less 
 an undeniable fact. There are men who, three 
 hundred and sixty-four days in the year, advo-
 
 190 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 cate the temperance cause. They are sincere 
 and faithful workers, yet they are so blinded by 
 party bias, that on the three hundred and sixty- 
 fifth day they would vote for Bacchus for Su- 
 preme Judge, if the party should nominate him. 
 Try to reason with them, or to convince them 
 of their error, and they will politely give you to 
 understand that temperance must not, and should 
 not, meddle in politics. Why temperance and 
 sobriety should be excluded, and ignorance, 
 whisky and drunkenness admitted as respectable 
 workers at the polls, is a mystery to me, for at 
 every election in my recollection whisky and his 
 agents never failed in acting a prominent part." 
 
 " Then the law of having the saloons closed 
 on election days is not enforced ?" said Mr. Gil- 
 bert, after Mr. Walker had paused. 
 
 " The law," said Mr. Walker, " is a dead letter 
 on the statute book. Some have self-respect 
 enough to close their front doors, and appear as 
 law-abiding citizens, but they might just as well 
 throw off the mask, and have them open, as it 
 only makes it inconvenient for their customers 
 to walk through the alleys, and slip in at the 
 back and side doors, which are kept open for 
 their accommodation; and, of all days in the
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 191 
 
 year, the most profitable to the saloon-keeper is 
 the one that the law bids him to shut up his es- 
 tablishment. Here, by the flow of beer and 
 whisky, votes are bought and sold, and many an 
 honest candidate, who would have made the 
 people a good and faithful servant, has been 
 slaughtered in the den of vice by King Alcohol 
 and his agents." 
 
 " I never had a very good opinion of saloons. 
 I always considered them a necessary evil, and 
 never thought that they had such influence in 
 our politics as I learn from your conversation," 
 remarked Mr. Gilbert; " and," he added, " I shall 
 always hereafter oppose their existence." 
 
 " We judge too much from that point by which 
 we are most affected," said Mr. Walker; "and," 
 he continued, " we are just as much to blame, 
 and just as guilty of violating the laws, as they 
 are. The law will not exonerate me if I en- 
 courage you and give you the weapon with 
 which to kill your neighbor; we cannot say 
 to the saloon-keeper, ' You are responsible for 
 the damage done by your whisky,' while we 
 license him to sell whisky for that very purpose. 
 And we cannot expect laws to be respected 
 when their guardians are among the first to vio-
 
 192 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 late them. We cannot expect foreigners to have 
 a high opinion of our naturalization law, when 
 we tell them it is tyrannical, and urge them not 
 to respect it, but to come forward and vote." 
 
 After a short pause, Mr. Walker went on : "I 
 have often wondered how men in high standing 
 in society, devoted Christians, who-would shrink 
 at the thought of doing wrong or injuring their 
 fellow-man, could stoop to low intrigues for the 
 success of their party. But such is the case, 
 and while they would do all in their power to 
 assist and help their neighbor, they will use all 
 means at their command, honest or dishonest, to 
 defeat a political opponent." 
 
 " And so the reports that went the rounds of 
 the newspapers, that you intended contesting the 
 election, were not authorized by you, and are 
 without foundation ?" remarked Mr. Gilbert. 
 
 " No foundation at all, as far as I am con- 
 cerned. For the rest I am not authorized to 
 speak ; but I think they are, like myself, very well 
 satisfied with the result," replied Mr. Walker. 
 
 " Well, this will be a great disappointment to 
 a good many in my neighborhood, and, no doubt, 
 to a large portion of the citizens of this county," 
 said Mr. Gilbert.
 
 ARTHUR GURNEYS RUIN. 193 
 
 " They will soon get over it. Mr. Gurney, I 
 have no doubt, will make a good and faithful 
 officer, and elections, you know, are soon forgot- 
 ten," remarked Mr. Walker. 
 
 "Well, if you have failed in getting' elected 
 Prosecuting Attorney," exclaimed Mr. Gilbert, 
 as he started to depart, " we will not fail in elect- 
 ing you Judge. Good-bye, Mr. Walker." 
 
 " Good-bye, Mr. Gilbert, and do not forget to 
 call again."
 
 194 NICK: PUTZEL; OR 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 " Going to your office, Mr. Gurney ?" said Mr. 
 Welch, the newly-elected Treasurer, as he met 
 that gentleman in front of the Court-house, 
 where his office was located. 
 
 " I am just going there, Mr. Welch. Why ? 
 Have you any business for me?" asked Mr. 
 Gurney. 
 
 " Oh, nothing of importance, but if business is 
 not too pressing with you, I should like to oc- 
 cupy your time for a few minutes." 
 
 " I'm at your service, Mr. Welch. So please 
 step into my office, where we are not so apt to 
 be disturbed," and so saying, Mr. Gurney drew 
 the key from his pocket, opened the door, and 
 both men entered. 
 
 "Take a seat, Mr. Welch^and make yourself 
 as comfortable as chances in a lawyer's office 
 admit, and then let's hear what good news you 
 have in store for me," said Mr. Gurney, offering 
 his visitor a chair. 
 
 " I am here to see you about our little indebted-
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 195 
 
 ness, which we contracted at the last election," 
 said Mr. Welch, as he seated himself. 
 
 " Our indebtedness, you say !" exclaimed Mr. 
 .Gurney, in astonishment. "Indeed, I'm not 
 aware of being indebted to any person, as to 
 money matters, and all through the campaign I 
 paid for everything I bargained for." 
 
 "That is just what I told Mr. O'Brien and 
 Uncle Nick, when we were speaking about it 
 that you were not acquainted with the custom 
 and management of elections, and have not the 
 faintest idea of our indebtedness," remarked 
 Mr. Welch. 
 
 " Well, I must confess that I am in the dark 
 as to the meaning of your words. Will you 
 please enlighten me with an explanation ?" said 
 Mr. Gurney. 
 
 " You see, it has always been the custom to 
 have free tables and free drinks on election days, 
 and in hot and closely contested elections there 
 is considerable expense in procuring votes. 
 This last one was more so than on any former 
 occasion in my recollection, and we had to straiu 
 every nerve to meet with success. In a conver- 
 sation I had with your father, shortly after the 
 nomination, he requested me to attend to all
 
 196 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 such matters, saying that you had very little ex- 
 perience in them. He charged me not to shrink 
 on account of expenses, and that he would see 
 all debts liquidated. I promised him I would do 
 all in my power to insure success, and I am 
 proud to say that he has not been disappointed." 
 
 "Will you please, Mr. Welch," interrupted 
 Mr. Gurney, "tell me how much, and to whom, 
 I am indebted ?" 
 
 " Mr. Putzel, or Uncle Nick, as he is called, 
 says his amount foots up one hundred and ten 
 dollars. I have no doubt but what he has put 
 it on to us pretty heavy, for he is known as the 
 greatest scoundrel in the city ; but we cannot 
 get along without him, for he commands the 
 greater portion of the whisky vote, and can 
 make votes when all others fail. This he knows, 
 and makes the one who seeks his influence pay 
 pretty dearly for it. Then, there are several 
 other accounts, of no great amount, however, 
 the largest being at Pat Murphy's, which is fifty 
 dollars, and at Morgan's, thirty-five. The whole 
 amount, Uncle Nick's included, is somewhere 
 near three hundred dollars, or about one hun- 
 dred dollars to each of us," replied Mr. Welch. 
 It's considerable, but it can be managed to be
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 197 
 
 paid without a very great strain on our pocket- 
 books," he added, with a knowing wink of the 
 eye. 
 
 " Mr. Welch," interrupted Mr. Gurney, some- 
 what impatient at the lengthy explanation of the 
 former, " I feel very sorry that I was not informed 
 of this sooner. Perhaps they will think me very 
 slow in the payment of my debts. But if you 
 will do me the kindness to call at my office to- 
 morrow evening, or tell me when it is conveni- 
 ent to you for me to call at your office, I will 
 hand you the money for liquidation." 
 
 " I would rather you would attend to this mat- 
 ter in person, Mr. Gurney," replied Mr. Welch. 
 " Not that I have any objection," he continued, 
 " but you could see and satisfy yourself as to the 
 amount charged against us, and it would show 
 some respect for the men who worked so hard 
 and faithfully for our success. They say," he 
 added, smilingly, " that you never have shown 
 your face inside their doors since the evening 
 before the election, and Uncle Nick growls like 
 an old grizzly for being caught voting for a 
 'temperance.' " 
 
 " Does he expect a man to visit his saloon 
 every day, because he somewhat assisted in his 
 
 13
 
 198 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 election, and for which service he charges as 
 suits him best ? However, to show him that I 
 am not above visiting saloons, I will meet you 
 there to-morrow evening, if not otherwise pre- 
 vented, to settle our account," said Mr. Gurney. 
 
 " I will see O'Brien about it. We can meet 
 at Uncle Nick's to-morrow evening, after sup- 
 per, straighten up things there, then go to the 
 other places, and wind up the whole business 
 the same evening. A few treats will not amount 
 to very much, but will raise us highly in their 
 estimation," remarked Mr. Welch. 
 
 " I do not mind the cost, and any one is wel- 
 come to drink at my expense, but as for myself, 
 I wish to be excused. Strong drink does not 
 agree with me. I felt its effect on several 
 occasions during the late campaign. It also 
 brought considerable trouble to the heart of my 
 feeble mother, and I resolved, for her sake and 
 my own good, not to drink any more," replied 
 Mr. Gurney. 
 
 " So you conclude to withdraw from public 
 life after the expiration of your present term of 
 office ?" remarked Mr. Welch, with affected sur- 
 prise in his tone. 
 
 "I don't think it necessarily follows that I
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 199 
 
 should withdraw from public- life because I have 
 quit drinking," said Mr. Gurney. 
 
 " Oh, it is not necessary, but it amounts to the 
 same thing in the end," said Mr. Welch. " A 
 candidate," he continued, " who is suspected of 
 favoring or harmonizing with temperance prin- 
 ciples, has no show of success. I have watched 
 many elections, and always with the same re- 
 sult. Take, for instance, the last election. You 
 will admit that in Mr. Walker you had a very 
 formidable opponent a man very well qualified, 
 of the highest standing in society, and greatly 
 respected by all who knew him. You are very 
 young to fill such an office, and although unex- 
 ceptionable in character, and highly educated, 
 you are without any practical experience in your 
 profession ; and yet you defeated him, by three 
 hundred majority, and ran two hundred ahead 
 of the ticket. This was simply because Mr. 
 Walker is a strong, devoted temperance man, is 
 opposed to the use of all spirits, as a beverage, 
 and, consequently, in every saloon-keeper he has 
 an enemy. The other candidates on the ticket 
 were men who drank, but who feel themselves 
 too respectable to go into common saloons and 
 spend a few dollars with " the boys," and for that
 
 200 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 reason have no influence among them. This 
 accounts for our success. Therefore, I say you 
 may just as well withdraw from public life, for 
 without the aid of saloons defeat is certain." 
 
 " I wish not to be understood as having any- 
 thing against saloons, Mr. Welch," interrupted 
 Mr. Gurney. " On the contrary, I think the 
 business just as honorable as any other ; and, for 
 my part, I have no desire to join the temperance 
 society, or use influences damaging to their 
 trade. I have not," he continued, " been in a 
 saloon since the evening before the election ; 
 not because I have anything against saloon- 
 keepers, but because I am afraid of forming a 
 habit for strong drink, and also to bring peace 
 to my broken-hearted mother. My short expe- 
 rience with saloons has taught me that you are 
 expected to drink, and if you are a candidate, 
 or holding an office, to treat when you visit any 
 of them. I would not mind the treating part, if 
 I could do so without being compelled to drink 
 myself. But this seems to be impossible, and 
 therefore my withdrawal." 
 
 " Oh, if this is all the objection," remarked 
 Mr. Welch, laughingly, "you have against sa- 
 loons, then you are all right. Saloon-keepers
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 201 
 
 are not all like Uncle Nick, who wants' every 
 one to drink what he does. If you call out a 
 treat, just order what suits you best. If you 
 don't like strong drinks, call for beer or cider, 
 and if they don't suit, take lemonade or soda- 
 water, or take a cigar. You cannot object to 
 any of them as strong drinks, and I take it for 
 granted that you smoke." 
 
 "For pity's sake," interrupted Mr. Gurney, 
 with a shudder, "don't mention tobacco or 
 cigars. The very sound of the words creates a 
 dizziness in my head, and chokes me up. I had 
 so much of it during the campaign, that often I 
 thought myself transformed into a movable to- 
 bacco hogshead. Even my boots seemed to be 
 made of tobacco, and once, at Pat Murphy's, I 
 came near choking to death, from the volume of 
 smoke, and had I not made for the door, to get 
 fresh air, I believe I would be in my grave now." 
 
 " The smoke of that dog-leg and black navy 
 tobacco, I admit, is not very pleasant," said Mr. 
 Welch, breaking out into a laugh. 
 
 " Especially when flavored with the smell of 
 rifle whisky," added Mr. Gurney. 
 
 " But the smoke of a good Havana " 
 
 " May be a fine aroma to the nostrils of some,
 
 202 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 but mine wish to be excused," said Mr. Gurney, 
 finishing the sentence for Mr. Welch. 
 
 " You will think differently when you make 
 the campaign as a veteran," laughingly remarked 
 Mr. Welch. 
 
 " Perhaps I will," rejoined Mr. Gurney. 
 "They say time makes great changes, but I 
 scarcely think that it ever will change me to a 
 tobacco-loving creature ; and, for that reason, 
 changing the subject, I wish you would do me 
 the favor and settle my bill at Pat Murphy's, for 
 I would rather suffer anything else than to stand 
 another punishment of tobacco smoke. I 
 wouldn't mind visiting a saloon, and drinking, 
 occasionally, a glass of soda or lemonade, but 
 these grog-shops are fearful, and enough to kill 
 any person whose lungs are not prepared with 
 a coat of mail." 
 
 "That's all so," replied MrfWelch, "but from 
 these places we receive our support. Those 
 respectable saloons, which merchants and clerks 
 frequent, are of very little assistance to us. In 
 them, politics are but very little agitated, and 
 votes cannot be bought there, because those 
 who have them for sale don't go in such places. 
 It is the saloons patronized by sportsmen, and
 
 A.RTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 203- 
 
 those known as grog-shops, or doggeries, where 
 we draw our support from ; and, consequently, 
 we must always try to have them in our favor. 
 But time speeds away. I must be off to my 
 office, and if I should not see you again before, 
 I will see you to-morrow evening, at the Court- 
 house saloon."
 
 204 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 " Mr. Walker, perhaps you think me very im- 
 pertinent in trespassing on your time. I was 
 just in the act of passing your office, and thought 
 I would call and express to you my heartfelt 
 thanks for the kind advice you gave me in re- 
 gard to my son, and relate to you, if you have a 
 few minutes' spare time, the result of a little ex- 
 periment in regard to our last conversation. 
 
 " No trespass at all, friend Rogers," replied 
 Mr. Walker, shaking the offered hand of the 
 speaker. " And as to your thanks, indeed I 
 cannot remember having done anything, or giv- 
 en you any advice, which would call forth thanks. 
 But please be seated, and let us have the result 
 of your experiment. I am anxious to hear what 
 it can be." 
 
 So saying, he handed Mr. Rogers a chair, and 
 that gentleman, after seating himself, said 
 
 " You will remember advising me to try kind- 
 ness and persuasion in reforming my misled 
 son, and to make home cheerful, pleasant, and 
 attractive, to keep him from being led astray
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 205 
 
 again. I left your office, and on my way home 
 reconsidered every word, and by the time I 
 reached home I had decided to do all in my 
 power to make it effective, so as to bring about 
 the desired result. My family is large five 
 children three boys and two girls ; the oldest 
 nineteen, and the youngest seven. I knew the 
 different ages required different treatment, and 
 made my plans accordingly. My oldest son is 
 a great fellow for machinery, and also has a taste 
 for chemistry. I resolved to subscribe for a sci- 
 entific and chemical journal. Several of the 
 older ones exhibit a taste for literature, so I re- 
 solved to get a few of our best illustrated week- 
 lies, and for the little ones, I thought illustrated 
 children's papers would be best. Of course, I 
 would counsel with my wife about my plans. 
 Perhaps she could suggest some ideas, or help 
 me in the selection of games for their amuse- 
 ment. My feelings when I entered the house 
 were quite different from what they were when 
 I left in the morning. My wife met me in the 
 hall, with tears in her eyes, and with a trembling 
 voice and pleading tone, said 
 
 " ' Dear husband, do not be too hard on James. 
 The poor boy has cried ever since you left, and
 
 206 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 he promised me that if his father will forgive 
 him this time it never shall happen again. Oh, 
 he trembles to meet you, and I promised to in- 
 tercede for him.' 
 
 " ' I will not chastise him,' I said, ' because I 
 think he has been more sinned against than sin- 
 ning, and that, too, by his parents.' 
 
 "She looked at me very strangely, and re- 
 marked, ' Dear husband, I do not understand the 
 meaning of your words.' 
 
 " ' Well, I do not think we have treated our 
 children quite as we ought to,' I said. ' In som'e 
 respects we are too strict ; in others, entirely too 
 careless. We wish them to be obedient, not 
 through love, but by command. We never con- 
 trive an hour of pleasure for them, and never 
 mingle with them in their innocent sports. No, 
 dear wife, I shall not chastise the poor boy for 
 doing wrong, when I have done wrong myself.' 
 
 " I told her, then, of the conversation I had 
 with you ; of the advice you gave me, and the 
 plans I proposed. She concurred with me in 
 all, and all the wrongs of the poor boy were for- 
 gotten. Our conversation lasted over half an 
 hour, when we agreed to go and see James. 
 The poor boy must have heard my approach,
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 207 
 
 for when I opened the door of the room where 
 he was, he began crying, and begged me to for- 
 give him. I walked up to him, took his hand, 
 and said 
 
 " ' I have forgiven you. I know you will not 
 do it any more. You have no disposition to do 
 wrong, and were only led astray.' 
 
 " I talked with the grief-stricken boy for some 
 time, while his mother was preparing something 
 for him to eat. The kindness with which I 
 treated him warmed up his heart, and he told 
 me, without reserve, how he was led astray. 
 
 " The day that began so gloomy and dreary 
 to my wife and me found us merry and joyful 
 at its close ; and when I reviewed my day's 
 work, after retiring, I thought it the best I had 
 done for a long time." 
 
 " And you have found kind words will do more 
 to gain obedience, and keep your children 
 around the family circle, than harsh words and 
 the rod?" said Mr. Walker, after Mr. Rogers 
 had paused. 
 
 " Of this I am fully convinced," the latter went 
 on. " But for you, Mr. Walker, I never would 
 have thought of giving it a trial. But my story 
 is not all told yet. I was determined to carry
 
 208 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 out my plans. The evening following, the Sci- 
 entific American, a journal of chemistry, an illus- 
 trated weekly, and several useful children's pa- 
 pers, were found on the table. I told the child- 
 ren that if I saw they took any interest in them, 
 they should have them every week. Their joy, 
 from the oldest to the youngest, was unbounded, 
 and the next day, when they found a swing, and 
 games of amusement added to their literature, 
 I was obliged to leave the premises, to escape 
 their gratitude and thanks. I established regu- 
 lar hours in which to have our out-door exer- 
 cises ; and after supper, reading and in-door 
 games are indulged in. I take part whenever 
 time permits, and I find it is enjoyment for me, 
 as well as for them. My wife often says, while 
 watching our proceedings, that she believes I 
 have grown a child again. So far," continued 
 Mr. Rogers, after a short pause, " my experience 
 has been successful beyond expectation." 
 
 " And I have no doubt thousands of others, 
 if they could be persuaded to try the experi- 
 ment, would testify to the same result," remarked 
 Mr. Walker, when Mr. Rogers had paused. 
 And, as if speaking to himself, he added, " Seeds 
 of kindness have sprouted, grown and brought
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 209 
 
 fruit, on soil wh'ere all others have failed. I am 
 glad, Mr. Rogers, that you have made the ex- 
 periment, the result of which I have never 
 doubted. I may, perhaps, induce others to fol- 
 low your example. Oh, how many lives are 
 brought to destruction, fill a drunkard's grave, 
 end in the penitentiary, or on the gallows, by the 
 chilly and cheerless atmosphere inhaled under 
 the parental roof." 
 
 " Some of my neighbors are paying pretty 
 close attention," said Mr. Rogers, laughingly, as 
 Mr. Walker ceased speaking, " and I have no 
 doubt that I will have a good many competitors 
 ere long. But this is not all," he continued. I 
 have extended my experiment, since our last 
 conversation, in which you brought to my 
 attention the condition of those beings among 
 us who have no homes, or families, or relatives, or 
 friends, and who are, in every sense of the words 
 as you expressed them, strangers in a strange 
 land ; and while it affects all, it is felt most by 
 those coming from a foreign land. Several of 
 my neighbors have foreigners in their employ, 
 and I resolved, should an opportunity offer, to 
 make myself thoroughly acquainted with their 
 social condition. I had not long to wait. Dr.
 
 210 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 Carson has nad, for the last three years, a Ger- 
 man in his employ. He is an excellent gar- 
 dener, takes good care of the Doctor's horses, 
 trustworthy in every respect, and exceedingly 
 handy about the house. The only fault he has, 
 says the Doctor, is, that he will occasionally get 
 on a drunk. This man I singled out as my first 
 subject. He would, when at leisure, come to 
 the fence apd look on when we played our 
 games, and seemed to enjoy the sport as much 
 as if he were taking part. I invited him to come 
 over. The friendly invitation was duly appre- 
 ciated, but he respectfully declined, remarking, 
 in broken English, that perhaps it might not 
 please the Doctor. But having obtained that 
 gentleman's consent, no one was more promptly 
 on hand than Fritz. He always managed to get 
 through with his work before our appointed 
 time, so he could enjoy the sport uninterrupted. 
 I found him to be very intelligent. We all liked 
 him, and now he is looked upon as one of the 
 family. 
 
 " ' Mr. Rogers/ he said one day to me, when 
 we were alone, ' I feel like another man since I 
 got acquainted with you and your family.' 
 
 " ' Why so ?' I said, affecting surprise.
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 211 
 
 " ' Why, you see,' he went on, ' it seems so 
 much like home. Oh, the people of America 
 are so cold, and so hard to get acquainted 
 with !' 
 
 "Tears rolled down the poor fellow's cheeks, 
 as he spoke those words. 
 
 " ' Have you no relatives in this country ?' I 
 asked. 
 
 " ' I have a cousin, but have failed to find him ; 
 all my search was in vain. My money gave out 
 when I got to this city. I came across the Doc- 
 tor, who hired me, and I have been with him 
 ever since.' 
 
 " ' And how do you spend your hours ?' I in- 
 quired. 
 
 " ' Well,' said he, ' you see, I am very fond of 
 reading, but I cannot read English, so I go to 
 the saloon, sometimes, to read the paper, and 
 drink a glass of beer.' 
 
 " ' But could you not read the paper in some 
 private family ?' I continued. 
 
 " ' Most of the people do not want to be both- 
 ered with strangers,' he replied. 
 
 " ' Well, does it never happen that you meet 
 with good company in saloons, and sometimes 
 drink too much ?'
 
 212 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 " ' Yes, very often,' he said, ' and it comes from 
 that very bad custom they call treating. You 
 see,' he went on, in his broken English, ' I go to 
 read the paper and drink a glass of beer. 
 When I open the door somebody takes me by 
 the arm, and says, ' Come, let's drink a glass of 
 beer, it's my treat.' After a while another one 
 says, ' Barkeeper, fill them up again, it's my 
 treat.' A little later, another one says, ' Boys, 
 come up, it's my treat.' You wait a little while, 
 and then you say, 'Well, men, you have all 
 treated, what will you take with me ?' Three or 
 four others do the same, and the consequences 
 are, our money gone, all of us drunk, and the 
 next day severe headache and nervousness. 
 Oh, if I only could read English, no one would 
 ever see me in a saloon again.' 
 
 " After a short pause, and while I was in the 
 act of leaving, I remarked that my son James 
 was desirous of learning German, and if he 
 would undertake to teach him, I would get the 
 necessary books, and at the same time he could 
 learn English. Also, I told him he should have 
 a German paper every week, if he would pro- 
 mise never to visit a saloon. You ought to have 
 seen him when I spoke those words. His eyes
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 213 
 
 beamed with joy, he grasped my hand, and look- 
 ing me in the face, said, ' Mr. Rogers, you have 
 been acting a father to me. I promise you 
 that I will never enter a saloon, except on 
 business, and you shall never hear of Fritz 
 breaking his word.' And I am satisfied that he 
 spoke the truth." 
 
 " Very well done, indeed," said Mr. Walker, 
 after the speaker paused. " You deserve credit 
 for the management which worked such favor- 
 able results." 
 
 " The credit belongs to you, Mr. Walker, and 
 not to me. It was your idea and theory that I 
 experimented on, and not mine. I was only the 
 instrument, while you were its guide," remarked 
 Mr. Rogers. 
 
 "But," he continued, "I must tell you the rest 
 of my experiment. My neighbor Jones has an 
 Irish teamster. He has been in his employ for 
 some years. Mr. Jones says he is the best kind 
 of a fellow, a good teamster, and very industri- 
 ous ; but as regular as Sunday comes Pat will 
 go on a drunken spree. He was no stranger to 
 me, and I singled him out for my experiment, as 
 I was determined to try it on men of different 
 nationalities. One evening, while the children 
 
 14
 
 214 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 and Fritz were in the garden, playing their usual 
 games, I walked up to Pat, who was sitting at 
 the entrance of the stable, smoking his pipe, and 
 seemingly enjoying our sport, and said 
 
 " ' Pat, come over, take a part, and help us 
 out.' 
 
 " ' I would make a fine appearance among 
 young ladies and gentlemen,' he replied, laugh- 
 ingly, reviewing himself. 
 
 " ' We do not exclude any one because they 
 are in their working clothes, so just come over. 
 You can see better, anyhow, if you do not wish 
 to take a part.' 
 
 " My kind words had the desired effect. He 
 accepted the invitation, jumped over the fence, 
 walked with me to the playground, and got so 
 interested in the game that he took an active 
 part in it before he was aware of it. 
 
 " Now, if this don't beat all,' he said, after the 
 game was finished. 'I thought I would look on 
 a little, and here I was taking part before I was 
 aware of it.' 
 
 " ' Well, Pat,' said I, as he was about to leave, 
 'come over whenever you have time, and of 
 evenings, when you feel like it, come over and 
 hear the news, and some other reading that may
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 215 
 
 interest you. We devote an hour every eve- 
 ning after supper to reading, and afterward 
 amuse ourselves with different games. We 
 would be very glad to have you with us.' 
 
 " He looked at me in perfect astonishment, 
 and after a few moments of silence, replied 
 
 "'You are joking, Mr. Rogers, for men of 
 your social standing are not apt to invite labor- 
 ers to mingle in their family circle.' 
 
 " ' And why not ?' said I, ' if we know them to 
 be good, moral men. It surely is not a disgrace 
 to make a living at work. On the contrary, we 
 should respect them more for it.' 
 
 " ' Most of the people in your circumstances 
 do not think that way. They would think it be- 
 neath them to speak a kind word to a working 
 man.' 
 
 " ' Such men are not Christians, and we must 
 forgive them for not knowing better.' 
 
 " Before parting, and through the persuasion 
 of my son, he promised he would come after 
 supper, and he was as good as his word, for just 
 as we were ready for our evening's work, Pat, 
 nicely dressed, with more the appearance of a 
 dry goods clerk than a teamster, arrived. He 
 was very reserved at first, but soon warmed up,
 
 216 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 and went away apparently very well satisfied, 
 promising that he would call whenever he could 
 get off. He calls now very often, and all his 
 shyness has disappeared. ' Pat,' said I, one eve- 
 ning, ' how did you generally spend your time ?' 
 
 " ' Well,' said he, through the week, after my 
 day's work was done, I would light my pipe, sit 
 in front of the stable, where I fixed a rough 
 bench, take a smoke, and then go to bed. Sun- 
 day morning I would attend mass ; after dinner 
 would go to the saloon, hear the news and have 
 a little fun.' 
 
 " ' What kind of fun did you have, generally, 
 in a saloon, on Sunday ?' I inquired. 
 
 " ' O, we would take our dram, play a game 
 of cards or billiards, or throw dice for the drinks.' 
 
 "'Well, in doing that way, don't you some- 
 times get a little too much ?' 
 
 " ' Not sometimes,' he answered, ' but a good 
 many times. You see we go to playing just for 
 one drink only, but the one that loses wants re- 
 venge ; well, another one loses and he wants re- 
 venge, and so on a half dozen, yes, sometimes a 
 dozen times. You don't think of getting too 
 much, and always think yourself the soberest 
 man, until next morning, when you wake up
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 217 
 
 with a severe headache, and discover you were 
 beastly drunk the day before.' 
 
 " ' You ought not to go to such places, Pat,' 
 said I, when he had finished. ' You ought to go 
 in better company, into respectable society.' 
 
 " ' Yes, and be driven out of the house,' he in- 
 terrupted. ' You must be invited, first, before 
 you have a chance to go in such society, and 
 you are the first one that has invited me since I 
 have been in America. If I had got into such a 
 family as yours when I came to America, and 
 had been treated with such kindness as by you 
 and your family, I would have saved many 
 dollars, and whisky would not have the upper 
 hand of me nor control my actions.' 
 
 " * And do you think you could quit drinking 
 whisky, if you were to try?' I asked. 
 
 " ' I will not promise,' he answered, ' because 
 I might fail; but one thing I can say, I have not 
 drank a drop since the day you kindly invited 
 me, and it is not likely that I will as long as I 
 mingle with your family.' 
 
 " I am experimenting now with a Frenchman, 
 and will, if you wish me, inform you of the re- 
 sult." 
 
 "Do so, by all means," said Mr. Walker; "I
 
 218 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 am very much interested in the noble work you 
 have begun, and which has proved so satisfac- 
 tory already." 
 
 " I wish you would find a leisure hour and 
 come and spend an evening- with us." 
 
 "Thank you, I will do so at the first opportu- 
 nity." 
 
 " But, Mr. Walker, time rolls on, and I must 
 be off this minute." Shaking the offered hand, 
 he bade him good day.
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 219 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 " This is the last game you get out of me to- 
 day. To lose five in succession is enough to 
 make a preacher swear." So saying, the speaker 
 threw, the billiard cue he held in his hand heavily 
 on the cushion, and turning, he said, " Come on, 
 men, let's have it." 
 
 The men, five or six in number, followed the 
 speaker, and were soon standing in front of the 
 counter, in Uncle Nick's bar-room. 
 
 " Have you lost it again, Mr. Welch ?" said 
 Uncle Nick to the speaker, who was no less a 
 personage than Mr. Henry Welch, the Treasu- 
 rer, ordering the drinks. " You have been very- 
 unlucky to-day." 
 
 " I have been very unlucky all this week," he 
 replied. " These fellows have fleeced me out of 
 at least two hundred dollars in poker, and got 
 every treat on to me besides. Oh, they have no 
 conscientious scruples against cheating a dying 
 Christian out of the sacrament." 
 
 " You don't accuse us of cheating," remarked
 
 220 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 one of the company, as he glanced mischievously 
 from one to another. 
 
 " Oh, no, not at all. You are perfect saints, 
 all of you. It is only a pity you did not live in 
 the age of wonders. Your names would then 
 have been recorded on the pages of history for 
 turning jack-stones into aces." 
 
 " If you hat seen dem von tay last week, Mr. 
 Welch," remarked Uncle Nick, "you would have 
 tought dey could durn figs into crab-apples." 
 
 "What did they do, Uncle Nick?" asked Mr. 
 Welch. 
 
 " Dey blayed mit a commercial drabbler. De 
 feller stacked his whole pile. Four aces, he 
 cried, put ven he laid dem on de dable, der vas 
 only dree unt a duce. De feller raved unt 
 caved ; he swore he helt four in his hant, unt by 
 some hocus pocus von vas changed. Dey dit 
 not leave de poor feller enough do pay for his 
 drinks unt board, but graciously loaned him vive 
 tollars to help him along." 
 
 " Oh, get out, Uncle Nick," remarked one of 
 the men. " The whole affair is not worth talk- 
 ing about. The poor devil did not have but a 
 hundred and fifty dollars. But I did not pity
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 221 
 
 him, because he was so anxious to play, and 
 thought himself so smart." 
 
 " I dought he felt very cheap ven he left," in- 
 terrupted Uncle Nick, shaking himself with 
 laughter. 
 
 "Take hold, men, and don't have the bar- 
 keeper waiting." And so saying, Mr. Welch 
 filled his glass and passed the bottle to the next. 
 After all were refreshed, another game was pro- 
 posed, but Mr. Welch declined, saying, he had 
 enough for to-day. 
 
 " You are not going to give it up dat vay, 
 mitout having revenge ! Dat vill never to for 
 a man like you, Mr. Welch. Dem fellers will 
 prag unt dell every potty of having packed you 
 out," said Uncle Nick, affecting surprise. 
 
 " Will you go my halfers, if I lose ?" was Mr. 
 Welch's reply to Uncle Nick's remark. 
 
 " Go your halfers !" repeated Uncle Nick. 
 "Go our County Treasurer's halfers if he 
 loses !" he continued, " veil if dot don't peat me. 
 A man dot can put his hant on dousands of dol- 
 lars any dime he wants to, have cheek enough 
 to ask a poor saloon keeper, who scarcely makes 
 enough to keep soul unt pody togeder to go 
 his halfers!"
 
 222 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 "The money you speak of, Uncle Nick," re- 
 marked Mr. Welch, "don't do me any good. 
 It belongs to the people. I am only its keeper 
 and guardian." 
 
 "Exactly. I understand dese dings," said 
 Uncle Nick, laughingly. " You keeps de money 
 for der beebles, unt stant guard ober it mit a big 
 sword in your hant, put you get bay for all dis, 
 unt ven you put your hant in de money bag 
 jhust do like de millers ven dey dakes doll, unt 
 you be sure unt not cheat yourself." 
 
 " Uncle Nick judges every one by himself," 
 interposed one of the men. " He did not forget 
 to get his pay the night we were playing with 
 those drovers. We drank ten bottles of New 
 Jersey cider, and he charged us sixty dollars for 
 twelve bottles of champagne." 
 
 "I should have charged you dwo hundred 
 dollars instead of sixty. I hat to put all mein 
 vits to work to get dem fellers into your net. 
 You even never danked me for it, unt, by rights, 
 you should have divided mit me." 
 
 " These fellows have too much conscientious 
 scruples, Uncle Nick, to divide other people's 
 money, which by chance falls into their hands," 
 remarked Mr. Welch.
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 223 
 
 " Uncle Nick had more than his share," the 
 first speaker resumed. " We gave him two fif- 
 ties, but he was smart enough not to give us 
 back any change, and the whole sum we got out 
 of those fellows was only a trifle, about five hun- 
 dred dollars." 
 
 " Unt you tink I would pe fool enough to give 
 you pack de change ?" was Uncle Nick's reply 
 to the last speaker's remark. " Unt not get any- 
 ting for de use of de room, unt de lights, unt all 
 de oder fixings ? You waits a long dime pefore 
 you finds Uncle Nick to be dat much of a fool. 
 Unt den you pe like a hotel runner ven you say 
 you only got a leetle over five hundred dollars. 
 I know you rascals got more dan dree dimes dat 
 much, but you never are satisfied as long as you 
 see a dollar in der possession." 
 
 " Oh, we are very well satisfied, Uncle Nick ; 
 it's you that can't get enough. You would 
 growl if they were throwing the money in the 
 chest with a scoop-shovel," was the rejoinder. 
 " But," he added, " our conversation has caused 
 the barkeeper to go to sleep ; we had better 
 give him a little exercise, and as I had the good 
 luck of not losing a game to-day, I'll treat volun-
 
 224 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 tarily. Uncle Nick shall not say that I am 
 stingy. Come up, men, what will you have ?" 
 
 Uncle Nick's eyes brightened as he remarked, 
 " Charley is der man ; dere is not a stingy bone 
 in him. He lets de money circulate," and turn- 
 ing to the barkeeper, he added, " de cogniac is 
 de best cheap at dwenty cents a drink, let's 
 have from it." 
 
 " We must let Uncle Nick have his way, if we 
 have peace in the family," remarked one of the 
 company, laughingly. 
 
 After justice had been done to Uncle Nick's 
 celebrated French importation, the one ad- 
 dressed as Charley proposed to play another 
 game, but Mr. Welch declined, saying he ex- 
 pected Mr. Gurney every moment, and did not 
 wish to be observed by that gentleman as hav- 
 ing a hand in a game. 
 
 " His guardian has joined de demperance since 
 his election, and Mr. Welch is afraid of being 
 chastised should he be caught playing mit de 
 poys. Never got so bit in mein life dan ven I 
 voted for dat feller. You don't cheat Uncle 
 Nick after dis." 
 
 " And you just let Arthur Gurney alone, if 
 you please. There is not a finer young man in
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 225 
 
 the city than this lad ; with a heart as big as a 
 bushel, and not a stingy bone in him." 
 
 " But he is demperance," put in Uncle Nick, 
 somewhat angrily, " he has never come in my 
 saloon since de evening pefore de election." 
 
 " Well, he will be here this evening, and if 
 you can listen a few moments without interrupt- 
 ing me, I will tell you the reason why he has not 
 been here," said Mr. Welch ; and after Uncle 
 Nick's "go on," he continued: "You see, young 
 Gurney never drank a drop of strong drink in 
 his life before his nomination, and the first that 
 ever passed his lips was in this saloon, the day 
 after his nomination, when you insisted on him 
 taking something strong, instead of the lemon- 
 ade he ordered. The pledge he had given his 
 mother, not to drink, once broken, he got in the 
 habit of using it freely during the campaign, and 
 often felt its effects. His mother, who has been 
 in delicate health for quite a time, watched him 
 pretty closely, and her motherly instincts soon 
 discovered how matters stood, and it worried 
 her considerably. She is not long for this world. 
 He is greatly attached to her, and it is on her 
 account that he quit drinking." 
 
 Uncle Nick had listened very attentively, but
 
 226 * NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 when the speaker mentioned woman as the 
 cause of not drinking, his indignation was 
 aroused, and he could keep silent no longer. 
 " Vimmens ! always vimmens at de pottem of 
 de droubles," he interrupted. " Dese vimmens, 
 mit der candy, unt der cakes, unt der lemonade, 
 unt der ice cream, der dispepsay, unt de con- 
 sumpsion, would preak de coundry up if dey 
 could ; unt dey would die if der men would not 
 do as dey dell dem to. Dat's not de vay in der 
 old coundry. De mans do as dey blease, unt de 
 vimmens must keep der mouth shut." 
 
 When Uncle Nick got through with his out- 
 pourings of righteous indignation, Mr. Welch 
 resumed 
 
 " As I told you before, young Gurney is very 
 liberal, does not mind a treat any more than 
 one of us, and as to him belonging to the tem- 
 perance, it has no foundation whatever. In a 
 conversation I had with him yesterday, and in 
 which I slightly hinted that the saloon-keepers 
 suspected him of having joined the temperance, 
 he told me what I have just related to you, and, 
 furthermore, he said he would gladly visit sa- 
 loons occasionally, mingle with his friends and 
 spend a dollar or so, if he could only do so with-
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 227 
 
 out being compelled to use strong drink him- 
 self." 
 
 " And who in the thunder can and will compel 
 him to take it if he does not want to ?" remarked 
 several of the company, as the speaker paused. 
 
 "You see," Mr. Welch went on, "Uncle Nick 
 is to blame for all of it. The first time that 
 Gurney came here he called for lemonade ; but 
 no; Uncle Nick could not rest until he took 
 some of his forty-yard-killing corn-juice, that he 
 has the cheek to call French brandy. The poor 
 fellow did not know any better thought he had 
 to obey, and took some of the sure-shot, and fol- 
 lowed it up all along during the campaign ; it's 
 no wonder he shuns saloons." 
 
 " Uncle Nick what have you got to say against 
 this charge ?" was asked by several of the com- 
 pany. 
 
 " Veil, I say Mr. Welch ought to know what 
 kind of stuff French brandy is. He has drank 
 a barrel of it, unt is not dead yet ; unt he looks 
 as if he could make away mit another one pefore 
 he is laid away in his coffin." 
 
 A loud ha ! ha ! from the company, at the ex- 
 pense of Mr. Welch, was the only reply to Uncle 
 Nick's remark.
 
 228 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 " And why do you object to him seeing you 
 play, Henry?" asked Charley. 
 
 " After all there is policy in it," replied the 
 former. "I want to get him in the saloons 
 again, but I don't want to do as Uncle Nick did, 
 and spoil the whole thing. And you see it 
 takes, with a fellow like him, gentle proceedings. 
 When he treats and calls for soda water for him- 
 self, don't say, ' you must take what the others 
 take,' but give him his soda water. If he calls 
 for lemonade, make him a good glass of lemon- 
 ade. Don't spike it at first, and when you com- 
 mence, do it gradually, so he will not be aware 
 of it. By proper management we will get him 
 used to it in a short time. The same tac*t must 
 be pursued to get him to play. At first, some 
 of you must play merely to pass away time ; 
 after awhile, invite him to take part in it there 
 is no money at stake and no treats to be paid 
 it is a nice pastime, a very healthy exercise. 
 He does not know anything about playing 
 'well, he can learn, it's no witchery, it is very 
 easy to comprehend/ and the rest follows." 
 
 Uncle Nick, who had listened very attentively, 
 drew a long breath after the speaker ceased, and
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 229 
 
 tapping him on the shoulder, said, " Mr. Welch, 
 have you any poys ?" 
 
 " As fortune willed it, my boys turned out all 
 girls," replied that gentleman ; "but why, Uncle 
 Nick?" 
 
 " I tink if you hat some," said he, " unt mit de 
 teaching dat you can give dem, unt de leetle im- 
 provement dey have now-a-days, you could blace 
 dem ahead of all de rascals in de coundry." 
 
 A great laughter followed this expression, and 
 was kept up until one of the company said : " Be 
 quiet, men, and put on a sober face ; I see our 
 hero coming." 
 
 " Good evening, gentlemen," said Mr. Gurney, 
 addressing the company, as he entered the sa- 
 loon. 
 
 " Good evening, Mr. Gurney," repeated half 
 a dozen voices, and Uncle Nick continued, as he 
 shook the offered hand, " I congratulate you on 
 your success. I should have done so ere dis hat 
 you given me a chance, but you never showed 
 yourself, unt I tought you hat joined de dempe- 
 rance." 
 
 " Thank you, Uncle Nick, thank you ; but you 
 must excuse me for not calling on you any 
 sooner. The campaign came very near using 
 
 15
 
 230 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 me up, and I needed rest, to recruit my health." 
 And, turning to the company, he added, " Gen- 
 tlemen, will you please come up and take some- 
 thing with me ?" 
 
 While the men arranged themselves, and 
 while, with the exception of Mr. Gurney, who 
 called for lemonade, Uncle Nick's cogniac bottle 
 passed from hand to hand, the latter remarked, 
 " Dem political campaigns is awful hart on de 
 candidate's constitution. Every day dey must 
 make speeches, unt every fool wants to speak 
 mit dem, unt shake hants mit dem, unt dis is 
 hart on de lungs unt hart on de brains. Dey 
 never gets old ; de only ding dat keeps dem up 
 unt helps dem to get along is a leetle goot 
 French brandy." 
 
 " Gentlemen, don't stand on ceremony," inter- 
 rupted Mr. Gurney ; " I am somewhat in a hurry, 
 and have a little private business to transact 
 with Uncle Nick ; so, good luck to all." 
 
 He emptied his glass, and turning to Uncle 
 Nick, said, " I came to settle our account, con- 
 tracted on the last election. I am ashamed " 
 
 "No 'pology," interrupted Uncle Nick, "I 
 vish it vas den dimes as much, unt all mein cus- 
 tomers as goot bay as you are. Jhust valk in
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 231 
 
 dis oder room ; noboty disturb us, unt you con 
 look ober de account yourself." 
 
 " That is not necessary, Uncle Nick," said Mr. 
 Gurney, " I never doubted your honesty." And, 
 beckoning for Mr. Welch to follow, all three 
 disappeared. 
 
 After the door had closed behind them, Char- 
 ley, with a roguish smile, remarked, " We will 
 have some feathers from this bird after awhile."
 
 232 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 " Mr. Proctor, you are evidently not very well 
 pleased with Adelia's suitor, to judge from the 
 manner in which you act. I think it would have 
 shown a little more respect if you had gone out 
 with me to see them start, instead of lying 
 on the divan reading the papers," said Mrs. 
 Proctor, entering the parlor, where her husband 
 was. She was, apparently, not in the best of 
 humor, for the word " Mister " was never used 
 by her except when a storm was brewing. 
 
 Mr. Proctor looked up from his paper and 
 calmly said, " Well, now, what have I done to 
 deserve such censure ?" 
 
 " Oh, you need not look so innocently. You 
 scarcely spoke to him at all, and the few words 
 you had to speak, for manners' sake, were cold 
 and chilly. I know that he must feel insulted 
 at such conduct ; and this is the way you act 
 every time he calls. I know every father and 
 mother who has marriageable daughters would 
 be proud, and think it the greatest honor, if such 
 a man as Arthur Gurney would pay respect to
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 233 
 
 their daughters ; but you, to judge from your 
 actions, would rather see him ten miles off than 
 in her presence," she replied. 
 
 " I cannot recall that I have treated Mr. Gur- 
 ney otherwise than respectful, whenever I came 
 in contact with him. But I do not consider him 
 a suitable person for the husband of my daugh- 
 ter, and I would rather intrust her welfare and 
 future happiness to the care of some other than 
 him," was Mr. Proctor's answer. 
 
 "Well, that plainly shows that you are preju- 
 diced against him. He is from an exceedingly 
 good family, and I have heard it said his father 
 was one of the foremost men in our city. His 
 mother is a devoted Christian, respected by all 
 who know her. His sister and brother-in-law 
 move in the highest circle of society, and what 
 he is can be judged from the fact that the people 
 honor him every year or so with higher positions 
 in public life. And I am told he is one of the 
 best judges of law in the State. He was scarcely 
 of age when he was elected Prosecuting Attor- 
 ney, and now, at the age of twenty-eight, he is 
 one of our leading men in the State Senate. It 
 is said his father was quite wealthy, and when 
 the property was divided the homestead fell to
 
 234 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 Arthur. The widow, his mother, who lies now 
 very low with consumption, and hourly expected 
 to die, is making her home with her daughter, - 
 Mrs. Emmit. Now, taking all these things into 
 consideration, where could you find a more suit- 
 able person for our daughter ?" 
 
 Mrs. Proctor grew warmer and warmer, as 
 she related all the good qualities of Mr. Gurney 
 to her husband, and when she had finished, 
 looked defiantly at her husband for a reply. 
 
 " Oh, what you say is all well enough, and no 
 doubt true. But riches and high station in life 
 are not all that are wanting to make married 
 life happy. There are other considerations we 
 must not overlook, and the most important of 
 these are, will there be a mutual feeling of love ; 
 will the husband treat his wife with kindness and 
 respect, and will he make home pleasant and 
 cheerful ?" 
 
 " A man who thinks as much of his mother as 
 I am told Mr. Gurney does of his, will always be 
 kind and loving to his wife." 
 
 " And will, perhaps," interrupted Mr. Proctor, 
 "just as often break the promises he gives his 
 wife, as he has broken those he gave his mother." 
 
 " And what were the promises he gave his
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 235 
 
 mother that he violated ? And from what source 
 do you derive your information ?" angrily asked 
 his wife. 
 
 " I have it from the best of authority, which I 
 have no right to mention, that he promised his 
 mother, time and time again, that he would quit 
 drinking ; and as often as he promised he vio- 
 lated it. He has been for weeks, sometimes, on 
 sprees ; and it has not been so very long since 
 I saw him, with my own eyes, intoxicated. Nor 
 is this all: he also has acquired a habit of 
 gambling, and has, I am told, already squandered 
 considerable of the estate he got from his father. 
 Now, with such facts before me, will it be safe 
 to trust my child in his keeping ?" 
 
 A pause ensued ; but after a short silence, 
 Mrs. Proctor resumed 
 
 " Dear husband, you know how some people 
 are in this world, especially when a gentleman 
 of wealth and position pays his respects to a poor 
 girl, and they think it would result in a mar- 
 riage ; they will tell a thousand stories to break 
 it up if they can, and I think this is the way they 
 try to do with Mr. Gurney and Adelia. I have 
 no doubt that Mr. Gurney drinks a glass occa- 
 sionally. They tell me his father drank his glass
 
 236 NICK TUTZEL; OR 
 
 every day, never was drunk in his life, and was 
 one of the best business men in the city. It is 
 not likely the son of such a man will go astray ; 
 and it is not likely the people would elevate him 
 to higher positions in public life every year or 
 so, if he had thrown himself away drinking or 
 associating with gamblers. It's nothing but 
 envy that circulates these stories, to break up 
 what they fear will be a marriage. Now every 
 one of those big-bugs want the position for their 
 own daughters, and it hurts them to think that a 
 poor candy-maker's daughter stands the best 
 chance, and will soon be the foremost lady in the 
 city. But they will be fooled, and that badly, 
 too, because I know Mr. Gurney loves her, and 
 she will make him a good wife. They may do 
 all they can, it will not do them any good, for 
 Adelia is ahead in the race, and she will carry 
 off the prize." 
 
 " I would rather," said Mr. Proctor, " my 
 daughter would marry a poor candy-maker, like 
 myself, than to marry a drinking man, and sell 
 her peace and happiness for money and a station 
 in life. But when women have their heads set, 
 they will not listen to argument or reason, and 
 generally carry out their object, be it for good
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 237 
 
 or bad, and of course, you and your daughter, 
 I'm afraid, will make no exception to this rule ; 
 and it would be useless for me to strive against 
 it. I only hope that I am wrong and you are 
 right, and that you will never have reason to re- 
 gret it." 
 
 " No ; I think that day will never come," Mrs. 
 Proctor replied. " And now, as I see you are 
 in a little better humor," she continued, " I will 
 tell you that they are promised, and I think 
 when they come back from their ride he will 
 ask you for her hand." 
 
 Mr. Proctor showed no surprise at hearing 
 this news ; it was as if he expected it. He was 
 a man not given to very many words, and was 
 very careful in his conversation. With a large 
 family to support several children, the oldest 
 Adelia and with a small income, derived from 
 the manufacture of candy, which he carried on 
 on a small scale, it kept him pretty busy to make 
 both ends meet. But, being very industrious 
 and temperate in his habits, he managed to have 
 every thing comfortable, and even a little luxury 
 about his house. Mrs. Proctor was in every 
 respect a worthy housewife, a good mother, and 
 a great assistance to her husband. She was, as
 
 238 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 most women would have been, proud of Adelia's 
 matchless beauty. When Arthur Gurney, the 
 most honored of all the young men, began to 
 pay his addresses to the young lady, she did all 
 that a mother's ingenuity in such matters is ca- 
 pable of doing, to bring it to a successful issue. 
 The task was not an easy one, for the support 
 and co-operation she expected from her husband 
 failed, and she had to rely on her own resources. 
 But she overcame all obstacles, and when she 
 informed her husband that Mr. Gurney, on his 
 return, would probably ask him for Adelia's 
 hand, her countenance expressed an air of tri- 
 umph, clearly indicating that the work was hers. 
 Adelia, our heroine, was eighteen years old, 
 and, as we have said, of matchless beauty. This, 
 with a queenly carriage, attracted the attention 
 of all. It brought many admirers, and made her 
 a good many more enemies, especially among 
 mothers and their marriageable daughters. She 
 had no superfluous education ; neither was there 
 any extraordinary talent, will, or force of mind 
 perceptible. She was open-hearted, and with 
 the exception of a little vanity caused more by 
 the teachings of her mother than her own incli- 
 nation without any noticeable faults. She was
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 239 
 
 endowed with all the qualities necessary to make 
 a loving wife and mother. But she lacked those 
 sometimes so much needed fascination, will, 
 and power. Such a young lady, although not 
 perfect, was a rare prize, and well worth contend- 
 ing for, which many worthy young men tried in 
 vain, before Mr. Gurney was crowned with suc- 
 cess. 
 
 Six years have passed since our story began, 
 and we first made the acquaintance of Arthur 
 Gurney, when a candidate for Prosecuting Attor- 
 ney. But this short time has made great 
 changes. His honesty, talent, eloquence, and, 
 above all, his boundless liberality, has made him 
 numerous friends, and at the age of twenty- 
 eight we find him the acknowledged leader of 
 his party in the State Senate, with a bright fu- 
 ture before him and all the chances in his favor. 
 
 About three years before his father was 
 thrown from a buggy, by a runaway horse, and 
 received injuries from which he shortly after 
 died, leaving a will by which his property, which 
 was thought to be considerable, was to be 
 equally divided between his two children and 
 the widow. 
 
 The death of her husband was a severe blow
 
 240 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 to Mrs. Gurney, who had been for years in very 
 delicate health. She grew weaker every day, 
 and finally consented to her daughter's entrea- 
 ties to give up housekeeping and live with her. 
 She was a great sufferer, not alone bodily, but 
 also in mind. For her child, her only son, she 
 knew had not kept the promises he had so often 
 given her, and was on the path to destruction. 
 When she heard of his attachment to Adelia, 
 and upon inquiry found that the young lady was 
 worthy of her son's affection, she rather encou- 
 raged it, thinking that what the mother had 
 failed to accomplish might be done by the wife. 
 There is no great difficulty in bringing mat- 
 ters to a successful issue where parties inter- 
 ested are all of one mind ; but in this case there 
 was a formidable opposition, and it came from 
 a source least expected, namely, from Mr. Proc- 
 tor, the father of the young lady. All the per- 
 suasive power at Mrs. Proctor's command had 
 failed to bring him to terms, so she resolved to 
 try a more powerful weapon. And when she 
 opened her battery to-day, it was soon made 
 manifest that the enemy wavered under her fire ; 
 and when she forced him to say, " It would be 
 useless for me to strive against it," she knew re-
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 241 
 
 sistance was at an end, and her victory com- 
 plete. But, like a wise General, she followed 
 up her success, and laid her plans for the future. 
 " Dear husband," she said, in her usual sweet 
 tone, " did you never notice Adelia when dressed 
 in white ? I think it becomes her so much bet- 
 ter than colors ; and of course she should be 
 married in what suits her best. I know that 
 white satin is very costly, and that we are in 
 limited circumstances ; but when off our hands 
 she is off our expenses, and we should do our 
 best to make her wedding outfit to correspond 
 with the high society in which she moves. I 
 was shopping yesterday, and priced some of 
 those goods, and I think we can fit her out in a 
 very handsome bridal dress, trimmings and all, 
 for about one hundred and fifty dollars, and say 
 two hundred for traveling and dinner dresses, 
 bonnets, ties, gloves, collars, cuffs, and many 
 other little things she will need, and you have 
 the sum of three hundred and fifty dollars. Oh, 
 don't look so frowny," she continued, stroking 
 his brow, as a cloud seemed gathering. "I 
 know it is considerable for people in our circum- 
 stances, but, as I said before, it is for the last 
 time, and she will be amply able to repay us."
 
 242 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 " And why would not a suit for twenty-five 
 dollars do just as well ?" he interrupted. " Peo- 
 ple must always regulate their outlay by their 
 income, and I am not willing to throw three hun- 
 dred and fifty dollars away when much less will 
 do just as well, and that sum will cost me the 
 toil of many months." 
 
 " Husband," she pleaded, " you surely cannot 
 wish your daughter to stand before the altar, 
 to be united with a man of the highest family, 
 who moves in the best circles of society, in an 
 inferior bridal dress, where thousands of eager, 
 envious eyes are cast upon her !" 
 
 At this moment a buggy drove up, stopped, 
 and a young gentleman and lady alighted. It 
 drew their attention, and relieved Mr. Proctor 
 from answering. A moment later Mr. Gurney 
 and Adelia entered the parlor.
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 243 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 " Mother, dear, I am afraid you are overdoing 
 yourself. I will fix the pillows for you, and do, 
 please, take a good rest. There is plenty of 
 time yet, and I know a little quietness will re- 
 fresh and give you strength." 
 
 "Perhaps I had better," she responded. 
 "This little exercise has already fatigued me, 
 but a person has not a chance of witnessing a 
 wedding every day, especially in their own 
 family, and I think this is the last one I shall be 
 permitted to see, for I feel that my hours are 
 numbered." 
 
 " Mother, dear, don't talk that way. You 
 look better to-day than you have for some time, 
 and I think you will be permitted to stay with 
 us many years yet." 
 
 Mrs. Gurney, the lady addressed, looked, in- 
 deed, better than she had for some time. There 
 was a bright color noticeable on the sunken 
 cheek, and an occasional flash in the faded eyes ; 
 but it was like the last flash of a dying flame,
 
 244 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 and no doubt was caused by over exertion, for 
 it was the day set for her son's wedding. 
 
 The shock received by the sudden and unex- 
 pected death of her husband (which has already 
 been related), told heavily on her feeble consti- 
 tution, and the conduct of her son, whose habit 
 of using intoxicating drinks grew stronger every 
 day, was not such as to act as healing ointment 
 to the afflicted and grief-stricken woman. Not 
 that he was a drunkard or an habitual drinker, 
 but he would take spells occasionally, especially 
 when in the company of friends, when he would 
 forget the promises given to his mother, to ab- 
 stain from strong drinks. Mankind in general 
 do not look at this as a crime, or as injurious to 
 a person's character. On the contrary, such a 
 person is recognized as of a liberal disposition, 
 social, and a man of the world. 
 
 Such was the case with Arthur Gurney. He 
 was respected by all, and was one among the 
 honored of honored men. But a mother's eye 
 looks on things differently. It is more pene- 
 trating, looks deeper into the future, and where 
 others see nothing but pleasure, happiness, and 
 peace, she sees the hidden serpent, and discovers 
 the danger. " I have done my duty," she often
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 245 
 
 repeated, " and if he will continue to follow the 
 path of danger, and not heed my warning voice, 
 he can blame none but himself if it leads to ruin 
 and destruction." And sometimes, in agony, 
 she would burst out : " Husband ! husband ! you 
 led him into a path that is full of danger. May 
 your spirit guide him so that he may accomplish 
 the journey in safety." She often wished that 
 Arthur would find a suitable companion for life, 
 thinking that perhaps what a mother had failed 
 to accomplish, might be secured by a wife. She 
 knew him to be of a good, kind disposition, 
 warm-hearted, and, drinking excepted, free from 
 faults. Would such a man, surrounded by a 
 family, go astray? Could not the charming 
 companionship of a true, loving wife, subdue the 
 passion for strong drink? Will not mingling 
 with his children at home, around the fireside, 
 give him more pleasure than the company of 
 those visiting saloons ? 
 
 All these ideas forced themselves from time 
 to time on her mind, and when at last informed 
 that he was strongly attached to a young lady 
 of respectability, she was in no wise displeased ; 
 and when he came and asked her consent to 
 their union, she not only readily gave it, but re- 
 
 16
 
 246 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 quested to see the young lady. Of course this 
 was complied with, and ere long the young lady 
 was clasped in her arms. 
 
 " I have not many days to live," she said, as 
 both stood by her bedside. " And I wish to see 
 you united before I depart and go to my Father 
 to rest. So, please don't set the time far in the 
 future, but have it at an early day. I know it is 
 customary in our family for the wedding to be 
 in the church, or at the bride's residence, but as 
 I am anxious to be a witness to it, and unable to 
 leave my room, I would be pleased, if it could 
 be so arranged, to have it here." It was agreed 
 to, and to-day was the time appointed. 
 
 Of course, on such an occasion as a wedding, 
 preparations are not wanting even if con- 
 ducted as a private affair and Annie (Mrs. 
 Gurney's daughter, with whom she was living), 
 as well as her servants, were very busy prepar- 
 ing for the coming event. Annie was deter- 
 mined to have everything in order and comfort- 
 able for the few invited guests. And even the 
 mother gathered together her little strength and 
 desired to be up, and a witness to the ceremony. 
 Annie had made her mother's toilet, and it was 
 on this occasion that she requested her to rest,
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 247 
 
 for there was plenty of time meaning for the 
 wedding-party to arrive. 
 
 " Oh, she is such a beauty," she said, after 
 complying with Annie's request. " And I have 
 no doubt she is equally pure and good. No, 
 no, he cannot resist such charms. I only saw 
 her once, but that satisfied me that my son could 
 not have made a better choice." 
 
 " She is very lovely, indeed," remarked Annie, 
 " and carries herself so gracefully, and her coun- 
 tenance is so frank and open. If she has not 
 the power to break him of his habits, I don't 
 think any one can." 
 
 " Well, we must hope for the best," responded 
 the mother, " and pray to God for assistance." 
 
 " Now, mother, take a little of this strengthen- 
 ing cordial, it will assist you greatly ; and then, 
 if you can dispense with me a little while, I will 
 go and see if everything is in proper order for 
 the reception of the guests." 
 
 So saying, she gently raised the head of the 
 patient, and held the cup with its contents to her 
 lips. She drank but little, and as her head sank 
 back on the pillow, she said, in a scarcely audible 
 voice, " Go, my daughter. Have no delay, or it 
 may be too late."
 
 248 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 Annie silently hurried away. Parlor, dining- 
 room and kitchen proved her orders promptly 
 executed, and everything in readiness for the 
 reception of the bridal party. She was gone 
 but a few minutes. She knew her mother was 
 somewhat excited, and she wished to be with 
 her, to soothe and pacify her. But just at the 
 moment she entered the sick chamber, now beau- 
 tifully decorated for the solemn occasion, the 
 rattling of wheels told her that the party had 
 arrived. The quick ear of the mother, too, took 
 note of it, and before Annie had time to speak 
 she beckoned her to go to the window and see. 
 
 " Yes," said Annie, " they have arrived. Ed- 
 ward is there to receive them. I told Arthur 
 that perhaps I would be at the bedside, with 
 mother, on their arrival, and so my absence will 
 be accounted for." 
 
 " Has the minister arrived, Annie?" whispered 
 the mother. 
 
 " No, not yet." And looking at the clock, she 
 added, " it is fifteen minutes, yet, of the time." 
 
 " Oh, time moves so slow, to-day. I wish it 
 was at an end." Annie noticed that her anxiety 
 increased. 
 
 At this moment another carriage came sud-
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 249 
 
 denly to a stop. Annie hurried to the window, 
 and announced to her mother that the minister 
 had arrived. 
 
 "I flattered myself that I would be strong 
 enough to exchange my bed for a chair, during 
 the marriage. I overrated my strength, and 
 will be thankful if I am permitted to see from 
 here. Hurry, Annie, don't delay a moment, for 
 life is fast fading away." She folded her hands, 
 as if in prayer. 
 
 Annie, frightened at her mother's words, ran 
 to make known her wishes, and to obey her or- 
 ders. 
 
 When the door had closed, the mother par- 
 tially opened her eyes, and whispered, " Lord, 
 Heavenly Father, I am prepared, but may I not 
 be permitted to see this which my heart has 
 longed for? Yet, not my will, but Thine, be 
 done." 
 
 Annie returned, said that all was in readiness, 
 and asked if they should be shown in. 
 
 " Immediately," was the scarcely audible reply. 
 
 Silently they entered, and took their seats as 
 previously arranged. Not a word was spoken. 
 It was a holy stillness, and all eyes were cast 
 toward the mother. It was only for a moment.
 
 250 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 She beckoned, with her withered hand, the 
 young couple to her. When they stood by her 
 side, she took from one of her fingers a plain, 
 gold ring, and while she put it on the finger of 
 the bride, said 
 
 " Take this as the gift of a mother. It is an 
 heir-loom in our family, and is said to possess 
 many virtues. May it impart some to you." 
 She then requested the minister to proceed. 
 
 A short, earnest prayer after the ceremony 
 was over, was offered by the minister, and when 
 the word " Amen " fell from his lips, the patient 
 raised her head from the pillow and gave the 
 closest attention to the entire proceedings ; but 
 she sank back again, and in a low whisper re- 
 peated the last word. 
 
 A silent congratulation followed, and all ex- 
 cepting the young couple retired to the parlors. 
 
 Arthur and his wife stood silently by the side 
 of the mother, waiting to receive her blessing. 
 She seemed as if asleep, and unconscious of her 
 surroundings. It was only for a few moments, 
 and her eyes opened. When she saw the happy 
 young couple by her side, she summoned all her 
 strength, and with the assistance of Arthur, 
 raised herself in bed. Taking the hand of the
 
 I will die a sober man.'
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 253 
 
 young wife, and looking her in the face, she 
 whispered, with a smile on her lips, " My work 
 is done. God has granted me the privilege of 
 seeing what my heart has longed for my son 
 by the side of a true, virtuous, and noble wife. 
 May God bless you and your posterity; and 
 may your charms and love accomplish that in 
 which a mother has failed." 
 
 She paused for a moment as if to gain 
 strength ; and then casting her eyes toward her 
 son, and taking his hand in one of hers, she con- 
 tinued, " Arthur, I forgive you all. And I do not 
 ask you for another promise; but remember the 
 words of the Holy Scripture : ' No drunkard 
 shall enter the kingdom of Heaven.' " 
 
 Deeply agitated, and moved to tears, the 
 young man sank on his knees, and with a plead- 
 ing look cast toward his mother, he said, " No, 
 you cannot believe me any more. But here, on 
 my knees, I will give the pledge to my Maker, 
 that I will die a sober man." 
 
 " God bless you," she whispered, a brightness 
 lighting up her countenance. " They are calling 
 me ! God bless you all." Her hands loosened 
 their grasp. Her spirit had taken its flight 
 she was dead!
 
 254 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 " Oh, dear ! What a dreadful stormy night 
 this is going to be. The wind is increasing, and 
 it rains harder than it did an hour ago. I pro- 
 mised Adelia that I would come after supper, 
 and stay with her until you closed the store. 
 The poor, broken-hearted woman is frightened 
 nearly to death, and feels so lonely. She burst 
 into tears when I left her this morning, and in a 
 heart-rending voice, which brought tears to my 
 eyes, she said, ' Oh, that my spirit could be with 
 that of his mother !' But I do not know how I 
 will get there. Perhaps time will permit you to 
 take me in your buggy." 
 
 " I am always at your service, dear Annie, and 
 I would gladly comply with your request if I 
 thought the weather suitable for a woman to be 
 out who has just recovered from a long illness. 
 But I will not leave Adelia and the children to 
 themselves. I will go immediately after supper, 
 and bring them over here to stay with us, for I 
 fear the worst has come." 
 
 "What do you mean, Edward? Has any-
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 255 
 
 thing happened? Did you hear anything?" 
 All these questions, and a good many more, 
 were asked, without waiting for a reply to any 
 of them, by the anxious woman. 
 
 " Don't look so scared. After all, I may be 
 mistaken, and if my fears should be well 
 grounded, we cannot help it. Come, sit down, 
 and I will tell you." 
 
 " Mr. Walker came to me this morning, and 
 wished to speak to me a few minutes in private. 
 We retired to my office, and after we were 
 seated, he said, ' Mr. Emmit, I hope that what I 
 have to say will not be considered as meddling 
 in private or family affairs. I do it out of regard 
 to you and your family, and, I trust, for the good 
 of one whom I honor and respect.' 
 
 " He paused for a moment, as if to seek in my 
 countenance the effect his words would produce, 
 and then went on : ' Have you not noticed that 
 your brother-in-law, Mr. Gurney, is drinking 
 very hard of late ?' 
 
 " We cannot be ignorant of the fact when we 
 see a man under the influence of liquor every 
 day," I answered. 
 
 " ' And do you not fear it will turn into some-
 
 256 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 thing worse, after awhile ?' said he, looking me 
 inquiringly in the face. 
 
 " I evaded a direct answer, and said, we are 
 getting used to his sprees, although it almost 
 breaks our hearts. All our efforts to keep him 
 from it have failed. The pleadings of a mother 
 fell on deaf ears ; the entreaty of a sister was 
 without effect, and even the charms of his most 
 beautiful, loving wife, could not enchant him 
 and keep him away from the fatal cup. We 
 must let it have its time and run its course I 
 think after the election he will straighten up 
 again, and quit drinking for a while, at least." 
 
 " ' God grant that he may ; but, in the mean- 
 time, Mr. Emmit, I advise you to have an eye 
 on him, and watch him. My reason for giving 
 you this advice comes from observation. I met 
 him yesterday, in the evening. He stopped to 
 converse, but I soon found that his mind was 
 wandering. He got from one subject to another, 
 and finally did not seem to recognize me at all. 
 He politely excused himself, by saying that he 
 had to be at court in half an hour, to plead a 
 case. His strange conduct, and, still more, his 
 strange, unnatural look, satisfied me that all was
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 257 
 
 not right, and I resolved to see you and bring it 
 to your notice. 
 
 " ' This is all, Mr. Emmit, I have to say, and 
 I hope my words have given no offence.' 
 
 " Not at all, I said. On the contrary, I am 
 under many obligations to you, Mr. Walker, and 
 will look after this matter immediately." 
 
 " I resolved to get a reliable person to watch 
 him, and report to me should anything unusual 
 occur." 
 
 " And all this you kept silent, never hinting a 
 word to your wife, his sister," she interrupted. 
 
 "Why should I increase your anxiety, and 
 sorrow, and grief, where there is already enough. 
 Was it not better to wait, and find out how mat- 
 ters stood?" 
 
 " And have you, yourself, or the man you en- 
 gaged, observed anything unusual ?" 
 
 " I satisfied myself, with my own eyes, of the 
 truth of Mr. Walker's statement." 
 
 Annie was greatly agitated, and trembled like 
 an aspen leaf, when her husband spoke these 
 words, but she composed herself, and said, 
 calmly 
 
 " Edward, what have you concluded to do in
 
 258 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 this matter? Have you decided upon a plan 
 of action?" 
 
 " As soon as I found out how things stood, I 
 called on Mr. Walker, who I know is a friend 
 of ours, and asked his advice. We came to the 
 conclusion to have him watched closely ; have 
 some trustworthy men near him to act in case 
 of emergency, and when night sets in, to have a 
 carriage at their disposal, persuade him to take 
 a ride, and, if successful, bring him to my house. 
 I have made all the necessary arrangements, and 
 also engaged a few trustworthy policemen to 
 assist in carrying out our plan, should it become 
 necessary." 
 
 Annie listened silently to every word of her 
 husband, but when he had finished her strength 
 gave way, and wringing her hands in great 
 agony, she cried, " Oh, Arthur, brother ! I never 
 would have thought that you would bring such 
 disgrace upon yourself, and your wife and 
 children on your sister and brother, and on 
 the memory of your departed father and 
 mother !" 
 
 " Dear Annie, don't give way to such lament- 
 ations and grief. It only injures your health, 
 and will not do any good. To-day is election
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 259 
 
 day, and on such a day a drunken person is 
 scarcely noticed. A man who drinks at all is 
 expected to carry home an overdose, or else 
 have his name stricken from the roll of modern 
 patriots. We made our arrangements in per- 
 fect secrecy. All I have made acquainted with 
 the matter, to help me carry out my plans, are 
 trustworthy, and silent as the grave. Nobody, 
 outside of them, the doctor, and ourselves, will 
 have any knowledge of it." 
 
 " I could almost wish that election days and 
 political campaigns would come only every 
 twenty-five years, or not at all. Before Arthur 
 was nominated as candidate for Prosecuting At- 
 torney he never drank a drop of spirits, and 
 perhaps he never would had he let politics 
 alone. In that campaign he learned to drink, 
 and has kept it up, more or less, ever since. 
 He broke the promises given to his mother, and 
 all the pleadings of his wife and sister were in 
 vain, and in this campaign he has thrown 
 himself entirely away." 
 
 " And do you know the cause of it ? Why, 
 because he was defeated at the Convention. 
 Another got the nomination of which he was so 
 certain. He felt very much humiliated, and 

 
 260 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 seeks to drown the memory of his disappoint- 
 ment with the soul and body destroying stuff 
 called whisky." 
 
 " It calls back to mind the words of our de- 
 parted mother. She would often say, 'I fear 
 more from disappointment than from success.' 
 Oh, how true her prophecy." 
 
 " And, thanks to her wisdom and sagacity, if 
 the worst should come to pass, the poor woman 
 and children are provided for, who would, but 
 for her, perhaps, be turned into the street, beg- 
 gars." 
 
 1 With an inquiring look, she said, " I do not 
 understand your words, Edward. Will you 
 please explain to me ?" 
 
 " If it is true, as I am told of late, your 
 brother has not been addicted to drinking, solely, 
 but also to gambling, and is ruined financially, as 
 well as in body and mind. When drunk, he 
 would go security for his pretended friends in 
 large sums of money, which he generally had to 
 pay ; or he would lend them money which they 
 never intended to replace or return ; and what 
 they could not get by these means they would 
 get by gambling, into which they persuaded 
 him. I was startled on hearing this, and re-
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 261 
 
 solved to investigate, and see how much of it 
 was true. I found, to my astonishment, that all 
 the money he had in the bank was withdrawn 
 squandered, of course and his property heavily 
 mortgaged. If it had to be sold under the ham- 
 mer, at such a time as this, it would scarcely 
 bring more than the mortgages call for." 
 
 "This is enough, Edward, all I can bear. 
 More would crush me." 
 
 At this moment the conversation was inter- 
 rupted by the servant announcing tea. Both 
 repaired thither. 
 
 Four years had passed since Arthur Gurney 
 and Adelia Proctor were united, in the sick 
 chamber of Mrs. Gurney, and where, at the 
 close of the ceremony, she breathed her last. 
 
 The fruit of this union was two children, 
 boys ; the oldest, David (named after his grand- 
 father), was three years, and the youngest, Ed- 
 ward (named after his uncle), was about four- 
 teen months of age. 
 
 At the time of his marriage Mr. Gurney was 
 a member of the State Senate, and at the expi- 
 ration of his term was re-elected. His elo- 
 quence, sound judgment, and great knowledge 
 of law\ soon made his name famous. He be- 

 
 262 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 came the leader of his party, and won the res- 
 pect of the opposition. Many reforms were car- 
 ried into effect by his good judgment, energy, 
 and perseverance; and, although very young, 
 his counsel was sought by the oldest of the pro- 
 fession, and his name was familiar to every citi- 
 zen in the State. He almost worshiped his 
 wife, and there never was a kinder or more lov- 
 ing father to his children. He gave advice to 
 all who sought it, and none who asked a favor 
 went away disappointed, if it was in his power 
 to grant it. 
 
 Could it be * otherwise than that such a man 
 should be widely and favorably known ? Could 
 it be otherwise than that such kindness and lib- 
 erality should be often abused by unprincipled 
 persons, under the mask of friendship? All 
 that could be said against Mr. Gurney was that 
 he drank, and occasionally took a glass too 
 much. But of this, aside from the family and a 
 few intimate friends, no notice was taken, for the 
 world at large looks at it as customary for a 
 man in public life to indulge in a social glass 
 with his friends and acquaintances. 
 
 Another political campaign was close at hand. 
 It was a very important one. There were, be-
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 263 
 
 sides the usual State ticket, the members of Con- 
 gress to be elected. Mr. Gurney received let- 
 ters from all parts of the district, and was written 
 to by the most prominent men of his party, 
 urging him to bring his name before the Con- 
 vention, as a candidate, and pledging their sup- 
 port. This, with the urgent request of nu- 
 merous friends, would, perhaps, have induced a 
 less ambitious man than Mr, Gurney to comply, 
 and he readily consented. 
 
 His nomination was looked upon as a cer- 
 tainty, and nobody expected even as much as a 
 respectable opposition. It was, therefore, with 
 perfect surprise and astonishment that the peo- 
 ple received the news, when, after the first bal- 
 lot, and the votes had been counted, the Presi- 
 dent declared Mr. Perkins the nominee he 
 having received a majority of all the votes cast. 
 
 This news came to Mr. Gurney and his friends 
 like a thunderbolt from a clear sky. They all 
 felt its effects, but the fatal stroke was received 
 by him. He was wounded beyond recovery. 
 His political career was crushed. Who will re- 
 lieve this pain? Who will stop this bleeding 
 wound ? Who will wipe out the memory of this 
 defeat ? No one, and nothing, except the intoxi- 
 
 17
 
 264 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 eating cup ! All the entreaties and solicitations 
 of his wife, his relatives and friends, were in vain. 
 His home and family, as well as his large prac- 
 tice, was entirely neglected, and his abode was 
 the saloon. 
 
 His wife, as well as his relatives, comforted 
 themselves with the reflection that after the 
 election he would quit drinking, get reconciled 
 to his defeat, and attend to his business again. 
 
 When Mr. Emmit came home and related to 
 his wife the news, in the foregoing conversation, 
 supper, which was always accompanied by 
 half an hour or so of pleasant family chat, was 
 taken in perfect silence. Edward, no doubt, not 
 wishing to say anything not positively necessary 
 which must be painful to his wife, and she, per- 
 haps, fearing to receive more unpleasant news 
 by asking a question. 
 
 At last he arose, and as he walked toward the 
 door, she said, " Edward, are you going now ?" 
 
 " Yes, Annie." 
 
 " And how will you broach this terrible news 
 to the heart-broken woman ?" 
 
 " I shall not tell her the condition in which he 
 is. By your permission I will say that you re- 
 quested me to call and bring the children to our
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 265 
 
 house, you not being well enough to fulfill your 
 promise." 
 
 " But what will you do if she should object ?" 
 
 "I will tell her that I have made arrange- 
 ments for Arthur to be here, and that he is 
 going to stay all night. This is not telling her 
 a story, you know," he added, with a sad smile. 
 
 " Well, let's do and hope for the best," she 
 said, as he closed the door after him. 
 
 The wind blew very hard, and drove the large 
 drops of rain with considerable force on the 
 window pane, but Annie was unconscious of all, 
 as she walked to and fro in the parlor, where 
 she finally sank exhausted on the sofa, overcome 
 by grief and sorrow. Her mind must have been 
 wandering, for she took no notice of the opening 
 and closing of the door, and it was not until she 
 felt the touch of a hand, and a kiss on her lips, 
 that she raised her eyes, and, with a cry, " Oh, 
 Adelia !" sank as if lifeless in the new comer's 
 arms. It was only for a few moments, when the 
 silence gave way to tears, which plainly told they 
 understood each other. At last, when both were 
 calmer, Adelia broke the silence, and with an 
 inquiring look, said, " Is he here ?" 
 
 "He is not, but we expect him shortly."
 
 266 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 " I fear the worst. His mind was wandering 
 this morning, when he went away, but I was 
 afraid, and, I confess, ashamed, to mention it to 
 you. But when Edward came after me I was 
 satisfied that you knew all, and when asked, Ed- 
 ward confessed, and told me his plans, which I 
 think were the best he could do." 
 
 " I forgot," interrupted Annie, " to ask if you 
 had your supper." 
 
 "Yes, dear sister. The children have had 
 theirs, and I have no appetite whatever." 
 
 " But I must insist on your taking a cup of 
 tea and a slice of toast. To be comforted and 
 have friends in the hour of triaLand affliction is 
 a great blessing, but this will not keep us from 
 sinking under the burden if we neglect taking 
 nourishment." So saying, she led the grief- 
 stricken woman into the dining-room. Here, 
 over a cup of tea, the conversation grew warmer 
 and more lively, mostly in regard to plans for the 
 husband and brother, and for his future life. 
 
 They were just in the act of leaving the din- 
 ing-room, when the servant announced that a 
 carriage had stopped. Voices were heard, and 
 although wind and rain made considerable noise,
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 267 
 
 yet the quick ear of the wife instantly detected 
 the voice of her husband. 
 
 "He is coming! Oh, God!" And despair- 
 ingly clinging to the arm of Annie, she followed 
 her into the parlor. 
 
 A moment later and Edward entered. Walk- 
 ing to where the two women were seated, he 
 calmly said, " We have got him here. Our plan 
 worked admirably. The men say they had no 
 difficulty or trouble with him. The whole plan 
 was so well executed that nobody except them- 
 selves knew anything about the affair; but they 
 say he is getting worse every minute, and I have 
 already sent for our family physician, Dr. San- 
 bourn, who I think will not delay coming, as I 
 made him acquainted with the whole affair this 
 evening." 
 
 " May I be permitted to see him ?" asked 
 Adelia, in a scarcely audible voice, and trembling 
 from head to foot. 
 
 " I would not advise you to, and would rather 
 you would wait until the Doctor comes and get 
 his advice. We have made his room very com- 
 fortable, and the man in attendance will see to 
 every thing necessary."
 
 268' NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 The servant announced Dr. Sanbourn, and he 
 was ushered in. 
 
 "We had better go and see the patient at 
 once," said the Doctor, after the salutations and 
 hand-shakings were gone through with. And 
 he and Edward left for the sick chamber. 
 
 They were gone for some time, but during 
 their absence not a word was spoken by the two 
 women they left behind, and when at last they 
 returned, both looked anxiously and inquiringly 
 into the Doctor's face. 
 
 For a few moments all were silent, but at last 
 the wife broke the stillness, and said 
 
 " Doctor, how is he ? And may I not be per- 
 mitted to see him ?" 
 
 " Oh, he is not so bad as I have seen men 
 stricken by this disease, but I would not advise 
 you to see him at present; it may, perhaps, cause 
 agitation, and produce injury instead of good." 
 
 " And may I ask the nature of his disease ?" 
 
 " Delirium tremens."
 
 269 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 " Mr. Emmit, I insist on having counsel in this 
 case. It does not matter how many or who you 
 prefer, but I will not have the responsibility rest 
 on my shoulders should the case terminate fa- 
 tally," said Dr. Sanbourn, after coming from the 
 sick chamber of Mr. Gurney. 
 
 " Your words surprise me," said Mr. Emmit. 
 " I thought I understood you to say that the pa- 
 tient was getting along so well that the worst 
 was over, and you considered him nearly out of 
 danger." 
 
 " Exactly. I would stake my reputation as a 
 physician on his recovery, if I only could get 
 him to take the medicine prescribed; but this he 
 will not do, and there lies the trouble." 
 
 " I have not been aware of that. Is it dis- 
 agreeable to take ?" 
 
 " I should not think it would be to him ; he has 
 taken a good deal of it in his life, perhaps not so 
 good as this I prescribe, for it is simply the very 
 best of French brandy. But he ejects it every 
 time it passes his lips."
 
 270 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 " Why, can't his stomach bear it ?" 
 
 " It don't get into his stomach. He declares 
 that, by his knowledge, not another drop shall 
 pass his lips, and all our entreaties are in vain." 
 
 " And could you not disguise it, so it would be 
 impossible for him to detect it ; or is there no 
 substitute that would answer the same purpose?" 
 
 " We are at our wits' end. We have tried 
 everything we could think of, but all to no pur- 
 pose. He detects it in spite of all our precau- 
 tion, and ejection is the result. The medical 
 and chemical sciences have not as yet given us 
 any substitute that has, in these cases, the same 
 effect as stimulants." 
 
 " Well, Doctor, we trusted the patient in your 
 care, and are well aware that you will do all that 
 skill in your profession can do ; if you desire 
 to have counsel, make your own selection, while 
 I will counsel with my wife, his sister, and with 
 his own wife. Perhaps the united efforts of 
 both will have some effect, and change his 
 mind." 
 
 " I only can wish that they will succeed, for a 
 life is at stake, which can be saved but by their 
 success." 
 
 The Doctor took leave of Mr. Emmit, prom-
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 271 
 
 ising to be back in two hours, to see what 
 effect the persuasive power of the ladies would 
 have on his patient. 
 
 When the Doctor had left, Edward turned his 
 steps toward the parlor, where the women were, 
 and stated to them the Doctor's difficulty in re- 
 gard to Arthur taking the prescribed medicine ; 
 the Doctor's apprehensions ; and his desire to 
 have them see him, and endeavor to persuade 
 him to take the medicine. 
 
 " We will go immediately, Adelia," said Annie, 
 after Edward paused. "And you had better 
 take the children along, their presence may 
 assist a great deal.' 
 
 Adelia silently complied with the request of 
 her sister-in-law ; took little Edward from the 
 cradle, where he was soundly asleep, and with 
 little David led by the hand of his aunt, they re- 
 paired to the sick chamber of her husband. 
 The man in attendance understood the sign 
 given by Annie, and silently withdrew, leaving 
 the women and children alone with the slumber- 
 ing sufferer. They stood by the side of the bed, 
 and tears filled their eyes and rolled down their 
 cheeks. His sleep seemed natural and undis- 
 turbed. His countenance pale but clear, and
 
 272 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 no signs of the agitation visible which had re- 
 quired at several times the strength of two men 
 to keep it under control. 
 
 The noise of little David, who was playing 
 with his marbles, awoke him. He opened his 
 eyes ; their glance fell on his wife and sister, and, 
 in a weak voice he uttered their names. It was 
 the first time since his sickness that they were 
 recognized. 
 
 He reached his hand toward his wife, which 
 was taken and covered with kisses and tears. 
 She bent over him, and a moment later lay sob- 
 bing and crying on his breast. 
 
 "Oh, Arthur, you will be well again. I will 
 be with you, nurse you, and comfort you ; 
 nothing will I leave undone for your speedy re- 
 covery. Come, papa, have you no kiss for little 
 Edward and here is David; papa must give 
 him one, too ;" and the poor woman laughed 
 and cried alternately, through love and joy. 
 Oh, who can fathom a true woman's love ! 
 
 " May God bless and reward you for all the 
 love you have bestowed on me, who am un- 
 worthy of it." 
 
 She silenced him with a kiss, and said, " Do 
 not talk that way, Arthur. I know you love me;
 
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 273 
 
 you are not unworthy of me, and I am proud of 
 you." 
 
 But he continued, as if taking no notice of 
 what she said, " And oh, dear wife, you whom I 
 have so often deceived, will you can you for- 
 give me ? Forgive me for the grief, sorrow, and 
 pain I have caused you ? And you, Annie, dear 
 sister, can you forgive and forget the disgrace I 
 have brought on yourself and family ?" 
 
 " Dear brother, we have all forgiven you, and 
 you must not think any more about it. You 
 had your trials and troubles, as well as us. Let 
 us bury them together. Let us commence life 
 anew. But we forget all about your medicine," 
 she continued, as she looked at the clock, and 
 then, with a significant glance, at Adelia. 
 
 " Yes," said the latter, as she walked toward 
 the table on which was standing a bottle of 
 medicine left by Dr. Sanbourn for the patient, 
 and labeled 'a tablespoonful every hour, and 
 an equal quantity of water.' She took it, filled 
 the spoon, poured the contents in a glass that 
 was standing by, and was just in the act of 
 measuring out the water, when her husband 
 called her to his side. 
 
 His hand trembled as he took hers and said,
 
 274 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 " Dear wife, do not hand it to me, I cannot take 
 it." 
 
 " I know, dear, medicines are not very agree- 
 able to take, but this will strengthen you, the 
 Doctor said. You will take it, for my sake," 
 she pleaded. " I know you will not refuse your 
 wife." 
 
 " Dearest wife, it is hard for me to refuse you 
 anything, and I will do all in my power to atone 
 for the many painful hours and sleepless nights 
 I have caused you. But please do not insist on 
 my taking this medicine ; I cannot I dare not 
 do it." 
 
 " Why, dear ? Perhaps I can prepare it so it 
 will taste better, by adding a little sugar." 
 
 "I do not object to its taste but the stuff 
 itself. It has destroyed my body, and, for a time, 
 my mind, and came very near destroying my 
 soul. No, no ! I will guard against this medi- 
 cine the balance of the days that I am permitted 
 to live ; and if I had the power, would destroy 
 it from the face of the earth." 
 
 " But, dear, the Doctor says you cannot get 
 well without taking a little occasionally." 
 
 " Then let me die ! Die a sober man, and 
 fulfill the pledge that I made at the moment my
 
 ' Dear "\Vife, do not hand it to me. I cannot take it.
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 277 
 
 mother's spirit departed from this earth. No, 
 mother, this pledge I will not break, although I 
 have broken every other one that I gave you, 
 and every one that I gave my wife. Not another 
 drop of this essence of hell, that sends every 
 year thousands to an untimely grave, and their 
 souls to perdition, shall, with my knowledge, 
 pollute my tongue again." 
 
 Mr. Gurney was very calm and self-possessed 
 during this conversation, and although his voice 
 was very weak, yet it was so distinct that every 
 word could be easily understood. His stern re- 
 fusal, and determination not to take any of the 
 medicine brought fresh grief to the almost 
 heart-broken wife. She wrung her hands as if 
 in despair, and,, in a flood of tears, murmured, 
 " Oh, God, what will become of me and my 
 children !" 
 
 Annie was more composed. She took the 
 little ones, set them by the side of their father, 
 and said, " Arthur, dear brother, these are your 
 children. You love them. The laws of God 
 and nature demand that you shall protect and 
 provide for them, and teach and guide them to 
 be useful members of society. Will you be deaf 
 to this demand, and leave them unprotected and
 
 278 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 without a guide? And will you leave her 
 (pointing to Adelia), who loves you with all the 
 love a woman's heart is capable of alone, a 
 widow ; her whom you promised to love, com- 
 fort, and cherish ?" 
 
 She paused, as if waiting to see what effect 
 her words had produced. 
 
 " Have I ever fulfilled my pledge, and done 
 my duty, as a husband, toward her one of the 
 noblest women on earth? I loved her; yes, 
 loved her with all my heart. But the comfort I 
 brought to her heart was trouble, grief, sorrow 
 and pain. And was I a father to these little 
 ones ? Did I care for them ? And am I capa- 
 ble of teaching and guiding them, when I myself 
 am incapable of self-government ?" 
 
 " We must not look despairingly back on the 
 past, but look hopefully to the future. You a're 
 in the prime of life. And a man of your educa- 
 tion and knowledge can soon make again what 
 you have lost. Make a new start, commence life 
 anew, and with such a partner and counsellor as 
 Adelia, the result cannot be doubtful ; success 
 is sure. Come, now, dear, take the medicine, 
 and don't break your wife's heart by your re- 
 fusal. The Doctor says you got along so well,
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 279 
 
 and will soon be all right again, if you only 
 follow his prescription." 
 
 " And suffer thousands of deaths anew ! Oh, 
 sister, could you have the faintest idea of the 
 suffering that this medicine has caused me, aside 
 from those that it caused my mother, my wife, 
 yourself and others, you would not, nay, you 
 could not insist on my trying its virtues any 
 longer. They call it spirits, and I believe it is 
 the right name for it, for, to judge from its irre- 
 sistible power, I do believe it contains the spirits 
 of the hellish legion below. Oh, how I have 
 striven and struggled to keep away from it, 
 whenever I saw the painful countenance of my 
 mother, when with pleading look and plaintive 
 voice, she bade me beware of it. Often I sank 
 on my knees and prayed to my God for assist- 
 ance for strength to overcome this terrible 
 monster. For weeks I went to and from my 
 office by a circuitous route, to avoid coming near 
 those recruiting offices of the devil, saloons; 
 and when at last I thought myself strong enough 
 to defy the monster, and ventured to get near 
 him, I was drawn, irresistibly, into his jaws. Oh, 
 how I struggled ! Jesus Christ, in the garden 
 of Gethsemane, when the bloody sweat was
 
 280 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 dripping from him, could not have suffered more 
 than I did. He could not have prayed more 
 fervently than I did, to have the bitter cup taken 
 away, but without avail. No, no, no ! More 
 such suffering- may crush me, unprepared." 
 
 " You will live ; and surrounded by your lov- 
 ing wife and children, who will pray for you, and 
 with the angels and the spirit of your mother as 
 a guide, there will be no danger of your falling 
 again." 
 
 " Dear sister, I had the same thoughts four 
 years ago, when I married Adelia, but they were 
 illusive. You know that I never paid any atten- 
 tion to young ladies, until I made the acquaint- 
 ance of Adelia. I knew that if God would not 
 assist me in overcoming this raving, craving, and 
 unnatural appetite, that I would become, in spite 
 of all my resistance, a drunkard, and I resolved 
 not to make another being unhappy by a union 
 with a drunkard, and beget children who in after 
 years would curse the memory of their father. 
 But she, the pure, the beautiful, loving creature, 
 changed my mind. I loved her, but before I ex- 
 tended more than the ordinary courtesies to her, 
 I considered the matter thoroughly, because I 
 did not wish to make her unhappy for my sake.
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 281 
 
 I asked myself would her charms have the power 
 to subdue the passion for strong drink. Yes ; 
 her love and little ones will not let me act the 
 truant, but keep me mingling with them at the 
 fireside. The loving virgin became my wife, the 
 little ones are sitting here by my side. Have 
 her charms, her unfaltering love, the fruit of 
 our marriage, these little ones, subdued that pas- 
 sion ? You and she can both answer." 
 
 A short pause followed. He was visibly ex- 
 hausted, and both women begged him to be 
 quiet, but he gathered strength, and went on 
 
 " Dear wife, do not think I willfully wronged 
 you, and caused you grief, pain, and sleepless 
 nights. Could you have known the horrible suf- 
 fering I underwent, the rivers of burning lava I 
 waded, the fires that scorched me, and the hor- 
 rors I have seen, you would have pitied me, and 
 wished me dead and out of my misery. Thank 
 God, it is over." 
 
 At this moment the servant announced Dr. 
 Sanbourn and Mr. Walker. 
 
 "Shall we withdraw?" asked his wife. 
 
 " For a few moments only." 
 
 A few moments later the gentlemen were 
 shown in and the ladies withdrew. 
 
 18
 
 282 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 The morning papers announced the funeral 
 of Arthur Gurney, to take place at three o'clock, 
 p. M., from the residence of Edward Emmit. 
 His death had been announced previously, and 
 preparations were made by many to attend it, 
 for Mr. Gurney was very widely known, had 
 many friends, and was respected by all. The 
 members of the bar, at a meeting called for that 
 purpose, resolved to attend in procession ; and 
 several lodges were preparing to show to the 
 deceased brother their last respects. Men were 
 seen everywhere with crape around the arm, and 
 the topic of conversation was the death. 
 
 " He was such a noble young man," said one. 
 "And he was acknowledged one of the best 
 statesmen and one of the best judges of law in 
 the State," said another. "He was one of the 
 best speakers I ever heard," put in a third. 
 " Never was a more liberal, free-hearted person," 
 exclaimed another. " Too much so for his own 
 good." Such expressions and many more of 
 the same nature were heard everywhere, and
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 283 
 
 although the October sun shone hot, and the at- 
 mosphere was sultry and oppressive, yet it was 
 thought by every one that the funeral would be 
 well attended, and one of the largest the city 
 ever witnessed. 
 
 Hundreds who could not attend the funeral 
 repaired to the house, to show their respect and 
 take a last look at the deceased. 
 
 "Are you not going to the funeral, Uncle 
 Nick ?" asked a gentleman of the proprietor of 
 the Court House Saloon. 
 
 " Me goin to de funeral mit dese vine volks ! 
 Not much, you pet. Dey vould not go to Uncle 
 Nick's funeral. Dey vould say, ' Oh, it's only a 
 Dutchman.' " 
 
 "But, Uncle Nick, Mr. Gurney was one of 
 your best customers, and you got a great deal 
 of money out of him ; you should show some 
 respect to the remains of a customer and friend." 
 
 " If I hat no bedder customer dan dis here 
 Gurney vas, den I jhust could shut up de sham- 
 bang, unt go mit de family to de poor house. 
 Yes, dese here fellers would be berry goot cus- 
 tomers, if you jhust vould give it to dem. Dey 
 would trink all der brandy, unt der whisky, unt 
 der peer, unt treat everypody, unt lay around
 
 284 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 drunk all de dime, if you only would let dem. 
 Unt der bay, where would dat come from ? You 
 jhust could charge it to der Court House." 
 
 "You surprise me, Uncle Nick. I thought 
 Mr. Gurney very good pay. Does he owe you 
 very much ?" 
 
 "I don't let such fellers run into mein debt, 
 you pet. I don't vant der custom. I jhust vant 
 dem to stay avay from mein blace. I vant to 
 keep a decent house, unt to have such fellers 
 coming apout gives it a pad name." 
 
 "Well, I never heard but that Mr. Gurney 
 acted the gentleman with every person and 
 everywhere, and I don't think a house could get 
 a bad name from his visits ; but for my part, I do 
 not know anything about it ; I only speak from 
 hearsay. I hear he left a good deal of his money 
 at your place, both at the card-table and at the 
 bar. Everybody says he was very liberal too 
 much so for his own good." 
 
 " Yes, dese beeble hear a goot deal, talk a 
 goot deal, unt know all apout de oder beebles 
 pusiness. Ven a feller blays a game of billiards, 
 jhust for de fun, den dey say he gambles ; unt 
 ven he looks at der deck of carts den dey say, 
 ' Oh, he lost lots of money, unt dey cheated unt
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 285 
 
 swindled him ;' unt if he goes to de counter unt 
 trinks a pitters or a glass of peer, den dey say 
 he spends all der money in de saloon. It's dem 
 demperance doing all dis. Der always finding 
 someding out, unt der always trying to preach 
 an honest man down. Put Uncle Nick don't 
 care a straw for dem, unt let dem dalk." 
 
 At this moment the sound of music was heard, 
 and the gentleman conversing with Uncle Nick 
 said, "I believe the procession has started. 
 They must come this way ; let's go outside and 
 see them pass. I expect the funeral will be a 
 very imposing one." 
 
 Both went outside, where half a dozen or 
 more were already assembled. Among them 
 was one who was very shabbily dressed, hair 
 and whiskers unkempt and neglected, and his 
 whole appearance giving unmistakable signs of 
 dissipation. He stood aside from the rest, his 
 eyes cast to the ground, and he seemed to be 
 lost in thought and meditation. 
 
 The sound of music was more distinct, and in 
 a few moments more the advance of the proces- 
 sion rounded the corner of the Court Square. 
 It was very imposing indeed. Several bands of 
 music, the members of the bar, the different
 
 286 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 lodges of which he was a member, and the nu- 
 merous carriages and buggies, showed plainly 
 how well the deceased was respected. 
 
 Not a word was spoken by the little group that 
 was gathered before the Court House Saloon, 
 as the procession passed slowly by. But an ob- 
 server would have noticed that the individual 
 described was deeply agitated, and tears were 
 rolling down his cheeks as he cast his eyes on 
 the hearse. 
 
 At last one of the company broke the silence, 
 and said, " It is a pity that such a noble man, 
 such a useful member of society, should be taken 
 away in the prime of life, and buried in an un- 
 timely grave." 
 
 " Dat's de vay mit de Americans ; ven a feller 
 has a leetle office, unt makes dwo or dree 
 speeches dat he learns in der pooks, den dey 
 call him a great man. Now vat has he ever 
 done to make such to do ober him ? He has 
 peen in der legislature. I could have peen dere 
 too, but I didn't vant de office as a gift. Unt 
 den der oder dime he done noding put drinking 
 der whisky, ven he could get it. Put dat's de 
 vay. Dey makes a great big to do when dey 
 are demperance, unt dey makes a great pig to
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 287 
 
 do ven dey drinks like hogs. If he is such a 
 great man, why didn't dey nominate him for der 
 Congress ? No, dey vant sober men dere, unt 
 men dat knows somedings, like Mr. Perkins. 
 Put dat's de vay. His mother vas de pig dem- 
 perance voman ; nopoty should trink anyding 
 else put de lemonade unt der soda water, unt 
 she died mit de dyspepsia unt de consumption. 
 Unt der poy, he trinks der whisky mit de pucket- 
 full, unt he dies mit der snakes in der poots, unt 
 den dey makes de pig funeral, unt vants every- 
 poty to go mit it, unt den dey gives de preacher 
 dwenty-five dollars to pray an hour, den dey 
 goes mit de shoes unt poots into heaven. Dat's 
 de vay in 'Merica. Ha, ha, ha !" 
 
 The man we noticed standing alone turned, at 
 these words, toward the speaker. At first he 
 was ghastly pale, but quickly turned to crimson, 
 and when the speaker ceased he stood before 
 him with flashing eyes and clenched fists, and in 
 a ringing .voice and measured words, said- 
 
 "And you, miserable, contemptible, de- 
 bauched, depraved and debased scoundrel; 
 destitute of every vestige of honor, morality, and 
 virtue, and I believe even destitute of a soul ; 
 you can stand here, looking on, as they carry by
 
 288 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 one of your victims, see the tears of the woman 
 whose husband you murdered, look on the little 
 ones whose father you killed, whom you robbed 
 of everything they had, and use such language? 
 Heap lies, slander, slime and falsehood upon the 
 memory of the dead, to hide your own crime, 
 and pollute with your poisonous breath, and 
 filthy and slimy tongue, the name of that noble 
 woman whose name is too sacred to be spoken 
 before such a depraved scoundrel as you are. 
 In your den of vice, and by your persuasion, his 
 lips first tasted the cursed essence of hell. In 
 your abode of thieves, swindlers, and cut-throats, 
 of whom you are the leader, he was robbed out 
 of hundreds, yes, thousands of dollars. And 
 when you could not steal from nor swindle him 
 any longer, you threw him aside like useless 
 rubbish, and looked out for another victim. 
 Look at me, scoundrel, robber, and murderer ! 
 You know me. Look, and rejoice at your hell- 
 ish work. I was one of the boys that came with 
 him the evening after he was nominated candi- 
 date for Prosecuting Attorney, into this devil's 
 recruiting office, and I, like him, signed my death- 
 warrant. Like him, I started on my youthful 
 voyage full of hope, full of promise, and full of
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 289 
 
 ambition. Look at me and see how well I have 
 succeeded, with your assistance. Oh, is there 
 no God? or is He asleep ! Is there no judgment 
 in heaven nor on earth, that will bring this 
 scoundrel to justice ! Will he be allowed to go 
 on with his hellish work of murdering and rob- 
 bing, and making widows and orphans, from day 
 to day, and from year to year, without a limit ? 
 Oh, yes! there will be; he will yet be judged; 
 if by no other, it will be before the tribunal of 
 God !" and raising his voice to a still higher key, 
 he went on 
 
 " Oh, if I had the power, I would indict you 
 for murder ; for with the most satanic delibera- 
 tion you have killed hundreds, and sent them to 
 an untimely grave. I would indict you for ar- 
 son ; for you have set fire to hundreds of lives, 
 and have burned them up, body and soul. I 
 would indict you for robbery ; for you have 
 robbed the wives and children of their protector 
 and supporter. I would indict you for grand 
 larceny; for you have stolen the bread and but- 
 ter from the needy ; and last, I would indict you 
 for high treason ; for you have delivered the 
 great fortress of American liberty, the ballot- 
 box, into the hands of the enemy, and trampled
 
 290 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 it under your feet. And I would call on the 
 spirits of the departed, and of the widows and 
 orphans, as witnesses, and when convicted, would 
 hang you higher than Raman's gallows !" 
 
 He turned away, and as he walked off, he 
 murmured, " Oh, Arthur ! would to God I could 
 sleep beside you in the silent tomb !" 
 
 A pause ensued, which was at last broken by 
 Uncle Nick, who said, " Dat's de vay mit dese 
 loafers. Dey never have anyting, unt dey are 
 too lazy to vork; den dey accuse respectable 
 beeble of stealing. Ven you take dem up for 
 'sturbing de beace, den you have de cost to 
 bay, unt ven dey puts dem in jail dat's jhust vat 
 dem fellers vants, to get fed unt clothed, den 
 you have to bay so much more de taxes. In 
 Germany dey vould put dem fellers in der 
 prison, unt make dem vork ; but here dey goes 
 around unt insult respectable beeble. Dat's de 
 vay in 'Merica; ha, ha, ha !" and he went in the 
 house.
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 291 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 Agreeably to a call by Mr. Walker, chairman 
 of the executive committee of the temperance 
 society, for the members of that party to meet, 
 at eight o'clock this evening, at his office, to 
 transact business of importance, we find, at the 
 time appointed, a half dozen of the most earnest 
 workers in the temperance cause assembled and 
 ready for business. A friend of the cause had 
 donated a fine lot, and they were to devise plans 
 by which to raise sufficient funds for the erec- 
 tion of a temperance temple, and to deliberate 
 upon some other important matters concerning 
 the temperance cause. It was an arduous and 
 tedious undertaking. Plans were advised and 
 abandoned. But where such men as Mr. 
 Walker, Mr. Rogers and the others have agreed 
 to transact business, a failure is not likely to oc- 
 cur. They came to an understanding on nearly 
 all the most important points, and when the 
 clock struck ten Mr. Rogers moved to adjourn 
 to meet again, which was agreed to by all. 
 
 " This was a very hot day, for October, and
 
 292 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 the atmosphere is still very oppressive, and 
 there is very little air," remarked one, after the 
 meeting had adjourned. 
 
 " I never suffered more with my rheumatism 
 in my life than I did to-day, marching in the fu- 
 neral procession to the cemetery and back, and 
 I never knew it to fail but we have storms or 
 heavy winds shortly after," said another. 
 
 " I think we will have a storm to-night. I no- 
 ticed this evening that the clouds were gather- 
 ing in the west," said Mr. Rogers. 
 
 " Well, a good shower is very much needed. 
 It would cool the atmosphere ; and the wheat 
 sown is suffering from the want of rain," said 
 another one. " Was that not a very untimely 
 death ?" he added, speaking of Mr. Gurney. 
 
 " That shows what whisky will do. It is said 
 he died with delirium tremens. I wonder if that 
 is so," remarked Mr. Rogers. 
 
 Mr. Walker, who was busily assorting papers 
 and laying them away, had as yet taken no part 
 in the conversation, but when he heard Mr. 
 Rogers' last remark, he turned and said, " I 
 think I can answer your question. I was with 
 the deceased two days before he died, and I 
 never heard a man talk with better sense and in
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 293 
 
 a more cool and composed manner than he did. 
 This would scarcely have been the case if he had 
 labored under the effects of that terrible 
 disease." 
 
 " Mr. Walker, I know you and Mr. Gurney 
 were personal friends, as were you and his 
 mother, who appointed you administrator of her 
 will. There are many stories in circulation 
 as to his death, and as to his estate, which is said 
 to be so heavily mortgaged that it will scarcely 
 leave his heirs anything, if it has to be sold un- 
 der the hammer. There is perhaps no one in 
 the city, outside of the family and relatives of 
 the deceased, better acquainted with the whole 
 affair than you are, and if you feel at liberty to 
 speak in this matter, I ask you if they have 
 any foundation," said Mr. Rogers. 
 
 " If it was not so late," said Mr. Walker, as he 
 looked at the clock, the hand of which pointed 
 to half-past ten, " I would tell you the whole 
 affair ; but I think we had' better postpone it 
 until some other time, for it is almost eleven 
 o'clock." 
 
 " Go on, go on, we want to hear, and we do 
 not know when we shall all meet again," was 
 heard from all sides.
 
 294 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 Mr. Walker, who was standing, took a chair, 
 arid when seated, said: "Ten years ago Mr. 
 Gurney was my political opponent in the race 
 for Prosecuting Attorney. He was very young, 
 and had just come home from the law school, 
 where he graduated first in his class. His 
 father, a very ambitious man, proud of his son's 
 talent, and with great expectations for his future, 
 thought this a fine opportunity for success. He 
 spent large sums to get him nominated, and left 
 no stone unturned to assure success. Saloons 
 and whisky, as they are in every campaign, were 
 the mainsprings to be relied upon, and they 
 were set in full working order. The old man, 
 who drank his glass regularly without getting 
 drunk, had no fear for his son ; of course, he was 
 a Gurney, and would do like his father. Yet, 
 had the father commenced drinking under the 
 same auspices, perhaps he would have shared 
 the same fate. On the ticket with Mr. Gurney, 
 as candidate for Sheriff, was one Mike O'Brien, 
 a notorious prize-fighter, who was afterwards 
 killed in a drunken row, and, for Treasurer, the 
 notorious Henry Welch, who turned out a de- 
 faulter in the sum of twenty thousand dollars, 
 ran off into Canada, was afterwards captured,
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 295 
 
 brought back, tried, and sentenced to serve a 
 term in the penitentiary. In their company he 
 learned to drink, and the habit soon got the 
 mastery of him. A few years later his father 
 was thrown from his buggy by a runaway horse, 
 and received injuries from which he shortly 
 afterwards died, leaving a will dividing his pro- 
 perty equally between his two children and his 
 widow, a woman in feeble health, highly edu- 
 cated and of a superior mind. She was very 
 anxious about her son and his growing passion 
 for strong drink, which her keen eyes soon dis- 
 covered, and which nearly broke her heart. 
 
 " Meanwhile Mr. Gurney was elected to the 
 State Senate, and never could a party have 
 elected a better man. He was a fine orator, a 
 good judge of law, clear-minded, and always 
 found on the side where he could do the most 
 good, and would often fight against his own 
 party when he thought it was wrong. About 
 four years ago he was married to a Miss Proc- 
 tor, who was as noble-hearted as she was pretty. 
 The fruit of this marriage was two children, 
 boys, both living. His mother, whose disease 
 had turned into slow consumption, expired at 
 the close of the marriage ceremony, having pre-
 
 296 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 viously made a will, in which she appointed me 
 administrator. With a clear mind, as if she had a 
 knowledge of what was to come, she prepared 
 for the emergency. The will read that the in- 
 terest of her money and the income of her real 
 estate should be divided annually by her two 
 children ; and should Arthur die without leaving 
 any heirs, then her daughter, or her heirs if she 
 should be dead, should inherit the whole. But 
 should he marry and have heirs, then the inter- 
 est of the whole should be set apart for their 
 education, and if necessary for their maintenance. 
 But should he die and leave them destitute of 
 the necessities and comforts of life, then the ad- 
 ministrator should have the power to act as he 
 thought best under the circumstances. 
 
 " At the moderate valuation of real estate and 
 money at interest, it will amount to about twenty 
 thousand dollars in itself enough to keep the 
 widow and her children comfortable. He sent 
 for me, as I told you, a few days before he died. 
 ' Mr. Walker/ he said, after I seated myself by 
 the side of his bed, ' I sent for you confidentially, 
 for you always have been a true friend to me. 
 I soon shall leave this world, and would leave 
 my poor wife and children to the charity of the
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 297 
 
 public, had not the foresight of my mother pro- 
 vided for them. My affairs are in a terrible con- 
 dition. The money my father left me is all 
 squandered. I hold notes to the amount of five 
 or six thousand dollars, which I will hand to you 
 for collection, but I do not think you will make 
 much out of them. And my real estate is mort- 
 gaged. I wish you would save it, if it is in your 
 power, or if you see fit to do so.' " 
 
 " I promised him I would do all in my power 
 for him and his family's good, and hoped that he 
 would soon be able to co-operate with me." 
 
 " ' I knew you would,' he smilingly said, ' and 
 I can now rest satisfied.' " 
 
 " I shall pay off the mortgage at once, and 
 make an effort to collect the amount represented 
 by the notes. And now you have the whole 
 history." 
 
 " You forgot to tell us the nature of his dis- 
 ease," remarked Mr. Rogers. 
 
 "There were two causes for his untimely 
 death. The disappointment of his defeat at the 
 Congressional Convention, and the excessive 
 use of whisky to drown the memory of it and 
 heal the bleeding wound." 
 
 "I cannot understand, to this day," interrupted 
 
 19
 
 298 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 one, " how it came that he was so badly defeated 
 and this, too, by a man scarcely known outside 
 of his county." 
 
 " This is very easily explained," Mr. Walker 
 said. "You see, he and his friends were so 
 sure of success that they disregarded all vigi- 
 lance and precaution, and not one-half of the 
 delegates appointed attended the Convention, as 
 it was considered a settled fact that Mr. Gurney 
 would be the nominee. This was taken advan- 
 tage of by the friends of the opponent and his 
 hirelings, who got in their men all well organ- 
 ized and well paid as substitutes, and so achieved 
 an easy victory." 
 
 "Is Mr. Perkins qualified for the position?" 
 asked Mr. Rogers. 
 
 " In comparison with Mr. Gurney, it would be 
 as a star of the first magnitude to that of insig- 
 nificance ; and Mr. Perkins never would have 
 had M. C. attached to his name, if it had not 
 been for the money of his wife." 
 
 " How so ?" asked several, at once. 
 
 " You see, the gentleman had the good luck 
 to marry a spinster, who made up in dollars what 
 she lacked in beauty, for she could call five hun- 
 dred thousand dollars her own. This woman, I
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 299 
 
 am told, boasted that if money could procure for 
 her husband a seat in Congress, he should 
 have one, and the result of the election has 
 shown that she fully succeeded. I have it from 
 trustworthy authority that she did not spend less 
 than fifty thousand dollars to accomplish her ob- 
 ject." 
 
 " How did she spend it, and who got it all ?" 
 w'as asked by several. 
 
 " Not the widows and orphans, nor the needy 
 of any description, you may rest assured. But 
 it was spent for whisky, and was passed into the 
 hands of saloon keepers. One man alone, here 
 in this city, received ten thousand dollars ; fiive 
 thousand to secure the nomination, and five thou- 
 sand after he was elected. The scoundrel never 
 did a day's work in his life, since I knew him ; 
 controls every election, and owns, on Court 
 street, one of the finest marble blocks there is 
 in the city it is said to have cost over one hun- 
 dred and fifty thousand dollars ; and in it he car- 
 ries on his saloon, and it is said in it are the most 
 extensive gambling dens there are in the United 
 States. He is a Dutchman, and his name, I 
 think, is Nick Putzel, but he is known every- 
 where as Uncle Nick."
 
 300 NICK PUTZEL ; OR 
 
 " Many young 1 men have been led to ruin and 
 destruction in his headquarters of thieves and 
 swindlers. Among them Arthur Gurney. 
 They elected him Prosecuting Attorney because 
 he had plenty of money ; and they were his pre- 
 tended friends as long as it lasted ; but as soon 
 as a better opportunity offered they sacrificed 
 him, threw him aside like useless rubbish, and 
 grabbed for the golden egg." 
 
 " The winding up of the whole matter is, 
 through whisky he made his success, and through 
 whisky he met an untimely end. I shall never 
 forget the words he said to me before I parted 
 with him forever : ' My life was a failure, and all 
 because I started on the wrong road to success. 
 But I blame no one but myself. I part from 
 this world with malice toward none ; but this I 
 will say: may the tongue forsake its function, of 
 the one who will try to persuade my children to 
 use strong drink, and may the arm be paralyzed, 
 and the hand withered, of the person who shall 
 attempt to hand to my children the cup that con- 
 tains the soul and body destroying poison called 
 whisky!'" 
 
 " How time passes ; nearly twelve o'clock. 
 But hark, isn't that thunder ?"
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 301 
 
 " I noticed several keen flashes of lightning, 
 and I would not be surprised if we have a 
 shower," remarked Mr. Rogers. " It seems as 
 if I hear an awful roaring. There must be 
 heavy wind with it." 
 
 One of the gentlemen, who had looked out of 
 the window, withdrew his head, and said, " Gen- 
 tlemen, shut the windows, quickly, we have a 
 tornado." 
 
 It took not a moment to do this, but it was 
 scarcely accomplished when the storm in all its 
 fury burst upon them. It seemed as if the ele- 
 ments had combined for the destruction of the 
 city. The lightning was a continual sheet of 
 flame, and the crash and roaring of the thunder, 
 combined with the howling of the wind, was ter- 
 rific and horrible to behold. It only lasted for 
 a few minutes, but as it abated the fire bells were 
 heard ringing, and the engines were heard has- 
 tily making their way through the obstructed 
 streets. The cry of " fire " was heard every- 
 where, and soon the flames were seen soaring 
 high in the air. It was apparently in the neigh- 
 borhood of the Court House. The whole city 
 seemed to be alive after the storm ceased ; every 
 one anxious to see if his neighbor's house was
 
 302 NICK PUTZEL; OR 
 
 standing, for all expected to see the city in ruins, 
 but to the great surprise of all, with the excep- 
 tion of blown-off roofs and unsecured out-build- 
 ings, sign posts and awnings, uprooting of hun- 
 dreds of shade trees, and the great fire, caused 
 by a stroke of lightning, that consumed the fine 
 marble block on Court street, no other damage 
 was done. But the fright had driven away the 
 slumber, and most of the people were out on 
 the street, and a good many went to the scene 
 of the fire, where it was reported many lives 
 were lost. 
 
 Early in the morning men were set to work 
 to clear the streets of obstruction, and the pa- 
 pers had the following in regard to the storm : 
 
 "About twelve o'clock last night the most 
 terrific tornado ever witnessed by the oldest of 
 our inhabitants struck our city. Houses were 
 unroofed, unsecured buildings, sign boards and 
 awnings destroyed, and hundreds of shade trees 
 uprooted. The lightning struck the fine marble 
 block on Court street, owned by Nicholas Put- 
 zel, in the corner of which was kept the well- 
 known Court House Saloon and restaurant, by 
 the owner himself, who, it is said, with a good 
 many others, perished in the flames."
 
 "A charred form would be brought forth.
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 305 
 
 Hundreds of idle spectators were standing 
 around the ruins of the fire, watching the work- 
 men taking away the debris, in search of the 
 dead bodies. Every once in a while a charred 
 form would be brought forth and laid aside in a 
 place fixed purposely for inspection and recog- 
 nition. The workmen had just deposited one 
 when a bystander remarked, "That's him. I 
 would know him out of a thousand, by his pecu- 
 liar shape." 
 
 A shabbily dressed individual pushed himself 
 through the throng, and looking at the charred 
 corpse for a few moments, turned away, saying 
 
 " The mills of God grind slow but sure ! 
 Arthur Gurney, thou art revenged !"
 
 306 NICK PUTZEL ; OR 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 It was a very pleasant afternoon in the latter 
 part of the month of May. The atmosphere was 
 pure and refreshing, the trees in full foliage, 
 flowers in full bloom, and the earth clothed in 
 green. Nature had thrown aside its winter gar- 
 ments, and appeared in full spring attire. A 
 fragrant zephyr acted like a stimulant to every 
 living creature, as all seemed to enjoy and par- 
 take of God's handiwork. 
 
 Nor were the dead forgotten. The cemetery 
 was alive with people, and the flowers, strewn on 
 graves and beautifully arranged on monuments, 
 testified that the loved ones departed were held 
 in sacred memory by the loved ones living. 
 
 Among the many vehicles with their precious 
 cargoes of human beings and flowers, that drove 
 into the resting place of the dead, was a large 
 family carriage drawn by a fine span of greys. 
 It moved slowly toward the centre, but before 
 getting there it turned to the right, went on a 
 few hundred yards, and stopped in the shade of 
 a large weeping willow. The occupants, a gen-
 
 ARTHUR GURNEY'S RUIN. 307 
 
 tleman and two ladies, a boy about thirteen 
 years of age, and two smaller ones, the older of 
 them between three and four, and the youngest 
 two years old, alighted. 
 
 All, in mourning, and carrying in their hands 
 their tokens of love for some dear departed, 
 made their way to an enclosure surrounded by 
 an iron fence, about twenty yards distant to the 
 left. The gentleman opened a gate and all en- 
 tered. Side by side were three graves, each 
 with a small headstone, while in the centre was 
 a large, plain monument. With the exception 
 of the little ones not a word was spoken. All 
 were silently engaged in arranging flowers, bou- 
 quets, and wreaths ; but when the younger of 
 the ladies had circled the headstone of the grave 
 to the left with her last wreath, she sank on her 
 knees, folded her hands, cast her eyes toward 
 heaven, and apparently offered a silent prayer. 
 She was in this attitude for some time, seem- 
 ingly unconscious of everything around her, 
 when the other lady stepped up to her, placed 
 her hand upon her arm, and in- a low tone said, 
 "Sister." 
 
 She arose as if from a dream. All went back 
 to the carriage, and after being seated, drove off.
 
 308 NICK PUTZEL. 
 
 Quite a little crowd had gathered a short dis- 
 tance from the scene described, no doubt at- 
 tracted by the matchless beauty of the younger 
 lady, and scarcely was the carriage set in motion 
 when a dozen or more voices were heard saying, 
 "Who are they? Who is she?" etc., to which 
 a gentleman, after silence was restored, replied 
 
 " The gentleman, elder lady, and largest boy, 
 are Mr. Emmit, wife, and son. The younger 
 lady and little children are the widow and child- 
 ren of the late lamented Arthur Gurney." 
 
 "Well, if she is as good as she is beautiful, 
 then she is an angel indeed," remarked a by- 
 stander. 
 
 "That beautiful form conceals no deceit. In 
 it lodges a soul equally as noble and beautiful. 
 And if God has created angels with flesh and 
 blood, then Adelia Gurney is one indeed." 
 
 THE END.
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 
 Los Angeles 
 This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. 
 
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 ''-. ; 
 
 MAY 1 5 1996 
 
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 2001 
 
 Form L9-100m-9,'52(A3105)444
 
 2197 Nick Putzel 
 
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