Elder Brown's Backslide by Harry Stillwell Edwards
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show-cases and pulling down whole shelves of stock . occasionally an item of_his memoranda would come to light, and thrusting his hand into his capacious pocket, where lay the proceeds of_his check, he_would pay for_it upon_the spot, and insist upon having it rolled up . to_the suggestion of_the slave whom he had in charge for_the_time being that_the articles be laid aside until he had finished, he_would_not listen .

" now you look here, sonny," he_said, in_the dry-goods store, "I'm conducting this revival, an' I don't need no help in my line . just you tie them stockin's up an' lemme have 'em . then I_know I've got_ 'em ." as each purchase was promptly paid for, and change had to_be secured, the clerk earned his salary for_that day at_least .

so it_was when, near the heat of_the day, the good man arrived at_the drugstore, the last and only unvisited division of trade, he_made his appearance equipped with half a hundred packages, which nestled in_his arms and bulged out about_the sections of_his clothing that boasted of pockets . as he deposited his deck- load upon_the counter, great drops of perspiration rolled down his face and over his waterlogged collar to_the floor .

there_was something exquisitely refreshing in_the great glasses of foaming soda that a spruce young man was drawing from a marble fountain, above which half a dozen polar bears in an ambitious print were disporting themselves . there came a break in_the run of customers, and_the spruce young man, having swept the foam from_the marble, dexterously lifted a glass from_the revolving rack which had rinsed it with a fierce little stream of water, and asked mechanically, as he caught the intense look of_the perspiring elder, " what syrup, sir ? "

now it had_not occurred to_the elder to drink soda, but the suggestion, coming as it did in_his exhausted state, was overpowering . he drew near awkwardly, put on_his glasses, and examined the list of syrups with great care . the young man, being for_the moment at leisure, surveyed critically the gaunt figure, the faded bandanna, the antique clawhammer coat, and_the battered stove- pipe hat, with a gradually relaxing countenance . he even called the prescription clerk's attention by a cough and a quick jerk of_the thumb . the prescription clerk smiled freely, and continued his assaults upon a piece of blue mass .

"I reckon," said the elder, resting his hands upon his knees and bending down to_the list, " you_may gimme sassprilla an' a little strawberry .Sassprilla's good for_the blood this_time er year, an' strawberry's good any_time ."

the spruce young man let the syrup stream into_the glass as he smiled affably .Thinking, perhaps, to draw out the odd character, he ventured upon a jest himself, repeating a pun invented by_the man who_made the first soda fountain . with a sweep of_his arm he cleared away the swarm of insects as he remarked, " people who like a fly in theirs are easily accommodated ."

it_was from sheer good- nature only that elder brown replied, with_his usual broad, social smile, " well, a fly now an' then don't hurt nobody ."

now if_there_is anybody in_the_world who prides himself on knowing a thing or two, it_is_the spruce young man who presides over a soda fountain . this particular young gentleman did_not even deem a reply necessary . he vanished an instant, and when he returned a close observer might_have seen that_the mixture in_the glass he bore had slightly changed color and increased in quantity . but the elder saw only the whizzing stream of water dart into its center, and_the rosy foam rise and tremble on_the glass's rim . the next instant he_was holding his breath and sipping the cooling drink .

as elder brown paid his small score he_was at peace with_the world .I firmly believe that when he had finished his trading, and_the little blue- stringed packages had_been stored away, could the poor donkey have_made his appearance at_the door, and gazed with_his meek, fawnlike eyes into his master's, he_would_have obtained full and free forgiveness .

elder brown paused at_the door as he_was about to leave .a rosy-cheeked school- girl was just lifting a creamy mixture to her lips before_the fountain . it_was a pretty picture, and he turned back, resolved to indulge in one more glass of_the delightful beverage before beginning his long ride homeward .

" fix it up again, sonny," he_said, renewing his broad, confiding smile, as_the spruce young man poised a glass inquiringly . the living automaton went through_the same motions as before, and again elder brown quaffed the fatal mixture .

what a singular power is habit ! up_to_this_time elder brown had_been entirely innocent of transgression, but with_the old alcoholic fire in_his veins, twenty years dropped from_his shoulders, and afeeling came over him familiar to every man who has_been " in_his cups ." as a matter of fact, the elder would_have_been a confirmed drunkard twenty years before had his wife been less strong- minded . she took the reins into her own hands when she found that his business and strong drink did_not mix well, worked him into_the church, sustained his resolutions by making it difficult and dangerous for him to_get to_his toddy . she became the business head of_the family, and he the spiritual . only at rare intervals did he ever " backslide" during the twenty years of_the new era, and Mrs brown herself used to_say that_the " sugar in_his'n turned to gall before_the backslide ended ." people who knew her never doubted it .

but elder brown's sin during the remainder of_the day contained an element of responsibility . as he moved majestically down toward where Balaam slept in_the sunlight, he_felt no fatigue . there_was a glow upon his cheek-bones, and a faint tinge upon his prominent nose . he nodded familiarly to people as he met them, and saw not the look of amusement which succeeded astonishment upon_the various faces . when he reached the neighborhood of Balaam it suddenly occurred to him that he_might_have forgotten some one of_his numerous commissions, and he paused to_think . then a brilliant idea rose in_his mind . he_would forestall blame and disarm anger with kindness-- he_would purchase Hannah a bonnet .

what woman's heart ever failed to soften at sight of a new bonnet ?

as I_have stated, the elder was a man of action . he entered a store near at hand .

" good- morning," said an affable gentleman with a Hebrew countenance, approaching .

" good-mornin', good-mornin'," said the elder, piling his bundles on_the counter ." I_hope you_are well ? " elder brown extended his hand fervidly .

" quite well, i_thank_you . what--"

" and_the little wife ? " said elder brown, affectionately retaining the Jew's hand .

" quite well, sir ."

" and_the little ones-- quite well, I_hope, too ? "

" yes, sir; all well, thank_you . something I_can do for_you ? "

the affable merchant was trying to recall his customer's name .

" not now, not now, thankee . if_you please to let my bundles stay untell I come back--"

" can't I show you something ? hat, coat--"

" not now . be back bimeby ."

was_it chance or fate that brought elder brown in front of a bar ? the glasses shone bright upon_the shelves as_the swinging door flapped back to let out acoatless clerk, who passed him with a rush, chewing upon a farewell mouthful of brown bread and bologna . elder brown beheld for an instant the familiar scene within . the screws of_his resolution had_been loosened . at sight of_the glistening bar the whole moral structure of twenty years came tumbling down . mechanically he entered the saloon, and laid a silver quarter upon_the bar as he_said:

"A little whiskey an' sugar ." the arms of_the bartender worked like a faker's in a side show as he set out the glass with its little quota of " short sweetening" and a cut- glass decanter, and sent a half- tumbler of water spinning along from_the upper end of_the bar with a dime in change .

"Whiskey is higher'n used to_be," said elder brown; but the bartender was taking another order, and did_not hear him . elder brown stirred away the sugar, and let a steady stream of red liquid flow into_the glass . he swallowed the drink as unconcernedly as_though his morning tod had never been suspended, and pocketed the change ." but it ain't any better than it_was," he concluded, as he passed out . he_did_not even seem to realize_that he had done anything extraordinary .

there_was a millinery store up the street, and thither with uncertain step he wended his way, feeling a little more elate, and altogether sociable .a pretty, black- eyed girl, struggling to_keep down her mirth, came forward and faced him behind the counter . elder brown lifted his faded hat with_the politeness, if_not the grace, of aCastilian, and made asweeping bow . again he_was in_his element . but he_did_not speak .a shower of odds and ends, small packages, thread, needles, and buttons, released from their prison, rattled down about him .

the girl laughed . she_could_not help it . and_the elder, leaning his hand on_the counter, laughed, too, until several_other girls came half- way to_the front . then they, hiding behind counters and suspended cloaks, laughed and snickered until they reconvulsed the elder's vis-a-vis, who had_been making desperate efforts to resume her demure appearance .

" let me help_you, sir," she said, coming from behind the counter, upon seeing elder brown beginning to adjust his spectacles for a search . he waved her back majestically ." no, my dear, no; can't allow it . you mout sile them purty fingers . no, MA'am . no gen'l' man'll ' low er lady to_do such a thing ." the elder was gently forcing the girl back to her place ." leave it to_me .I've picked up bigger things 'n them . picked myself up this mornin' .Balaam-- you don't know Balaam; he's my donkey-- he tumbled me over his head in_the sand this mornin' ." and elder brown had to resume an upright position until his paroxysm of laughter had passed ." you_see this old hat ? " extending it, half full of packages; "I fell clear inter it; jes' as clean inter it as them things thar fell out'n it ." he laughed again, and so did the girls ." but, my dear, I whaled half the hide off'n him for_it ."

"Oh, sir ! how could you ? indeed, sir . i_think you_did wrong . the poor brute did_not know what he_was doing, I dare say, and probably he has_been a faithful friend ." the girl cast her mischievous eyes towards her companions, who snickered again . the old man was not conscious of_the sarcasm . he only saw reproach . his face straightened, and he regarded the girl soberly .

"Mebbe you're right, my dear; mebbe I oughtn't ."

" I_am_sure of it," said the girl ." but now don't you_want to_buy a bonnet or a cloak to carry home to your wife ? "

" well, you're whistlin' now, birdie; that's my intention; set 'em all out ." again the elder's face shone with delight ." an' I don't want no one-hoss bonnet neither ."

" of_course not . now here_is one; pink silk, with delicate pale blue feathers . just the thing for_the season . we_have nothing more elegant in stock ." elder brown held it out, upside down, at arm's- length .

" well, now, that's suthin' like . will it soot a sorter redheaded 'ooman ? "

a perfectly sober man would_have said the girl's corsets must_have undergone a terrible strain, but the elder did_not notice her dumb convulsion . she answered, heroically:

" perfectly, sir . it_is an exquisite match ."

" i_think you're whistlin' again .Nancy's head's red, red as awoodpeck's . sorrel's only half- way to_the color of her top- knot, an' it do seem like red oughter to soot red .Nancy's red an' the hat's red; like goes with like, an' birds of a feather flock together ." the old man laughed until his cheeks were wet .

the girl, beginning to_feel a little uneasy, and seeing a customer entering, rapidly fixed up the bonnet, took fifteen dollars out of atwenty- dollar bill, and calmly asked the elder if he_wanted anything else . he thrust his change somewhere into his clothes, and beat a retreat . it had occurred to him that he_was nearly drunk .

elder brown's step began to lose its buoyancy . he_found himself utterly unable to walk straight . there_was an uncertain straddle in_his gait that carried him from one side of_the walk to_the other, and caused people whom he met to cheerfully yield him plenty of room .

Balaam saw him coming . poor Balaam . he had made an early start that day, and for hours he stood in_the sun awaiting relief . when he opened his sleepy eyes and raised his expressive ears to a position of attention, the old familiar coat and battered hat of_the elder were before him . he lifted up his honest voice and cried aloud for joy .

the effect was electrical for_one instant . elder brown surveyed the beast with horror, but again in_his understanding there rang out the trumpet words .

" drunk, drunk, drunk, drer-unc, -er-unc, -unc, -unc ."

he stooped instinctively for a missile with_which to smite his accuser, but brought up suddenly with a jerk and a handful of sand .Straightening himself up with a majestic dignity, he extended his right hand impressively .

" you're agoldarn liar, Balaam, and, blast your old buttons,

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