BEN BLOSSOM.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVI, Issue 4308, 20 April 1907, Page 1

BEN BLOSSOM.

A “ groggy GOER-”

Ben Blossom, an old man past theiprimeand ageing rapidly Was a well known unit of the town-ships, his popularity in no degree lessened as for as the general ruck went, from the fact that he was the reopient from a souroe not publicly known, of a modest income which about equalled the amount he would have gained had he bent his back each day of the week to toil with pick or shovel, Ben had, sad to say, his one great failing—he paid great heed to the voice of the flatterer, \ and at no time was his vanity more highly gratified than when he was the central figure within the hotel tap-room of an evening,' of a group consisting chiefly of what, for want of a more euphonious name, one might term “ soally-wags.” Bloated and obese,She would sit there in the reeking atmosphere, grinning or guffawing at the coarse jokes attempted by his erstwhile companions; or drink** ingin, between the gulps of strong drink from the glass in his hand their absurd adulations of himself and his doings. Ben’s surname was a rather appropriate one, for day by day the “ grog blossoms ” on his proboscis were multiplying and intensifying : they had long ago undergone all the changes through various darkening tones of red’ and were now bordering upon that expensively developed stage known as the ultra-purple period. Ben was possessor of a ; past - history but on that subject he was not oommnnicative, and consequently little was known. But beneath the slovenly carriage and dissiptated countenance, there was a remnant of the gentleman which an observer might sometimes detect. Yet he was practically lost to all respctability, through perhaps not irreclaimable if some kind soul had taken him in hand. But no salvator was forthcoming the hotel seemed now to be his only salvation—drink, drink, to hasten a welcome death. And so he drifted helplessly from a bad, along to an even worse state, and it is certain that when he was laid up for near a week at times with the delirium that uow frequently possessed him, the takings at his favourite hotel must have been diminished by considerably more than a pound. Poorßen! lucky for someonethat he was single: or perhaps unfortunate for him that he had not had a guiding mate. Poor wretch, he’s gone now, but I fancy I can hear those screams of delirium yet when passing his whare on a drear and stormy night. In spite of . occasional welhmeant advice from a few who felt they would like to lend a helping hand, he continued his old ways, carousing, and our.ing his very existence, which was now becoming intolerably even to himself. “ Bens dead!,, were the words i hat passed through the town* ship one'morning. It was true Hell’s gates had been snapped on another sinner. Poor unfortunate! but for easy temptations having been offered to his resist less will, be might have been otherwise: his name might have shone with the light of fame instead of his nose with the sheen of alcohol. Is makes one think that weak-willed men should have either somebody to think for them or more effictive laws made for their protection.

That afternoon when a smart • looking man alighted from the mail coach and enquired for Ben the bad news brought tears to bis eyes. “Pm his brother/* said the stranger,” and for some time have wanted to have him under oloser care,“ “You’re too late,” said a bystander, “ Good resolutions ain’t no use unless they are carried out in time.”