Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-11-06
THE TEMPERANCE TRACT.
ny r. s. ARTHUR.

| asm IN the temperance cause, procured some
| tracts Tor distribution. He had dozen, and In
The ardor OF his feelings he calculated that at least
| twelve men would be reformed through their
| agency. Having an idle afternoon to devote to
t'e cause, he started out with his dozen tracts in
ms pocket his mind in some degree Of eiaton, In
| prospect OF the good that was to be done.
In walking along, the first man that came in
| ms way was tavern keeper.
Here is good subiect,'' said Wilton TO HIM
| sell, as the tavern keeper drew near. ''Let me
| see what have that will snit MIN. Ali this il
| Traffic"
| And, selecting tract with this title, he pre-
sented it to the tavern keeper rs tney met, say;n.
| as he did So
..Accept this if you please
Taken b. surprise, the man received the tract.
and the distributor, howing. moved on.
"A dead shot for him." thought he; but the
| Thought was scarcely formed ere he felt hand
! laid roughly on his shoulder. Turning quickly
| he confronted the tavern kee-er, whose face was
| red with anger.
! ''What's this?' he demanded imperatir4lv.
! "Its tract" replied the young man, looking
| confused
| s'See here, my fricnd:' and as the tavern keep
er spoke he withdrew his hand from his shoul-
der. My first impulse was TO pitch YOU over
| that fence. On second thoughts however, | will
let You 20 unpunished for yoar impertinence; but
| keep out Of trouble, mind your own business"
Then crumplng the tract in his hand and toss-
| ing 1t from him contemptuouslv, he turned away.
! leaving the young temperance reformer with bis
enthusiasm in the cause down to zero. While
| this state of mind was predominant. the balance
of the tracts i'm his hand were thrown ever fence
| and meeting gust Of wind. were scattered apart
and driven In various directions. The distributor
returned home, feeling mortified and discouraged.
| On reflection. however he was vexed at himself
| both for the bungltn- manner in which he had
| proceeded. and for his having been 30 easily
| thrown off by rebuff.
s'The tracts at least need mt have been wastei,r
| said he, s'that was folly of which ought to be
| heartily ashamed"
| About an hoa- after this occurrence. man
carae walking along the road, where this
| adventure took place. piece of paper caught
| his eye, and stopping he picked it up. Moving
| on, he commenced reading. and was soon deeply
| Interested. for he walked slower and slower. and
| sometimes stopppd altogether This man was al-
so a tavern keeper. After reading the tract thro'
| he placed it in his pocket. and continued on his
! wav.
| Stop and think. John.'' said wife IN appealing
voice 10 her husband the latter was about leay-
ing the house.
| husband. impatientlv. "fou couldn't act worse
If were a common drunkard."
s'But the danger, John. Stop and think of that
there is lion in your way"
II ain out Of all patience with Won Alicc,' said
the man. ga high respect yoa have for your
| husbands good sense and good principles. As
if conldn't enjoy glass now and then without
| being in danger of becoming miserable sor."
With this the man turned off, and took his way
to the tavern, while his wife went weeping into
the house. As he walked along. the words she
! had uttered-s'Stop and think''-rung in his ears,
and he tried 10 push them from his thoughts, in
! order that he might not think. All at once n
fresh blast Of wind blew from field that adjoin-
el the road piece OF paper. AMI as it fell a hts
feet. his eve caught the words
Stop and think"
The coincidence Of language startled him for
a moment. He took M tbs piece Of paper and
commenced reading. and as he read, he walked
slower ard slower and slower. One of Wllton's
temperance tracts had falen into his hands. II
was close appeal to The moderate drlnAe-, aai
set forth his danger in the fullest manner. A,
last the man stood still. Then he sat down by the
road side, still reading on.
There - danger" he nj length murmared
folding up the tract as he spoke. Rising. he stood
lrreso,u.e as to whether he should return home
or keep on his wav to the tavern. Had any one
thrust the tract in his hand he would have reject
ed it: hut coming to him as id'd itfoand his mind
prepared to hearkrn 10 its appeals, But the
love of drink had been formed, aud at the pros
pect Of having it, accustomed qualification cut otf
began 10 cry ont for Indulgence. A combat in
the mind at tho man was the result. and this
continued until appetite ~ ned the victory SO far,
that he concluded for this tine at least TO 20 To
the tavern. bat to give up the habit thereafter
II haze to turn back after once start to do n
thing" saia he, as he moved On again towards the
trvern. ITS bad luck"
Still the argument for and against any further
in iulgehce kept going on and he coad not turn
his mind away from ii.
. sha AZ %ha
whittier he was wendinc his way. came in view
and The sight affected him with the old pleasure,
Tn imagination the refreshing and exhllaranns
glass was ut his lips, and he qasckeaed his pace
invonntarik.
A. he drew near hc saw the landlord sitting
in the porch. This good natured old fellow did
not smile with the broad smile Of welcome that
usually PLAYED over his coantenance when Gus
toner approached.
~How are you to-lav, lanllord?" said the
man cheerfally. as he stepped upon the porch.
.De vca know wha: road You have come ?''
asked the landlord with a gravity of m nner that
SURPRISED his customer.
"Yes," replied the man, "i come The road 10
the Punch Bowl"
.Ra,ter say thc road 10 ru;n," returned the
landlord.
"Wh,t's the matter?" inquired the man. II
nevar heard a landlord talk in that way before "
at was the road to rnin to poor Bill Jenkins.
That know tno we'll: and has been the road Ia
ruin ~ n rood many more that don't ke to
think about. II will he yo1r road to ruin. II yoi
keep on 50 would advise yoa To stop and think
n little on the matter. III Won want any hqnor,
vcn can ret IL from Jim nj the har. but I'll rather
not have your si>prnse in my till today. lwon't
rrel right ahoHt it,"
~What's the matter. hndlard2 What has pat
you in this hnmer?n said the mon who In turn
! became serious.
IL found piece Of paper ON The road, a. !
walked along jus, now. and II In something.
printed on il that has set me thinking. That's
| the matter Al me! | wish | WAS IN better
business, II doesn't make maa think that In
building himself M he i dragging others down.
And I'm rather afraid that's my position. - To
homo nv friend, and don't let the ain of yonr rt-
N h, on my conscience. You've got TO loving
houar too well. May bc yea don't think SO hnt
know il. I've seen n great many men 70 down
the hill, and can tell the first steps, lon have
taken them. Stop and think before yon 60 any
further"
>.I,oo, here landlord" said the m,n after stand
m- ,ho,rhtful for few moments. "Fll make u
bargain with von."
"verv we'll. what ahont?"
..lf vou'tl qnit selling TIL quit dr'ns'n~'
The landlord did not answer Tor some mo-
ments, but sat with his eyes upon the floor. NJ
length rising IN slowly. he extended his hand tc
his customer. and graspnC IT, firmly said
.A~reea? it's bar-ain?"
| 4 hearty shake sealed the contract.