The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1851-06-14
The Temperance Tract,
ny T. :. ARTHUR.

A young man, who felt good deal Of enthu.
slasn IN the temperance cause, procured some
tracts fer distribution lie had a dozen. and, in
the ardor of his feelings. he calculated that al
least twelve men would be reformed through
their agency. Having an idle afternoon to de
vote To the cause. he started ont with his duzcr
tracts in his pocket, his mind in some degree nt
eatlon in prospect Of the good that WAS to be
done.
In walking along, the first man who came in
his way was a tavcrn-keepcr
Here isa good subject" said Wilton to him
self, "a the tavern keeper drew near. let me
see what have that will suit him. All, this is
II, An Appeal to the People on the Liquor
Traffic"
AMI, selecting n tract with this title, he pre-,
sentcd TO the tavcrn'kceper as they met, saying
as he did so---
accept this, il You please
Taken by surprise the man received the tract,
and the distributor bowing, moved on.
"A dead shot for him" thought he; but the
thought was scarcely formed ere he felt hand
laid roughly upon his shoulder Turning quickly
he confronted the tavern keeper, whose face was
red with anger.
What's thisi" he demanded imperativcly.
Its tract" replied the young man, looking
confused
"Sce here, my friend - and as the tavernkeep,
or spoke he withdrew his hand from his shoulder
My ir,t impulse was TO pitch YOU over that
fence. On second thought, however, ! will let
You 70 unpunished for your impcrtinence; but
with this piece of good adyico-'lf YOU wish to
keep out Of trouble mind your own business"
/ Then crumpling the tract in his hand, and
tossing it from him contemptuously, he turned
leaving the young temperance rcformer with his
enthusiasm in the cause reduced down TO zero
While this state Of mind was Predominant, the
balance Of the tracts on hand were thrown over
a fence, and meeting gust of wind, were scat,
tered apart, and driven in various directions
/ The distributor returned home, feeling mortified
and discouraged. On reflection, however, he va.
vexed q; himself both for the bungling manner
in which lie had proceeded, and for his having
been 80 easily thrown off by arebuff
"Ihe tracts, at least, needn't have been vast
ed" said he, that was folly Of which ought ,C
be heartily ashamed"
About nm hour after this occurrence mar
came walking along the road where this It'll,
occurrence took place. A piece Of paper caugh
his eye, and stoopng, he picked it up Moving
on, Ms he opened it, he commenced reading an,
was soon deeply Interested, for he walked slowe
and slower, and sometimes stopped altogether
This man was also tavernkcevcr After read
ing the tract through he placed it in his poke,
and continued on his way.
stop and think John" said wife in m mp
pealing voice to her husband, as the latter wa.
about leaving the house
Don't talk to ma in that way" replied tht
husband, impatiently, "You couldn't &C, worse
were II common drunkard."
" But the danger, John. Stop and think o
that There ia a lion in the way"
II am out OF all patience with you, Alice sale
the husband. "A high respect you have for you
husbands good sense and good principles A.
II couldn't enjoy glass now aud then wi,hou
being in danger Of becoming n miserable sot."
With this ne turned oil, and .ook his way L
the tavern, while his wife went weeping into th
house As he walked along, the words she In,
uttored-"Stop and thnk'-rung in his ears an,
he tried TO push them from his thoughts in orde
that he might not think. All at once, frcsl
blast Of wind blew from n field that adjoined tn
road piece of paper, and as it fell at his feet
his eye caught the words.
u "StUr AND TniSK'