Butte record. (Bidwell, Butte County, Cal.) 1853-1858, 1855-04-28
THE TWO PLEDGES.

/
IN the shore of Lake George. This was
| before the commencement of the tenn
perance reformation, when every family
krpt intoxicating liquors cons antly on
hand, and used them as an occasional, if
not as daily beve age Taught bv the
'xample of the father and his guests,
the LITTLE boy contracted love for strong
drinks, that occasioned his parents most
p infrl apprehensinns on his account,
and was the subject of their frequent
/ but nnavailing remonstrance. At length.
ut barn raising which he ha been per-
mitted to attend, and whre ne had free
access to key OF liquor, he became
DEAD DRUND, and was laid upon board
under tree.
About four O'Clock his father called
to accompany him home; not seeing
him he eagerly inquired for his child !;
they pointed him to the place where b.
lay With heart full of sorrow he car
ried him to his mother and sisters. To-
gether his parents watched by his bed
during the tedious night that followed
not knowing but the dreadful stupor
woull result in his death but fully
resolved if he lived, not to leave untried
any effIrt that might promise to save
him.
1t was not until the evening Of the
second day that he was restored to per-
feet CONSEQUENCES. His parents thought
it best not to speak to him If the cause
of his illness for some days, hoping his
own recollectinnS would do him much
more good but in this they we're dis
appointed-he did not exhibit the fr,t
symptom of remorse or consciousness
that he hid done the least wrong.
About week after the event just
related, his father invited him one pleas-
ant morning to take walk Ther road
lay along the shore Of the lake, and was
lined vita stately trees on ither side.
For time they xslted on in silence.
'''Dennie,' said he, do you know
what it was made you 50 SEX the other
DAY =
"' Why, I suppose | drunk too much
rum he artlessly replied
"' Well, any son, do YOU know that
think YOU are in darger of becoming a
druukard =
"'4 Way father, know You tell M
Sc, but 1 am not afraid Of 1t. You
driak rum every day, and you are not ii
irunkard an when get old enough to
know IS much it VII do for me to
d.ink, then | can keep from being
drunk too
Tn. Y both seated themselves on a
rock near the shore, and most faithfully
did his f ther SPEAK of the evils of in.
temperance. then taking small gold
watch from his pocket, which Denne
lad long d sired to call h.s own, h.
aid, Denne, if you will promise me
that you will never drink any more
rum, | will give you this gold watch
Win you do it =
Rising from his seat, and looking
bis father full in Lis face, be replied, : if
it is wrong for me to drink rum, | soorn
to be hired not to drink IT, But | will
tell you, sir, what | lrW do. If it il
wrong for me to drink, it is wrong for
you, and if you viii stop drinking,
will"
" Had fash of lightning burst from
the cl"udless sky above them, his father
would not have been more startled. How
could he preach and perform the labori-
Gus duties of pastor without his daily
glass of bitters How could he get up
in cold winters night, and 90 to pray
by the bed of some dying parishoner,
without glass Of something to prevent
him taking cold How could he attend
the various ecclesiastical meetings of the
church without something to help him
bear the fatigues of the journey The
sac ifce was indeed great, but the vel
fare of his child demanded it. And
sunmoning ali his resolution with a. fall
tering voice, he replied I isiU do it,
my soa' And thus they pledged them
selves to Istd 4bstiHene< there.
The Ike. the trees, aud the pure
blue sky, being their only witnesses,
save only that Holy Being who is every
where. As they retraced their steps,
his father. taking the little watch from
his porket, gave it to pennie, and said,