The Cedar County advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Iowa) 1853-1856, 1855-12-19
The Boy who Conquered

Some few years ago. a lad who was
left without father or mother; OF good
natarai abilities, went 10 New ork ,aiape
and friendless, to get a situation iii
store as errand boy or otherwise, nfhe
could command n higher hositlan: Est
this boy had got in bad mnanE and
had got In the habi, OF ceilirg Tor afS
"bi,ters' occasionally, 5cc.nscSlle .hot8 1t
!, looked manly. He smoked cheap CT
CARS also.
He had pretty good education, and
OH looking over the papers he noticed that
a merchant in Pearl street wanted lad
OF his age, and he called there, ard made
his business known.
Walk into the Office, my lad said
the merchant. III attend g YOU soon
When he had waited on ms customer,
he took seat BY the lad. and lie espieu
cigar in hi. hat. This was enough,
My boy said he, 4 want a smart, hon.
est, faithful lad, but see at you smoke
cigars, aud in my experience OF many
years, have ever found cigar smoking
an lads to be connected with various cyl
habits, and, II | am not mistaken, your
breath is an evidence ,AatyUu are not au
exception.
John this vas his naae held dova
his head and left the stole; and as he
walked along the street, a stranger ana
iriendless, the counsel Of his poor mother
came torcibiy 10 his mind, who, upon her
death-bed, called him to her side, and
placing her emaciated hand upon his
head, said, Jehnny, my dear boy, I'm
going to leave you, You we'll know what
disgrace and misery your ia,her brought
Oh US before his death, and want yeu to
promise me before / die, that you will
never taste one dsop OF tbs accursed pol
son that killed your iathcr. Promise M
this, and be good boy, Johnny, anu /
shall die IN peace.
The scaldlng tears .Fick.ed down John.
ny's cheeks, and he promised ever to re-
member the dying words Of his mother,
and never to drink any sprituous liquors,
but he soon forgot Lis promise, aad when
he received lie retuke from the mer-
chant, he remembered what his mother
said, and wha, he had promised her, and
he cried aloud, aud people gazed at hun
as he passed along, and boys rallied at
him. He went. TO his lodgings, and throw
Ing himself upon his bed, gave vent to
lis feelings II sobs that were heard all
over the house.
But John had moral courage. He had
energy and determination, and ere an
Aour had passed, he made up lis mind
never 10 taste another drop Of liquor, nor
smoke another ci5ai as long as lie lived.
He vent straight back 10 tho merchant.
said he, 'Sr, you very properly seat Inc
away this morning for habits have Teen
guilty Of; but, si1, have neither father
nor no!her, aad though | hare OCCASION
ally done what ! ought hot 70 DO, and
have no, followed tie good advice T NY
poor mother on her death bed, .or done
as | promised ker would DO. Yet have
made a solemn vow never TO drink drop
OF liquor, nor smoke another cigar: a.d
# yon, SIT, will only try me, i. Is all |
ask
The merchant was struck with tho de-
clsion and energy Of the boy, al once en-
ployed him. 1T IL expiration Of five
years this 'a4 was patlaer IN the bus,
meas, and IS now worth ten thousand dol
lars. tie has faithfully kept As pledge,
to which he owes his elevation.
Boys, think ol this circumstance, a.
You enter upon tie duties Of life, ana
remember upon what points Of ehaIaalel
your destiny Tor good OF for evil depends.
-ho'tlern Farmer.