The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-05-01
For the National Era.
SIGN THE PLEDGE, AND MAKE A ROSE
OF NETTIE BREST.
One of Series of Temperance Sketches.


The night was dark, and the wind so shrill
and ferocious that it really seemed to have gone
mad and yet the streets of our little village
were lined with life, and all appeared to be
Hocking to the Town Hall, which stood (no-
body knew why or wherefore) upon the top of
our very bleakest hill, and quite apart from all
other buildings. One young mana huge fell
low, with the step and strength of a giant-el-
bowed his way through the crowd, and seemed
bent upon gaining the very best seat in the
| Hall.
| He carried large bundle in his arms, and
it was noticed, even amid the excitement and
darkness, that he ever and anon bent his shag-
gy head and whispered-or appeared to whis-
per-quite tenderly to it. There was to be
Temperance lecture. And the man who was to
deliver it was, or had been, one of the very
ringleaders in all the bacchanal proceedings
that had for years disturbed the otherwise quiet
village of N.
He was young and slender man, but with
face of sconderful power of expression. His
limbs were 1.-the as those of the leopard, and
as he moved hither and thither, swayed by the
emotion that heaved at his bosom, and burst
in tides of eloquence from his lips, there arose
o mighty shout from the assembled crowd, such
as was never heard before, at least by those
old walls.
"Gad," cried the stout fellow that had been
most eager to get to the house. "Gad its
Cough, and no mistake! But, he won't stick
to his preaching, fu be bound. Nett, Nett, do
you see him? He's the very prince of good
fellows and hard drinkers. No, I'll never be.
lieve it, John. You are not-you cannot be
one of the Cold Water Army Stay here, Nett ;
III speak to him, if he has got through with it,
and | believe he has.
al say, John! John Cad / can hardly
believe my eyes and ears-I say, have You real
| ly and truly signed the pledge, John and do
ye mean to keep it, my boy?"
ayes, Bill" whispered Cough, as the big
fellow stood beside him, with one huge fist laid
on his shoulder. eyes, Bill, am going to
keep zW e.. ,
do this thing? Why, boy, twill kill me to lose
song or tell story like you'll 0 don't-don't,
John, gioe as up! What makes you do it?"
"Wretchedness, rags, misery" replied Cough.
81 am not happy mani never have been
happy in the life have led-aye, even up to
this night. / vowed only three days since to
give it up, and to speak TO my old friends here
against the whole thing. But drank last nioht.
Don't preach, Bill, wouldn't tell any one but
you did drink; but saoear, God hel ping me-
will never do it again-never!
"Dont say SO, DON'T" said VIII; "I can't
bear i'll can't give ye up" and he almost
Rugged him as he spoke.
| (" don't want you to give mo mn - ,rh;.xor
ed Cough. 81 don't want ye to do it. man.
You shall sign the pledge too and we'll 6rbt
the devil together. Come, Will!n
"Mei Mel II Are you stark staring mad
John? I sign the pledge2 Ha-ha-ha! Never
"Don't say that, Will Brest, for you shall
sign it you shall, and make a rose of little
Nettie-Nettie Brest up there. She's lily.
now you know, very lily. She's beauty,
villa beauty in spite of her paleness You
love her dearly; and yet you are allowing her
to grow up in ignorance and rags, for the sake
of indulging yourself in that which has nearly
ruined us both. Turn about, man, with me, and
come and sign the pledge See, Nett is look
ing at you with her large, gray eyes. See how
they glisten. l knoO she wants you to-"
"Nettie," called out Will, in loud voice,
"Nettie, come down here!"
The child, with timid step, walked slowly
through the benches and along the aisle to her
brothers side. She was beautiful girl, as
Cough had said. Beautiful! She was lily,
too, as we had said-a very lily in slenderness
and purity. There was scarcely dry eye amid
those looking on, as Win opened his arms and
she sprang within their close embrace, and hid
her pretty head, with its wealth Of golden curls,
beneath his coat
stake me home, WILL" she whispered.
] sin moment" he returned-"in q mo.