The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1857-09-12

Some few years ago lad who was left
without father or mother. ~ smart natural
abilities went To New York, alone and
iriendless, Ia get a situation in store, A.
errand boy or otherwise, until he could com
mand . higher positioa but this hoy had
been in bad 'ompany and had GIT in the
habit Of call :. for his bitter" occasion
ally, b. ,ause he thought il looked Raais.
lie smoked cheap cigars also.
lie had pretty good education. and On
looking over the papers, he notices. that a
merchant in Pearl street wanted lad Of his
age and be called there, and made his bust
ness known. walk into the Office my
lad !" said the merchant, I'm attend g.
won soon. When he had waited ON his
customer, lac to"k q scat near the lad and
copied srgar in his hat. This was enough.
my boz" said he, II want smart,
honest, faithful lad but I see that YOU
smoke segars. and in my experience Of many
years, | nave ever found kegar smoking in
lads 20 be connected with various other evil
hablts, and il am not mistaken, your breath
- evidence that you arc not m exception
ioa can leave, YOU will not suit me
John (this was his name) held down his
aead and left the store and - he walked
dong the street, stranger and friendless,
tho counsel of his poor mother came forcibly
10 his mind, who upon her death bed called
lin 20 her side, and placing her cmancsated
land on his head, said
Johnny, my dear boy, I'm soon going to
leave you. You well know what disgrace
and misery your poor father brought ON u-
before his death. and want you 20 promise
me bsfarc die that you will never taaee
one drop Of the Accur~cd poison that killed
your father Prsnise me this, and Co he =
good boy, Johnny, and shall die in peace. y
The scaiding tears trickled down hia
cheek and hc promised ever TO remember
the dying words Of his mother, and never
20 drink any spirituous liquors but be soon
forgot his promise, and when be received
the rcbuke from the merchant and he re-
mcmbcrcd what his mother said. and what
he had promised her, and he cred aloud,
and the people gased 1t him ~ be passed
along, and boys rallied NJ him. He went
to his lodginU and throwing hia,self upon
mis- bed, gave vent 60 his feelings in sobs
that were heard all over the house. But
John had moral courage. He had energy
and determination, and ere m hour had
passed he had made mp his mind never u
taste another drop u liquor, nor TO smoke
another scgar 20 long - he lived. He went
straight back 70 the merchant. Sad be
"Sir, you very properly scn. me AWAY
this morning for habits that ] have been
guilty a, bst sir, hare neitbse Asher nor
mother, and though have occasionally done
whaf ought not, and have not followed thu
good advsco u my poor mother on her dsssh
bed, nor done ~ promised her would do,
yet havc now made a solemn vow never
TO drink another drop Of liquor. NOR 10 smoke
another segar and II Won. sir, win only try
me, IL 10 all | ask."
The msrchan1 was STRUCK with the decis-
ion and energy Of the hoy, and n once en-
ployed him. AT the expiration ofase year,
this Ind was partner In the business, and
IL now worth ten thousand dollars. Ne
iaithfully ksps bis pledee, to which he Owes
biz elevation.
Boys, think of this circumstance, ~ you
enter upoa The dutiss u life, and remember
upon what points Of character your FIXTURE
destiny Cor god CT Cor evil depends