National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1866-07-13
s------=i-7-7--
CHOOSE NE.
4 STORY FOR BOYS.

The town clock has just struck
four: q welcome sound to scores of
school boys, who, gladly throwing
aside their books, were soon hasten
ing to the green, for a game of crick-
ct. ball. or whatever might come up
in the way of fun.
While many entered at once into
the sports of the hour with hoyish
ardor,o Others throw themsclveslazily
upon the grasS-whilc. here and
there. knots of three and four gath
cred eagerly talking over the many
subjects interesting to boys.
Under tall spreading oak, stood
tall handsome youth, speaking with
great earnestncss to a group sur
rounding him, only occasionally i'll
terrnptcd by younger delicate look
ing boy, who seemed to be taking
the opposite side of the question.
The subject discussed was TEN
perance lecture, delivered the previ-
ous evening in the town hall, and
/ listened to by many of the school
| boys.
"This signing the temperance
pledge is all hrumbug,' exclaimed
Clinton Russell, who appeared to
be the principal speaker. "What is
your Sclfcontrol NJ one need be Il
drunkard unless he choose; | for
one am not afraid. can trust NY
self; and rs for total abstinence, it's
sheer nonsense: belicye in enjoy
ing all the good things of this life
" But strong drink is not IA good
thing, but a bad thing invented |
believe by the devil said Henry
| Fisher, his pale face flushing with
excitement, while his fingers ner-
VouSly twisted the buttons off his
well worn Jacket.
"Well. it may be Il bad thing iol
those who cannot use ii with modct
ation,' returned Clinton; but mean
to be moderate, ,gentlcmanly drink
cr: and one has onl ly to make up his
mind to stop whenever he pleases,
YOU know"
"Well,- reioined Henry, :" have
made up my mind never to begin
and mean to sign the pledge, and
God helping me--to keep it! How
can we pray 'dcliver us from evil.
il we put our feet right into the net
am in earnest, boys. thought i
all over last night, and have made
up my mind.' So saying, he turnc,
= quietly away. leaving the boys t.
= finish the discussion by themselves
When he was quite out of hearing
- Clinton laughingly remarked
l :" No wonder Hen Fisher is Il littl
: afraid: You know what miserabl
sot his father was, and | shoul'
think his example would b
/, enough without any pledge: am
4 my fathers example is enough iu
me- he added, with littlc pride i
- his tone.
y ~ see father tax his wine ever
= day, and he is none the worse for il
and he often says-though of courS
he does not approve of drinkin
y with every one, or in every place
h that glass of wine occasionally,
to very beneficial. So three groal
- for the temperance society"
n Thus saying, he turned, boyiS
h. fashion, heels over head ON the SO
81 grass, followed by all the otlerS,wl
looked up to him as their leadel
:, and loved him too, for his gay, goC
n n. humor, and ready wit.
n,
at Ten years passed. The old yc
" 1850 had been lain away during Il
night, in the grave past, and w
% well nigh lorgottcn,as new thought
new aspirations, gathered aroll
, the advent of another child of Tin
wv Mcrrily rang out the bells their gli
- welcome to the New Year, III
~ brightly rose the sun upon it, thro
" ing his beams far and wide, oy
the pure and unbrol>en SNOW, viii
lay like winding sheet above {
ro,, b som OF departed years.
'nu The trees bent beneath their ltce
ncs burden, and rs the morning ;
mr., stirred their branches, they glist,
ran ed like pucst gems. All nat,
}. seemed to offer praise, and fcclin
- of gratitude and love filed ma
hearts, and found expression
>r PRAYER and thanksgiving.
les, Strange that any could stand
'ry' on the thrcshhold of u new yc
with no thought OF the author
time, no acknowledgement of ~
pr mcrcics, no prayer for strength
" a meet the trials, temptations q
duties of the future
" a few hours later, and filel