The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-02-28
.IuyENILE COLUMN.


EVERY LITTLE HEY 1'Iii7 y
+ ,piissk IN M ~ -<-alL ~ snnsifs
tI'm fpr temp 4 saia . hrpwn-esei
little. fellow and he shut HE, lips firmly
looking the very picture of resolution,
|" Indeed & Then It's an over with Kfna
Alcohol, = answered disorder brothsf, laugh.
ing ssl3 'Is,
anything " said John, not the least abaslied
by his br5ther's poor opinion 81 lis ii iiu-
ence. g IL I'm not as old nor MS big al vo,i
are, count one on the right side and
every little helps, as mother says. SO Pm
for temperance, and don't care who knows
"Don,t you, indeed! S,pose ali the
world knew it--what then ~
Why, the world would know that when
j grew mp tlfere'd be10nc man living who
didn't spend his money nor idle his time
in bar-rooms who didn't make his wife
sit up half the night for him, crying her
eyes out and who didn't neglect or abuse
his children. That's what the world wonid
know, and guess it would help the good
cause Httle.n s1sf-1 s3F -,
q Don't talk SO loud, John.r His brother
spoke in n low Voice. Uncle Phil might
hear yon. He's.in the next room. ~ 81 ~
&. Is he !? Well, Pm not ashamed TO let
hia know that I'm for temperance. only
wish he was. Maybe Aunt Susy wonldn's
cry as mitch as she does /; and May be they,d
have q house of their own to live sin.''
Hush, JohnI He'll be angry .if he
hears you.n tas iGisS slsS b 8 = Il
q Getting angry wop1dn't make it any
better Ned, firmly answered john q I'm q
temperance hoy and if Uncle Phil gets
angry because just say THAT wish ma was
a Temperance man, he'll have TO get angFys
that's all. love Aunt Susy. She'slas good
as she can be and Uncle Phil makes her
cry with his drinking and getting tipsy.
T<f u. H. n "a
for me to say it; and he'd great deal
better get angry at hinlself than Mt me.n u
1t was as Ned had feared. B&ele Phil,
who was in the next room, heard every
word of this conversation. Was he very
angry. at this little apostle of temperance
We shall see. At the mention of his name,
he pricked up his ears to iisten. As John
said, % I'm not ashamed to let him know
that I'm for temperanee; only wish he
was, two red spots burned on his cheeks,
and he looked annoyed. But when John
added, " Maybe Aunt Susy wouldn't cry
as much as she does; and maybe they'd
have q house of their OVID TO live in.n the
spots went OFF his checks, and he grow quite
pale. ~
What John said after this didn't bring the
blood back to his face, but made it, if any
thing, paler. He got mp in a cowed sort of
a way, and left the room so quietly that the
twoTboys did not hear hina 60 ont.
spoken so plainly, deserved all that was
said of him, or a great deal more. Inten-
perance had almost .destroycdhis manhood.
He was tho slave of strong drink. Appetite,
indulged for years, had gained fearful
power over him, and to crafty his burning
thirst, he spent nearly every dollar that he
earned, and lived with his family meanfy
dependent on his brother. Once he had
beeRina good business; now he was a clerk,
on small pay, in the store ofa friend named
Mr., Osborne who kept him. more out of
pity than for the service he gave S1me-
times he would be absent from his post for
days, and often for hours In each day. The
friend, after scOlding him, pleading with
him, threatening him, but all 20 no purpose,
had about made up his mind to turn him
adrift.
81 can't have him here any longer" said
Mr.. Osborne, speaking to has head clerk.
20 I've tried my best to help him, but it's
no use. AS he drinks up everything he
earns, it will be better for him to earn
nothing 80
"Tye long thought that, answered the
clerk. The fact is, you've borne with
him to degree that surprises every one in
the store.n
al shall do itno longer" was the resolute
reply.
clerk.
Mr.. Osborne turned, with a hard took in
his face, intending to stop Uucle Phil
before he reached his desk and tell him that
his duties there were at an end. But some
thing in Uncle Phil's manner keptthim from
speaking what was IN his thought. rhe
poor man came In with a quicker steps and
I'm mr. II e5Fncgtness about him not Seen
for "a long time.
s I" FL not be late again, Mr.. osborne,"
he said, in an humble way. It's. all
wrong, but It sha n g happen again."
" hope not" replied Mr.. Osborne, in
tone that gave Uncle Phil start.
" You've a right to be disp1eased," the
wretcbed man said. 1 only wonder you've
borne with me SO loget But have patience
with me little while longer. I've made
up my mind to lead a new life, God helping
me -
Uncle Phifs voice trembled, and pity
came back into Mr., esborne's heart.
God alone can help you," answered his
kind friend. fUaless you get strength
from him your case is hopeless
F." am resolved never to drink one drop
of liquor again so long az live said Uncle
Phil, speaking solemnly.