The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1869-11-30

1t was startling sight that met Mrs
Goodvins eyes one Tuesday afternoon as
she crossed Sixth Avenue and turned in
to Fourteenth Street on her way toward
home. Gould it be? ?" She hastily
brushed aside her veil. Yes, there was
her own boy, Harry, walking along the
street with James Williams, each putting
Il cigar Both boys were young, bright
and intelligent looking. Mrs. Goodwin
stood a moment in blank astonishment-
he, boy smoking And what other bad
habits might he not have contracted, all
unknown to her? Harry passed on with
ont seeing her, but she tancied he looked
pale and i'll.
The mother went home with burden
ed heart. She had trusted her son be-
lieved that he had been frank and confd-
ing toward her. Was this the first cigar I?
Had he been tempted to taste of the
intoxicating cup also? Mrs. Goodwin
was n judicious mother; she watched
Harry anxiously that evening, but said
nothing about what she had seen in the
afternoon She was earnestly considering
how she could best accomplish the object
she had in view.
Wednesday afternoon Harry returned
from school earlier than usual. AS he
entered the library where his mother was
sitting she greeted him with a smile say.
ing
| was hoping you would get home
early, Harry. was going out, and want.
ed company"
Harry made some vague reply which
attracted Mrs Goodwin's attention. Sh,
saw his face was serious and troubled
Harry turned to his writing-table, ano
soon commenced writing Anxiously hi
mother watched his grave face. A
length she rose, aud went softly TOWARD
him. She laid her hand gently on hi
shoulder
Harry 4"
The boy looked up and met his moth
er's loving glance.
What is the trouble, Harry ?"
I'm forming an Anti-Society, sai,
he, with an impetuosity which would hav
amused his mother, had she not know
instinctively that il resulted from deer
suppressed telling
" AMI means a9dort What You ar
against 9'
Mother, am against smoking sWeal
ing, and drinking
A rush of JOY came to the mother
heart. She leaned over and pressed he
lips upon the boys open brow and silent
" thanked God that he was saved. The
she sat down beside him.
Now tell me all about it, Harry
Well, mother, of course | know thi
, smoking and drinking and swearing Al
bad habits; but ever 50 m any real niC
boys in our school do these things, an
they are always asking me to take cigi
or something, and laugh at me because
don't. Yesterday | did smoke a cigar
and sick enough it made me, too-and
recess James Williams gave us boys son
kind of wine Or spirit he brought to scho
in bottle, and We all talked as | kno
is wrong. But, mother, isn't it dreadful
James was found drunk in a grog-shC
last evening-really drunk. Our teach
told us about it just before school close
And | want to sign a pledge to help II
to keep from drinking and smoking. Sc
mother, this is my Constitution"
And Harry read aloud "Wherea
drinking intoxicating liquor does not ,
> any good, and leads to drunkenness al
whereas. to swear is a sin against God
and whereas, to chew and smoke are us
less and filthy practices therefore, in 0
der the more effectually to keep fro
these vices. | do, praying for the Divil
d blessing and help, for mmyself into a $
ID ciety, to be called The Anti-Society, al
bind myself to observe strictly the pledg
contained in the following articles
~. l will not drink anything that
toTieates.