Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-03-11
for the Nonas folks.


BY THE AUrHoR OF TEN NIGHTS IN A BAR-RooM.
I'm for temperance said a brown eyed lit
tie fellow; and he shut his lips firmly, looking
the very picture of resolution.
Indeed! Then it's all over with King Alec
hol," answered his older brother laughing.
"oh, you may laugh! 1t doesn't hurt any
thing!" said John, not in the least dashed by
his brothers poor opinion of his influence. at
I'm not as old nor as big as you are, count one
on the right side; and every little helps as
mother says. Sorm for temperance, and don't
care who knows it,"
Don't you, indeed! S'pose all the world
knew it-what them" 4tGs5 p
why, the world would know that when l
grew up there'd be one man living who didn't
spend his money nor idle his time in 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 would know, and guess that would help
the good cause a little.aso
"Don't talk SO loud, John" His brother spoke
in a low voice. Uncle Phil mightshesr you.-
He'is in the next room.
"Is he? Well, I'm not ashamed to let him
know that I'm for temperance. only wish he
was. Maybe Aunt Susy wouldn't cry so much
as she does; and maybe they'd have a. house of
their own to live in.' r5 5-sr-- {
~H-u-s-h, John! He'll be angry IL he hears
you.' 7
"Getting angry wouldn't make it any better.
Ned, y firmly answered John. "Pm O temper
ance boy; and if Uncle Phil gets angry because
Lust say that wish he was a temperant man,
he'll have to get angry; that's all. love Aunt
Susy.. She's as good as she can be; and Uncle
Phil makes her cry with his drinking and get
ting tipsy. It's great deal worse for him to
do it than for me 10 say it; and he'd great deal
better get mad at himself than at me-"
| 1t was as Ned had feared. Uncle Phil, who
was in the next room, heard every word of this
conversation. Was he very angry at the little
apostle of temperance? We shall see. At the
mention of his name, he picked up his ears to
listen. AS John said. I'm not ashamed to let
him know that I'm for temperance; Ionly wish
he was,r two red spots burned on his cheeks,
and he looked annoyed. But when John added,
Maybe Aunt Susy wouldn't cry as much a. she
does; and maybe they'd have house Of their
own to live ln,' the spots went OF Of his cheeks
and he grew quite pale.
What John said alter this didn't bring the
blood to his face, but made 1t, ifanything, paler
He got up in q cowed sort Of way, and LEFT the
room SO quietly that the two boys did not hear
him go out. Now Uncle Phil, about whom John
had spoken SO plainly, deserved all that was
| said of him, and great deal more. Intemper-
ance had almost destroyed his manhood. He
was the slave Of strong drink. Appetite, ,indul-
ged for years, had gaired fearful power over
him, and to crafty his burning thirst, he spent
nearly every doliartll he earned, nnd lived
with his family meanly dependent on his
brother. Once he had been in q good business
now he was q clerk on small pay, in the store OF
a friend named Mr.. Osborne, who kept him
/ more out Of pity than for the service he gave
Sometimes he would absent himself from his
post for days, and often for hours In each day.
The friends, after scoIding him, pleading with
him, threatening him, but all to no purpess, had