The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1871-11-17
NUMBER 2S.
A Young Girls Influence.
BY JENNIE L

Speaking of the sin of intemperance
one evening, an old gentleman with
silver hair remarked that many one
had Deen saved through the gentle in
nuence of woman, and requested leave
to tell the following story TO illustrate
the fact:
The little village of Brier Dell lay
basking in the sunlight of bright win
ter afternoon. In spite of its romantic
name, it was a bustling, active little
town, though not very large. Brier
Dell had always been a strictly temper
ate town, a Good Templars' lodge being
one of its principal features. Many one
had appeared on the spot requesting land
enough to build a saloon upon, but al
ways being sent away as quickly as pos
sible, as if his very presence tainted the
pure air.
But one iII-fated day two dark, evil
looking individuals appeared in town,
bought a lot and Commenced the cree
tiOn of Il building. In answer to the in
quiries of the Inhabitants, they replied
that they were building a drug store.
Said inhabitants expressed their apprO-
baton, and wondered why no one had
thought of putting one up before. But,
ah, how little they knew what curse it
would prove.
Well, the building was finally finished,
and the proprietOrs placed drugs on the
| shelves and whisky under the counters.
The good people of Brier Dell looked sol
emnly at one another and shook their
heads, but, for a wonder, took no meas
ures TO put q stop to such shameful pro-
ceedings.
In the suburbs of the town several
good buildings had been erected, ana on
/ the particular afternoon of which
speak, young man emerged from one
of these and sauntered slowly up the
street CHANGING at his face, you would
have set him down at once rs genial
honest and even-tempered. n frank
open face. merry blue eyes, broad, high
/ forehead and wavy, brown hair alto-
gether quite a handsome young fellow
and a great favOrite with every one.
While he was sauntering up th'
street, young girl was saying to he
I mother: "Now, mamma dear, you mus
lie still and rest, and l will run up town
and get your medicine" Her Volc
was low and sweet, and her dark brown
ewes seemed full of love and tenderness
/ was standing by the door of tn
store as she came in, while on the othe
side party of wild, reckless young fel
! lows were trying to persuade the atore
I Salu young man 10 TAKE Il coClii SAslSS
with them. He refused for some time
saving he had ncUcF tasted liquor, and
what was more, he never intended tC
! But they kept urging him, and tellin
) him that one glass would do him II
, harm.
He hesitated, looked at the glass, an
hesitated again, but, finally taking it /
his hand, said: 81 will drink this, bJ
: not another drop as long as l live.
The others looked at one another an
winked.
The young girl who had just come /
, took il all i'm at glance. Her face gre'
: pale and her beautiful eyes filled wit
: sad reprOach, but, stepping firmly up
! the young man, she laid her hand on mi
l arm and said in a low but firm tone
! ''Willis, for the love of God and you
mothers sake, dOH't touch tri
For moment lie looked angry, but til
next an expression of sadness and sham
! came into his eyes, and, setting dow
, the glass, he turned toward her and said
, "You have saved me from shame an
humiliation, and l thank you more tha
I | can tell"
[ 81 knew him WE'LL" continued the oil
gentleman, as he finished his narrative
''and from that day until the day of hi
death he never touched drop of liquor
: and all through the gentle influence Q
| that young girl"