Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-04-26
Cuy's Temperance Pledge.

The WOmeus temperance crusade was /
moving on over the state of Ohio. The /
people Of the northern counties watched its |
progress, as it came slowly and steadily on. /
ward from the little town Of Washington I
where the first band of praying women had |
driven ont the tyrant alcohol from their |.
midst. The crusade was gathering strength |
and glory every day and the people felt that |
IL would soon be with them, and they waited |
and prayed for it and at last the time came
for the work to begin in Riverton. The
people were already for it, many TO lead it
on, and some 10 oppose II. Pledges were
carried TO every family, and very few refused
to sign them. But there was no pledge for
the children, and some OF the boys, who were
TOO young to sign the general pledge, were
sorely grieved. This was reported to Miss
Gray, one of the members of the Temper
ance League, She had fine class of boys
in the Sunday-school, and after talking with
the mothers of some Of her boys, she drew
up a "boy's temperance pledge and took
it with her TO Sunday-school This was the
pledge We, The undersigned, do solemuly
pledge ourselves to use no intoxicating
liquors whatever as a beverage; and we also
pledge ourselves to use no tobacco in any
form neither will we use prolane language
And we promise 10 labor for The suppression
of intemperance and profanity
Miss Gray explained this so that the
youngest boy in the class understood 1t
perfectly. At first, some refused to sign.
Freddy Kent, not ten years old had already
learned to smoke, and he did not wish to
give it up. Fritz Sturm thought there was
no harm in drinking beer, and said he
would not sign. Miss Gray said she did not
wish any to sign who were not perfectly
willing to do so she wished it to be done of
free will. Most Of them were eager to
sign it,
Miss Gray took out her gold pen, opened
little pocket inkstand, and laying the
pledge upon a book in her lap, gave the pen
to Arte Archer, who sat nearest on her left
lie wrote his name slowly aud carefully, and
as he finished it, Miss Gray laid her hand on
his head, and asked God to bless him and
help him to keep the pledge
George Graham came next, and he signed,
and Miss Gray took his hand and asked
Gods blessing for him. Eddie johnson,
Guy Howard, Frank Jones and Carl Burton
all signed in the same way. BY this time it
had become a very serious matter.
\ hush had fallen upon the class and
there were tears in Miss Gray's eyes. Freddy
Kent still refused but after Carl Burton
signed, Fritz Stum quietly took the pen,
and wrote his name; and was a very sober
face that he lifted to Miss Gray as she asked
God to bless him.
Freddy kent's merry face grew serious and
perplcxed then it frightened and deter
mined resolution shone all over it as he de
clared his readiness to sign, and took Tie
pen and wrote his name. His large dark
eyes were very deep and soft as he raised
them to Miss Gray's after it was done anC
a very earnest prayer rose from her heart fol
him; for his father was very ntemperat,
man.
Charlie Harris was unwilling to Sign, be
cause he could not write as well as the othe
boys but Miss Gray did not wish any on
to write his name for him, so a blank spac
was left for him and two other boys VIII
were absent that day, aud then Guy How
ard took the pledge 10 obtain signatures a
school during the week
The summer passed away, and the boy
had kept their pledges well. Some of then
had nearly tripped upon the profanity claus,
for swearing had been a habit with many O
the Riverton boys, and some whom Gu
asked to sign the pledge refused becaus
of that clause; they could not leave Of
swearing"
The glorious autumn weather came, au
II Al. C n. ! T.,..t
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luscious graPes loaoS " s(iu! alP'uS We
carried ron 4lGn"u ~ o'',d' "'i ii many
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T. IN Ill.,, 1,o. o,,ono1 and c,,,s orardnotb,
> room ON the table stood a pitcher of eide
"uy' Salu N'o' ~ '''i''i ",'' J1'. ~
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