Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-07-23

I'll come up tomorrow evening and
sing with the girls. III 60 round aud
tell mother not to sit up for me Charlie,
aud will be after you in five minutes"
The boys went on. Nobody laughed
at Ned for"running home TO tell mother" +"
Not even Philips thought of him in lead
ing strings. The lads were neither
coarse nor vulgar as Mrs. Moore thought.
They were manly enough to appreciate
her manly boy.
She followed him to the door. "Good
night, my son. God bless you"
Good night, little mother. I'll be
home by eleven, at the latest.
There could be no harm, she thought,
in a party of intelligent, clear-miDded
boys, tired with the days work. meeting
to sharpen and strengthen their wits TO-
gether over well cooked supper.
Nor would there have been. perhaps, if
the poor. foolish lads had not esssyed,
like some of their foolish elders, to drink
the poison which makes them feel as gods
and act as beasts.
81 say. Brice. let's have champagne"
cried Phillips, when the supper was over.
Lets have the pop of the corks, Just for
tonight For Phillips had made one or
two journeys to New York, and affected
the reckless humor OF q juvenile Anac-
reon.
Ned Moore arose 81 must go. Phil
lips. promised to be home early
mot till you have tasted Brice's dry
wine. Not step"
81 cannot touch liquor, you know, Phil
lips. 1t makes q TOOL OF ne. | don't
want to be killjoy."
"You needn't touch it. Sit down Sit
down - shouted dozen voices.
Ned sat down. The pleasant, easy
going fellow, they all knew, was no OBJ
stinate spoil-sport Presently he tasted
the wine to please the others. He could
not bear liquor. Phillips might sip and
tipple all night. and be comparatively
cool and sober in the end, but single
glass made fool OF Moore; the second
made him madman.
Nobody had ever known him so witty;
he kept the table in roar The means
OF such fun was there in abundance, and
they urged him TO drink more.
When Charley Hill drank he grew
Surly. You've had enough he growL
ed. You'd better go home, Moore, TO
your mother. wish she and Clara Will
son might see you, and I'll call on Clara
in the morning, and tell her how and
where left her sweetheart"
Now, in fact, Ned cared more for his
old chum. Hill. than for all the Claras in
the world; but he was in no mood to be
jeered about woman, so he faced Hill.
white with drunken rage.
You play the spy, do you Cowardw
As said, the liquor made him surly.
He was reused at once, and struck Ned
full in the face. Ned was the slightest
OF the two and fell heavily to the ground.
He sprang up and closed with him. and
was thrown again and again, before their
companions could separate them.
Hes little fellow beside you y cried
Joe Wilson, holding Ned back, trembling
and colorless. Shame on you Shame,
Hillr
Hill stood dumb and sulky. But the
liquor and defeat had driven Moore mad.
"Let me gol Am l to bear blowp
Let me go, Joe l never was struck be-
fore.n
There was dangerous CLEAN in his
eyes, that frightened the boys. Phillips
motioned Joe to take him out. He led
him into the cool air outside.
"You shall not todch Hill, Ned You
don't know what you are doing. toy.
Why, Charley is the best friend you have
in the world" wiping the foam from his
lips. Come, let me take you home"
"Ill go home alone. Go in! | want
neither help nor advice" He turned of.
and Joe houghtlessly went in.
Hill had already repented. "I'll 60
after him and make it up" he said, rising
and going out. The door closed behind
him.
"Il's curious. said Phillips. THAT one
or two glasses of wine should make such
an idiot of that fellow Ned"
There was sharp cry outside, then a
dull, heavy thud on the ground, and then
silence.
When the men rushed out, Ned Moore
stood, sober and motionless, looking
down at his old friend, Charley, who lay
before him. quite motionless, with blood
oozing from wounds upon his head. He
had been violently Knocked down, and ss
be fell, his head struck the curb-stone. in
ficting mortal wound.
/ began to write this story, (Which,
but for the change OF names, is altogether
true), simply because / thought it ought
to be told 10 the thousands of boys who
will read it. But when the remembrance
OF the day of pain that followed comes
upon me, 1 feel that l must be content to
set down the facts as briefly as may be.