West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-07-27

Certainly one is never gained bv
saerifics of right, my son. Distrust ali
such"
Now one would naturally suppose
that this lesson of the pony would not
be forgotten by Lesley. l am sorry TO
say that he thrashed Fred. Moore at the
earliest opportunity, and then held him
self aloof from his companions. He
found no difficulty, either, in uttering
the obnoxious word mo 81 long as his
relations with the boys continued so
cool; but a natural defect, or weakness.
cannot be overcome by one lesson, how
ever severe He soon fell back in the
old way.
There was TO he a balloon ascension
nearIthe town, and the whole country
was in ferment To add 10 the ex.
cltement, James Curran, one of Mr..
Turner's school-boys, was 60 accompany
Prof. Mayder (as he called himself) In
the ascent.
Curran had no father 70 control him.
and his mother had unavailingly tried
to dissuade him from, the perilous un-
dertaking. He was. however a vain.
weak fellow, with thirst for notoriety
and fooishly thought he would be n
hero If he showed pluck enough for a
balloon ascension. But after while
Curran got nervous and distracted. and
was unwilling to talk on the subject
The night before the day appointed for
the ascent, he put his arm through Les
ley's, and said -
Come, Lesley, let's walk down TO
the pond. I've got something I want TO
say TO YOU"
Rut Nybap ybo,, bod .oo.lol H.
he did not seem 10 find il easy 10 speak.
AT last, with an effort, he said -
I'm going TO tell you something, but
promise me you won't divulge it. | trust
you because know you'll keep your
word and | believe you'll help me-
You're the only boy in the world
would ask such favor of. Will you
promiseP
Lesley promised,
" You know have agreed to 20 up in
that balloon. / wish the old thing
would burst before | go, though! Not
that m really afraid, you know,-but
then, ! can't help feelinga little queer"
" Give itup," said Lesley. Father
says It's a foolish risk Ia run, Just for
nothing. Only love of science would
justify any one in doing it,"
" can't give it up. Pm pledged TO
go. and everybody would say wa. "A
coward if | should back out. You're
my true friend, Lesley, are you not?"
Lesley said yes, wondering what it
meant.
Then you must keep me from getting
scared, or looking scared, and being the
laugh of the town. | must have a bottle
OF whisky, for drink or two of that
would steady my nerves / don't dare
to get it myself, for they would know /
bought 1T to keep my courage up, and
talk about it, and can't trust the other
boys. You get whisky sometimes for old
Uncle Scrip's bitters, and they'd think
il was for that
Don't shake your head, Lesley, and
say no. Here's the money, and if YOU
don't help me I'll Just disgrace myself,
and you'll be the cause of il. You say
you're my friend, and now ] know you'll
prove it,"
Lesley at last consented. That nghti
the whisky was purchased, and hidden
by Curran in a safe place.
The next day it was late before Les
ley found himself on the crowded
grounds where the balloon a-cension was
TO take place. They were cutting the
ropes when he got there. A loud, shrill
voice, which he recognized as Curran's,
was singing in an exciting manner
Here we go,-up, and up, and upw
He's drunkW cts n shame %
Somebody ought 10 take him outw
The man ought to be horse.whippedp
were the mixed cries which met Les
ley ears as he pressed through the ex-
cited crowd.
The balloon was raising, but cries
were distinctly heard from it, and a
struggle evidently going on within IL.
A figure sprung up on the edge of the
car threw up it's arms, tottered, lost its
balance, and fell almost into the sea of
upturned faces,--a human figure when
its downward course began, a shapeless,
CORY mass after it struck the earth.
Prof. Mayder afterwards said that the
poor drunken boy had tried TO dance on
the edge of the car, he not being aware
that he was intoxicated until the ropes
were cut.
No one suspected but that Curran
himself had procured the liquor,-no
one but the unhappy Lesley and his
father, TO whom he went in his remorse
and confessed the whole 1t was n lesson
that was never forgotten.