Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-06-01
Tho Right Choice,

| ~ III ipl t'HllttNH'ci hhlN bipNH
eyed little fellow and ho shut his lip
firmly, aud looked the picture Of rcso
luton.
"lndecd then II h all over with Kinl
Alcohol" said his elder brother, laugh
ing.
"Oh, You may laugh II doesn't hurt
anything" said John, not IN the least
east down by his brothers poor opinion
Of his influence. 'lf I'm not ~ old noi
as big on You are, count one on the
right side and every little helps as
mother says, So I'm for temperance,
and don't care who knows IT,"
"Don't you, indeed S'poso all the
world knows it-what thon 2"
"Why, the world would know that
when grew ap thcrod be ono man liv'
ing who didn't spend his money nor
idlo away his time in taycins, who didn't
make his wife sit up half the night for
him crying her eyes ont, and who didn't
neglect or abuse his children. That's
what the world would know, and I'm
sure that would help the good cause n
little"
"Don't talk so loud, John" His
brother spoke in n low voice. "Unclo
Phil might hear you. He's in the ncyt
ROOM"
as hep Well, Tn not ashamed to
let him know that I'm for temperance
only wish he was. Maybe Aunt Susie
wouldn't cry as much rs she does, and
maybe they'd have house of their own
to live in"
"Hush, John he'll be angry if he
hears you."
"Gctting angry wouldn't make il any
better Ned" firmly answered John.
"Im temperance boy, and if Uncle
Phil gets angry because ! just say that !
wish he was a temperance man-why,
he'll have to get angry, that's all 4! !
love Aunt Susie she's as good as she
can be, and Uncle Phil makes her cry
with his drinking and getting tipsy.
It's n great deal worse for him to do it
than for me to say it, and he'd q great
deal better get angry with himself than
with me-"
Phil, who was in the next room, heard
every word of this conversation. Was
he very angry at the little apostle o.
temperance We shall see. At the
mention of his name he pricked up his
ears to listen. AS John said, "I'm not
ashamed to let him know that I'm for
tempomnce--I only wish he was" two
red spots burned on his cheeks, and he
looked annoyed but when John added,
"NIaybe Aunt Susie wouldn't cry so
much as she does, and maybe they'd
have home of their own to live in, the
spots went off his cheeks, and he grew
quite pale. What John said after this
didn't bring the blood back to his face,
but made it, if anything, palcr. He got
up in cowed sort of q 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 Il great deal more.
Tntempemnce had almost destroyed his
manhood. He was the slave of strong
drink. Appetite INDUCED for years had
gained fearful power over him, and to
crafty its craving thirst he spent nearly
every shilling that he earned, and with
his family, lived meanly dependent upon
his good -natured brother. Once he had
been in a thriving business of his own !;
now he was clerk in warehouse OF q
friend, Mr.. Osborne, who kept him more
out of pity than for the service he gave
Sometimes he would be absent from his
post for days, and oftentimes for hours
in each day. This friend, after scolding
him, pleading with him, threatening
him, but all to no purpose, had just
made up his mind to turn him adrift.
81 can't have him here any longer"
said Mr.. Osborne, in talking over the
matter with his head-clerk. 'I've tried
my best to help him, but it's no use. As
he drinks up everything he earns, it will
be better for him to earn nothing"
"Tve long thought that" answered
the clerk. "The fact is, you've borne
with him to q degree that surprises
every one in the warehouse"
81 will do it no longer" was the reso-
lutte reply.
"There he comes now," said the head
clerk.
Mr.. Osborne turned with hard look
in his face, intending to stop Uncle Phil
before he reached his desk, and inform
him that his duties were at an end.
Something, however, in Uncle Pills
manner kept him from speaking what
was in his mind The poor man came in
with q quicker step and an air of earnest
ness not seen about him for n long time.
"I'll not he late again Mr.. Osborne, y
he said, in decided way. "It's all
been wrong, but it shan't happen again. u
81 hope not" said Mr.. Osborne, in a
tone that made Uncle Phil give start.
"You've right to be displeased with
me-" said the wretched man. 81 only
wonder youve borne with me so long.
But have patience with me little while
longer. I've made up my mind to lead
a new life, God helping me-"
Uncle Pills voice trembled, and pity
returned to Mr. Osborne's heart.
"God alone can help you," answered
his kind friend. "Unless You get
strength from him your case is hope.
less"
"Pve resolved never to drink one drop
of intoxicating liquor again 80 long as
live" said Uncle Phil, speaking solemn.
ly.
"All good resolutions are from heaven,
my friend" answered Mr.. Osborne, "and
from heaven comes the power to keer
them. Trust not in your own poor
strength-it has failed you a thousand
times-but look upward; and while you
pray for help, keep yourself out of the
old ways where your feet have stumbled.
This is your part of the work, and il
must not fail for an instant. II you go
where Ennnr IL sold yniI 90 nnfside the