Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-06-08
For the Waterman.
Where Is the Harm!

Where Is the Harm
ny Lou LAUREL.
81 hate TO have you hang round the sa.
looms 80 much Charlie" said Mrs. Goodrich
TO her brother one afternoon as he started TO
go down town.
"Where's the harm ?" asked Charlie, " all
the boys do"
"Well, it isn't good recommend, any.
how, for boy who is wanting a situation
and then you don't know what may happen
if you put yourself in the way of tempts
tion."
"Well, know l sha'n't get drunk no
man can ever make me drink drop" an
swered Charlie.
"Perhaps not, but we are commanded not
not TO look upon wine when it is red, and
besides you know you thought you should
never smoke; and how long ago was it that
saw you with cigar in your mouth 2"
"Oh pshaw" answered Charlie, "you
are awful fussy; you wouldn't let fellow do
anything but walk as straight as deacon.
Think boy thirteen years old ought to
know enough to take care of himself"
"And ! think boys thirteen years old
don't know as much as they might, and
they would be much better off if they would
take little advice from their elders now
and them" said Mrs. Goodrich, little net
tied by Charles self conceit. Then more
gently she added, "You see, Charlie, l am
afraid if you stay round those places you
will get to thinking it's no great harm for a
man to take glass of whiskey now and
then, and before you know it you may be
tasting; and, oh Charlie, it would break my
heart, do believe, TO see you intoxicated"
"You needn't worry; you nor no other
person will ever see Charlie McLane drunk"
and he strobe out of the house with an l.
can-take-care-of-myself air. Mrs. Goodrich
watched him out Of sight, and with sigh,
thought of that verse in Corinthians,
Wherefore let him that thinketh that he
'tandeth take heel lest he fall"
Charles father had lately died and his
mother went to live with a married son,
while Charlie went to his sister in Iowa,
hoping to get place in Mr. Hendricks
store. Charlie had applied for the situation,
and Mr.. Kendrick had promised to think
about it. There was another boy in the
village he had thought of hiring, but, as
Charlie was poor boy, he had concluded
to try him, if, after watching him while,
he found he had no bad habits. Not long
after this conversation between Mrs. Good
rich and Charlie, he sauntered off down to
me Of the saloons, and was loungng about
the door, when one of the men who had
been drinking good deal said, "Come
here, young man, and I'll give you some
thing good to drink"
81 don't want anything; 1 amt thirsty
answered Charlie.
I" He belongs to them G bod Templars, and
he dassen't drink" sneered another man.
"No sir, don't" said Charlie, "and I'd
drink if / was mind to-"
See here" said the first speaker, I'll
give you pound of candy of any kind you
are mind to choose from, if you'll take this
half glass of whiskey." "And I'll give you
another pound" said a man who was ruin
ing himself with whskey and wanted to
-uin everybody else.
Now Charlie was very fond of candy and
had very little money to spend that way,
Where's the harm in taking Just half a
lass of whiskey? shall have the candy,
aud besides show ] amt AFRAID to drink"
and so the poor foolish boy reasoned and
finally drank the liquor. Presently he be-
gan to feel very fine and "talked large"
said he "would like to see the fellow he
couldn't lick" OF course the men stirred
him up to fight and made all manner of fun
of their victim for as usual these very ones
who pretended to be his friends and enticed
him into sin turned against him now.
After breaking light of glass and doing
other mischief, Charlie started to go home.
He staggered along until he got in front of
Mr.. Hendricks store, where he fell down
and couldn't get up again He foundered
round in the dirt and was the laughing
stock of the boys who were Just let out of
school. Mr.. Kendrick came to the door to
see the cause of their merriment, and on
discovering Charlie helped him up and took
him into his store and kept him there until
he was able to walk. He then sent him
home with good advice; but on no occa-
son." he said, would he take boy into
his store who drank liquor"
Charlie was very much ashamed and
humbled, and after that kept away from the
saloons. lie stayed with his sister nearly
six months hoping to get work near her, but
failing TO do so, he let himself to a farmer
in an adjoining town for much less pay
than he would have had at Mr.. Hendricks.
So Charlie found there tcas charm in tax.
inc half a ,laoa Of xyh;oIayp