Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-05-08
Temperance.
AUNT MARY's PLEDGE-RoLL.

-
Mary is coming p shouted eight-year-
old Bess to brother Tommy of six
and baby Kit, who had only seen four
brief years.
s'Who is SCI" said baby Kit.
'sThe dearest, sweetest auntie in
the world" said Bess. She lives in
the great city, where there are only
houses and streets-no green fields
at all, and no trees, only in the park,
and very, very few Others
"Who thaid the wath comino?''
said grave little Tommy. :'I'm thor
ry."
mamma said so,' and 80 you
naughty boy!" was Bessie's answer.
When Aunt Mary came Tommy
changed his mind. She went to the
woods with the children for moss and
wild flowers, and wintergreen berries,
she helped them to pick the rosy
checked apples, and was altogether
'nither than a little GIRL" Tommy
declared.
'sWon't you go with Beth and me
to thee papa make thider, oh! it'll
nithe."
What was Toms surprise when
Aunt Mary answered decidedly:
"No, dear, | will not. | don't
like snake s.
The childred all stared at Aunt
Mary, but said nothing. None of
them went to the cider mill, but when
the barrels were brought home, and
the sweet new cider was drawn off
and passed around, they all drank of
it, though Aunt Mary looked sad.
I" There ant any thnak es in the
thider, auntie," said Tom coaxingly,
sitting down on his little stool beside
her. Aunt Mary shook her head.
Two days afterwards Tommy said !:
"Aunt Mary, do have some; 18th tho
nithe and sharp
Aunt Mary took the glass in her
hand.
"Do you see those little bubbles p
she asked. Tom nodded his head.
"When those come upon the cider
it is sure sign the snake is there"
''What thnake?" said Tommy.
1.-The one that the Bible tells about
that 'biteth like serpent and sting
eth like an adder"
Then Aunt Mary told them all
about the great serpent alcohol, how
many he stung to death every year.
The great city was full of their dens.
They were in the country, too. She
told them of the Band of Hope chill
dren. and the Juvenile Templars
who banded together, little temper
ance soldiers. Bess and Tom listen
ed with tears in their eyes.
"Fll never taste cider again" said
Bess.
"Nor l." said little Tom. 81
didn't know about it..
"Many, dear children, do not,
said Aunt Mary. Suppose we have
a little Band of Hope of our own.
ooh! do, do" said all the chill
dren, claping their hands ''and wei
let papa and mamma sign, too
Aunt Mary's great Saratoga trunl
was great mystery to the children
of the farmhouse. What wonderful
and beautiful things were treasured
there they could only conceive. On
day she took from it's recesses ;
package of books and chromo-cards
They could just catch glimpses o
roses, and lilies, and forget-me-nots
which were so beautiful that the,
cried danced, and clapped their hand
and cried:
go auntie do such beautiful flow
ers grow in your big trunk"
"How would you like card, eacl
of your
ooh! very much" they said.
''But these pretty cards are TO
my temperance boys and girls" sai'
Aunt Mary.
eve be temperance, said the lit
tie one.
''My temperance boys and girl
never drink wine, OF beer, or cid
er," said Aunt Mary.
eve won't any more" they sait
in concert.
9Th thnakes,' - lisped the little on
with shudder.
Aunt Mary now opened one of tn
little books, and told them all abou
, the snake alcohol that stung almos
, a hundred thousand people to deaf
+ every year. She read to them tn
questions and answers of Miss Cole
> mans s'Catechism on Alcohol" an
r gave them two answers for a day
lesson. And thus the lessons wen
y on day by day till the little peopl
l. knew more about the alcohol Etha
their parents. The class met in th
$ summer-house and increased ever
a day, till one day, when the leave
were falling and Aunt Mary had tol
$. her little people she must leave thel
on the morrow and go back to h'
5, city home, they felt sad. 'sI'll tie
y you how we can do" she said, as 81
= :. saw the pitiful little faces turned t.
al wards her so lovingly. Lets ban
. ourselves together into little ten
70 perance society, and may be ne.
summer I'll come again and teat
in YOU"
IL ssWiI Won % tho little ones coli