Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-05-05
TEMPERANCE DEPARTMENT,
EDITED BY pERRYsBURG W. c.T.U,
HIS FIRST DRINK.


When Arthur Winfield secured the 20
sition OF station.sgent and telegraph oper.
ator at the little station OF Woodville, IN
one OF our Western States, every one who
knew him was glad Of il, and his friends.
said he was liafting out in career that
would he successful one.
He was ambitious, energetic, prompt and
attentive 10 business, and his mental quali-
ications were unusually good. He had
been the best scholar at the village achool,
and had always showed disposition to
make the most OF himself. But one after
noon several boys Of the rougher class
gathered IN the waiting-room. and fell to
having what they called a good time"
there. Cigars and whisky circulated free
ly, and soon some OF the boys were so much
under the inf uence of the liquor they had
taken that they became aggressive and in
vited themselves into Arthur's office which
was pNrtioned off from one corner of the
waiting room.
He pushed aside his book as they came
in, and said pleasantly:
GOOD afternoon boys."
"Shake p said the leader OF the invad-
ing party, putting out his hand. "You
see, we fellers have been disputin' bout
you. Some on 'em said you were stuck up
felt big, you know-an' better N us, an
said didn't b'live it, an sod these iel-
ers-didn't you boys? An they dared
us in to asked you out. Said you wouldn't
come cause ye didn't think we was good
enough for ye to 'sociate with, an a lot o.
such ,rumpery. We know better don't we
fellers? Come out an get 'quainted.
Good felers them when you get used to
'eni. Kinder rough outside, but the right
kind o. material inside"
| Arthur hesitated. He did not want to
go out among them. Neither did he want
to have the impression go out that he ielt
be tier than they. He knew they were not
fit associates for him, bnt they would not
appreciate the reasons by which his decis-
ion was made on this score, and TO refuse
to make their acquaintance was to offend
the belief that he felt "above them"
So he accepted the invitation, and went
oLt of the Office with his visilors. In the
waiting room he WIS introduced, in bluff
good natured fashion. to the "other fellers'
and, anxious to please and make friends
with them, he tried to adapt himself tc
their ways, and show them that he did moi
feel himself "too good to 'sociate with
'em."
"I say, cap, guess we was kinder mis-
taken in ye," said one of the young men
. "S'posen we take drink, hopin' for ,
better 'quaintance."
. He drew bottle, partly full OF whisky
from his pocket, MS he spoke, and held il
out to Arthur.
81 thank you, but do not drink" salt
Arthur.
"No? Well, didn't s'pose ye did much
+, from the looks of ye," responded the other
} "But this is jist for the sake % friendship
ye know. Don't want TO git ye drunk, dt
we, fellers? but it's cust'mary out here Il
, drink with folks when ye git 'qraintet
with 'em, an 'twouden't he treatin' eacl
other fair not to would it boys?"
"Of course not" choursed the boys.
Arthur hesitated. He had never drank
liquor. He had been taught to fear il
i He knew that he had ought to say no, res
: olutely, and the word came to his lips jus
an one OF the young men, who saw his hesi
tation, said, in an undertone to his com
u panions-
n Hes 'fraid to drink"
Arthur heard the whisper and the no he
was about to utter was unspoken. Afraid
Did they take him for a coward? Was h
afraid OF one drink of liquor? Not lie
d He would show them that he was not t
i be dared, and he took the bottle and pu
e it to his lips, and swallowed a draugli
which brought lifelong misery and re
morse to his soul.
e If he had been really brave he would hav
sa i'd no, and stuck to it. for to do SO h
y knew was right. And to do what we kno,
:, is right is always proof of bravery, Will
u to do what we know is not right, is COW
!. ardice. Let others think as they will, an
=, Judge your actions by whatever standar
: they have set up for themselves--if yo
know the right and are true to it, you ar
a hero.
Unaccustomed to liquor, the -draught b
had taken flew to his brain rapidly, and i
lew minutes he began to feel its bewild
ering effects.
> A click Of the telegraph instrument an
s. nounced message, and he lett the boys t
l. attend TO it.
,r 1t was this: "Have the two o'cloc
train wait there until special passes"
10 There was two o'clock train and to
n o'clock train; the two O'Clock passenger
l. the evening one freight.
70 Bewildered by the liquor he had dranl
2 he made terrible mistake, and wrote te
instead Of ttpo, thus making the messag
apply to the night freight, instead OF til
Ii afternoon passenger train which was neu
v at hand.
rs When the whistle sounded he went oil
# to the platform as usual, but he was s
IS dazed by the liquor that the conductor an
express agent noticed it, and made the r,
mark to each other that "Young Winhel
L. seemed 10 be half drunk"
"Any dispatches for me?" asked tt
n. conductor.
"No, sir" answered Arthur, while a
m the kissing Of the engines escapin
steam seemed concentrated in his braii
The train went on, bearing its freigi
~ of human life 10 a swift and terrib
n death.
s. About two miles from Woodvile Il
re- road swept around II curve. Both sides
il were hidden from each other by hi
At this curve he two trains met, The
10 was wild, awful Crash and beyond that
nd death Thirty men, women and childr'
n- were killed in that disaster-thirty son
b. sent, without u moments warning into Il
other world and it came about by Arth
Winheld's taking that one first drink
liquor that had set his brain on fire.
al, 1t WAS clearly proved that the mistal
,s. had been made by Arthur Winfield. +
is yet n young man in years. but his ha
a. is white, and there are lines in his fa
m that make il the face of an old man. X
=, morse is sulways with him. He calls hin
self murderer, and tells all who will II
an ten TO his story that all his misery can
" about because lie was not brave enough
say mo" and refuse the trst drink
VI liquor.