Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-12-06
Some of Our Boys.

In the broad, low dining room of a
Rhode Island farm house sat the family
whose circle was enlarged by the presence
Of visitor. Pie was served real gen.
uine country mince pie; ',just such rs
mother used to make,h sld one of the
company, while another asked, "do YOU
put cider into your pies, Mrs. A -"
"Oh, yes, couldn't make 'em decent
without, we think" A bright eyed boy,
quick. keen and observant, had put him
self outside of one piece and was lifting
his plate mother ward "cider in these
pies, mother, ciderm
why yes; why not!'
The plate dropped and the boy leaned
back with discouraged look, "wel then,
can't cat no more, oh, dear, that's too
bad"
A laugh greeted these words, also a
rather sharp query from his mother.
Didn't | sign the pledge, and want
cider in it? There was the usual talk
and attempted explanation, with more or
less fun over the straight. laced notions
people were coming TO have, All eyes
were fixed upon the boy, who looked de
family from face to face. He met no look
of sympathy and he realized it. well, l
don't care if you do all laugh. I've taken
the pledge 10 touch not, taste not, handle
not, and it said cider too, and | shan't
break it, it | never eat Il piece of pie as
long as live" With this declaration of
principle, he jumped up rather uncere-
moniously and made dash for the door,
1t must have been that unpleasant rec
objections were stirred in the hearts of
some Of those people, for the father of one.
of the house had gone down to the drcary,
hopeless doom of the drunkard.
The stiffness gre" oppressive. Going
to rainp" asked the farmer. No, seems
more like dry spell, guess" and the
circle broke up.
Our hero had come out ahead.
Wcll, The boys are with US it seems. A
bright eyed little fellow informed one oil
The workers that "he had cracked peacl
sones and made twelve cents" all ol
which he proposed TO invest in temper
ance literature, ito read and send round >
Another, almost Il street waif, for his
father is n drnnkard, and his mother goes
out daily to earn enough to feed hel
family ana keep roof over their heads,
and us Il consequence, jim and the rest
of the children 90 uncared for Jim had
run against ''one of those white ribboned
women" had listened to story, pockoted
an illustrated paper and a pledge card,
and in course of time had called on The
lady and volunteered to take the pledge
After II while he returned "for more o1
them ar cards, cause he'd got two more
fellows to sign
Tho story which came out was this
Two boys on the street were eating theil
lunch, crackers and bottle of beer. Jim
was watching doubtless hungry eyed
they hunded out cracker and then out of
the generosity of their hearts passed the
hottie and babe him take swig'
Jm's hands closed around the bottle and
it was lifted 10 his lips, then he threw up
his hands and the bottle lay beside the
curbstone. while the contents gurgled
forth glcefully.
Gosh! how did you come to do that
you beggal?'
Jim explained, the boys swore and were
'a mind to lick him. Jim produced his
picture paper and promised to "get a lot
moie from the lady" they looked at "his
card" " and threatened to Grip it," but
finally gave it back unharmed. That was
three weeks ago, and now, ''lhey'rc goin'
to .ian for 'emseves, they be-"
Again one of our boys came out ahead
Nay their number increase for they are
our hope for the future.
Mrs. J. X. BARNEY.