The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1883-03-23
Temperance Reading.
JUST ONE GLASS OF BEER.

49,
traces of sorrow as though it had been
part of the living to bear pain. The
boy came in thinking of his play, and
almost forgetting what his mother said.
He was ten years old, with bright,
open ace.
What did you say you wanted me
to doP"
"Nothing. dear, only to sit down and
listen to something have to say. She
choked little in answering, it was SO
hard to do it after all. There had been
five in their family group once. now she
and the lad were all. Father and two sons
had gone the crooked ways of drunken
ness and death. What legacy for that
bright. innocent boy! He had never
known it. His mothers tender care
had hedged him in Their quiet coun-
try home had been refuge of purity.
Charlie had been only two summers at
school. In the winter when the big
boys. with habits unknown, crowded
the two back seats of the district school
house, his mother made excuse to keep
him at home. 1t was cold and storm
ing and she didn't like to stay one.
Now they were to move into town. and
the mother had thought, after some
struggle. thstthe safest way was to put
the boy himself on guard. She had
never talked Temperance very much
heretofore; how could she when every
word she might say cut backward into
her own heart But the boy was son
to the same fathet as the two who lay
in dishonored graves, and she felt the
time had come when it was best and
necessary for the boy to know his own
peculiar danger. So she told him,
sparing her dear dead all she might 1t
was thruSting knives into sore wounds,
but wise love made her brave and she
did not falter. She did not cruelty her.
self in vain. The great tears rolled
| down Charles cheeks, and a whole
heartful Of boyish love and sympathy
responded.
"Oh mother" he cried, "my poor,
dear mamma, never will drink any Of
that dreadful stuff"
"There are many easy ways, my boy,
to begin; especially | warn you against
sweet cider and beer And put no faith
| in the statement so often heard, that 4
man of any will can drink and stop. 1t
is possible, though Away dangerous yet
allowing it to be ever so sale for others
1t would not be safe for you. We some.
times inherit tastes from our fathers and
mothers, and so you. as YOU look | Ike
your father, might have his liking for
liq0or if you once tasted it, remember,
| just tasted it, Charlie. That was what
made it SO easy for your poor brothers
to drink People wondered that both
should die-as they did-before they
were twenty-five, but they had their
fathers appetite and their own to con-
tend against"
II never could want to taste it,
rs mother SIN led, such sad smile.
az want you this morning to make a
solemn promise in writing, it is some
times called pledge, never TO drink.
have written it out for you, You can
read it and write Your name at the bot
tom, remembering that it is very sol
emn thing to make such q promise.
1t was a very strong pledge 1t had
no qualifying phrase "as a beverage" "
"Some think it necessary in small
quantities as medicine, but it is better
that you shou'd never take such medi-
cine even to save your life. You must
demand medicine free from alcohol, for
yourself, as / have for you" Charlie
assented and deliberately signed his
name Then mother and son knelt
down together and she prayed for u
blessing on the future OF her son.
Years passed and Charlie came to he
eighteen W tn his pledge unbroken.
People remarked on the manly promise
of the young oy. and how beautifully
he honored his mother; how that moth
er's heart leaned on him; how it rested
her after the dark years that hal passed?
Yet she never felt secure. When he
is twenty-five she said to herse +, II
shall draw long breath, then blamed
herself for coubting the boy who had
proved SO true 10 her and his VOW.
About this time Charlie d long
sickness. serious enough to make the
mother very vigilant He had been
sometime convalescent, when there
came BRIGHT sunny Sabbath
II IN quite we enough 10 stay by
myself to-day, m ther, you go to
church" So she went, gladly, into the
hou. of the Lord to offer thanksgiving.
But the house seemed lonely and still to
the sick boy, so he was very glad TO see
his Uncle Ian drive p.
"Come over to see how your get
ting along; can't you ride out a little
way"
''Clad to see you, though 1 don't
know about the riding; 1 haven't ven
tured out yet. "
just the day to be in.' said Unc
Dan. in his hearty way. So Char lie
yielded and went. The day was love
.ly, and havin been a prisoner so long,
the fresh air and sunshine seemed ike
a new world to him
This Uncle Dan was his fathers
brother, and the roadside tavern and
bar ha its attractions
YOU'D better get out and come in,"
he said to Charlie, lit will rest you.
declare, be ieve you better treat on
this. you look as bright as a dollar.
"You know | don drink and don't
ike to see YOU" was the emphatic
answer.
"Oh, well, want something, any
way, and you'd better come in"
Unthinking of the danger of putting
one foot in the way chat leads into de-
struction, the boy went in { n enter
ing, he found a ousin and other young
men with whom he wa acquainted who
were ready with rough and hearty con-
CALCULATIONS on his re ,overy. The ride
had been celebrating; this was excit-
ing.
believe you'll have to treat" said
his Uncle Dan. rubbing his hands.
Eyes, treat. old boy" echoed the
young men. hilariously. Charles
cheek flushed. "Give yo r orders,
boys" he said. thrusting bis hand into
his pocket in search of change.
"Have a glass of beer yourself" said
his cousin. Charlie shook his head.
Hard up; have to save the price of one
glass; guessed one of the young men.
The boy was weak from sickness, ex-
cited by the circumstances. Always
proud and foolishly sensitive, the ran
dom remark irritated him. He snatched
glass of beer from the count
er and drank it, h s first taste. 1t was
enough. Before the others had finished
the first glass, Charlie called for sec
ond, then in an eager, hurried way
called for brandy The boys grew sober
and his Uncle Dan was alarmed and
tried to interfere Charlie turned on
him fercely.
What had aroused in the boy such