The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1883-04-05
Temperance.
Charlie. come herer'

"Char.ie, come herer'
The voice was loving and tender, yet
with certain panied quiver in it. The
face that looked ont OF the window bore
traces of sorrow a. 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 do?''
Nothing, dear, only to sit down and
listen to omething 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 a legacy for that
bright, innocent boy! He had never
known it. His mothers tender care
ha hedged him in. Their quiet coun-
try home bad been "a refuge of purify.
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 hool-
house, his mother made excuse to keep
him at home. 1t was cold and storm
ing and she didn't like to stay a one.
Now they were to move into town. and
the mother had thought, after some
struggle, that the 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 fathe rs the two who lay
in dish nored 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 a wise love made her brave and she
did not falter She did not cruelty her.
down Charles cheeks, and 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 yoI against
sweet cider and beer. And put no faith
in the statement so often heard, that a
man of any will can drink and stop. 1t
is possible, though alway dangerous, yet
allowing it to be ever so safe for Others
it would not be sac 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
liquor 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.
HIS 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 a very SOL
emn thing to make such a promise.
1t was very strong pledge. 1t had
no qualifying phrase "as beverage. i"
"Some think it necessary in small
quantities as a 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 a
blessing on the future OF her son.
Years passed and Charlie came to be
eighteen with his pledge unbroken.
People remarked on the manly prom: Sc
of the young oy, and how beautifully
he honored his mother; how that moth
ers heart leaned on him; how it rested
her after the dark years that hal passed?
Yet she never fe.t secure, When he
is twenty -five' she said to herSe I, al
shall draw q long breath, then blamed
herself for doubling the boy who had
proved so true to her and his VOW.
About this time Charlie had long
sickness. serious enough to make the
mother very vigilant. He had been
sometime convalescent, when there
came a bright sunny Sabbath
II am quite we | enough 10 stay by
myself to-day, m ther, you go to
church" So she went, gladly, into the
house 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 Dan drive up.
"Come over to see how you re getting
along: can't you ride out little way"
..Glad to see you, though | don
know about the riding; / haven't ven.
tured out yet"
"Just the day to be in." said Unc G
Dan. in his hearty way. So Char ie
yielded and went. The day was love
~. and having been a prisoner so long,
the fresh air aud sunshine seemed like
new world to him
This Uncle Dan was his father
brother. and the roadside tavern and
bar ha / its attractions.
You'd better get out and come in. v
he said to Charlie, '.it viii rest you.
declare, believe you'd better treat or
this. you look as bright as dollar.
"YoI know don drink and ldon't
| like to see you." was the emphatic