Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1883-09-13
JIMMY's LECTURE,
BY LOUISA NJ. ALCOTT.

looking woman as she handed ner HUE
son the brown jug which she had just
found hidden in the shed.
Father won't like it" began the boy,
eying the ugly thing with a look of fear
and hate; for it made mother miserable,
and father brute.
II said I'd make way with it the next
time found it, and | will It's full
and / don't feel as though l could live
through another dreadful time as the
last. five put it out Of sight, maybe
father will keep sober for another month.
Go quick, before he comes home And
the poor woman pushed the boy to the
door as If she could not wait minute un-
til the curse of her life was destroyed.
Glad to comfort her and have the fun
Of smashing anything, Jimmy ran off,
and giving the jug good bang on the
post, let the whiskey run where it would,
and be flung the pieces into the pig pen
and went back to his work.
He was only eleven, but be struggled
manfully with the old saw, and the tough
apple-tree boughs he had collected for fuel
It was fathers work but he neglected
it, and Jimmy would not see mother
suffer from cold, SO he trimmed the trees,
and did the best he could to keep the fire
a going. He had to stop often to rest,
and in these pauses he talked to himself,
having no other company.
Not long after the destruction of the
jug, he heard a great commotion in the
pig pen, and, looking in, saw the two
pigs capering in curious way They
ran up and down, squealed, skipped and
bumped against one another as if they
didn't see straight, and had no control o.
their legs
Jimmy was much amused for few
minutes but when one staggered to thu
trough, and began to lap something there
and another tumblcd down, and could
not get up, he understood the cause Of
these antics.
"Oh dear let the whiskey run into
the trough, and those bad pigs are tipsy
What shall | do?"
He watched them an instant, and ther
he added in sober tone, and he SHOOK
his head sadly, That's just the wa,
father does-lively first, then cross, Their
stupid. They don't look funny to m,
now, and I'm sorry for 'em. They vii
be dreadfully ashamed when they get so
ber I'm glad there isn't any wife and
little son to be scared and mortified and
sorry over EN-. Ill talk to en- and tel
EN- what the man said in the temperance
lecture | went to last night. Maybe it
will do EN- good"
50 Jimmy mounted the chopping block
close BY, and repeated all he could re.
member, making funny tumble, and be-
ing very much in earnest, aud quite no.
conscious that he had another nearer be,
sides the pigs:
"My friends, rum is an awful thing
People who drink are slaves. They ART
worse than dumb beasts, who don't drink
(Yes they do; but that was my fault J
Half the sin and sorrow in the world
come from rum. Men waste the money
neglect their families, break their wives
hearts, and set bad example to thei,
children. People better die than drink,
and make brutes Of themselves. Lots Of
money is wasted. Folks kill other folks
when they are drunk, and steal and lie,
and do everything bad. Now my friends,
q mean you pigs, turn from your evil
ways and drink no more. U'll smash
the jug behind the barn next time, where
even the hens can't find IT. Rise up
In your manhood. and free yourself Of
this awful slavery. They are both fast
asleep. but III help EN- up when they
wake.) Lead better lives, and don't let
those who love you suffer shame and fear
and grief for your weakness. q do love
you old fellows, and I am sorry to see
you make such pigs Of yourselves,) Here
is the pledge; come and sign it. Keep
it all to yourselves and be good men. Il
mean pigs)."
Here Jimmy smiled; but he meant
what he said; and pulling out of his poe
ket apiece of paper and pencil, he
jumped down to use the block as desk.
he wrote in big lotters, ''They shall have
pledge and they can make mark as
people do who cannot write. I'll make il
short, SO they can understand it; and |
know they will keep it for shall help
them"
SO busy was the boy with his work
that ba iii uot .oa =.