The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-12-13
TEMPERANCE.
A DOWNWARD CAREER.
"A Truo Story and Great Warning to All
Bows. ....


Boys. |..|
One afternoon, q few weeks since,
while passing through one of the prin-
cipal streets of large city, we came
upon a crowd of school-boys standing
in front of saloon. The boys had
come ont of the school-house only few
moments before, and had their books,
and states, ETC., in their hands. They
were company of bright, intelligent,
happy-looking lads, but they all seemed
deeply interested in something that was
going on inside of that saloon. As they
opened their ranks to make way for us
to pass, we stopped and asked what it
was that had attracted such large
crowd of boys. D.. ''.
Paul Thompson's been in fight in
the saloon there, and a policeman has
just gone in to arrest him, said one of
the boys.
While he was speaking, large, blue
coated, brass-buttoned officer came out
leading man, or rather Jerking him,
by the coat collar. The man in Gus
tody was young, with slight form and
delicate features, and as we looked
into his face we saw traces of intelli-
gence and cultivation.
''He is drunk" said another boy,
sand when he's drunk he is always
ugly md wants to fight. This isn't the
first time he has been taken, either"
The crowd of boys followed the police
man and his prisoner, and we soon lost
e1rr nf Ae
noticed the public school building was
only a short distance from that saloon;
many of the scholars had to pass by it
every day. The same proprietor had
been IN possession. of the building for
ten years past. Only six years before,
Paul Thompson had graduated from the
High School. He was a scholar of high
standing, too. But he had been in the
habit of passing this dangerous corner
for years before he graduated. He had
been attracted to it in his boyhood, as
the boys Just spoken of had been, by
some similar occurrence. He began by
docking in to see what was going on be-
hind the green screen-doors. Then he
stepped inside to hear what the men
were talking about. The saloon-keeper
noticed him, for he had manly bear
ing, and belonged to family in high
standing. ...
He encouraged the boys coming in
with pleasant, flattering words, and
one day he gave him a glass of beer to
drink. Paul thought it was manly to
take the offered glass, but he could only
drink a part of it; he did not like the
taste; it was bitter; but the saloon man
patted him on the shoulder, and told
him to drink as much as he could and
it would make q man of him. Paul
knew it was wrong, and when he went
home he felt ashamed to stay in the
presence of his good, sweet mother He
could not look her in the face; every
smile she gave him, and every kind
word, made him feel more and more
guilty. He resolved never to pass by
the saloon again, but to 90 home
another way, although it was much
farther But somehow he did not 90
the other way but few times. There
seemed to be a fascination about that
saloon, and he would linger around
it. That was the beginning. Now
we see Paul Thompson con-
slant frequenter of this same sa-
doom. He has been going down, down,
from bad to worse, for six years OIL
more-the very years, too, of his life
which were the most important to him
the time when he ought to have been
acquiring true, honorable, manly
character. His mother used to love tc
hear his step on the walk, and his cheer.
full, boyish whistle as he came bounding
home from school, so happy aud light.
hearted. But now that dear mother list
ems and listens night after night for his
step with an anxious heart. She has
pleaded with prayers and tears for his
reform; but the ''habit begun in cob.
webs has ended in iron chains" He is
a slave to liquor. We trust his good
mothers prayers will be. heard, and
that through the mercy and strength Of
the Lord Jesus Christ he may break
those iron chains. But we see where he
is to-day Now, boys, this case of Paul
Thompson is great warning to all Of
you. Don't stop at saloons, even tc
look in. Cross over on the other side,
and shun those terrible places where SC
many have lost their manhood and their
soul. Remember that every poor, mis-.
cradle drunkard began his downward
career when he took his first glass;
Mrs. Susan T. Perry, in Christian a,
Work.