Arkansas weekly mansion., 1884-03-01
WILLY RAYNOR'S PLEDGE.

There was aTemperancc Guild in CON
ncctor with the mission school Ill the
town of b, in Maine. The first
Sunday Willy Raynor joined the Sun
day-school it was temperance day, and
lie was induced to sign the pie gc. The
followin" SUNDAY he came to his teacher.
before the opening OF the school, and
said:
81 want my name taken off that
plcd~c.'
That would he impossible replied
Miss Miller. I'VE never take names
f.om PLEDGES. Sit down"
During the singing Willy took a ten
cent piece from his pocket, and, hand
ing it t. his teacher. whispered:
I'll give you that if you'll take my
name of. -
Miss Miller motioned the hand away.
But. during the lesson, this persistent
ten-vcar-old boy drew twenty-five cents
from his pocket, and said:
Il will give YOU this, Miss Miller.''
Put your money in your pocket, and
let lis hear no more about it,"
But after the school was dismissed.
and the rest of the boys had gone, this
determined little lad held out IA handful
of change. and begged:
Miss Miller, I'll give YOU half a dol
l.
my name of that pledge
Then the teachers resentment van
i>hc,i. and she dew the child toward
her, and said:
"Ni.lv, | can not DO it, if | were ever
so willing. You have promised the
Lord, and your-elf, and me, that you
viii never touch ardent spirits. You
must not. ever. But tell me why you
.wi~h to take back YOUR promise
The boy hung his heal.
Fourth of July four of us is goin' up
to Valley Wood on n picnic. We al
ways take beer. We're goin' to-"
"Willy. | can not8takc your name
from hat pledge. bat Ayou may come to
my house on three O'CLOCK Thursday
afternoon, AMI lrng those three boys
with You, AMI | viii promise you way
out of your difficulty.
There was but Il vague idea in Miss
NUl.er's mind OF the ''way out of the
ditficulty." but long before Thursday
afternoon the problem was solved.
Promptly on time these bows were
present at Miss Millcr's elegant home,
on one Of the fashionable avenues. The
other mrcmDcrs of the class hal been
invited. After the lads had enjoyed
blind-man' s-bun. with numbers, and
many other romping games which de-
light The hearts of boys. they were sum-
moncl 10 tea, which was served on the
lawn. Such tcmptin" biscuits, tender
tongue, frosted cake. large ripe straw
berries. and cool. delicious lemonade,
thcs. bows had never before tasted.
When it was time for them to leave,
Miss Miller quietly rcqueste the picnic
party of four to remain behind few
moments.
boys" Miss Miller asked, did ou
ENJOY Your s,ipner?'
..Iip-top," said one.
"Eujlv.' echoed another.
"You bet shouted 4 third.
Willy. the only one who went to Sun
| day-school, who was naturally a refined
lad. ard observed that Miss Millerncvcr
used any such slang phrases, said
quietly:
I'VE liked it very much, Miss Miller"
..And YOU enjoyed the lemonade?'
she questioned.
..Primr.' said one.
'Couldnt be beat said another.
When each one had "iven an atlirma-
tive answer in his own phrascolo@y,
| Miss Miller said:
| "BovS. I've a proposition to make to
| YOU. Tomorrow You are going on 4
| picnic. Willy Raynor has signed the
| pledge; lie can not drink beer, nor any
| kind of strong drink. Ii would not be
manly. nor honest, nor right Now,
| want To help him keep his pledge, and
| want YOU all to help him. SO if YOU
| VIII promise me that no beer shall go
on that picnic tomorrow. | will agree
| for lemonade, just as delicious rs that
| You had to-day. Do YOU agree
.'IeS. ma 'am-ycs, ma am was the
cagcr chorus. And one youth shoutcd:
Three cheers for Miss Millcr.'
They were lu>tilv given. and the boys
departed. just a they were leaving,
Miss Miller said:
willy, bring your friends to Sunday
school next Sunday. Wen make room
for them in our class"
The hoys came, and. more than that,
they all signed the pledge; hut that
was not the only good resulting from
Willy Raynor's pledge, nor why [ tell
this story.
Late in September WHY'S father.
who was Captain of Il small sloop, came
home to rCmain Il few days. The
second evening after his arrival three
OF his intimate friends were invited to
spend the evening and play cards with
him. Soon after they were seated
the boys father said to him:
"Willy. take the pitcher and run over
to Jones, and bring us couple OF
| quarts of ieer.H
Little Willy. trembling and anxious,
went slowly to the closet, and took
from tie shelf the pitcher which he had
so often brought from Jones filled with
the liquid which he had promised never
more 10 touch nor to taste. He came
back, some time after, without the
pitcher.
.'Willv.' the father said, stcrnly,
"where is the bcer9 You were never
gone 50 long before
Il did not bring any"
"What is the malterp Where is the
pitcher? Have YOU broken it? Get an
other one; hurry up
But Willy stood. the very picture OF
dsmay. Something in the boys face
touched the father, and he said:
.tOut with it. my SON."
q left the pitcher on Jones coun-
ter
"And VIII he send it over soon?''
q did not tell him YOU wanted any,
"What do YOU mean? You n yer dis
obeyed me in this way before, my son.
30 papa. papa!' the child said,
l couldn't buy nor bring it. YOU know
have signed the pledge
| Then, with tears still streaming from
his eyes. and sobs almost choking his
utterancc. he told the story OF the
pledge signing. Before he had finished
there were tears in other eyes beside hi;
own.
Not bad thing to do" said Cap
tain Raynor, when he could control his
voice so as to speak. ''If had one
| believe + ii sion if myself -