The Red Cloud chief., 1884-02-29
Temperance Reading.
WILLY RAYNOR'S PLEDGE.

town of b, in Maine. The frs,
Sunday Willy Raynor joined the Sun.
day-school1t was temperance day, and
he was induced to sign the pledge. The
following Sunday he came to his teacher,
before the opening of the school, and
said:
81 want my name taken off that
pledge"
That would be impossible" replied
Miss Miller. I'VE never take names
from PLEDGES. Sit down"
During the singing Willy took a ten
cent piece from his pocket, and, hand.
ing it t. his teacher. whispered:
"In give you tat if you'll take my
name off,"
Miss Miller motioned the hand away.
But. during the lesson. this persistent
ten-year-old boy drew twenty-five cents
from his pocket. and SAID:
IL viii give you this, Miss Miller"
"Put your money in your pocket, and
let us 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 u handful
Of change, and begged:
Miss Miller, I'll give YOU half a dol
lar. all the money Ivegot, ii you'iltake
my name off that pledge
Then the teachers resentment n
isbed. and she dew the child toward
her, and said:
willy, l can not do it. if / were ever
so willing You have promised the
Lord, and yourself, and me. that YOU
will never touch ardent spirits. You
must not. ever. But tell me why YOU
wish to take back your PROMISE"
The boy hung hi, heal.
Fourth of July four of us is goin'up
to Valley Wood on a picnic. We al
ways ta&e beer. We're goin' to-"
willy. l can not take your name
from that pletge, but YOU may come TO
my house on three O'Clock THURSDAY
afternoon. and bring those three bows
with you, and l wi | promise You q way
out of your difficulty
There was but a vague i1ea in Miss
Mil.er,s mind of the '.way out of tie
difficulty" but long before Thursday
afternoon the problem was solved.
Promptly on time these bows were
present at Miss Mi ler's elegant home.
ou oIiC "a ttiC ldSliiOustElC tScIuSS. iIlt
other members of the class hal been
i%nvitel. After the lads had enioyed
blind man s-buff, with numbers, AMI
many other rOmping games VIII CHI de-
light the hearts Of boys. they were sum-
mOned to tea, which was served on the
lawn. Such tempting biscuits, ten Ter
tongue, frosted cake. large ripe straw
berries. and cool. delicious lemonade,
these DO 5 had never before tasted.
When it was time for them to leave,
Miss Miller quietly requisite | the p chic
party Of four to remain behind q lew
moments.
boys" Miss Miller asked, Ibid YOU
enjoy Your SUPPER"
Zip top" said one.
''Eu'ly." echoed another.
"lOu bet," shouted 4 third.
Willy. the only one who went to Sum-
d~ay-SchoOl. who was naturally a refined
lad. and observed that nj IS NJ Her 3ever !
used any such slang phrases, said
quietly:
I'VE liked it very much. Miss Miller"
'And You enjoyed the lemonade"
she questioned.
PRIME" said one.
Couldn't be beat" said another. !
When each n had given an affirma-
tive answer in his W ~phraseology,
Miss Miller said:
Boys, I've a proposition to make to
you. Tomorrow you are going ON n
picnic. Willy Ra o has signed the
pledge; he al lot drink beer. nor any
kind of strong drink. 1t would not be
manly. nor honest. nor right. Now,
want to help him keep his pledge. and
l want you all to help him. So if you
will promise me- that no beer shall 90
on that picnic tomorrow. l W IL agree
to furnish lemon and sugar, and Il reel: e
for lemonade. just as delicious as that
you had to-day. Do you agree?"
"ies, ma'am-yes. ma'am." was the
chorus. And one youth shouted:
"Three cheers for Miss Miller"
They were Justify given. and the boys
departed. just as they were leaving.
Miss Miller said:
.'Willy, bring Your friends to Sunday
school next Sunda,. Well make room
for them in our class"
The boys Came, and, more than that,
all signed the pledge; but that
was not the only good resulting from
Willy Raynor's pledge, nor why L tell
this story.
Late in September WHY'S father.
who was Captain of q small sloOp, came
home to remain II few days. The
second evening after his arrival three
Of his intimate friends were invited to
spend the evening and play cards with
Soon after they were seated
The boys father said to him:
"Willy, take the pitcher and run over
10 Jones. and bring US a couple of
quarts of beer"
Little Willy, trembling and anxious.
went slowly to the closet, and took
the shelf the pitcher which he had
80 often brought from Jones' filled with
The liquid which he had promised never
more to touch nor TO taste. He came
back, some time after, without the
willy" the father said. sternly,
''where is the beer? You were never
zone so long before"
Il did not bring any," {
''What is the matter? Where is the
Have YOU broken it? Get an
one: hurry up
But Willy stood, the very picture of !
Something in the boys face !
the father, and he said: |
.sOut with IL my SOn-f {