Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-11-17
Temperance.
PAUL THOMPSON.-A TRUE

-f
zone afternoon, few weeks since.
while passing through one of the
principal business streets of large
city, we came upon a crowd of school
boys standing in front of saloon.
The boys had come out of the school
house only few moments before,
and had their books, and states, etc,
in their hands. They were q compa-
nv of bright, intelligent, happy-look-
inc lads, but they all seemed deeply
interested in something that was go
Inc on inside tue 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.
"Paul Thompson has been in
FIGHT in the soloon there, and po-
liceman has just gone in to arrest
him." said one of the boys.
While he was speaking, large,
blue-coated, brass-b uttoned officer
came out leading man, or rather
Jerking him, by the coat collar. The
man in custody was young, with
sight form and delicate features, and
as we looked into his face, we saw
traces of intelligence and cultivation.
"He is drunk said another boy,
"and when he is drunk he's always
ugly and wants to fight. This isn't
the first time he has been taken, ell
ther."
The crowd of boys followed the
policeman and his prisoner, and we
soon lost sight of them. As we pass
ed on, we noticed that the public
school building was only a short dis
lance from the saloon; many OF the
scholars had to pass it every day.
The same proprietor had been in pos
session 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 beer
in the habit of passing this danger
GUS corner for years before he gradu
ated. He had been attracted to i
in his boyhood, as the boys just spok
en- of had been, by some similar oe
eurrence. He began by looking IL
TO see what was going on behind TIT
green screen doors. Then he stepped
inside to hear what the men wer
talking about. The saloon-keepe
noticed him, for he had a mani
bearing, and belonged to a family o
high standing.
He encouraged the boys comm
in with pleasant, hattering words
and one day he gave him a glass Q
beer to drink. Paul thought it wa
manly to take the offered glass, BIT
he could only drink part of 1t; b
he did not like the taste; it was bl
ter; but the saloon man patted hi
on the shoulder, and told him
drink as much as he could, and
would make man of him. Pa
knew it was wrong, and when /
went home he felt ashamed to stay
the presence of his good, sweet mott
er. He could not look her in the face
every smile she gave him, and eve1
kind word, made hir. feel more al
more guilty. He resolved never
pass by the saloon again, but to
home another way, although it WI
much farther. But somehow he d
not 90 the other way but few time
There seemed to be a fascinati'
about that saloon, and he would Ii
ger around it. That was the begl
ming. Now we see Paul Thomps'
constant frequenter of this same S
loon. He has been going dow
down, from bad to worse, for S
years or more-the very years, to
of his life which were the most II
portant to him-the time when
ought to have been acquiring trr
honorable, manly character. L
mother used to love to hear his st
on the walk, and his cheerful, boy
whistle when he came bounding hol
from school, SO happy and so llg
hearted. But DOW that dear mott
listens and listens night after nls
for his step with an anxious hea
She has pleaded with prayers a
tears for his reform; but the ''ha
begun in cobwebs has ended in il
chains.' He is slave to liquor.
trust his good mothers prayers
he heard. and that through the me
and strength of the Lord Jesus CHI
he may break down those iron chal
BIT we sec where he is to-day. M
boys, this case of Paul Thomp
is great warning to all OF y
Don't stop at saloons, even to Il
in. Cross over on the other side,
shun those terrible Places where
many have lost their manhood
their soul. Remember that CIV
door, miserable drunkard began
downward career when he took
first glass.
SMOKING.