The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1885-06-17
Willie B and Johnnie s.
Helping the Tempted.
BY REV. GEORGE L. SMITH.


"Have you heard about Harry Moore?'
said Willie, as he met Johnnie one day
"No, said Johnnie, what about
him ?"
"He'a thinking about going to help
Dan Fulton, who keeps the hotel on the
Jug-town-pike."
"Why, Willie, do you really think
that he has any idea of doing that? 1t
would be too bad"
eyes, it does seem too bad, indeed ;
but nevertheless he is thinking about
doing it, am certain, for l have seen
him myself, and he has told me all about
it. You know his father died last fall
He, although very honest and industri-
Gus, and faithful man when he was sober,
died drunkard. Strong drink they
think caused his death. Mrs. Moore,
Harry's mother, has to work very hard
tosupport herself and four children. They
have had very hard time the past win
ter, and now Harry, who is the oldest,
wants to be doing something by which
he can earn something to help his mother
along some.
That's all very good, said Johnnie :;
but can't he find some other place to
work better than that hotel ?"
Harry thinks he can't" answered
Willie, and then Dan has been to see
him, and made him an offer. You know
Dan Fulton is mean, close listed old
fellow, anyhow; but he thought, sup
pose, that be could get Harry cheap, and
he would do almost as much as man,
and so he would be saving something by
hiring him. But he came to see Harry
and his mother, and he said he felt very
sorry for Mrs. Moore because she had to
work so hard, and so he said, if Harry
would come and live with him he would
give him his board and one dollar a
week"
cts pity the old fellow hadn't felt
a little sorry for Harry's mother before
now" said Johnnie.
Why didn't he feel sorry for her when
Mr.. Moore was living, and was spending
nearly all the money he could get hold Of
for rum at mis- bar.
Do you know, Willie, they say that
after Mr.. Moore died old Dan got Mrs.
Moore to work for him two or three days,
and when he came to pay her be only
paid her half of her wages, and kept the
other half towards paying bill which he
said her husband owed him for drinks
And the old fellow, they say, actually
seemed to think that he was quite gener-
Gus, and entitled to considerable credit,
because he did not takeit all, but allowed
her half to buy bread for herself and chill
dren."
Yes, said Willie and he has asked
Mrs. Moore several times to pay him
more money on that bill"
&" should think, said Johnnie, " that
Harry would not like to work for him
under these circumstances. But what
does Dan want Harry to do p
He says he wants him to help about
the kitchen some, and then also in the
bar-room. Harry would sometimes have
to sell drinks, and after awhile he would
probably make him a regular bartender.
Old Dan thought, suppose, that that
would be q great inducement for him to
accept his offer, if he could after awhile
be made bar-keeper. You see he pre-
tended all the while that he was doing
this to help Harry and his mother, but
anyone can see chat he is going to help
himself, and probably this was his great
motive for making the offer. He would
get Harry for one dollar a week, and he
will very soon do as much as a man that
he would pay four or five times that
amount.
Well, what does make Harry go p
said Johnnie.