The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1885-01-08
BECOMING A THOUGH"

The Result of Reading Pernicious Dime
Novels and Sensational Story Papers-An
Experience Which Ought to BE Warn
ing to Other Youths.
An incident recently came under my
notice which so plainly illustrates the
practical effects of bad reading upon
susceptible boys, that | thought it
should be given to the public for warn
ing and admonition. The following
letter was in the pastors mail:
"MY DEAR PASTOR. Ill you please call at
once to see my boy, who is very sick indeed,
and oblge an anxious mother"
OF course I responded, and drove at
the earliest possible opportunity to the
house, which was on the outskirts of the
parish. The father met me at the door
with the remark:
I'm glad that you've come. It is
Tom that's sick. He's little better
now. but a pretty sick boy he's been."
was ushered into the room where he
lay On the bed in an uneasy doze. The
mother came in and welcomed me as
an anxious Christian mother will always
welcome minister of God to the sick
chamber. While waiting for the sick
boy to wake, the parents in subdued
tones and with aching hearts told the
pathetic story.
| knew Tom had been away from
home for several months, but did not
know the circumstances of his depart
Il T - L
| 1t seems that for some months previous
to his leaving home he clandestinely
read many of the pernicious dime nov
els and the sensational story papers.
| Another boy in the neighborhood, whom
we will call John, had been reading
| such trash, and he had unceremonious.
| ly left his home to become, as he called
it, ga tough" and to make his mark in
the world. He did become tough fel
low in the literal sense of the term il
| the metropolis, had shifted from ont
thing to another until his watchfu
| father found him out, adroitly cor
nered him and brought him back home
The highly spiced stories of adyen
ture and bloodshed and hair-breadtl
escapes, which Tom eagerly devoured
4
disconnected with home and persona
restraint. This was enhanced by tht
baneful influences of John, who had ;
taste of the forbidden, and was de
PRAYED enough to banker for more, ant
to declare that he would out-genera
the old Captain yet and be found minu
around home," and that soon he'd tb
on the war-path Westward ho!'
One morning Tom did not come dow
to breakfast as usual. After awhil
his mother went to his room an
knocked, with no response. Anxiousl
she opened the door, expecting to find
sick boy in bed, but no Tom was to b
seen. The disordered condition of til
room, the rummaged bureau-drawer'
and the absence of his best clothes an
valise revealed the fact of his fligh
How crushed was that mothers spir
as she retreated to the dinining-rool
to make known to the family the pail
full discovery that Tom, the eldest sol
the pride and hope of all, had ru
away.
The father traced him to the gre;
city, but there lost track of him, althoug
he spared no pains or expense to recoN
er his lost son. With heavy burde
and mourning heart, the mother WEI
on with her domestic duties, and tt
father continued in his daily occupation
Weeks heightened out into months an
no word came from absent Tom, unit
they gave up all hope Of ever seeir
: him again. Meanwhile another chi
: was added to the flock, and the POI
mother had long and dangerous i
ness, caused by her anxiety and mothe
, | ly love for the absent frst-born. ~
J fathers hairs rapidly whitened and b
} shoulders painfully stopped although
4 could assign no cause for it, yet If Il
truth were known it was caused by Il
a absence of Tom.
q Meanwhile how Jared it with Ton
! Did he reEel in exuItation and roll
/ wealth as he expected from being
: ''tough?" Did he find the pleasure al
y success he anticipated from imitatir
q the robberies of the James brother
: After he reached New York City by t
. FOWL train" he took the precaution
/ change his name and clothes and a
) pear in g sailors costume. He met d
4 appointment at every turn, was unah
]. to get a job at any honest employmer
and the f'toughs'f he fell in with We
se vile sad blasphemous thai he tpFu