St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1886-12-02
CONE DROP MORE.o
Kotsth's Companion.

had just been reading. "It's as plain
as day that alcohol pOisOns the blood,
and masters fellow before he knows
it. Pm only nineteen, but it's a good
age to make resolution, and keep it
too"
Clarence Moore, whom he addressed,
"a youth about his own age, with a
bright, handsome face, laughed at his
room mates earnestness.
"DO you remember what you were
flinging at me yesterdays Est mOdus
in rebusP' Now | call upon you to
keep just medium. You're fighting
shadows, too, for don't believe you've
ever tasted anything stronger than
wine or cordial in your life, and those
in homeopathic doses"
"Well, that's too strong. Farewell
to wine, or cordial, or anything with
alcohol in it, l haven't so much brain
that | can afford to let liquor run
away with it. Just hear what this
writer says"
Don't! Oh, please spare me all
that chaffw Clarence cried. "DOn't |
know all that temperance bOsh by
heart 2 In the first place, think it's
humbug in the second, if every
word was gospel, Pm not afraid of be-
coming beast. A little wine or beer
can never hurt human being. We
can't agree on this subject, SO let's
change it,"
ga greed How do you get on with
your valedictOry 2"
"Oh, splendidly! | think I'll make
hit. My mother and sister Amy are
coming for the grand occasion, and l
want to make a splurge. They're aw-
ell =. l. I = 20
be proud, too"
Harry said, looking admiringly into
his friends handsome face. every
thing you do is out of the common
way, and slOw-witted fellows, like my
self, can only look on and admire. |
don't begrudge it to you though, old
old fellow"
his wavy brown hair. Yes, it was
quite true Harry Williams was plOd-
der, fellow who studied hard to learn
anything, and whose comprehension
was slow. To be sure, what he learn
ed by hard mental toll he never forgot,
but it was notifying to be always left
behind by brighter students. His dog
ged will, however, recognized failure.
Twenty times he might fail, and TWEEN
ty times he would take up the task,
and conquer it at last through sheer
force of will.
"And nOw," thought Clarence "he's
got that fad about never touching even
wine, and he'll run it in the ground,
and make himself ridiculous"
The conversation we have related
took place three or four weeks before
the end of the term at Homer college.
Clarence Moore, the head of the grad
uating class, was sure of a brilliant
success. Harry Williams, by dint of
hard work, would graduate also, but
without the hOnOrs of his friend. He
and Clarence had been playmates from
early childhood. He was an orphan,
and indebted to the generosity of a
relative for his education. Clarence
was the only son of an indulgent
mother, who, if not very wealthy, was
in independent circumstances. But
the two boys had always been close
friends, and if there was more real
love on one side than on the other,
they were not conscious of it them
selves.
Clarence was very little in their
room evenings as the close of the term
when he did come in, he was generally
flushed, and talked and laughed in an
excited way. In the mornings that
followed he complained of being Ian
guild, and unable to exert himself for
the rest of the day.
"LlOyd's little wine parties are ra-
ther too much of Il good thing" he
said one morning, yawning. "YOu
HarrU I nauar drink tO avoaSS
but last night there were several tOasts
drank to my success, and it was one
drop more all the time until l was act
ually fuddled before | left the table.
You may be sure it will not happen
again, though"
But it did happen again and again.
His hard study through the day-fOr
he did study--and the excitement of
the evening student gatherings wore
upon his health. His appetite left
him, and craving for alcoholic slim
ulants followed. The result was that
the Zone drop more" was continually
INDUCED in, until Harry was shocked
the last day of the Commencement ex-
ercises to see his friend pour tumbler
half full of dark liquid that he took
out of bottle in his trunk, and drink
it.
"LOok here, old fellow" Clarence
said "dOn't be shocked. The truth is,
Pm getting awfully nervous, and Lloyd
brought me this brandy to tone me
up"
"FOr heavens sake, throw it away !"
Harry cried, vehemently. you've
done splendidly, and are sure of all
the prizes you wish. You need cool
ness and compOsure for your valedic
tory, and Pm sure | never heard that
brandy was cooling"
81 don't know whether it is or not"
said Clarence laughing, "but | know
it's what Jim Stiles calls heartening."
Harry now saw that his friend had I
taken more liquor than was good for
him. "LOOk here, old fellow" he said I
perhaps you think am too
dull and stupid to advise you, but
won't see you cut your throat in this ;
way without a word. Pitch that bot !
tie out of the window, and don't touch
another drop. You'll be sorry for it if l
you do"
Clarence laughed uproariously.
"That's pretty talk for fellow who is ;
forever preaching economy and the sin
of wastefulness to me. Now, that bot
tie of brandy cost three dollars, and {
do you expect me to throw it away ?
No, sir; I've prOfted too much by
your economical lectures to do such a I
thing. One drop more, and then we'll
60 to Lawrence house and see mother
and Amy. They told me to be sure
and bring you this afternoon"
Harry was about to refuse, but look |
ing at Clarence, he felt it would be {
best to accompany him. The ''one /
drop more" had flushed his face, and {
made his steps slightly unsteady.