Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-03-26
THE TORN hLEBaE-CARB.
ny MRS. HELEN T. cnowSr.


Caleb Dwight was hong ,lme deciding
whether to sign the total nb.lihehre pledg,
pt not. Bnt for that liltle Ndfl "ci,ler"
he could have made up his mlr,l ehsil,
enonelh He loved sweet cider dearly, and
was unwilling to give II ups
A great deal was said TO him atuht IL
for his friends knew what a risk The It'll,
boy was running In so cherishing II lhbnghl
of this pleasant drink. The BiblS says
Look not upon the wine when il ID rel,
etc., and Grandpa Hope Often reminded
Caleb OF the verse.
"Ohi that's wine; don't care about
wine," said Caleb.
"You can't get Wine, my boy IL You
could, yoh would perhaps long fdf II as
you how do FOR the sweet CIDER When
the Bible was written people knew idlliihg
about cider, but they had plenty df tiite,
pure wine, which they were very iohd Of,
and which was snare TO them. Sd the
Lord instructed them not even to look dt IL:
II they looked they would wish for it /; if
they wished for 1t they couldn't keep their
hands of the glass; and then il would go
right 10 their lips; and as they drank II
they would betonie intoxicated or poison
ed. So you see the way to prevent all this
was not 10 iook. Sweet cider ia to our boys
and girls in this cotintty, and in these
tinesi tile same temptation and the only
safe way Ia hul TO look at it,"
II don't zee how sweet cider can do any
more harm than eating the apples,n per-
sisted Caleb. II know hard cider makes
folks drunk, but don't beleve fresh; sweet
cider does"
~ have seen boys, and even little girls,
tipsy from drinking it," said grandpa. 81
remember once my little sister came home
from visit to our dncle's and sBe acted so
queerly mother couldn't imagine what was
the matter with hsf. Her face was flush
ed, and her head athed, and she seemed
really sick' Mother put her right to bed;
and in the murning questioned her abott
what SHE had been doing the day before at
Uncle Nate; and she said she had sucked
OTIS of sweet cider through straw from a
barrel Uncle Nat had just got in his barn,
and it was real goud.' 'fhat's the mis-
chief said mother; now see: Why. our
little Mamie was drunk last night!' And
shall never forget the look on mothers
fate. That day she got us all together and
told us we must never drink cider again,
sweet OF not, rtless she gave it to us 'and
then,' said she, Il ahall know just how
much you set.'
"Bu: mother never gave us nhy, and /
knew then she didn't mean TO. / am al
ways afraid when see children hovering
round cider press iii the country with
straws In their hands, and whenever have
a chance warn them. And I warn you
now. my boyi Alcohol very soon forms in
the new cider, sand almost all new, sweet
apple:iuice which people drink and think
harmless is fermented and poisonous"
After this talk Caleb concluded he would
sign the pledge:
II can't bear to-" he said, after he had
taken the pen in his hand, II love it 80.
But will-yes will" And down went
his name on the pretty picture pledge card
grandpa had fot the ptirpose, and then he
put the card in his pocket and ran home to
tell father and mother what he had done.
And they were truly rejoiced, for they had
felt quite anxious about their boy.
More than year passed, and Caleb had
persuaded quite number Of his school,
mates to sign the pledge, too, and we
counted him good, strong temperance
boy.
One day he came Tito school in great
furry.
"I'm going down to Mr.. Carters' this
afternoon after school," said he to his little
brother Ferdinand. "Mr. Carter has got
press, and he's making cider, and the boys
are all going down to have some fun"
"Why you've signed the pledge yod
can't CO." said Nandie.
II can, too," angrily cried Caleb; ~
don't care for the pledge. Cider don't
hurt anyone"
And he went. When lie come home at
night mamma looked very sober. Nandie
Had been ID her to ask il it wasn't wicked
Cor Caleb to drink sweet cider, even II it
didn't make him drink cause he
promised, yon know, mamma"
"Where have you been O,leb7 7" she
asked when lie canie III.
The bravery Caleb had shown at noon
when talking 10 his little brother seemed
to forsake him now, and he answered in
rather low voice, trying to he indifferent
about il
"l've been over to Catter's with the
boys"
"yyhat for 2" asked mamma.
"ro get some apple-jnice," said Caleb
and then he laughed as though Ire liad
SAID something funny. "tie has lots and
lots OF apples this fall"
wonder II he thought he could deceivs
mamma. He was trying rs hard as lie
could 10 deceive HIMSELF and perhaps he
fsncied he could deceive God. But he
could not. "whereis your pledge, Calsb"
asked mauimui In Very Grave tone.
Oh, tore that up yesterday I" said
Caleb, boldly now. al don't belong to
Grandpa Hopes temperance society any
longer"
"fesrine up your card does not do
away with your pledge, my SON. said the
griesed mother. "You have broken that
solemn promise you made 10 us and to
God. shhdder 10 think what sin you
have committed"