The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-03-15
A SHORT STORY-wITH A MORAL

The following sketch. written for G
1. Lodge paper, was sent TO the Journal
for publication.
Some ten years since there lived in
the town of b. two young men of about
sixteen years of age of the names Of
John and James. of good steady habits
and good moral character, About that
time temperance lecturer came to the
place and had meeting at the school
house. At the close of the discourse he
invited those present ho were desirOue
to meet the next evening to organize a
Lodge Of Food Templars to rise. A good
ly numbtr having risen meeting was
appointed. John was there but James
was not, a Lodge was organized will
John as member. The next day John
met James and inquired why he was no'
at the meeting He said they were too
particular. As to hbstaining from drink
ing ardent spirits that was all right, bu
to undertake to keep folks from drink
ing cider that was all nonsense. New
cider would not hurt any one. He liked
1t and his father made it and he should
drink 1t, John reasoned with him a.
best he could but to no effect. The
Lodge prospered with John very prom
inent and active member,
About two years later, Johns father
consented that he might leave home to
seek for business on his own account
He took from the lodge his certificate OF
membership and left home and arrived
at the village of NJ, near night and put
up at the public house, Early in the
evening some men called there and
spoke of going to the lodge that night,
John found opportunity to give to one
Of them the Good Templar sign of re-
cognitlon which was responded to and
John was invited to go withr them to
the lodge. He went Some of the bus
ness men of the place were present, and
J as John was stranger he was taken
notice of by the members, The next
morning John went oUt 10 look for bust
ness. He called first at large grocery
establishment. He was pleased to notice
in the proprietor one who was present al
the lodge last evening lie approached
him and calling his attention said he
was stranger seeking employment.
The proprietor on noticing him said:
you are the stranger that was in the
lodge last evening, are you noE He
answered, am sir, and produced his
certificate of membership. MIR. b., the
proprietor, said, feel it my duty as a
Good Templar to assist you in finding
business. | have all the help need now
about my premises. But | have man
named Smith with my team delivering
goods that | don't care much to keep
He spends his leisure in drinking houses
and is himself one of the customers,
You may come here for this week al
least and in that time | will find you a
place somewhere, At the end of the
week Smith was discharged and John
was put in his place. In less than year
John was taken into the store, and he Is
now partner in the firm in a profitable
business and has married the proprietor +
daughter, and he credits his good sue
cess to being Good Templar.
But return TO James with sorrow.
He, from drinking new cider, became a
habjtuaI driRker Of old, and this con-
tracted desire for stronger drink, and
he spends his leisure and some more at
drinking houses TIL very late hours with
disreputable company and many times
Is seen reeling home to a broken hearted
wife. He never meant to bt a drunkard
but he loved new cider and It led to his
ruin and the ruin of those connected
with him. / desire all young men to
follow the fortunes Of those young men
and with much care decide which
they will follow,