Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1888-05-10

Ire lesson n1O Deon on temperance
end had explained the law as to SELL
ing liquor to minors. to the children.
l did not teach this abstractly. but by
questioning drew out from the little
ones what they could do for mamma.
They told me they could wash dishes.
black shoes. sew on buttons. run er-
rands. etc. Then came questions as
to the errands they attended to. and
side teaching on the fault of lettering.
Of which the mothers complain so
much. To keep the attention. one boy
and another was called to the board to
write in different colored chalks what
children could '.go for" At last to
my great satisfaction. one little fellow
wrote beer How the children 3
faces showed their sense of shame!
But having talked of the butter and
molasses, of the use of arnica and the
necessity of keeping ipecac on hand if
baby is croupy. it was quite natural to
begin on this item: is this good
thing to get for mother? IS it food or
medicine? What shall we call it?
Drink? So is tea or coffee. water or
milk; but this is not like any of them"
drew from the children The effect
of beer. and then told them now sorry
good men were to see this poison taken
by their friends and neighbors. telling
them of the law which forbids the
liquor dealers to sell even beer to chill
dren. Was it right to break the law
of the land, even if mother told you
to? No; you should say kindly: Il
can't bring beer, mother, but I'll go
for any thing except liquor and then
be very careful to obey every other
wish of father or mother.
A certain little boy named Willy sat
in the second row. A boy of eight.
but so stunted by want and exposure
that he did not look over six. He
listened and, as events proved re-
solved that he would buy no more
beer. On Monday. at noon. according
to her usual custom. WHY'S mother
said: Take the can and get a quart
O. beer, and stop in for Mrs. Flynn
cam"
Il mustn't go for beer, mother"
said Willy.
The mother. a big burly Irish
woman, turned on tho child with a
startling: Whats that you're
sayin'?'
Il mustn't 60 for beer. Mrs.
H says its agin the law; I'm too
little. and -"
"Ye just take the can and mind ne;
Mrs. H be -'
II can't. Let me get a quar-: Of
nice milk. Mrs. H says"
"Shut up. ye little divil." and the
mothers hand struck the child full in
the face. then snatching up the can she
started for her own beer. But IN her
temper she stepped hastily and tripped.
falling heavily part way down the
stairs. wrenching her ankle so that she
could only hobble back to the room
and seat herself in the big rocking
chair. Willy bathed the swollen ankle.
got the dinner for the little ones, and
waited sweetly and patiently on the
angry woman. On her husbands re-
turn she told him her grievance.
"And the boys right" said the
man. Its a shame to send him. and
the beer does We no good. Mary, nor
me either. Don't let's be cross with
him or the teacher. Do you mind how
she helped us when l was out of work.
and what trouble she took to get the
young ones to the country? No, no.
she's doing the children good. not
harm"
For a week the mother was fast
bound to her chair. On Wednesday.
happening to pass that way. called
to see if Willy was at school. for these
poor mothers need to be constantly
kept up to sense of the Importance
of steady attendance at day school. l
found the boy polishing the stove.
while the mother peeled potatoes. and
she herself told me of his refusal, her
anger. her husbands words, and
WHY'S patient, faithful attention to
the household duties boy naturally
dislikes.
"Thcre's not been drop o beer in
the house since Sunday" she said,
land my man was saying that if you'd
like it, we might as wei! sign the pledge
with Willy. and kape from it altogeth-
er. Truly "a little child shall lead
them" Hope Ledyard, in Union Sig