Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-01-26
Being a Man.

ne really nopeu u nhus Tor lnlS agony
was beyond enduring long. The worst
| of it was that he must suffer alone. His
place when he was i'll was ON his
motherless bed. but to-day lie was on
the grass under the shade Of an apple
tree. hiding from her Hs knew that
if his father were to come by and dis
cover the old brown pipe thrown aside
in his distress, he would say lie was
justly punished. and maybe punish him
in some other way besides.
The truth was, he had been trying to
learn to smoke. On his way from the
postoffiee that morning he met Pat
Mcmahon. Pat was much smaller
and a great deal older than Bonnie.
He had smoked almost from babyhood.
He had a weazen little face. and a
bold staggering manner. He had
lately added beer-drinking to the list
of his accomplishments. and would
some day make his mark in the world.
if he continued as he had begun. as a
petty VILLAIN. He was smoking this
morning when Bonnie met her.
Being a free-handed lad. as all the
boys knew. he offered Bonnie a Whit
from his old pipe. The younger boy
refused it. and, when urged. confessed
that he did not smoke. Pat laughed
at him. and said he hated a girl-boy.
and that he would never be man
until he learned to do SO; that there
were the .'makin's" of man in him
if he would bring it out; and much
/ more in the same strain. When he
had finished his few but impressive re-
marks Bonnie was convinced that the
one thing he needed to become man
was to learn to smoke. He did not
think it necessary. however for his
mother to know anything about either
the smoking or the mauliness. So,
when with many thanks he accepted
the loan of Pats pipe till he could get
one of his own. he went into the
orchard to take his first lesson alone.
He had no idea what that lesson i'm
piled, and he thought as he lay there
| that he would rather not be a man if
this was the way to become one.
When the worst of the sickness was
over and he was more reeonciled to
living he thought of what Pat had
said, and began to doubt his state
ments. His own father was true
man, and one whom the whole town
respected. yet he never smoked. Pats
/ father was hardly ever without pipe
in his mouth. vet who respected him?
| There was a mistake somewhere, and
| it must he that Pat did not know as
much as he thought he did, and who
indeed ever looked up TO Pat with
all his drinking and smoking, or con-
sidered him anything but a small
rowdy? Bennis remembered, too.
that his mother had forbidden his hay-
ing anything to do with the boy; he
was guile certain now that his mother
was right OF course she was, and as
he had never yet concealed anything
from her. he would not begin now. As
soon as he could walk L.. made his
way to the house. Sue was not in the
sitting-room, aud Bonnie. who was
still sick and very pale. went up to
her room. where she sat sewing.
''0h. my SON." she cried. as she
| caught sight of his white face. ''what
is the matterP Are you ill?
''Oh, mother, have been so sickr'
he answered. He felt very much like
crying. but for boy of ten that
would be decidedly unmanly. he
thought
."Lie on my bed there. dear; and let
me send for doctor"
She left her work and came to him.
al will lie on your bed. but doctor
will do me no good"
"Why what can be the matterP' she
asked. thoroughly alarmed as she ar
ranged the pillows. There! lie there"
Don't be so kind to me-" he al
most wept. "0h, mother. I've been
smokingp'
'.Bennier' was all she said, as she
sat down on the bed by him.
Then he told her all.
'.You see" he added, by way of ex-
cuse, "the boys do laugh so at a fellow
If he don't do anything to show that
he is a man."
sit shows that you are not a man to
mind being laughed at. she returned.
ait is only the weak who can be
ridiculed into doing wrong. The brave
man or boy does his duty without re-
gard for the opinion of the world.
The most perfect manhood is the
Christian manhood. Christ is model
of manliness He came into this
world as a child, that even children
may have an example TO follow; and.
Bonnie, he was subject unto his pa
rents He remained so until he grew
up. suppose. He thought it manly
to obey them. and wrong to dlsobey.
BY following his example you are culti-
waiting the highest manhood, and be
will give you grace to Withstand the