Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-04-03
WHEN OLD ENOUGH TO DRINK.
BY JOHN ALLEN b.

BY JOHN ALLEN BALL.
Nearly three-fourths of century
ago, a quiet village IN northern Yer
mont was startled by seeing posted up
at different places papers headed il
large print
EVILS OF INTEMPERANCEi"
and the astonished people read that on
such night man would lecture up
on the above subject. Such thing
had never been heard of before. Since
the origin of the village the people
had gone to the "tavern" for ram, and
this and hard cider We're found on ev-
erv table. Even 1.-THE parscn" got
rather too joyous at times, yet his good
feelings were overlooked, and he still
told of the Saviour's love.
But all were not happy here. Many
homes showed the blight resulting
from too much indulgence in drink,
and many impoverished wives and
children could easily be found yet none
seemed to see any remedy; and SO the
loul blight still remained untouched
1t was thought to be the misfortune OF
the family resulting from the fr"whs Of
Providence.
On the night of the lecture the house
vas crowded by motley mass, all
eager to hear what could be said. Hele
were tine rich ard poor, the tavern
keeper and his victim, the ret-nosed
l. 80 ri, SCYaIiI 70 rpii,
The speaker told in plain and simple
Language of his life-how as a drunk
ard he was welded TO the intoXicating
beverage, till, like a demon, it had de-
stroyed honor, pride and industry, and
made him very brute. He told OF
his once happy home, of his devoted
wife and children and then described
his downward course, till finally he
and his family were driven out as out
casts. While thus home IL SIS and friend
less, Christ in His infinite mercy touch
ed the heart of that drunkard, and lie
saw himself in all his wretchedness
and vileness; and on his knees asked
the blessed JESUS TO take away his
fiery appetite, and give him clear
heart solely and wholly devoted tt
Christ. Jesus heard and blessed him
and in time he was enabled to buy
back his old home, and now his life
wa- b'esse by IA happy family and
comfortable home.
/ will not attempt to follow thu
speaker through, but his words SAM
deeply into the peoples hearts, for al
saw in his picture of life their own tru'
condition, and when the speaker tolt
of the happy change resulting from
casting aside the drink habit, many
determined to try the same experiment
AT the close, pledge was shown
and all invited 10 sign it who wished
and many crowded forward and signet
their names. Among the number wa
a beardless, towheaied boy, but h
was crowded out and sadly returned t.
his seat. A temperance organization
was proposed and the motion carried
and as they wrote cut and arranged
the plan of organization, the boy VIII
was turned back. rose to his feet ant
sail: II move that all he allowed +
Join who are old enough TO drink"
Such manliness from boy surprised
all the people. THAT boy" SAID al
old man, sis Horace Greeley who i
printing our newspaper. l want hin
in our society, and / second the mo
ton"
The motion was carried, and youn
Greeley was invited to sign the pledg
and was made one Of the officers, aDl
became one of the most earnest work
ers in the order.
A few months before this, when Mrs
Greeley took last embrace of her no
BILE boy, she said, "Horace, if you wi
promise me never to touch any kind c
Intoxicating drink | can bear the part
ing uetter.n Mother, God helpin
me / will not only abstain from it's use
but shall do all that is i'm my powe
TO get others TO abstain from its use a.
So" replied the boy.
How molly did this tifteen-year-ol
boy keep this pledge in after years
During a busy life when men look e
upon him as the greatest writer of hi
age, he still kept his pledge, and die
temperate to the last. Temperate
men, let Horace Greely's condition c
membership be yours. 1t is easier {
take boy in tender years aud kee
him safe from this drink evil. than I
try to break him when the appetite