The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1890-02-27

~ By the cursed cMp-hfe's poisonous ban.
Two wrecks! one sinks mid tears and prayers,
But how the useless ships wreck fares
No mortal knows no mortal cares.
S -Ars NJ. A. Kidder, in National Temperance
= Advocate.
SOMETHING WAS DONE.
The Boys Temperance soeisty-cutting
the Dragons Claws.
II wish something could be DONE"
said Willy Westcott~
$50 do r. sobbcd his thin-faced,
weary mother, wiping her eyes.
The two stood at q shabby old window,
side by side, watching a shabby man
crawling down the street tow1Qd the
saloon kept by Simon Perry. The boys
called him 'Old Claws" In the win
dow of his rum-shop, besides the black
bottles, there was heap Of hsh-hooks,
an article he sold to fishermen, and
which suggested the claws Of the dragon
Drink" protruding in al directions,
and ready to fasten on any victim. 2:
"Wish I was man! I'd see, mother,
If couldn't shut up Old Claws, where
father goes,' exclaimed Willy.
"Wfsh you were," said his mother.
He was silent . moment
'Mother! he soon broke out again.
"Why can't boy do something? They
say every body has the right of petition.
Why haven't boys that right?" His blue
eyes flashed, he threw back his head,
and in manly fashion talked away:
"Why haven't boys the right of petit
tion7 1guess we can do something if
we start out for it. Now, mother,
mean to lay it before our Boys Temper
ance Society this afternoon. Not fell
low but will help, know"
The Temperance society met in the
barn-chamber of its president, Manning
Randall, q boy with big head and
philanthropic face.
'Gentlemen will please come to order.
and the secretary read the report of last
meeting"
Nahum Brown, boy wearing eye
glasses, read the report, which was an
proved.
ANY gentleman have any business
to bring before the meeting?" shouted
Manning.
The society for lack of something to
do had almost died. There was pause.
Suddenly Willy Westcott sprang upon
his feet. The drunkard's son blushed
and his tongue hitched, but he spoke
his piece: "Mr. President-couldn't we
boys-hand in petition-to the select
men-to stop-rum-selling?"
He sat down. The consciousness that
his father was victim of the saloons
brought those blushing cheeks and that
stammering tongue.
"Mr. PRESIDENT"
Every boy turned toward the speaker.
1t was Jimmy Harmon. short boy with
black, curly hair, and a lisping but
ready tongue. The boys used to say he
would surely go to Congress-. "Mr.
Prethident, 60 for that. Boyth ought
to be heard. Why thouldn't boyth pe-
tition? Haven't they righth? L thay
leth put thith thing through" When
he said Through he screamed it out
as If from the top of ladder. EVERY
body will be on our thide-motht every
body. Old Clawths won't I thay let
nth cut hith clawth for him."
The society furiously applauded.
Nahum Brown rose. He had 4
learned way of speaking. "Mr. Presi-
dent. l am more than ever convinced
that my friend, Mr.. James Harmon,
will 60 to Congress. What has been
proposed is in my opinion a very good
good-thing-I mean measure. Do
understand that my friend, Mr.. Har-
mon, makes motion?"
'That it'll what l mean, right off, and
the thooner the BETTER" said Jimmy,
his face redder than ever
II second the motion, Mr.. President"
said the secretary
The big-headed president now rose to
put the motion, and then declared it
carried. Besides the boy that made the
motion and the one that seconded it,
there was one other boy, Willy West
cott- to vote upon it. So nigh unto
death had this society come!-a fate sure
to overtake all do-nothing bodies.
This society, though, saved itself Just
in time. and as it circulated its petition
an energy was developed that augured
most hopefully for the future. The
meetings were we'll attended. The mem
bership grew. Indeed, every thing
grows when any organization goes to
work. Muscles always shrink when we
do not use them. So the Boys Temper
ance Society grew as the petition grew.
Some of the old folks wanted to sign tho
petition. The girls, always ready for
good works, wished to help. Wise
heads, though, said: "Let it be q boys
affair."" and before the selectmen
marched as wide-awake. enthusiastic
set Of young masculines as ever was
raised between the two poles of the
earth.
''Tut-tut!' said Old Claws, when he
saw the boys fling into the selectmen's
room. ''Those young fee-nat-icks T.
really goin' to put that thing through?
Guess I'll 80 over to say . word agin
EN-" 80
So the dragon freshly sharpened his
claws and went over to the fight. Some
body else went from the den of the old
beast. That was John Westcott, Willy's
father: He hardly knew why he went.
Perhaps he was curious. Perhaps he
followed the dragon just because he was
one of his victims. 49, =:
The se1ectmen, three in number, o.
cupied their usual seats. There was
Simon Stone, . man, that had no con-
science. There was John Knapp, who
had conscience, but it had gone to
sleep over the rum-traffic. There was
Henry Noble, whose conscience was
awake. Simon Stone called him u
thorn in the flesh" T. -. ~- i
: Eyes. sir; l mean to be-" said the
hater of the dragon. ~ .>s.:... ..,.-. j. 8,
80 mr.: Chairman" said big-headed Man.
ming Randall, addressing Simon Stone,
I'VE boys would like to hand in . petit
ton asking you to enforce tho law and
shut nm the RIM .ahona :, -. < - r.E.-