The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1892-09-15
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
FETTEREO WINGS.
An Imperfect Life Saved by . Chu&l's
PrDttlc. ,

~'ANAA ~~SA S"SVOAos opACyz pAuA0 1Au
southernwood, sweet Williams and
balm perfumed the air for rods around.
At each end of the high steps grew
huge punches of dark blue larkspur
covered with great, buzzing, pollen
coated bees.
Two little girls came tripping
through the hall and out at the door.
Brown-haired Bessie's checks glowed
pinSer than ever with the heat and
pleasure of whole days visit with
Libbie, who lived at grandpa's all the,
time. A great contrast these little
cousins presented; but they were de-
voted friends, and Libbie's somewhat
reckless spirits were often tempered by
Bessie's more quiet thoughtfu.ness.
just now they were brimful of delight
full plans for the day. Each had a wide
mouthed bottle and an old iron spoon.
''You stay ut one end of the steps and
Ill 60 to the other" whispered Libbie,
land Well soon catch one.'
What could they be after! The
bees? Yes; each little girl was intent
upon capturing one of those big, vel.
low-banded honey seekers. First,
SAOJ Pun q 1C" AAO"cIS III tNc1T OOCCleS,
then, watching until, in his hunt for
honey, a big fellow had disappeared
within a flower, they held the mouth of
the bottle ready, and the spoon deity
applied sent him into his prison where
he set up tremendous buzzing in
futile efforts to get out
Holding the spoons snugly over the
bottles, the little girls sat down on tn.
steps to enjoy a good look at their pris-
oners, and discover, if possible, show
they got honey" But the bees were
very perverse and seemed to have but
the one idea of how to get away.
''Why, said Libbie, "he acts just like
drunken man stumbling along and
falling over; his wings don't seem to do
him mite of good"
''Oh!" said Bessie, with frightened
look coming into her face. ''that re-
minds me of something to tell you
something awful! Dan Beckett hung
himself last night in his mothers
barn.
Libbie uttered a little scream, and
the two children edged nearer together
as the awfulness of that act took form
in their quick i,naginations. Bees and
bottles We're forgotten as Bessie tried
to tell what she knew of the dreadful
story.
Papa said it happened just before
he came by the house on his way home
from market, and that Dams poor old
mother was crying and telling the peo-
pie how good her boy always was to
her. And papa said if Dan could have
let the drink alone he would have been
a good man. l suppose he got 'scour-
aged trying" continued Bessie. STUN
ing little over the long word.
HE was ever SO good to poor folks
and little children, and was real funny
and pleasant. Sometimes I've heard
him singing nice songs when he went
by our house on his way to work. My
papa said the poor fellow couldn't get
past saloon, noway, and that Dan
said once he should be happy man if
there wasn't a saloon to be found Oh.
l wish there wasn't one in the whole
vorld!'
IL wish that God would send His
lightning right out of the sky and tear
'em all to pieces!' burst forth the ex-
cited Libbie.
''And that every bit of money the
saloonkeepers get Tor their whisky
would turn into great humble bees and
sting EN- just awful!" added Bcss, with
tears falling over her hot cheeks.
Then, reminded OF their happy occu-
patton, the little girls turne q to the
forgotten bottles and found that the
nrIS0nnrc had MI
their wings again to some purpose
Somehow the children dimly real
lied the incongruity of the brightness
of the sweet old garden with the dark
story just related, and could not con-
tinue their play just then, so, with one
accord, they sought the loving arms of
dear grandma, who would be sure to
soothe and cheer the troubled little
hearts. Gleeful laughs from the cool
back kitchen soon showed how we'll she
had succeeded.
tarily in the heart of child. Not SO
with those of mature years, and young
man, resting on a lounge in the dark
upper hall, found it impossible for many
days to shake off the depression caused
by Bessie's sad story. At first he had
listened in quiet enjoyment of the chill
dren's unique play and talk-they never
dreaming that jolly Uncle Ray was so
near but the shocking story had
reached his ear with startling distinct
ness and power.
He sprang to his feet horror-stricken.
Through his mind swept swift memories
OF Dan Becket's careless, idle boyhood,
when he had known him we'll: the
weak-willed young man; his love for
liquor and spasmodic efforts to combat
it for the old mothers sake; the fitful
CLEANS of a nobler nature-all these
passed in review through Rays mind.
With groan he realized the utter
ruin of anothers life and the desolated
heart OF feeble old mother. Then
visions of his own life-path came be-
fore his eyes. He had to confess that
it was downward one, and growing
more dangerous. Few as yet suspected
it-least of all, his honored parents.
But it was true that their sailor son
had learned to love the social glass.
and more than once, when in some dis
tant port, had drunk until almost over
come.
His wings don't seem to do him a
mite of good" echoed in his ears. God
was using an innocent child's playful
words to bring an imperiled soul to
sense of its danger. Ensnared by a
bottle! But the bees had escaped and
SO would he. The struggle with him
self had begun and must go on.
Pacing back and forth in the dim 81
lence Raymond Lane vowed, then and
there, with Gods help, never to touch
the accursed drink again.
Right here we will say that he never
did. The wings of purpose, enfeebled
by desire, grew strong and uplifting
once more, and as the years went on
the young man mounted, with unfail-
ing vigor, higher and higher in the path
OF purity and noble enceavor.
AS tired little Bess said goodnight to
her mamma, she added: ooh. I foroo+