The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-01-19
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
A SHOT THAT COUNTED.
The Happy Termination of a New Years
Hunting Expedition.

: And steady your nerves, so that you
can hit something when you fire gain,
Gunner!"
Those were few of the teasing
words which some of the Starrett Is
land boys shouted to Nathan Hurst.
1t was New Years, and the anniver-
sary of his mothers death. He had
felt all the morning that it was the
lonleiest day which had ever dawned
upon him.
The boys had noticed his sad look.
They thought that he might be temp
ted to taste the liquor they offered
him.
His father couldn't stand the smell
of it when he was provoked or lone
some" one of the fellows had whis-
pered. He'd clutch at it like a mad
man"
But Nathan did not reach out his
hand toward the bottle. He looked
on toward the graveyard. That view
also took in the lonesome house where
he had lived with his Uncle Dan since
his father had gone away and never
been heard from; his mother buried on
the hill, his uncle waiting to scold
him, the boys determined to annoy
him all the day. What should he do?
His heart ached. But he did not once
offer TO touch the poisonous stuff which
one of the boys held out to him again.
II would not taste that though l
could not hear word and had two
crooked knees and knew it would
make me we'll" That was what
Nathan said firmly but kindly, and
then went limping down to the beach.
But not so fast but that Link Hutton
shouted after him: You'd make fine
preacher. Nobody'd need an ear
trumpet when you spoke. Only you'd
have to aim your sermons better than
you do your gun"
Gunner" another lad called shrilly.
The fellows all laughed. Slow to
he ar, lame, and so nervous that his at
tempts to shoot sea fowl usually ended
in failure, they felt that they were far
superior to him.
But while they hurried into the fish
house to have "a good New Years
time" with the liquor, Nathan launched
his old dory. He had carried his gun
to the shore with him and now laid it
carefully in the bow of the boat.
The wind howled and the cold fog
blew in from the sea- But Nathan did
not seem to heed either as he rowed
away towards the South lodges.
Only once did he stop and rest upon
his oars. That was when these swift
thoughts flashed through his mind:
1.-The ducks often swim close into shore
in a day like this. If / was just care
full, and kept from getting nervous l
1 might go back with more of them
than any of the boys ever killed at one
time"
But another thought followed these:
Your mother never felt like that to-
wards anyone who had wronged her."
With that remembrance he checked
his bitter feelings and rowed on.
But he landed on the South lodges.
When he had crept carefully over to
their leeward side he saw two sea
ducks. Both of them were large.
They were swimming nearer to the
rocks all the time. When they dove a
few times more he felt sure that they
would be within easy range of his CUR.
And Uncle Dan, who was so lame with
rheumatism, had been wishing for
duck for the last two days. Indeed, he
had said to Nathan more than once:
IF you were smart and bright you'd
shoot me one. But it's no use to send
you. You couldn't hit fowl right at
the muzzle of your gun"
What was that that Uncle Dan had
a L., L. L.
lonesome house that very day?
You'd better bring me back duck
for a New Years present"
How that had hurt him. But his
mothers dying words had Gained him
as the remembrance of them had when
he was rowing out to the lodges.
Nathan" she had said, ''you must
never forget that Christ came to the
world for those who hated and de-
spisel Him. You will love him. If any
should speak harshly to you, am sure
that you would try and do all that you
could for them in the true Christian
spirit"
He ought, then, to get the ducks for
Uncle Dan and the boys. But suppose
he fired and missed them? Wouldn't
the shot be heard by the boys?
Wouldn't they watch until he got back
and shout his old nickname? Yes, he
was sure of all this. He seemed TO
hear the rocks echoing: Gunner
But he aimed, and fred. The ducks
struggled on the water for a moment
and then dove as though they were not
badly hurt And then a cry from sea-
ward. Was that some one shouting:
'Guuner?" He bravely looked. The
fog lifted, and there was a spar with
some one dashed to it tossed on the
crest of the wave. The boy limped
over the rocks, launched his dory, and
saved the man at the peril of his life.
When he rowed into the harbor the
boys saw him coming. Nathan knew
how they thronged to the edge of the
beach. He expected to hear their
shrill taunts about his New Years
shot. But ne rowed bravely on. The
happy light in his face frightened all
the time.
They're waving their caps. be-
lieve they know me, Nathan" said the
rescued man in the stern of the dory.
When the boy looked around he
couldn't help hearing their cheer:
"Hurrah for Nathan and his fatherr'