Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1893-02-02
TEMPERANCE COLUMN.
EDITED BY JONESBoRo W.. G. T. U.
MARCUS MANNING's FIRST LESSON IN
PoLITICs.-BY MRS. A. e. sIasBEE.


1t was ON the Sunday following cleo
ton that Marcus Manning, dressed in
his first suit OF boys clothes, was walk
ing back and forth on the front porch,
impatiently waiting for the bell to
ring before he could start to Sabbath
school. In his complete new suit, with
a button hole bouquet neatly pinned
on his coat, he looked the miniature
gentlemen that he really was. Bright,
attractive and handsome, and being
the only child, his parents felt very
proud of him, So absorbed was he
about his appearance that he did not
see another boy not much bigger than
himself, who stood by the fence intent
ly watching him. Not until a voice
called, Hello! be you a crank?" did
he see that he was not alone.
What did you sayY"
II said, be you a crank?"
mo, I'm Marcus Manning. Who
are your"
"I'm Billy Denning; we live on Clark
street. Be your paw a crank"
mo, my papa is an express agent"
"Well what if he is, mebby he is a
crank anyway? My paw is a black
smith and he's a publican; and Tom
Jennings paw is a democrat and he
keeps grocery; yes, and he sells more
than tea and sugar, too, you bet" and
Billy Denning gave a knowing look,
beyond his years, which was lost on
Marcus, who was still more puzzled at
his next question:
BE your NAV a 'natic?"
"a WHAT"
"a matte; them's wear a bow of
white ribbon"
Marcus did not like to show his ig-
norance of his companions terms, SO
he adroitly turned the conversation by
asking, DO you go to Sunday schoolY'
me 60 to Sunday school? l guess
not. Why, these are all the clothes
I've got. But you bet I'd like to go if
l had clothes like you. l tell you when
the cranks git there, there1l be more
money to buy clothes and bread; cause
there won't be any whisky to buy"
Sound logic for anyone.
Now though Marcus was not initiated
as to political terms, he knew perfectly
well the truth of the last words. Only
afew weeks previous one of his papa 8
best men came very near being dis.
charged for getting drunk. He remem.
bered very well how the man came to
his papa and begged that he would not
turn him off but would give him an.
other trial-that he would try and dc
better-that his wife was sick and he
had four little children to care for.
Marcus had not forgotten how afraid
he was that his papa would refuse, fol
the same promise had been made time
and again and had failed. He knew
that his papa hated whisky but could
not tell whether he was a crank or no
he would ask him when he cam,
home.
Just then his aunty came out ready
for Sunday school. Nothing more wal
said. but the keen eyes of Billy Denninl
espied the little knot of white ribbon
and said to himself, II knew there wa,
a crank or matte somewhere about tn,
house. If l was old enough I'd be
crank, ticket all. o my! didn't tina
man say his piece well tother day? HI
said there was praying cranks ant
ticket cranks, but only the ticketcrank
hurt the saloon, and that is just wha
I'm going to be-a crank that will hur
the saloon"
"While yet a child, and children know
Instructive taught the friend and foe.
Such boys are often old beyond thei
years, and Bill D%ennings, as he wa
called, vas no exception. He had hear,
little besides politics discussed in tn,
family and in the street, for the las
month. AS he slo WHY wa ked home
wards he turned to look at Marcus will
admiration and then surveyed himsel
from head to foot. Taking off his brim
less hat, he stretched out his arms, ex
posing a coat with sleeves all out a
the elbows, pants out at the knees anC
feet bare. Then his thoughts wer
transferred to his home, and the famil
picture was wildly brought before him
He was the oldest of four children
who, with his mother were no bette
clothed. The home was destitute O
all comforts, and often they went hun
CRY to bed, glad to forget their want
in sleep.
His father made lots of money bu
most of it was spent in Preston's So
loon. How nice his (Preston's) Chi
dren looked as they rode past the othe
day in their new carriage. Billy though
of all this and again looked over hin
self and contrasted his lot with that @
the other boy, saying. II knew ther
was a crank or q matte somewher
about"
We little realize the many silent sci
mons preached by the little knot G
white ribbon and the influence it hal
Said a lady who was a delegate to tn
Y.P.S.C.E. convention at Minneapolt
a year ago last summer, to me: 81 wa
told by a gentleman that the simpl
badge worn often carried with il nows