The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-08-22
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
LITTLE JOE'S PLEDGE.
Reform Wrought in a Lumber Camp by .
standing" Up for Principle.

REFORM Wrought in a Lumber Camp by =
standing" Up for Principle,
The rain poured in torrents and the
wind blew cold as it whistled around
the little log shanty which served as a
saloon in the lumber camp
group of lumbermen drew up
around the open FIRE, and in their
midst was a bright boy of ten years
named Joe. The men always called
him "Il!n's boy" Jim Lane had been
caught in terrible storm few weeks
before, and had been frozen to death
with the good-nature often found
under rough exteriors these men had
shown the greatest kindness to little
Joe, and had tried to make him forget
his fathers death In spite of all their
Kindness Joe was often very homesiclz.
His mother lived fifty miles away, and
Joe had come with his father to spend
the winter in the camp and return in
the spring as soon as the roads became
passable
AS the men sat around the fire,
good-natured stories were told, Jokes
cracked and yarns spun. After awhile
mugs Of hot whisky punch, which one
OF the men had been mixing, were
passed around.
AT last one of the men offered Joe
drink, whereupon the boy refused and
pushing his chair back, stood up
straight and still before them.
How the men laughed at his earnest,
resolute look
What's happenin' to the boy?" said
one
'Hev cheer?" said another. But
still Joe refused to be seated
The men set their mugs of toddy
down on the table and poked fun at
Joe who remained standing and did
not speak.
Hold on there, boys, quit your fool
ing, 'nough's 'nough." said a big, burly
fellow, touched at seeing a tear glisten
in little Joe's eve. Let the little fell
Ter speak out and say what's the mat
ter"
Joe brushed the tear away. You
see, men," he said, that when l came
away from home mother told me about
how YOU sometimes drank things that
hurt you, and she made me sign the
pledge and promise not to drink liquor,
and she told me always to stand up for
my principles, and so when | saw YOU
were all going to drink l thought I'd
do as mother said, and that was why
stood up, because l was standing up
for my principles.
This little speech of Joe's was greet
ed with laughter and long applause
IT SannnI nc ~ tho 1itt1a hn 4
tumble down with the stamping and
cheering.
1t was now "Burly Ben" who brushed
away a tear. He raised his hand as
signal for the noise to stop.
Look a-here, boys" he said, that
youngsters got the right of it. I've
been torgettin' all about my mother,
but them's the very words she said to
me when l left home ten years ago.
Ben says she, I've brung you up
right, don't drink nor don't swear, but
stand up for your principles Them's
her very words"
The mugs remained untouched and
silence reigned. Ben was doing some
hard thinking and struggle was 60
ing on within; at last he spoke in
subdued tone. "'Taint easy to dos as
you'd orter do always, but I'm bound
to do the square thing if tbs hard.
Drink don't do us NO good, n I've quit.
I'm goin to stand up with Joe for my
principles, and here's my last drink. :"
Ben pushed open the door of the
shanty and threw the contents of his
mug out into the darkness and took
his stand by the side of little Joe.