Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-10-25
TEMPERANCE.
Dorothy's Crusade How II Opened Her
Fathers Eyes TO the Evils Of Cider making.

VdlueT Eyes " tUe 6VtS VI NtuSt WoA"S'
Mamma, was it right for lot of
ladies to go into saloons and pray and
break up whisky barrels and beer kegs,
as they did in the crusader" asked
Dorothy Lyons. anxiously.
They thought they were doing
right, my dear; they were Christian
women" answered Mrs. Lyons.
But the whisky and beer belonged
to the saloon keepers, didn't they?"
Yes, Dorothy, but they were used
only to make drunkards and paupers of
| men, so those brave women were de-
termined that no more of it should be
sold to ruin their husbands and sons.
They believed it right to destroy it,
just as much so as to kill rattlesnakes
that had been turned loose in COM
munity," Mrs. Lyons explained, glad 20
have her little daughter SO much in
terested.
Bessie Ayers father and brothers
get drunk all the time on cider that
they buy from papa; Bessie says SO.
And she says plenty of other people do.
too. Don't you think papa ought to
be crusaded, then, the same as the
saloonkeepers
II don't know, dear have never
thought about it. 1t certainly is wrong
for papa to make cider. but 1 can't
coax him to quit ala
why not. mamma? Doesn't he
know it is wrong?"
I'm afraid not. Dorothy, or lie
wouldn't go on making it. He says he
must have the money he gets for the
cider and that it is perfectly harmless
if people do not drink too much of it.
L feel very sorry and very much
ashamed, but 1 cannot help it," Mrs.
Lyons said, sadly.
What made those ladies think IF
going out crusading, mammal"
Il suppose God put it into their
hearts, dear"
Then it isn't wrong to do what God
puts it into our hearts to do?" ques-
| toned Dorothy, eagerly.
Not if we are sure God really wants
| US to do it to make people better |
think your kitten must be hungry.
dear. She news SO pitifully you ought
to feed her."
Dorothy obeyed and no more was
said about the crusade.
A week later Mr.. Lyons came home
from the field where he was blowing.
after a piece of leather to mend some
broken harness.
AS he entered the barnyard he was
surprised to see dozen or more little
girls hurrying into the barn.
They are up to some of their mon
key tricks. l suppose: going to play
school, like enough, for Dorothy has :.
book" he said to himself
He was very fond of children, and he
followed them quietly, curious to see
what they were going to do.
The little girls had surrounded the
old cider press, and Dorothy was maxi
ing sort of speech.
1T is wrong for people to get drunk,
and it is wicked for my papa to make
cider and sell it, because it makes peo-
pie just as drunk as whisky or beer
And mamma and Tom and 1 are 50
ashamed of papa, and so sorry, because
we know God doesn't love drunkard-
makers any more than He does drunk
ards. That's the reason 7 want all of
us to crusade him, and make him be-
have himself So We'll just go to
work and break up the cider press
then he can't make any more cider.
That's the way lot of good ladies did
to the saloon keepers one time, only
they smashed up whisky barrels AMI
beer kegs. instead of cider presses.
But guess We'll have to get Tom to
do the breaking, because we are not
strong enough, and we might cut our
toes off, and Tom won't, because he's
boy and knows how.
A.. 1~f%
We're most ready. only l have to read
the one hundred and twenty-third and one
hundred and fOrty-sixth Psalms first.
Those are the ones they always read
when they go crusading. Then Bessie will
pray, because she's had the most troubles
and whippings when her papa gets drunk
on my papa's cider. Hurry up. Tom"
So Tom came down the ladder. Dorothy
read the Psalms. and Bessie. though lit
tie embarrassed. said: Let us pray"
Dear God. we know you love little
children and don't want them to have
troubles. And we know you don want
Mr.. Lyons to make any more cider for
my papa and Hal and Charlie to get
drunk on. besides Will Wood and Harlow
Eaton and Mr.. Davis. And, dear Father
please make Mr.. Lyons be good and don t
let him whip Tom and Dorothy for help
ing to crusade him.
And mamma cries most all the time |
about papa and the boys, and my shoes |
are all wored out, and l can't get new
ones. cause papa and the boys are drunk
so much and won't work for money to
buy things with.
And dear Father, we all wish there |
wasn't any cider in the world: and that
folks would can the apples or dry them |
or make jelly of all they can't eat raw.
or fed them to the pigs. And now help us
to crusade Mr.. Lyons cider press. cause
Toms going to split it all into splinters
Amen,''
The children arose from their knees So