Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-10-26
HOW "LUCK" STRUCK HIM.

"The greatest 'luck' that ever be-
fell me, sir" said fine old farmer on
the train. "happened to me when 1
was only ten years DID,"
"And you don't mind telling about
it?" temptingly remarked the gentle
man to whom he had been talking.
'Not at all, sir" was the reply, "for
it's piece of 'luck' that might be
much more common if we'd only
more of US get in it's way"
He was square shouldered, we'll
built old gentleman, with strong face,
clear complexion, and steady yet
kindly eye. His comfortable appear
ance seemed to indicate that he had
honestly earned and wisely invested
enough to support him in ease during
his ripe old age, as we'll as to enable
him to give away much to we'll
deserving causes. He might have
sowed and reaped and saved until he
had become owner of half county.
"Not at all, sir. 1t was in this way:
81 was born and raised in Illinois,
in the days when about everybody
drank whisky or at least cider-hard
cider-and brandy. Even the preach
ers drank, mostly in moderatio n
There were few of our neighbors who
did not get drunk more or less fire.
quently. 1t was the rule rather than
the exception so to do on training
day. and elections.
"But the winter I was ten years old
it was announced in the neighbor-
hood that there was to be temper
ance meeting in our schoolhouse,
and all the children were invited to
come, with their parents, and hear
the speaker.
81 went. 1t was the year 1870
The speaker spoke to a full house
about letting all Intoxicating drinks
wholly alone. He spoke very ear.
nestly and plainly. When he came
to close he took from bis pocket
some printed cards, saying they were
pledge cards, pledging their signer:
never to drink alcoholic beverages
He said they were called Washing.
tonian Pledges
she then began passing then
around through the audience, stop
ping here and there, pleading, per
suading, for very few of the o.del
folks seemed to be inclined to joil
him in stunning the omnipresen
poison. BY and by he came to wher'
l sat, and looked down from hi
great height with deep, sad eyes at me
"'And now, my little friend, yo'
see that I have signed this card ant
, pledge; and will you not sign you
name with mine, that we will witt
Gods help keep away from all in
toxicating drinks?' He looked at mt
. tenderly, inviiingly, anxiously, an,
asked me if 1 understood what j
meant, if I thought my parents woult
object to my so doing, and if woul,
not SO join him in the pledge.
81 took the proffered pencil an
card, and wrote my name beside his
=. When had finished he took the car
and pencil in his left hand, and put
ting his great right hand gently o
my head, said: May God bless you
. my lad! May you keep this pledg
forever! And never will you b
sorry you took it,
"Well, kept it. When l grew t
be about twenty l went out on tn
Great Trail across the continent, an
opened tavern. 1t was known q
the Temperance Tavern and ha
: the curious distinct ion of being til
: only one of the kind on the Trai
:. Folks were always surprised, an
: usually mad, at finding that the
d would have to go without drinks fe
Il another day. Often they used [
x advise me to buy barrel of whisk
II and get barrel of water and mi
If them, and make big money out of j
}, But always told them that did nj
: use liquor myself, neither would
y place il in IL g way of others.
J. "Soon the war of the rebelliC
|. broke out, and I went east and Ell
: listed. went all through the wa
,f seeing how drink wrecked thousand
[. but never breaking my pledge. I'll
10 more I saw and the more I kept |
p The easier it was 10 keep, and I'll
] greater pleasure.