The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1904-01-20

The young men had made great prepIrd.
tlons for their fishing irip INTO the Indian
Territory, and their disappointment was
deep when, on the very morning they Wcre
TO STAT. the lawyer. whom they all liked.
told them he could not 60 TO make Tn,
matter worse his explanations were very
lame and unsatisfactory; it was evident ne
mad given up the trip Tor some reason
which he hesitated TO namc.
As q last resort the others went in q
body-siX of them-to his Office. and de
nanded that he tell them exactly why he
had deserted when he had been most en-
thusiastic in planning the outing.
III you're really to understand IT, he
said. Il shall have to begin with my own
bovhood. Ny father, the best father, J
think, that q boy ever had, always showed
me 4 tenderness which even as a child
knew was somewhat different from the
love which my playalates had from their
parents. 1t was not until | was perhaps
fourteen years old that he told me why ,his
was so.
Although he himself lived most expm-
plary life his father. his fathers father
and two Of his uncles had been drunkards
The taste for liquor he believed to Ue he.
reditary in our family, and in me he had
recognized many OF the traits he himself
possessed, and which had made his own
life long fight against the habit OF drink
He pointed out the danger that lay before
me, and begged Inc to give him my promise
never, under any circumstances to touch
liquor. 1t is your only safety he said.
Unless you make this resolution, and have
the strength to keep il, .he odds win be
fatally against YOU. for. like myself you
are easily influenced bv others. III |
thought that tomorrow Won were to take
your first drink, should pray to God that
you might die to-day
,'Of course | promised. lie had never
fall lspI tn n hot lt.f, -
course it made an impression on me. |
was frightened, and for several years |
kept my promise. Then | went with some
other Young fellows on an al!-day fishing
trip. While We were eating our luncheon
one oil our number, boy whom we all ad.
mired, took a bottle of whisky from his
pocket, drank from 1t and passed 1t to his
next neghbor. The bottle went round the
circle, for no one dared refuse to follow
George ReitZ's lead. When it came to me
! tried to pass 1t on without drinking, but
the others began to tease and r!dIcule me,
until from sheer cowardiCe ] took the
drink. A second and third followed. and
] began to realize that | liked the stuff and
wanted more OF it. NV fathers warning
flashed across my mind
" Ii you take one drink. You may be for
ever LOST
The rest of the day passed wrctchedly
enough and | was glad when it was time
70 start LOT nome. w men reached inc
house | found that my father, whom I had
left in good health in the morning. was
lying at the point OF death. He had had
a sudden attack OF heart disease. They
told me he was very anxious to see me
alone, and with breaking heart | entered
his room.
''He could not move and could hardly
speak, but as | took his hand and bowed
my head upon it, crying, ne smiled tender.
ly and lovingly on me- When ] grew
calmer he spoke, although the cffor, was
pitiful to witness:
" BE strong sake my sake
kiss me-
"As bent down to kiss him he noticed
the odor OF liquor i'll my breath. shall
never forget the lool. OF agony, OF despair,
in hls eyes.
MY poor-lost-boyr he sroaned, and
these were his last words.
'Since that day, God helping me, / have
never touched a drop OF liquor. But !
know my weakness. | don't dare to ex.
pose myself 10 temptation, and | never
knowingly go where liquor is to be used.
This morning, while the provision wagon
was being loaded, | saw that some one had
sent along case OF whisky. Forgive me.
bows; I'm not preaching nor finding fault
with YOU. but you see now why | cant go.
You can go and You shall go spoke up
the judge. who had provided the case of
liquor, for the whisky is going to stay
here" So the lawyer went, and 4 jolher
healthier, happier outing none OF the men
ever had.-Youth's Companion.