The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-10-16
A cosBLER's TEMPERANCE
PLEDGE.

One hot day Old Jim Maxwell was
sitting on his bench, cobbling shoes.
That was his trade He had cobbled
shoes when he was sober for good
many years. and everyone called him
Old Jim He wasn't old, but he was
bent over and crooked from so much
cobbling. and rather shaky from too
much drink.
'Mollle. Mollie.' he called out sud
denly. come here. child" door
opened from the kitchen and small,
fair-haired girl. in a clean calico frock,
and hair neatly tied with a fresh bit
of ribbon, appeared in the doorway.
well, father she said.
Take that jug. Mollie. and go round
TO the corner saloon, and bring me
the whisky That a good girl"
Mollie went and got the jug that
stood on the table, and started down
the path TO the street She knew II
was no use 10 refuse. She had been
tapped on the head with the awl too
many times for that
BY and by she came back with the
heavy jug. put it on the bench by her
father. and started out Her little face
was red with shame and anger, and
she had been crying.
About fifteen minutes later as she
was sitting on the kitchen doorstep.
shellng peas with her mother. they
heard a great noise The wall shook
and some heavy object fell on the floor
of the shop Running In in fright.
Mrs. Maxwell saw a new sight There
upon the floor lay the broken jug, the
whisky was running over the bare
floor. while Old Jim. rather flushed
but grim and crooked as ever. was
cobbling away as If nothing had hap
pencd He looked up as she came in,
and smiled.
well, mother he said. 1--WE done
il at last. I got To thinking of YOU
and Mollc, while she was going for
the whisky and of all you've had to
bear. and how ! was bringing up that
blessed baby to shame and poverty,
and | says TO myself It's the last
time, The very last time, So | took
a good-by dram out of the jug. and
then | heayed her against the wall
with all my might But I've resolved
too many times to quit drink before
this, as you know. and broken my re-
solve. So this time | nailed it down
with an oath. Seedherc, Mary, look at
that"
Mrs, Maxwell looked at the bench
where Jim pointed.
Il took that brad" said he. and I
drove it in below the head. and took
a solemn oath that until had pulled
it out with my teeth Id never drink
another drop
Mrs, Maxwell came and laid hand
on Old Jim'S hair. and kissed him on
the forehead. which she had not dared
10 do for years.
20. Jim, If could only believe that.
was all she said, and then she left tho
room.
An hour later Old Jim was down on
his knees before the bench trying with
all his might TO get hold of that brad
with his teeth. He broke away little
SplintcrS OF the wood, he tugged and
wrestled. and fought. but it was of no
use. The brad would not give jot
Several years after. when he had
given up cobbling and moved 10 an
other town, and was known as Mr.
James Maxwell. popular and respect
cd he would sometimes tell this story
as 4 part OF temperance address, and
say:
That brad cost me front tooth
ladies' and gentlemen. but it saved my
soul" GRACE WEBSTER.
Tho Salt Lake CUtah) league dis
oussed in an open meeting the evils
of clgaret smoking. gaining 100 boy
SiSners TO petition for the passage
of an ordinance by the city council TO
prohibit smoking by boys under IS
years of age They will circulate the
petition in the schools of the city.