The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1909-07-17
Talked Politics With Him.

This was true in political questions.
lie was an old time Webster. whig. and
Q constant reader Of the Kennebee
journal, the Boston Journal and the
New York Tribune, and hence. though
uneducated, he was an intelligent man
upon the political questions of tho
times and when | was fifteen years old
we discussed together the speeches and
editorials in those papers. He very frs.
quently argued with me and we were
students together Of the political ques.
tions, and ! NJ quite sure that Ia my
teens ! was better informed upon com.
mon political questions than have been
since. All the arguments pro and con
upon the Missouri Compromise we're
upon my tongues end. ! could quote
Webster and Clay and the 9th f.. This
was not only his method upon political
questions, but upon all questions, aud |
now realize II was his leadership in
making me think and reason for myself.
A Wise Neighbor.
The second man, who though he did
not realize II, hal n wonderful influence
over my %boyhood, wa a Mr.. John Wood.
bury, Il man very unlike my father, but
of hne natural ability, q leading poll.
'ieian In the town and Of great influence.
lie Was almost constantly in town onice
and a very frequent visitor at our home
as he and father were associated quite
often as selectmen. lie was informed
AS few men were IN politics Of the state,
and though ! was but = lad, he would
talk with me almos, by tho hour upon
the questions Of the day, and while
looked up to him as Of superior intel.
ligence, ] always felt after converting
with him that ! was Il man. lie was q
gentleman and seemed 70 honor me -
he did father.
A Good Deacon.
The other man was { deacon In the
church. lie was not q politician, bat
II very intelligent religious man, aud he
talked with me IN with an equal, There
wal none Of the p%atronising name IS
to say 40 You are only a religious aid and
will know more some time, +" but he con.
versed with me rs no would with my
father, upon the great questions, aud
though there was no fiattery about him
he made me feel like n christian man.
Ito always said an encouraging word,
and when | said M important truth he
wanted to talk II over ~ though | was
an adult like himself. Thus these three
men had q tendency 10 wake up what
little Of manhood there war In mo.
We're they not right Had they not one
Of the secrets Of helping boysi In.
talleetually they put their arms around
the lad and said let us take a walk to.
gCther. There IL much said and done
about boys clubs, and II IL alright, but
every home shonld be q boys club Ia
which the father should take his sous
into eompanionship. Mon boys like
TO be treated as men. Take the boys
with you to political conventions and
other meetings, DO not fear they will
not be Interested or will not understand.
You will not only help them but they
will help you. Hut let the boys alone
or treat them a. they were only Kids
lot them drift m though when they are
M lar . - men, will be soon enough
to interest them In many questions, aud
they will drift away with the other
boys out and down, After all the
keeping Of the boys must be in the
home and with the father.