Suwannee Democrat. (Live Oak, Fla.) 1897-current, 1909-04-02

and then one Of them called; -Siand
him up on the table
up with you cried two Of ne
strongest boys, as they seized Ten.
and, unable to resist, be vas forced
to mount the table. With a erimgou
face and something suspici0usly lie
tears in his eyes, he faced BIS ter
mentors.
1 can't, boys he faltered 4
can't talk to you"
More shame to you. then. iof
spelling our fun, groWled one Of ne
boys. Come, you needn't thiuk
we'll let you OF. If you went drink
beer you shall give US some good rsa-
son for not drinking 1t. That's only
fair. Come, be quick and begin.
Tom Hidden waited a moment
! Once or twice he swallowed hard. az
/ he breathed fast. Suddenly be threw
back his head and Strengthened him
self.
Boys he said, in a clear voice,
Il will tell you a story-a true story
"a story that belongs to my owa
life.
All right, said Frank Jones. but
something in Toms face made the
other boys watch him in silence.
Boys Tom went on, in a tender.
I pathetic voice, Il knew a little boy
/ once VINO had a beautiful home. He
had a kind father and mother, and
he loved them so much hat he could
never tell which he loved best Boys,
that little boys father had always
been a good man; but once, when he
wasn't well, the doctor ordered him
to drink beer, and he began to drink
il, and" Toms voice was thrill
ing in its emphasis now-"he soon
began to drink stronger things; and
there came a time when that little
boys home was so chlnged from the
lovely place it once was that Il
seemed as if a fend must live there.
That little boy heard his father rave
and curse like ma6man-and he
was mad, for rum made him so-and
he saw-oh, boys, to his dying hour
he will remember it-he saw his
mother struck down by his drunken
fathers hand.
There was a dead silence in that
little room. The beer had ceased to
foam, but not boy had tasted It, or
noticed it.
Boys, " Toms thrilling voice went
on, that little boy is a large boy now,
and he is almost alone in the world,
for his father and mother are both
dead, and now he has 70 home. Do
you wonderland no boy who
heard it ever forgot the pathos OF
Toms tOne-4dO you wonder, boys,
that standing by his mothers grave
that boy looked up to Heaven. and
solemnly vowed never while he lived,
to touch or taste the drink that had
made a mailman Of his father, ruined
his home. and broken his mothers
heart"
Tom ceased, and for a moment not
a boy stirred.
You will let me 90, now" he
said, as ne jumped down from his
high place, and started for the door:
and then with one impetuous rush
the boys gathered around him.
tom, Frank Jones said, you are
a hero. Why, l think you are drawer /
than a soldier. I am proud OF you,
and l would do Just like you Il I
were in your place. The BOY
stopped; new thought had come % /
him. He looked around on bis COM /
paniOns.
Boys" he said earnestly. -U|
seems to me that what | would DO x I
l were in Toms place, had better
do now in my own place
Perhaps the head master Of 81 F.
BudOlphs was never in his long ufa I
more happily surprised than be- vac T
that evening, when six Of his o,1 q F.
and most influential boys call. pa
him and asked to sign the terger- I
once pledge.
Years have passed since that even.
Ing, and to-day those BOYS are ma.
ture men and widely parted: but they
have never forgotten Toms story.
and through all the trials and temp
tatiOn Of manhood, with Gods helm.
they have kept their pledse.-Clr.s.
tan Work and Evangelist. /
PAYMENT in Kind