The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-06-27
THE BOYS COMPANIONS.

udu JuoI IcLulhCd LIOnA HIS oo' .
work, made this inquiry concerning
his five-year-old son.
Il thought he was out in front,
watching for YOU" mother replied.
Il did not see him"
He must have gone down the
street, then. | cannot keep track of
him any more. He is off every chance
he gets"
He'll be back in a few minutes"
father remarked indifferently.
Why be concerned about the child's
absence? There was no danger. The
street was quiet suburban one, with
no cars and few vehicles.
No danger? All, but John is more
than physical body. He is mind and
soul as well.
John returned just as father said
he would He had been in a neigh
boris house, and there was no harm
done
No harm? Then why did John
the house so quickly when the meal
was ended?
All, we'll, the neighbors liked him.
Of course, they did. Who could help
it? His absence had it's advantages
also, for father had time to read the
afternoon paper, and mother to do
her evening work.
Where is John?"
Five years later, father asks the
same question.
q think he went down to Ander-
sons" mother replied.
why does he go there so much?"
THE boys have built cabin in
Anderson's yard"
Which boys?"
90, the Andersons' and the Crit
f1ths' and Will Hamer and Sam Van
Leer and a few more"
Boys from the best families in the
neighborhood. No cause for alarm
here.
But come, father, and see that
cabin. Come quickly, for the mo-
ments are precious. This it is. Open
the door. Whew! What an odor of
stale tobacco smoke! Do not hest
tate on the threshold, for your boy
is part owner here.
What is that small box behind the
rafter? All, cigarettes. And these
papers, father; what are these?
Dime novels. And this little book
with no title on it's yellow cover,
which is pushed away back beneath
the other papers; what is this?
Quick, father! Have you match? ?
Burn them-the booklets, the papers,
the cigarettes, the shanty-all of
them!
But stop a bit. The nicotine pois-
oning, the lies, the false conceptions
of heroic manliness, the evil stories,
the impure thoughts, the corrupt
practices! Can you burn these things
out of your boy and leave him un-
SCARED? Can you gather them to-
gether in one hideous mass of corrup-
ton, and so utterly destroy them that
he will know them no more forever
Can you? Say, father, if you can
do this, come with the speed Of the
lightnings flash and the glory Of the
mornings light, to show us other IA
theirs how to do it.
Where is John?"
The same inquiry is made when an
other five yeors is past.
"He went down to the creek
mother answered.
''Why does he go down there sc
much?"
"They have a boat and boat
house."
"Who?'
'The Anderson and the Griffith
boys, and Will Hamer and Sam Var
Leer."
The same old crowd-boys from
the best families in the neighbor
hood. But mother, did John forge
to tell you that a few more boys ha6
Joined that company-Jack Quinn
whose father keeps the notorious sa
loon; Mike Donnelly, son of low
bred politician; and more Of tina
type? No matter. Perhaps they are
not so very different from your BIO!
after all.
"But this is Sabbath, father sud
denly remembers. Doesn't he go tt
Sabbath School any more?"
"He hasn't been there for severa
weeks"
"Why?"
ct suppose he thinks he has grown
too big"
Go after the boy, father. To thu
boathouse? Yes or to any othel
place he may be this Sabbath after