St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1958-06-13


win
Those glorious heights above.
You, who believe you are beaten,
take heart,
Look for the sign on the hill,
Climb out of the valley of II Don't
Care"
And change that II Can't" to Il
VIII"
From Along The Way" Book
Of Poems, published by Alice Con-
ner Harness, Unknown.
Tom was a newspaper boy sell
ing papers on the streets Of a
great western city. Although only
IA years old he was so tall he
was thought to be much older by
everyone.
When asked by an older boy
why didn't he grow up and smoke
like the rest of the boys, Tom
told him his parents would not
like it. Jack told him he was tied
TO his mothers apron strings and
tossed him a "cigaret". OF course
Tom smoked it and liked it.
He went home and as soon as
he was inside, his mother wanted
to know where he got the cigarets.
OF course he said he hadn't been
smoking. Had he told the truth
and showed that package to his
father all of those lost black years
may never have been.
His father would not be in town
for several days so, since she had
not seen any signs of smoking by
Tom, his mother had warned him
il they ever heard he was smoking
he would have TO give up his paper
route.
Like lightning, Tom became
I'm. As soon as the Doctor came
he gave the boy one look ant
asked. where are they?" Ton
was so sick, he said his cigaret:
were in his pants pockets. one
glance told the Doctor Tom wa:
smoking marijuana Telling Mrs
Smith to get him something from
another room he asked Tom WHIT
sold him those cigarets. Tom sale
a man came TO their high schoo
and gave them TO all OF the kid
who would take them. All tn
kids had to do was promise eth
man" not to tell he gave then
the Gigs" Later. they had t
bring others there and the friend
, bought from Jack, the agent.
SO far, not one Of the boys no
girls knew they were smoking
marijuana. Tom, being only IA, ha,
been stricken, The police went I
the school and were able to cate
the man with enough narcotics {
T ruin the whole group Of schoc
I children. They took all Of tn
BOYS and girls down town VIII
!. were caught at the school buyin
d the cigarets.
/ The town was shocked but IN
parents were happy to know III
h narcotic agent had been caugh
5 What they had to realize wa
the fact that several Of the chi
e dren were already sddicts. Toi
: was sent away and when he cam
n back home he was pronounce
e cured.
But he was never cured. b
ing so young, the drug had affec
ed his brain and for several yesl
N he lived in a dream world OF h
own. Then his mind broke and u
y day he tried to kin his mother,
"A had 10 be sent away.
Before he was ~ he died, new
- regaining his lost mind. The ma
cotics agent is in prison, Soon
win be out. II makes you wond'
what kind Of a man would ri
the lives OF innocent young DO,
and girls,
Toms mother is a very sad al
lonely woman. She feels there
not much left in life for her, b.
her friends are trying to che,
her up and make life as pleasai
for her as they can.
For a time Il seemed as thoul
she didn't care whether she hv
or not but now she says she h
PRAYED that she be given q
strength and courage TO take l
her life and begin over again, s.
realized her son Is gone and IN
nfe must 80 on for those left b
hind,
Why is Il most children will n
listen to their parents'
life itself can't give me JOY
Unless I really viii H.
IIfe Just gives me time and spac
! rs up 20 me 20 I'm u,