Year: 1870

Two boys were going down a crowded
village street. 1t was on the Fourth, !"
that glorious anniversary of our nations
Independence. Flags were waving,
bells were ringing, and cannOns were
eehoing their thunder tones from earth
to sky.


George Allen was spending the day
with his cousin Lee, who resided in the
village. He was all unused to stirring
scenes, and so he entered into the spirit
of the occasion with careless freedom
and thoughtlessness. Perhaps 1 ought
not to have said that he entered into the
spirit of the occasion, but rather into
the same spirit of reckless pleasure
which seemed to actuate most of the
young men and boys on the street
where they were. Drinking and gamb-
ling saloons were close together there !;
and the hot, sickening smell of whisky
or rum swept into their faces as they
passed half-drunken meE.


George Allen was, as l have said, but
little used to such scenes. He had seen
drunken men before, but never so many
at one time under the influence ofliquor.
| He ought to have been disguised, and
turned away from the shameful sight,
but he was just sufficiently thoughtless,
and beside himself, with a sort of crazy
don't-care feeling, that he could laugh
at every drunken speech, and ridieule
the poor, pitiful victims of the cup.
They passed saloon where liquor
was sold: it was Kept in shining glass
decanters in the wide windows, where
men would see it and be lured on to
their own destruction by its sparkle and
glitter.


Lets go in and have a drink, like
the rest of folks" said Georges cousin
stopping and looking back.


II don't care; I'd just as lief as not"
answered George, with reckless air.
Just in fun, you know"


Just in fun! An me! he had never
taken glass of intoxicating liquor in
his life, and now just IN fun, was going
to take his first step in the downward
way of drunkenness. / wonder if he
thought of what first glass might lead
to? L think not, or he would have hes
itated long time before taking it.


But they went into the saloon and
called for glass of liquor, for each. The
saloon-keeper was very polite, and the
saloon was very tastefully decorated
with pictures and fresh flowers, and
George thought that what he had heard
about such places was far from the truth,
for this seemed very nice indeed. He
did not think that the path of sin and
wickedness can be made pleasant path
20 look upon, with the thorns hidden
from sight by flowers of brightest blue.


They drank the fiery draught set be-
fore them. 1t was not very pleasant 10
their taste, yet there was something
about it that fascinated them. Just so
a serpent charms its victims, and holds
him spell-bound till too late!


"How did you like it? ?" asked Georges
cousin, as they left the saloon.


First rate,n answered George, land
mean to have some more, too. don't
believe there's any harm in taking
drink now and them"


All! but "now and then" get to be
livery often" after a little. Every
chance is improved to gratify the terri
BILE thirst after the habit gets thoroughly
formed, and it does not take long to form
the habit of intemperance.


Do you want to know what the emu
was?


Well, L will tell you! Last Sumr7er
I was i'm that same. As L was slttlngat
the window OF the hotel parlor, l saw
some men coming up the street, caify-
ing an insensible person on broken
door. On inquiry, L learned that tne
mans name was George Alien; ne nau
been drinking and got into drunken
quarrel, and was so terribly beaten and
bruised that he had to be carried from
the saloon in an iusensible condition.
Only Just of age, and so far down in the
path of destruction! / sighed when i
thought oft; aud the next day was
told that he was dead. His injuries
were more severe than was supposed at
first. and he had gone out into the Eter-
nal World in a drunken sleep!


Just in funI o boys and girls, be
carefulI Think of what the consequen-
ces may be before you act.