Year: 1870

A Lesson to Young Men--The Ashes of a


Cigar.


Some two years ago there came to Bos-
ton couple of bright young men from
an adjoining State, who had previously
been engaged to act as clerks in one of
our large dry goods houses. After a
while, but little over a year, they had
learned the ways of the city, especially
its bad ways. They were as industrious
as ever, and always on hand during busi-
ness hours. Now, to show how easily
they were at last found out, and all of
their fast life exposed, it so happened
that another gentleman who did busi-
ness in another part of the city, and who
knew the boys before they came to
Boston, and all about their circum-
stances and business connection here,
met them one evening on Washington
street, sailing along with good deal of
he'"period' about them, aud each puff
ing away at twenty-five cent cigar
They did not see Mr.. and, his
suspicious becoming aroused, he said to
himself, mo young men on their salaries
can afford to be thus eXtravagant, and
if they can't afford it then there must
be something wrong or they would not
do it, and L will therefore try, for their
good and to crafty my own curiosity,
to find out the truth of the matter. He
accordingly set himself to work at once,
With no clue to work upon at the start
save the naked fact that he had met
them in the street smoking cigars that
they could not afford TO buy. This might
seem to many to be small affair, but to
this gentleman it was key unlocking
the doors that these young men had left
open behind them and to fasten those
that were before them. He accordingly,
in as quiet way as possible, set about
looking after the welfare of these young
men, for he felt satisfied in his own mind
that they were on the road to ruin
From day to day he learned more and
more about them, ascertained their
places of resort, and in so doing found
out that their extravaganza could not
be maintained on salary twice as large
as they were getting. Here then was
was something radically wrong. The
sore was deep. It had eaten out all the
moral teachings of their early boyhood,
and unless eradicated a. once, they were
forever lost. At last he managed to get
acquainted with many of their more in
innate associates of both sexes, and all
along their tracks he left words of warn
ing that were sure to come to their ears.
All this time, however, he remained
incog., yet he had done enough to warn
those reckless young men, to let them
know that they were spotted, and unless
very circumspect they would soon be in
great trouble. Finally, after doing all
this, and in way unknown to them
getting the boys once more fairly started
on the right track and in position
where one word from him would do
more good than whole volume of fierce
reprimand, he invited them out to his
own home, entertained them handsome
ly at his table, and then told them all
he had found out about them and all he
had done to save them. This was enough.
They had already abandoned their evil
ways, but to be overtaken by such a
blow and such kindness as this was more
than they could endure, and acknOwl- |
edging him as their friend and bene-
factor, they freely confessed everything,
and, becoming honest and temperate in
all things, have to this day lived lives
of uprightness in every PARTICULAR
Boston Herald.