Year: 1870




young man, or rather boy. for he was
not seventeen years of age, was a clerk
in one of the great mercantile establish
ments of New York. An orphan and
poor he must rise, if he rose at all, by his
own exertions. His handsome, honest
face, and free, cordial manner, won for
him the friendship of all his fellow labor
ers, and many We're the invitations he re-
celved to join them in the clubroom, in the
theatre, and even in the bar-room. but
Alfred Harris had the pure teachings OF
Christian mother to withhold him from
rushing headlong into dissipation and vice,
and all the persuasions of hiscomrades could
not induce him to join them in scenes like
this. lie feared the consequences.


One evening, one Of his fellow clerks,
George w arren the most high-toned and
moral one among them, invited Alfred to
go home with him to supper and make the
acquaintance of his family The boy
gladly assented, for he spent many lone
ly evenings, with only his books and his
thoughts for company.


| He found his friends family very social
and entertaining. Mrs. Warren the mother,
was pleasant, winning, might almost
say fascinating woman one of the kind
whose every little speech seems of conse-
quence, and whose every act praiseworthy.
Mr.. Warren was a CHEEKY, social gentle
man, fond of telling stories, and anus
ing young people. And Georges sister,
Jessie-how shall describe herp girl
about Alfred's own age, a half-bashful, half
saucy, dimpled-faced, rosy-cheeked mai
den, sparkling with wit and pleasantly,
and pretty enough for any young man to
fall in love with at first sight


This was Mr.. Warren's family, and it
was no wonder that Alfred was charmed
with them. They were not very wealthy
people, but were in easy circumstances,
and on promising road to fortune. AL
fred very soon felt acquainted with them
all as if he had known them for years.
The supper was delicious, especially to
boy whose salary could afford him only the
plainest living


After supper wine was brought in. Mrs.
Warren poured ii herself, and with win
ming smile passed glass of the sparkling
fluid to their guest. Alfred took it with
some hesitation, but did not raise it to his
/ lips. Each of the family held glass,
waiting to pledge their visitor. But Alfred
feared to drink. He set the goblet ON the
table, while a burning blush overspread
his face


"What do you not drink wine? asked
Mrs. Warren, in her pleasant tones.


81 have been taught not to drink it,"
said Alfred


"You have had good teaching, doubt
not" said the lady, land honor you for
respecting it; but think it makes a diff
ference where and in what company you
take it. l should not be willing to have
George go into bar-room in company
with dissipated young men, and call for
wine, but at home, in the family circle,
it is different. A moderate use of wine
never hurts any one. 1t is only when car
ried to excess that it is injurious. You had
better drink yours. SO little as that will
never hurt you"


Jessie was sitting by Alfred She took
up the glass he had set upon the table and
gave it to him with a charming smile.


Again he took the goblet in his hand.
The glowing wine was tempting, but the
faces around him were more tempting still.
He raised it toward his lips. But at that
moment there rose up before him a pale,
sweet face, with pleading eyes-the face
of his mother IN heaven. The boy laid
down the glass with firm hand, and with
firm tones he said;


II cannot drink it. 1t was my mothers
L
wine, and if ! disregard it now, l fear
greater temptation will follow. You must
pardon my seeming discourtesy, but cam
not drink it.n


A silence fell upon the little circle. None
spoke for several minutes.


Then Mrs. Warren said, in voice chok-
ed with emotion:


Forgive me, my boy, for tempting
you to violate your conscience. Would
that all young men would show as high a
sense of duty"


Every one of the family put down their
wine untasted.


1.-The boy is right" said Mr.. Warren.
Drinking wine leads to deeper potations.
We have done wrong i'll setting such an
example before our children.-Here,
Ellen," he called to the servant, ''take
away this decanter"


And as the table was cleared of the wine
and glasses, Mr.. Warren said solemnly:
| ''Now here, in the presence of you all,
| make solemn vow never to have any
more wine on my table, or drink it my
self as beverage; and may my influence
and precepts be as binding on my children
as the request of this boys mother to him.


And Mrs. Warren softly responded:
"Amen!


| Mr. Warren turned to Alfred.
| I'VE are not drunkards or wine bibbers
here, my boy. have always preached
temperance TO my children, but l have
not realized before how an occasional
glass of wine, if partaken of in good So
ciety, could injure. l see it now. If n
person can drink one glass he can drink
another, and it is hard TO know where to
draw the line. ! will show that have as
much manliness as a mere boy. My chill
dren, win you follow my example, and
pledge to abstain totally from wine as a
beverage"


1--WE will, father" was the response.


This pledge was never broken by any
of the family, and never did Alfred Har-
ris have cause to regret that he resisted the
temptation to drink one cup of wine.


Years afterwards, when he was pros
porous and worthy merchant, and sweet
Jessie Warren was his wife, they often
spoke of the consequences which might