The Beginning and the End.
By Temperance Banner
It began in this way: Two boys came to the city from the country. They left home with kindly words of advice ringing in their ears. Their parents bade them remember the good counsel given them in youth, and earnestly entreated them to resist the many temptations which the city would place before them. And they promised to remember the words of loving counsel, and went out from the hearthstone of home to face the world and fight the battle of life, brave of heart, and hopeful of overcoming in the strife. One day they were going by a saloon. On the screen, which stood a little way back from the open doors, hiding from passers-by what took place within, was displayed a card on which was written: "Fresh lemonade. Only 5 cents a glass." "A glass of cool lemonade would taste good this hot day," said John. "Let's go in and get some." "I'd like the lemonade well enough," said Philip, "but I don't really fancy the idea of going to a saloon to get it." "Pshaw!" laughed John. "What difference does it make whether you buy your lemonade here or somewhere else? We needn't drink anything else if we don't want to." "I know that," answered Philip hesitatingly. "I was thinking that father wouldn't like it if he knew. He's opposed to saloons, you know." "Yes, but how's he to know anything about it?" urged John. "Come on; I'll pay for the lemonade." And he drew his companion into the saloon. They drank their lemonade. The proprietor exerted himself to make their call pleasant, and when they were going he urged them to have another drink. "Better have a little something in it to give it the right kind of flavor," he said smilingly. "All right," said John; and the man poured some of the contents of a long-necked bottle into each glass. The boys drank it down. The liquor was strong enough to produce considerable effect upon them. It made them 'jolly' they told each other; but I do not think either of them would have called the effect that if they could have foreseen what the end would be. Well, they went to that saloon again. It was not long before they felt a kind of contempt for a man who would drink anything as mild as lemonade. That might do for boys, but they were men, and they could drink whisky and brandy and gin. And they could smoke and play cards and billiards, and talk slang. This kind of an education is acquired with wonderful rapidity. In six months they were good scholars in the school of ruin. The end came to one two years ago. In a drunken brawl he was stabbed to the heart. To the other the end came only last week. "Died of delirium tremens," a friend said. It is sad to think that boys are daily beginning this kind of life, and sadder to think what the end may be. Oh, boys! be careful, be careful!—Temperance Banner.