A Boy's Logic | AdventAI

International Tract and Missionary Society · OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · Feb 4, 1886

A Boy's Logic.

A LITTLE boy in Leicester was induced to sign the Band of Hope pledge. His father was a collector, and one day a publican called upon him for the purpose of paying his taxes. In the course of the conversation it came out that the little boy was a teetotaler.

"What!" said the publican with a sneer, "a mere boy like that a teetotaler?"

"Yes, sir," said the boy; "I am one."

"And you mean to say that you have signed the pledge?"

"Yes, sir, I have; and I mean to keep it, too."

"Nonsense!" said the publican. "What an idea! Why you are too young to sign the pledge."

The little fellow came up to him, took him quietly by the arm and repeated his words: "You say, sir, I am too young to be a teetotaler?"

"Yes, I do."

"Well, now, sir, please listen," said he. "I will ask you a question: You are a publican, are you not, and sell beer?"

"Yes; I am a publican, and sell beer."

"Well, then, suppose I came to your house for a pint of beer, would you send me about my business because I am so young?"

"O, no; that is quite a different thing."

"Very well, then," said the noble little fellow, with a look of triumph on his face; "if I am not too young to drink beer, I am not too young to give up beer."

The publican was defeated; he didn't want to argue with that boy again.—Sel.