{"newspaper_name": "The Washingtonian.", "edition": "01", "page": "p4", "byline": ""}
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WILL THE BOYS KEEP THE PLEDGE?


This was the unbelieving question put by


Mr.. Fletcher to his wife, as they came home


from temperance meeting, where his two


sons had signed the pledge. Mr.. F. thought


it was proper that men should sign the pledge,


for, having much consideration and judgment,


he supposed they would keep it; but he had


little idea that boys would be long enough Of


one mind, or have moral principle, or stability


of purpose enough to adhere to it. No osooner,


therefore, had he retired with Mrs. Fletcher,


than he seriously asked her, "Will the boys


keep the pledge?" "Keep, it" said she, 'yes,


my dear. Did you ever know them tell a


falsehood? look upon it as promise which


they have made before US and others, that they


will never taste or drink the intoxicating cup,


and know they will keep it. | have been


too faithful with them, and have too much


confidence in them, to suppose moment it


will be otherwise and if | thought they would


not keep this pledge, should lose my conf


dence in their truhfulness in other things"
But Mr.. Fletcher did not view it exactly so


He said there was too much sport about it.
The pledge was signed by great many boys
and girls in sort of frolic, and he did not
think much. would come of it. In little
while, how ever, he noticed that the boys be-
gan to grow quite serious about their pledge,
and TO be much engaged in their temperance
meetings. Nothing would induce them to be
absent or to drink intoxicating liquor. And
quite change was wrought in their charac-
tiers. From being needless, fickle-minded,
and often headstrong boys, they grew up quite
kind, and manly-seemed to feel
that they had a character to support, a repu-
tation to maintain, and something to live for.
They began to engage in the work of doing
good or reclaiming the poor drunkard, and
aiding the drunkard's children, and getting
other boys to sign the pledge, and spreading
abroad tracts and papers. Indeed, from that
time Mr. Fletcher began to view his boys as
and friends; and he was after
wards heard to say, that, to that signature to
he pledge, he owes it that his boys have be-
come some Of the most promising young men
my where to be found in the community. We
believe that all parents, who think lightly Of
heir children's signing the pledge, or who
reat their signing with levity and unconcern,
10 them an essential injury, or lose the oppor-
unity, to say the least, to do them a great deal
Of good. Let the boys sign it understandingly,
and let their parents not trife with it, it will
not often be broken, and will become great
instrument in forming a future meritorious
