From the Arkansas Temperance Journal


MY PLEDGE.
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When ! was little boy, there were no tenn.
perance societies in the country; in fact had
not heard of one any where. Ardent spirits
were much used, and there we're many drunk
ards. Almost every person drank vinous drinks,
10 greater or less extent; even professors of
religion--persons renowned for piety--and
many ministers Of the gospel, hestated not, oc-
casionally, to fill the sparkling bowl, and quaff
its contents. No wonder that drunkenness


filled the land; no wonder that intemperance
has claimed its thousands of victims-broken
ten thousand hearts, once happy and hopeful
beggared many, yes many lovely child, and
dragged many precious soul lower than the
drunkard's grave. tit .@y


was only six years Of age, and knew little
of this great world, in which l have been living
so many years. Little did suspect that it was
SO replete with crime. never dreamed that
there were snares, and traps, and deadly pit
falls, prepared for unwary footsteps, at every
stage in life's eventful journey. / was taking
a visit to an uncle's, in the beautiful city Of NJ,
and spent several days with my loved and
youthful cousins, in viewing the splendors of
that place. One beautiful morning my uncle
directed his servants to bring out the family
carriage, saying that he intended to take ride
with my cousins and me. II was in the month
of May. All nature seemed to wear smiles as
a garment-the skies were deep blue and cloud
less. The balmy breath of spring was around
us, laden with spicy odors from thousand
fowery gardens. had observed previous to
our starting in the carriage, that many other
carriages, and hundreds Of people, some riding
and many on foot, were going in the same di-
rection. My uncle did not tell us, though we
frequently asked him where he was going
with us.


We started and travelled towards the west,