WHAT GOOD WILL TT no !,
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! ed


"What good will it do % replied uncle Edward.


SIT down on4the bank, here, and will tell you
story"


Henry threw his skates down beside his uncle.
and listened while he related the following story.
about


BLACK-EYED JOE.


Two or three years ago, | went into town in
the state OF New Hampshire, to give temperance
lecture there were many persons in the village
who did not drink intoxicating liquors. But ma
ny came to hear me, and | noticed, just as COM
menced speaking, little bright-eyed boy, just
about your age, who came into the hall and sat
down near the door. He listened very attentive
ly, and when | spoke of the cruel treatment of
wives and children from intemperate men, saw
him more than once take his handkerchief and
wipe away the tears | told them the pledge
would prevent all this, and made men kind and
pleasant; and told the children to sign it if they
would prosper and be happy in the world. This
little fellow was almost the first to put down his
name and when asked the people who he was,
they told me he was called Bluck-eyed Joe, and
that his father was one of the worst drunkards in
! town.


1t was his custom every morning to mingle
rum and sugar with water and pass it round to ev-
cry one of the children, who took little, as well
as their father and mother. He would drink again
at eleven o'clock, and at time, at four o'clock
and at supper So that when evening came he
would always be intoxicated, cruel and revengeful.
Sometimes he would beat his wife; sometimes
beat his children or shut them out of doors in the
cold storms. 1t was this that made Joseph weep,
when told of cruelty to children, and it was this
that induced him to sign the pledge.
! He went home from the meeting, determined to
keep his resolution The next morning, as usual,
his father took out the brown jug, wiped the
pitcher of poison, and handed it to Joseph FIRST
| He shook his head and declined taking it.
"Drnk, Joe ~ said his father.
81 do not wish for any again, sir, said Joseph.
His father looked at him sternly moment, and
then said, roughly,


"Did you 90 to that temperance meeting, Joe?"


"Yes SIR" he replied.


FDid you sign the pledge :"
"Yes sir''


"What did you do that for, Joe?"


"Because, father y said Joseph hesitatngly, eff
ever become man, do not want to be as you
are'


His father blushed, turned pale, stood confused
a moment, and then opened the door and dashed
the Jug and pitcher to pieces, saying,


"You shall have father, Joe, that you won't
be ashamed to be like ~


From that hour he has never taken any thing
that can intoxicate, and is happy himself, and rem
ders his family happy beside; and | will venture
to say, that Joseph will have an answer ready for
any one who asks him, what good will it do" to
sign the pledge3


e Uncle Edward, you may put my name down.
said Henry, !" and thank you for telling me that
story"


So saving, he put on his skates, and went off
| on the ice with swift motion, to tell the story
l m T. ~ L.ar mn