benefited by attending the meetings with me. When the pledge was read he came to me, and asked if he couldn't sign. I told him no; he was not old enough yet; that he must be eighteen years old before he could become a member of the society. He replied that nine years was a long time to wait: and I thought it was, with all the influences that tend to draw our boys from virtue and from God. Nine years hence he might be any thing but a fit subject for a temperance society. It troubled me, and I told him that I would write him out a pledge, and he and his little sister and play-fellows could. sign it, and have a little society of their own, which pleased him very much. "Thanksgiving morning I wrote this pledge :- "We promise that we will not use any cider, wine, beer, ale, or other intoxicating liquor. "We promise that we will neither smoke, chew, nor use tobacco in any form.' "He wrote his name, Charley T. Boyd, on the pledge, and said he would have his play-fellows come and sign. Shortly six or eight came in with him, and, after reading the pledge carefully to them, they put their names to it. I gave them a red ribbon for not drinking, and a blue one for not smoking or chewing, and tied the badges in their button-holes. These few went out after more, and they kept me busy almost the whole of Thanksgiving day, and at night I had on the roll about five hundred boys who wore the badge, and dared to do right. "The fathers and mothers became interested in the work, and gave the boys a grand reception, in the Opera House, where over five hundred boys marched, with drums and banners and flags, to such a table as they had never before seen. The musicians gave the boys a short concert, we had a little speaking, and then supper. "I have had the pledge always open for signers here in the city, and have visited and helped to organize, in almost every town in the county, clubs of both old and young persons, to the number of over fourteen hundred boys and girls, and hundreds of men and women. It is a good work to lift degraded ones out of the ditch, and help them to be sober men and women; but I love to take these pure children, and lead them up into manhood without the sufferings which the drunkard undergoesfor in the children is our country's hope. "I remain, sir, respectfully yours, "R. W. BOYD." P. S.-On the eve of sending this volume to press the intelligence is received that the work of Dr. Reynolds in Cairo, Illinois, has opened with all the tokens of power and blessing which marked its history in Michigan and Massachusetts. The Red Ribbon Club of reformed men and the White Ribbon Club of Christian temperance women in Cairo already number six hundred members; the surrounding towns are joining in the movement. The able assistants of the doctor are in demand to hold reform meetings in many places, and there is great hope in the hearts of the temperance people of Illinois that the day of their triumph is drawing nigh. |