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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/12493-0.txt b/12493-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7003a2a --- /dev/null +++ b/12493-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1953 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12493 *** + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 12493-h.htm or 12493-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/4/9/12493/12493-h/12493-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/4/9/12493/12493-h.zip) + + + + +HOW JOHN BECAME A MAN + +Life Story of a Motherless Boy + +By + +ISABEL C. BYRUM + + + + + + +[Illustration: Learning to Pray] + + + + +Author's Preface + + +In presenting this little volume, the author hopes that it may be useful +in suggesting to the minds of young boys the great wrong there is in +indulging in evil habits. + +We read, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge," and this is +true concerning most boys who form habits that are harmful both to body +and soul. + +The story of John's life is a true one; and his earnest prayer that it +may be the means of helping some boys from Satan's snares and prove a +blessing to them, I trust, will be answered. + +Isabel C. Byrum + +Year 1917 + + + + + +Contents + + +Chapter + +I The Prairie Pasture +II In the Sod Cellar +III What the Big Chest Contained +IV Early School Days +V The Card Parties +VI Visitors and Pastimes +VII Leaving Home +VIII With the Circus +IX Caught Unawares +X A Child Again +XI How John Became a Man + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + +Learning to Pray +Opening the Chest +A Card Party +Leaving the Old Homestead + + + + + +CHAPTER I + +The Prairie Pasture + + +Out on the prairie in one of the western states where buffaloes and +wild horses once had roamed at their pleasure and where cacti and +yuccas still thrived and bloomed could be seen a small two-story frame +building. There was nothing strange in this except that the house was +different from the average house of the plains; for at this particular +time the greater part of the dwellings were made of sod, mud, and brush. + +The people, generally speaking, were of that type who think principally +of getting all the enjoyment from their every-day lives that it is +possible to obtain. There was, therefore, little thought among them of +the hereafter, when men must give an account of themselves before a just +and living God. In fact, the younger generation scarcely knew that there +was a God who took note of all their ways. + +The building, so different from the ordinary dwellings upon the prairie, +was the home of a tiny lad named John. It was a happy home; for both +his parents were living, and the love that bound their hearts together +brought peace and happiness to each member of the little household. But +could this happy group have known of the presence of a grim monster just +outside the door, who at that very moment was seeking an entrance, their +joy would have given place to sorrow. Death was soon to destroy the +light and comfort of that home. The devoted wife and mother was not +strong; and after a severe illness lasting but a few short days, her +spirit left the ones she loved and her lifeless body was carried to +its last resting place in the cemetery a few miles away. + +Little John was, of course, too young to realize the true meaning of the +change; but that something dreadful had happened he very well knew, and +his large pathetic eyes spoke the grief that he did understand and could +not express. During the three years of his short life he had known the +care of a tender, loving mother, whose ambitions were high and noble. +Although not a Christian, she had often expressed her wish that her +little brown-eyed boy might grow up to be an honor to his father and +mother, and a blessing to his country. After her death his papa's eyes +were often filled with tears, for he loved and pitied his little boy. + +One evening when the lights were dim and the hands of the clock were +pointing to the bedtime hour, John felt his father's arms tenderly +encircled about him and heard him softly saying: "My little John, we are +left all alone now, and you must hurry up and become a man as soon as +you can; for I need you to help me. Mama has gone away and left us, and +she cannot teach you the things that she had planned that you should +know; so we will have to do the best that we can, but you must help me. +First of all, I want you to learn how to pray; for there is a God in +heaven, who made you, and of whom your mother expected to tell you. +Before Him we should bow down and pray every night before we go to +sleep." + +"Does He hear all the words we say?" asked little John in an awed tone, +quite unable to comprehend his father's meaning, "and does He look at us +when we are asleep?" + +"Yes," his father answered; "God sees and knows everything. Now, I will +tell you the short prayer that I used to say when I was a little boy +like you--the prayer that my mother taught me." + +Thus it was that John, kneeling beside his little bed repeated the +prayer that has been lisped by thousands of other baby voices: + + "Now I lay me down to sleep; + I pray thee, Lord, my soul to keep. + If I should die before I wake, + I pray thee, Lord, my soul to take." + + +As the days and weeks sped by, John thought often of his dear mama and +wished that he might see her; but he as often would recall his father's +words to be a little man, and with all his strength he endeavored to be +what he considered a man ought to be. But although he tried, in his +childish way, to be one, he was often very lonely; and had it not been +for frequent visits to his uncle's home, several miles distant, he would +have missed his precious mother even more than he did. While at his +uncle's, he could play with his two cousins, Will and Charley. At last +it was decided that it would be best for John and his father to go and +make their home with the uncle until John was older. + +Now Charley was just about John's age; but as Charley was a cripple, +John had chosen Will, who was several years the oldest, to be his +closest friend and companion. Regardless of these facts, however, the +three boys generally played together. Their playground was the vast +dooryard extending far out over the prairie. + +In time they were given the responsibility of herding the cows. To herd +the cows meant to see that the cattle did not wander about in the +neighborhood corn, wheat, and barley fields that were scattered about +here and there over the prairies and that were in but few instances +fenced, and to see that they were driven to some water-place at certain +intervals and were brought home at the milking hour. + +The watering places were known as "buffalo-wallows," for they had been +made by the buffalos in wallowing. These basins were usually kept filled +with water by the rains. Some of the "wallows," or "ponds," were rather +deep, and were treacherous because of sudden "drop-offs"; but they were +usually shallow, and it was generally safe for the children to play +along the edge. + +After the first sharp edge of his grief was dulled, John's father did +not feel it so keenly his duty to instruct his child and to teach him +to reverence his Creator; and when John was about six years of age, the +father was kept so busy with his work that he had but little time to +spend with the child. John's aunt, too, although a good woman, was too +much occupied with housekeeping to do her duty by her own two boys, much +less by a third. So John and his cousins had spent nearly all of the +three years that they had been together in doing as they pleased, and in +finding as much enjoyment in living as it was possible for them to find. +It was, therefore, not strange that they had learned and invented many +new ways to get amusement, and that some of these were evil; for Satan, +as he always does in such cases, had lent them a helping hand. + +The work of attending to the cows did not, of course, occupy nearly all +their time, and the boys found it great sport to play around the wallows +and in them. + +On one occasion Will said: + +"Say, boys, did you ever hear the story about the man who walked upon +the water? I don't remember just how the story went; but I heard +somebody say that the man's name was Jesus, and that another man got out +of a boat to go and meet Him. The first fellow did all right, but the +second one came very near drowning because he looked down at the water. +Maybe he wanted to see how deep the water was, and I guess he would have +got drowned if they hadn't been close to the shore. Now, I am going to +do like Jesus did. Want to see me?" + +Naturally both the boys wanted to see him perform a feat like that, and +Will quickly scampered into the water. Now, the wallow was very shallow +all the way across, and Will was soon on the opposite side. The smaller +boys, not knowing the depth of the water, supposed that it was deep and +that Will had actually done some marvelous thing. Will did not know that +he was doing wrong by speaking lightly of one of the Savior's miracles; +for he had never been in Sunday-school, and his parents had not taught +him the sacredness of the words and acts of the Savior. He simply wanted +to play a joke on his companions. + +The smaller boys talked the matter over when they were alone, and John +said: + +"Say, Charley, what do you suppose held Will up the other day on that +water? That wallow must have been deep out in the middle. Let's try it +some time for ourselves when Will isn't around. I believe we could do it +as well as he did." + +Charley was agreed, and the two smaller lads watched their chance. One +day when Will was not with them, they chose a wallow that they thought +would answer their purpose. "I'll go first," Charley said, and he +hurried forward as rapidly as his little crippled limb could carry him, +to the water's edge and out into the pond. + +Suddenly poor little Charley disappeared. John saw his cousin as he +went down into the deep water, and realized his danger. He knew that +something must be done and done at once, and with a bound he sprang in +after his companion. He did not, however, go beyond the shallow water, +and when his cousin came to the surface, he reached out his hand and +caught him by the hair; and as Charley had not lost the power to help +himself, he was soon able, by John's assistance, to scramble to a place +of safety. + +The boys decided that they would say nothing about the accident; and as +they remained away from the house long enough for Charley's clothing to +dry, no questions were asked. But was the scene unnoticed? No. He who +notes the sparrow's fall was watching over these little boys; He had not +forgotten John's little prayer that had been taught him by his father. +God was caring for these little untaught children in that vast prairie +pasture. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +In the Sod Cellar + + +Almost without exception the homes on the prairies were provided with +sod cellars. Even the few modern dwellings in the community in which +John's uncle lived were not without these old-fashioned cellars, which +served as a protection in times of storms and tornadoes. The cellars +served also as places in which to store the fruits and vegetables for +winter use. And very often, too, a large quantity of tobacco leaves that +had been dried and kept back when the summer's crop was sold could be +discovered in one of these places. + +The home of John's uncle was provided with just such a cellar--a deep +hole dug in the ground and covered over with a dense roofing of brush, +mud, and sod. Within this cellar a large supply of tobacco leaves had +been stored. John had been in the cellar many times. He knew the tobacco +was there, and he knew to what use his uncle put the tobacco. He knew +also that his cousin Will both chewed and smoked the leaves, but it had +not occurred to him that he himself could do so. + +The reason why he had not thought of using it was perhaps that his +father had once told him that the using of tobacco was a bad habit and +urged him to let it alone. But the fact that he had not been tempted did +not guarantee that he would not be; the fact that he had no appetite for +tobacco did not conclusively prove that he would never acquire one; nor +did the fact that he had been told to let tobacco alone warrant that he +would need no further watching--for an unforeseen temptation was lurking +near. + +One day when John went into the cellar with his cousin Will, his cousin +filled a pipe with the leaves and offered it to him, bidding him smoke. +John shook his head, and said that he did not want to smoke, for his +father had said that using tobacco was a bad habit and that it would +ruin his health. + +"Then, why does he use it himself?" Will reasoned. "Do you suppose that +he would use it if he thought that it was going to hurt him? Now, John, +look here; you said that you wanted to become a man. Here's your chance. +If you get to where you can smoke a pipe, chew tobacco, and spit, in the +way that your father and my dad do, you will be a man. Just some folks' +saying that it is a bad habit doesn't need to make any difference with +you." + +As John thought over his cousin's words, they did seem reasonable, and +he remembered that all the men he had ever seen used tobacco. So he +decided that, if he expected to be a man himself, he must soon begin to +use it, too. He therefore accepted the pipe and began to puff vigorously +at the stem. But try as he would, he couldn't make the pretty little +curls of smoke mount up into the air as he had watched his father and +other men do. Very soon, however, a deathly sickness began to steal over +him. His head and stomach hurt, and he could scarcely help falling down +on the floor of the cellar. + +"O Will," he said, as he gave the pipe to his cousin, "I am so sick! +Let's get out of here. I feel as though I was going to die!" And John +started in an attempt to find the opening through which he had entered +the cellar, but to his surprise and terror he could not find it. + +"O Will," he said, "this is all your fault! You know I didn't want to +smoke. I wish now that I hadn't listened to you. Father said tobacco +would make me sick, but I didn't know it would be so bad as this. Tell +me, does it always make people sick? and do they ever die?" + +"Yes, it usually makes them pretty sick," Will answered. "But they +always get over it; and each time they smoke, they get more used to it, +or something, and after a while they don't get sick at all. Look at me. +It never makes me sick, but it did at first. Surely you can stand a +little sickness when you know that it is going to make a man of you!" + +John concluded that under those circumstances he could endure his +suffering. But he did not try to smoke any more that morning. With +Will's assistance he found the doorway of the cellar and went out where +the air was more pure. Gradually, he began to feel better. When dinner +time came, however, he did not care to eat; but he kept repeating to +himself, "It won't be this way long, and I can afford to suffer if it +will make a man of me." How sad to think that one so young should be +so deceived! + +Could someone have taught him then that the sick feeling that had so +distressed him was caused by the strong poison contained in the tobacco, +it might have encouraged him never to touch it again. Had his father +explained that every pound of tobacco contains three hundred and twenty +grains of this poison, one grain of which will kill a large dog in about +three minutes; or told him the story of how a man once ran a needle and +thread that had been dipped in the poison through the skin of a frog and +of how the frog in a few moments began to act like a drunken person, +vomited, and hopped about as fast as possible, and then laid down, +twitched for a moment in agony, and died; or informed him that many +people become insane just through the use of tobacco, John might have +yet been influenced to leave the poisonous stuff alone--but perhaps his +father did not know. Anyway, John was left without this much-needed +information. + +Boys who are not properly warned of the danger of tobacco-using are to +be pitied more than blamed if they indulge; but their ignorance does not +lessen the harm and the evils wrought. When the poison gets into the +system, it affects the most vital organs; it undermines that strength +and destroys that beauty which ornament true manhood and which assure an +individual of success. Besides, the continued using causes the indulger +to form a habit that cannot be easily overcome. + +John, being not fully warned of the dreadful consequences of using +tobacco, and yet determined to become a man, kept on smoking until he +so accustomed his system to the shock that he felt satisfied he was +becoming a conqueror and would soon be able to show his father that +he was now a man. + +During the time that John was undergoing such severe temptation, his +father was very busy. He realized that his child needed more instruction +than he was receiving and that Will's influence over John was not good; +but just what advice to give, he hardly knew. Once he thought that he +could smell tobacco smoke on his boy's clothing so calling John to his +side, he said: + +"John, I feel that I must tell you something more about certain bad +habits that so many boys form while they are young. You remember I told +you that smoking and chewing tobacco ruin many a life. Now, I am not +going to say that you cannot use tobacco; but I wish that for my sake, +as well as for your own, you would let it alone, for it is indeed a very +bad habit." + +To this advice John made no reply; for an appetite was being formed, +and in his heart he decided to keep right on. It would have been better +could his father have remembered the temptations of his own boyhood +days. He might then have more fully realized how next to impossible it +is for a parent to availingly teach his child to do something without +first setting before the child an example that is worthy of imitation. +Could he have helped his little son to understand the true meaning of +manhood and the necessity of building up within himself in youth a +noble, honest, and always-to-be-depended-upon character, as well as the +need of developing a strong body, he might have laid a foundation upon +which John could have later safely builded. + +John dearly loved his father and wanted to please him. And to his mind +he could best please his father by as quickly as possible becoming a +man. So, with the thought of early manhood ever before him, he felt +that, in using tobacco, he was doing right. And then, too, Charley had +learned to smoke and chew, and it would be very hard indeed to be near +the boys and not to join in with them. + +By the time that John had passed his seventh birthday, the small amount +of tobacco that was kept in the cellar was not sufficient to fill the +demand of the three boys without too rapidly diminishing the uncle's +supply, and the boys decided to look elsewhere. + +Now, John's aunt had at one time explained to the boys that lying and +stealing are wrong; but she had not made it clear that deceiving is +lying and that taking little things that did not belong to them, even +though they took the things from some member of the family, is stealing, +and that just such thefts lead to the greater crimes that send men and +women to prison. Instead, she gave the advice in such a way that, though +they were impressed with a horror of stealing, the boys could only in +part comprehend her meaning. But because she had warned them, she felt +that she had done her duty and that they ought to know right from wrong +in regard to that matter without further explanation. + +She did not realize that it was her duty to watch, encourage, and +advise, and also to find out when mischief was being planned. In fact, +this aunt and mother, busy with her own cares, knew nothing of the +possibilities for a child whose confidence and love had been won, and +who, through loving counsel, had gained a knowledge of evils and their +effects before he had formed ruinous habits or his mind had been +polluted with false ideas. Being thus left to themselves to discern as +best they could the difference between right and wrong, the boys nearly +always chose the wrong; and as a result, constantly went deeper and +deeper into sinful things. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +What the Big Chest Contained + + +Great sins always have a beginning; the first attempts to do evil are +not hard to check if taken in time, but if allowed to be carried out, it +is impossible to tell what the results may be. How sad it was that John +and his cousins did not have someone to check them! + +The boys now decided to keep close watch, and to avail themselves of +every opportunity to procure tobacco, even if they were forced to steal +it. The word "steal" had, of course, a certain horror to John because +of the picture his aunt had described of a prison and a thief; but he +soothed his conscience by saying, "There isn't anything else in the +world except tobacco that I would think of stealing." But the stealing +habit, like the tobacco habit, continues to grow stronger, unless it +is in some way broken. As tobacco contains a poison that affects the +physical being, so in a similar manner lying and stealing have a ruinous +effect upon the moral nature. The three--lying, stealing, and tobacco +using--too often go hand in hand. + +The first effort of the boys to secure the much-coveted tobacco was made +one day when they, while roaming about over the prairie, discovered a +man hard at work in a field. The man seemed to be lifting something that +was very heavy, and Will suggested to the boys that they go and lend +their services provided the man would give them each a chew of his +tobacco in return; and Will did not forget to add that they must each +take as generous a bite as their mouths could accommodate. The man was +glad to accept their help; and together with his own efforts, the work +was soon finished. Then, in fulfillment of his agreement, he handed them +his plug of tobacco that they might each take the "chew" he had promised +them. + +According to Will's suggestion the boys did not stop with an ordinary +chew; but each took all that his mouth would contain. When they returned +the plug, it was so small that the boys were all afraid the man would +find fault with them; so they hurried away from the spot as rapidly as +possible. As soon as they were far enough away, they removed the tobacco +from their mouths; and they found that, by taking very small chews at +a time, the amount was sufficient to last them for some time. Several +times they succeeded in securing tobacco in this way, and by economizing +were able to get along pretty well for a while. But the plan did not +always work; for the neighbors' becoming aware of the scheme, prepared +themselves with a small piece of tobacco to offer the greedy boys. + +After that, in order to secure their tobacco, they were often forced +to pick up partly-chewed quids, found where they had been thrown away +by the owners. These the boys usually washed; sometimes, however, in +their eagerness they could not wait to attend to even this amount of +cleanliness, but crammed the tobacco into their mouths just as they had +found it. Even cigar stubs; in fact, everything in the form of tobacco, +that had been thrown away, they eagerly gathered and used to satisfy +their ravenous appetites. + +With a foundation now laid for both lying and stealing and with their +consciences dulled, the boys were constantly laying plans to gratify +their evil desires. Many a pocket they robbed of its contents if it +happened to contain tobacco in any form. But this was a slow process at +best; even under the most favorable circumstances it yielded them but +very little returns for their efforts. But one day Will informed the +boys that he had made a discovery--that he had found out that there was +a lot of plug tobacco in the big chest in his father's room. "Now, if we +could think up some way to get into that chest when the old folks are +gone away to town," he suggested, "we could get all the chewing tobacco +we would want for a long while. I thought I would watch and see where +Dad put the key, but he took it with him. Guess he carries it with him +everywhere he goes. I wonder if we couldn't manage in some way to break +the lock. My, but I tell you we could get a big haul! I wonder if we +hadn't better try it some day when the old folks go to town?" + +"Hooray, that's just it!" shouted the smaller boys in the same breath. + +And John asked quickly: "When will they go to town again? This is only +Wednesday." + +"It won't be long, I'm sure," Will answered reassuringly. "They'll go +either Friday or Saturday sure. But we'll have to get busy and think out +a way to break that lock. My, but won't the old man be mad when he finds +out about it! We'll have to act just as if we couldn't see how on earth +such a thing could have happened." + +"Yes; and we'll have to hide the tobacco good, or Pa might find it," +chimed in Charley. + +"Hey, Will," John exclaimed in a hurried undertone--for all the boys had +learned to speak low when mentioning their plans--"if we could take the +hinges off from the back of the chest, we wouldn't have to break the +lock at all." + +"Why, John, that's just it! How in the world did you think of that +scheme?" Will exclaimed, as he slapped his little cousin on the back. "I +say, my boy, you had better look out or you'll be a man before your big +cousin! It doesn't matter, you know, about the height, if you have the +sense." + +Now, John (although so young) was quite ingenious; and he often +suggested ideas that, for their shrewdness, were far beyond his years. +For such he was always praised by Will, and was encouraged to make other +plans. + +Being encouraged by his cousin's praise, the child's brain became even +more active, and he said, "If we just cut a little piece from each plug, +Uncle won't be so apt to miss the tobacco." + +"That's just it again!" emphatically assented Will. "I declare, John, +you surprise me! And now, we must have everything all ready so that +the minute they leave we can get busy. Let's see, what'll we need? +A screw-driver--and will we need a hammer?" + +"We'll need a real sharp knife to cut the tobacco," John suggested. + +"I'll get the things ready," Charley volunteered; and so they planned +and waited for the time to come when they could carry out their scheme. + +The time came on the following Saturday. Early in the morning the uncle +and aunt drove away in the "buckboard," and were on their way to the +city where they were to do their trading. All three of the boys had been +unusually anxious to help their elders get started, forgetting in their +eagerness that they might be thus revealing some of their plans. +Scarcely did they give the uncle and aunt time to disappear in the +distance before they had commenced their evil work. + +"Here's the tools," Charley said, as he brought forth the screw-driver, +hammer, and sharp knife. "Where shall I put them?" + +"Oh, anywhere so they'll be handy!" Will told him; and then the three +boys hastened to the room containing the chest and were soon kneeling on +the floor, examining carefully the object of their interest. + +The chest, a long, narrow, flat box somewhat darkened with age, was +closed and securely fastened; and the tiny padlock that hung from its +side seemed to say, "If you please, I am here to protect my master's +property from the hand of any thieves; and to the extent that it is +within my power, I shall perform my duty." Its bold front and defiant +appearance did not, however, daunt the purpose of the boys. After giving +it a brief examination, they slipped around to the opposite side of the +chest, and by the aid of the screw-driver, removed the lower half of the +rusty hinges. + +"Thank goodness, this chest is old!" Will exclaimed as he brushed from +his forehead the large beads of perspiration. "If these screws turned +any harder, I never could get them out. Guess we'll earn our tobacco +this time all right!" + +[Illustration: Opening the Chest] + +Scarcely had the last screw been removed when up came the lid; and +almost instantly three pairs of eager eyes were greedily gazing down +upon the contents of the wooden chest. There were in it a package of +old letters, various articles of clothing, a few trinkets, etc.; but +only that part of the contents that was carefully packed in one corner +claimed the attention of the boys. This, a pile of long brown strips, +or plugs, of tobacco, was what they wanted; and soon Will was busily +engaged in cutting a narrow slice from each plug and John and Charley +were dividing the slices into three equal parts. But in their haste and +excitement, none of the boys forgot to fill their mouths with the filthy +stuff, and to chew while they worked. + +As Will cut a piece from the last plug, he glanced about over the piles +and said with a look of satisfaction: "Now that ain't so bad, is it, +boys? That ought to last quite a spell; and when it's gone, we can come +back here, or maybe something else will turn up." And then, when he saw +the boys rearranging the tobacco in the chest, he said, "Look out there! +You'll have to get everything just like it was, or we'll be caught and +have had our fun for nothing!" When the chest was repacked, the last +screw in its place, and the tiny scraps of tobacco that had fallen upon +the floor had been carefully preserved, the boys looked at one another +with satisfaction, and Will said, "That's a pretty slick job all right, +if I do say so; and its a lot better than breaking the lock would have +been. I'll tell you it takes some brains to do up a thing like that, +and it makes me feel as if I'd like more of them." + +To this John smiled and said: "Hey, Will, do you know what's in that +trunk?" John referred to a large trunk that was sitting near the bed +on the opposite side of the room. + +"Couldn't tell you all that's in it, but it's locked; and it's in that +trunk that Dad keeps his revolvers. There's two of them, because I saw +inside the trunk the other day." And then as the new thought presented +itself to his mind, he exclaimed, "I wonder why we couldn't get into +that trunk the same as we did the chest?" + +In a twinkling, all the boys were examining the trunk, but to their +dismay, they found that the hinges, instead of being on the outside of +the trunk, were arranged differently, and they could not get at them. +Again it was John who suggested a plan whereby they could accomplish +their desires. "Just take a nail," he said, "and turn the head of it +around in the lock. I've watched my father do that, and he gets his +open every time." + +The trunk, which was an old one, yielded quickly to the efforts made +by the boys; and upon raising the lid, they saw before them two shining +weapons that were supposed to have been carefully hidden away from their +inexperienced fingers. John and Will each quickly caught one up in his +hand; and Will began handling his as though it were a toy, but not so +did John. + +John's father had taught him something of the dangers connected with the +handling of a gun or revolver. Besides, John was at one time present +when a duel was fought; and on that occasion one of the duelists was +killed. The memory of that incident and of his father's warnings, made +John very careful about pointing the revolver at either of his cousins. +It was, therefore, with intense fear that John looked into the barrel +of his cousin's revolver as Will snapped it, aimlessly pointing in his +direction; and John exclaimed, "Turn that thing away, or you'll shoot +me." + +Will's answer was: "You needn't be afraid, John. This revolver isn't +loaded." + +But John, seeing his cousin's careless attitude, was afraid; and he +dodged down behind a barrel of carpet-rags near which he had been +standing. It was well that John did not longer remain where he had been; +for the revolver contained a solitary load, and the frequent pulling of +the trigger discharged this. The bullet passed the very spot where John +had a moment before been standing, and lodged itself deep in the side of +the trunk. + +This experience marked an awakening-time in all of the boys' lives; at +that moment their consciences, which had almost fallen asleep, were +aroused, and in startling phrases gave them accounts of their evil +deeds. With great haste the boys returned the weapons to their former +hiding place, relocked the trunk, and in so far as it was possible, +covered all the traces of the accident. Then, with hearts full of guilty +thoughts, the three boys hastened from the place where a scene of horror +had very nearly been enacted. + +Out in the open, where the air was fresh and pure, their spirits to a +certain degree revived. But their usual laughter, fun, and merry-making +had been dampened; and as they wended their way to the prairie +pasture-land, few words were passed between them. Poor little misguided +boys! warned, and yet left so ignorant of what was the right and the +wrong way. + +Through the voice of conscience God endeavored to speak to John and to +tell him that his ways were evil and that he and his cousins would some +day get into serious trouble if they continued in the way they were +going; but, although he was sad, he could not understand. He wanted to +be a good boy for his father's sake (for his father was the best friend +he knew); and most of all he desired to become the man that that parent +had wished him to be. John's disregard for his father's warnings from +time to time had been due to the fear that, if he obeyed, his early +manhood would be hindered. + +Could that father have given his little son an object-lesson such as an +aged monk once, while walking through a forest, gave his scholar, John +might have been spared much suffering. The monk, stepping before four +plants that were close by, pointed to the first, a plant just beginning +to peep above the ground; to the second, one well-rooted in the earth; +to the third, a small shrub; and to the fourth, a full-sized tree. + +Then turning to his young companion, he said, "Pull up the first." This +the boy easily did. + +"Now, pull up the second." The youth obeyed, but not with so much ease. + +"And now the third." This time before the boy succeeded in uprooting the +plant, he had to put forth all his strength and to use both his arms. + +"And now," said his master, "try your hand on the fourth." But although +the lad grasped the trunk of the tree in his arms, he scarcely shook its +leaves; and he found it impossible to tear its roots from the earth. +Then the wise old man explained the meaning of the four trials. + +"This, my son," he said, "is just what happens to our bad habits and +passions. When they are young and weak, we can by a little watchfulness +and by a little discipline, easily tear them up; but if we let them cast +their roots deep down into our souls, no human power can uproot them. +Only the almighty hand of the Creator can pluck them out. For this +reason, my boy, watch your first impulses." + +Or, could John have heard the story of the giant who fell in with a +company of pigmies, he might have taken a different course. The giant +roared with laughter at the insignificant stature and wonderful +boastings of the pigmies. He ridiculed their threats when they told what +they expected to do to him; but when he fell asleep that night, he was +at their mercy. And he did not know until he awoke in the morning that +while he was asleep these tiny people of whom he had made sport had +bound him with innumerable threads and that he was their helpless +captive. But John knew nothing of these stories or of other things that +teach the lessons he so much needed; and perhaps his father did not +know, so that he could tell his son what he should have been told. + +The use of tobacco is an evil. When God made tobacco and pronounced it +good, He did not mean for it to go into the mouth of any man or woman, +much less into the mouths of children. Tobacco is a deadly poison; and +the constant use of any poison must injure the body of the one who uses +it. When it has sapped the strength from both the mind and the body, it +leaves the individual weakened in every way and makes it harder for him +to live a good, pure life. + +No person who uses tobacco may be said to be perfectly well. Such a +person may not realize how his health is impaired, because the stupor +that the poison produces numbs his sensibilities; but the very appetite +he has for tobacco is in itself a disease. In order for an habitual user +to realize the harm that tobacco is doing to his health, he has simply +to stop its use for a short time and watch the effect on his system. + +Tobacco is not a food that God intended man to eat. In man's case it +feeds only a craving that it has itself created. But the leaves of the +tobacco plant do serve as food for the large, green worms that live and +thrive in tobacco fields. Yes; tobacco is "very good" for the "creeping +things" for which it was created; but it was not intended as food for +man. + +Could John and his cousins have understood all this when the next +tobacco famine came to them, it seems that each would surely have +resisted the temptation to stoop down, pick up a partly chewed quid of +tobacco, cram it greedily into his watering mouth, and chew it as though +it was the sweetest morsel he had ever tasted. But the boys did not +know. They thought such things were manly. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +Early School Days + + +By the time John was eight years old, the evil influences with which he +had been surrounded in his uncle's home were rapidly telling on him. To +be sure, there was still the same pathetic expression in his deep, brown +eyes, and now and then there could be observed in them a mischievous +glance or a merry twinkle; but his general appearance was that of a +sadly neglected child. Still the busy aunt took little notice either +of him or of her own boys. + +In his heart John was longing for someone to take an interest in him and +to love him--someone to whom he could go with his boyish heartaches and +from whom he could gain the sympathy for which his heart was craving. +To be sure, his father was still kind, and sometimes John would imagine +that he could even feel his father's love. At such times the boy would +press closer to his parent, hoping that he would at least with his arm +caress him; but his father did not understand. He could see only the +outward roughness; and he said in his heart: + +"It is all because he has never had a chance. He has grown up here on +the prairie like a wild thing. He has never been to school, and I must +send him at once." + +With this purpose in his heart John's father decided to return with his +child to the place that had once been his happy home. In making the +change there were, of course, many things to take into consideration. +But under the circumstances, to go seemed the best and proper thing to +do. The sad events, he reasoned, were all in a lifetime; and he must +make the best of them. The home would for a time seem desolate, he knew, +but he thought that perhaps they could become used to it; anyway, his +boy must be in school. The school terms would not be long (for only +three or four months of each year were set apart for school purposes); +but even these short terms would be better than none. + +To John the change meant more. The five years that he had spent in the +home of his uncle had made his cousins seem to him like brothers; but +still, as he considered his father's plans, he thought, "Perhaps it may +be all right." His aunt was very kind while John and his father were +preparing to move; and the day they bade her good-by she said such sweet +things that he wanted to throw his arms about her neck. To his mind it +was the very way in which his own dear mother would have spoken had she +been alive. + +When all was ready for the departure, the aunt said: "John, here are the +two little turkeys that you have liked so well all summer. You may take +them with you. They will help you to forget that you are alone when your +father is away at his work"; and she handed him a small covered basket. +Then the wagon containing their few belongings moved away from the place +that for nearly five years they had called their home. + +As they wended their way along the thoroughfare, they saw men at work in +the fields. Some were shucking corn and tossing the bright golden ears +into wagons that were placed between the rows for that purpose, while +others were hauling the grain to their barns to store it away for the +winter's use. The broad corn leaves rustling in the wind seemed to +whisper, "Winter is coming with his cold, bleak storms to rob the earth +of her summer splendor; but he will bring his beautiful coverlet of snow +to protect her fields and to prepare them for the coming year." + +The foliage on the small bushes that were scattered here and there +was fading; but the air was still soft and mild. Near the willows +might still be seen the bending goldenrods, asters, and sunflowers. +And occasionally blue smoke could be seen curling up from some +sod-house chimney. + +It was evening when the father and his son drove up to the door of their +long-desolate home; the sun was sinking lower and lower in the west. A +few soft glimmers of its mellow light lingered timidly about the doorway +as if to bid the home-comers welcome, and then they were gone. A rabbit, +hopping boldly about in the neglected doorway, stopped suddenly as if +to ask why these people had come to a place that she had chosen for her +home; and some prairie dogs that had formed a colony close by anxiously +watched from the entrance of their underground homes to see what was +going on. + +John and his father, each absorbed with his own thoughts, sprang from +the wagon, and soon began to air out the musty house and to rearrange +the furniture that had long been idly awaiting their return. After a +while John found that his aunt had not forgotten that he would be very +hungry, and soon he was sampling some large bread-and-meat sandwiches; +his father, too, came for his share. Thus quickly passed the first +evening in their old home. But before John retired to his own bed, he +saw that his little turkeys received some attention; and in the morning +he let them have their freedom. + +As the days sped by and lengthened into weeks and months, John would +have indeed been lonely had it not been for his little pets, the +turkeys. They received his earliest attention in the morning, and it +was their little beaks that touched his cheek the last thing before he +retired at night; and to himself alone was their roosting-place known. + +How different everything seemed to John in his new home! The change from +knowing nothing but perfect freedom in God's great open out-of-doors to +being left alone to hustle off to school in the early morning hours, +where he must sit like a statue and prepare humdrum lessons, was to John +a wonderful change. John, however, was determined to make the very best +of his lot and to do all that he could to please his teacher. + +Allowing this purpose to govern his life, John's conduct was such that +he became in a very short time the favorite pupil in the school; and his +kindly, generous, and ambitious nature won him many friends. He was soon +noted for his witty remarks, made in a manner so droll and unpretentious +that often merry bursts of laughter were heard from his teacher as well +as his playmates. + +But regardless of these pleasant conditions, John was far from happy. +He still wanted someone to show deep love for him and to take an interest +in his welfare; and though he constantly tried to smother the deep +suffering he felt it still smoldered in his heart. This, perhaps, caused +him to crave all the more tobacco that in a way had dulled his senses +and caused him to realize his troubles less. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +The Card Parties + + +While John was forming new acquaintances at school, Satan was not +asleep. John's active mind was soon being schooled in many evils that he +had not known before. And to make the matter still worse, John's father +had a number of bachelor friends with whom he was in the habit of +meeting for pleasant evenings, and their amusements were mostly drinking +strong drinks and playing card games. + +Among these men, as among his schoolmates, John became a favorite; and +he was often praised and admired for his shrewd and manly ways. And when +the report concerning his intense desire to become a man was circulated +among them, they urged him to drink beer, saying that it would make him +more manly and that all men must learn how to drink and smoke if they +would be thought of as being manly. As a result John was soon able to +drink his share of the beer, although he did not like the taste at +first. Besides this, John discovered that at these evening gatherings he +could often replenish his supply of tobacco by slipping a little from +someone's pocket when the owner was not on his guard. + +Poor little John!--such a favorite! so gifted, and yet so neglected! in +regard to high ideals and purposes in life, so ignorant! and so desirous +of that motherly love and interest that were ever denied him! He +endeavored to fill his life with other things; but in his day-dreams he +often pictured his mother, and wondered: "Was she like my aunt? Would +she take me and hold me in her arms while she smoothed my hair with her +hand? Would she bind my bruises? And would she sit by my bedside at +night and hold my hand in hers while telling me stories that she had +read?" "Oh, how would it all seem?" he would ask himself; and then, +remembering that such could never be, he would try to forget and be +happy. His mother was gone, he reasoned, and he must be content. It was +to his two little feathered friends alone that he confided his sorrows. + +Had John's father remembered the determination that filled his soul on +the dark day of his wife's funeral, and had he continued to teach his +little son to pray and to serve God, how much better it might have been! +How much better might John have understood the difference between right +and wrong! In such a case, John's life's record might have been filled +with good and noble deeds, and his habits might have been clean and +wholesome. + +As it was, because of his ignorance of right, he was laying a crumbling +foundation formed of evil motives and desires. And should he continue to +build, using similar material, his life's structure would be unsafe; it +would be momentarily in danger of falling. As Satan is ever waiting with +the needed supplies for a work of this kind, so he was ready to aid +little John. The card parties at which John and his father were often +present furnished John with much of his material. + +The younger men among those who attended these gatherings, recognizing +in John material of the entertaining sort, began at once to educate him. +They taught him, not only to drink beer, but also to play cards and to +swear. To John beer did not at first have a pleasant taste; but as it +was when he was trying to learn to use tobacco, so it was now--the +promise that it would help him in becoming manly encouraged him to take +more; and as he drank, the appetite grew. Finally, he would sometimes +drink so much that he could not keep awake. + +Usually on these occasions beer was served only as a prize to the +winners of the games. The lucky fellow alone was given a drink while +those who had lost were given only a smell of the bottle. One time when +John had won in a number of games and had been treated to as many drinks +from the bottle of beer, he became very sleepy. Going over to one corner +of the room, he crept up on a table and soon was apparently asleep. +It happened, however, that, although he was sleepy, he was not wholly +unconscious to what was going on; and suddenly he heard a plot that +seemed to him so cruel that he could scarcely believe his ears. + +[Illustration: A Card-Party] + +At the close of such gatherings, a chicken-roast was generally in order, +and the fowl used was usually taken from some hen-roost not far distant. +On this particular occasion when the party was about to break up, John +heard the roughest of the company ask: + +"I say, boys, who's goin' fer the roast tonight? Some one ought to be +off fer it's nigh onter the midnight hour, and I, fer one's got a big +job ahead a me tomorrer." + +"I'll go, Bill," someone answered; "but wha do ye say ter go?" + +"Oh, it don't make no difference, so's it's not too fer away!" the other +answered, and added: "Whist, Tom, why can't we git John's turkeys? +They'd make fust-rate eatin' all right. He's too far gone to know +anything about it." + +John was just about to call out that they must let his turkeys alone +when he remembered how hard it would be in the darkness to discover +their roosting-place, so he remained quiet. It was, however, with some +uneasiness that he awaited the thieves' return. When they came, he was +relieved; for they were carrying chickens instead of turkeys. Although, +because of the safety of his pets, a thrill of satisfaction swept over +John, yet he had received in his heart a wound that was deep and wide. +These cruel, heartless men were willing to take from him, in so +unprincipled a manner, his only companions and playfellows. John +somewhat realized that life had a hard and bitter side for him; but +again he endeavored with all his strength to make the best of it. + +It was morning before John and his father returned to their home; +and it was with unusual joy that John found his pets waiting for their +breakfast. As he held them close to his breast, with their beaks close +to his cheek, he again thought of his mother; also he wondered about a +certain change that had come over his father. + +For a time after their removal to their own home, the father had been +very devoted to John and had seemed to understand something of the boy's +loneliness. Perhaps it was a realization of this loneliness and a desire +to bring into the life of the child the motherly interest of which he +had been deprived that had turned the father's heart toward a certain +young lady of his acquaintance. Anyway, whatever was the cause, the +father became more and more interested in this young woman; while, on +the other hand, he paid less attention to John, whose loneliness daily +increased. Night after night John's pillow was dampened by the tears he +shed while waiting and listening for the sound of his father's returning +footsteps. + +In course of time the father married and brought home his new bride. +At first John was very shy; but he was glad. Oh, how he wished that she +would be what he had day-dreamed that his own mother might have been! +He could then have given her all his love and confidence. He could have +told her all his boyish plans for the future, asking her for the advice +he would need. But the new mother failed to fulfill his hopes. Even she +did not understand the longings of his boyish heart; nor did she realize +that the poor little neglected boy was measuring her by what he had +imagined a true mother to be. She was kind to John; but that was all. +Her time and attention were given to her husband; and John daily saw the +gulf between his father and himself widening and deepening. A feeling of +discord crept into John's heart; all attraction for home was severed; +and he felt that his happiness would have to be sought from other +sources. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +Visitors and Pastimes + + +During the winter that followed his father's marriage, John's +stepmother's brother came to live with the family; and the influence of +this stepuncle, whose name was Ed, was as bad or worse than Will's or +Charley's could ever have been; for Ed was older and wiser, and knew +much more of sin. + +In Ed's home both the father and the mother used tobacco a long time +before their child was born. When he was just a little infant, he +worried and cried a great deal. He continued to do this, seemingly never +to be satisfied, until finally the parents imagined that he wanted +tobacco; and sure enough he did. The mother tied a small amount in a rag +and gave it to her baby to suck, and immediately he became quiet and +contented. So, from that time she gave him tobacco to stop his crying. +As he grew, the quantity he used gradually increased until, when he was +in his teens, he spent much of his money for tobacco. He went without +many of the necessary things of life in order that he might have the +money those things would cost to spend for tobacco. + +The Bible tells us that God is abundant in goodness and truth, keeping +mercy for thousands and forgiving iniquity and transgression and +sin ... Parents may be sorry for their sins, and be forgiven for +their transgressions; but their children must suffer from inherited +ill-dispositions, unnatural appetites, or diseases.... Oh, what a +responsibility is resting upon the parents of the future generations! + +Now, tobacco acts directly on the mind. It clouds the understanding and +dulls the memory; and sometimes it has much worse effects. The story is +told of the experience of a brilliant young man--a graduate from Andover +College--who, for a time, seemed to have a wonderful future before him. +After a few short successful years, however, all hopes were blighted; +he was thrown into an insane asylum a physical wreck. The doctors said +that tobacco had done it; but regardless of this, he was each day given, +according to the rules of the asylum, a small quantity of tobacco. +For twenty years he was in this seemingly hopeless condition; and then +suddenly, one day as he was walking the floor, his reason returned, and +he realized what was the matter. Throwing the plug of tobacco through +the iron grate of his cell, he said: "What brought me here? What keeps +me here? Why am I here? Tobacco! tobacco! tobacco! God help, help! +I will never use it again!" + +He was restored; and for ten years he preached the gospel. + +But not only does tobacco injure the mind; it also affects the blood and +sensitive tissues and the different organs of the body, which in order +to act normally and to do their work properly must be in healthful +condition. When the blood becomes saturated with the deadly poison that +comes from the pipe or cigar, and the soft membranes of the mouth become +filled with the poisonous secretion from the quid, as a consequence, +every member of the body becomes affected, and disease and suffering +are the final results. Lord Bacon said, "To smoke is a secret delight, +serving to steal away men's brains." Many others have expressed +themselves in even louder terms against the evil effects of tobacco; +but we must now return to John and to Ed, his stepuncle. + +Soon after Ed came to live in the family, he paid a visit to a +neighboring town; and while there, he stole from a store a case of plug +tobacco. This he stealthily brought to his sister's new home, confiding +his secret to no one except John; and by generous promises he persuaded +John to say nothing about the matter. At this time John was in his +thirteenth year. He still keenly felt that something was dreadfully +missing in his life; so he turned to Ed, hoping to find that something +in his companionship. But again he was disappointed. The standard of +Ed's ideals were so far below the standard that John had fixed for +himself that John was conscious of a constant repulsion in his heart +toward Ed. As a consequence, John's loneliness increased. + +About the time Ed arrived in the neighborhood, another dangerous pastime +was introduced. Dancing found a place in the social gatherings; and +again John was an apt scholar. Before very long he was considered to be +one of the best among the young people in this art; and for the time +being he seemed to find real enjoyment in the amusement. There was a +fascination about it that helped him partly to forget his troubles and +heartaches, also the discouragements with which he had been haunted so +much of late. + +During the winter that followed, the social spirit increased and the +months were full of changes and excitement. The uncle with whom John and +his father had spent several years came with his family for a prolonged +visit. A hearty welcome was given the visitors, especially by John; for +regardless of the fact that in order to make room for the company he had +to exchange his nice warm bed in the house for a less comfortable one in +the sod cellar, he rejoiced in the thought that he could once more be +with his old companion, Will. In fact, any change was appreciated by +John in his restless, discontented frame of mind. + +The first evening the boys retired early, partly because they had no +light and partly because they wanted to visit about bygone days. They +had so many things to say to each other; and besides, they wanted to lay +their plans for a jolly time while they could be together. Will laughed +heartily about John's intense desire to become a man, and asked him how +he felt about it now. It was in a discouraged tone of voice that John +replied: + +"There ain't so much fun in it as I supposed. The older I get, the +more unhappy I feel. Why, Will, there are times when I almost wish that +I were dead. No one seems to care for me or to have any time to give me. +It's just 'John here' and 'John there'; and if I dare to say anything, +I'm laughed at or told to keep still. It was different before Pa got +married. Then he used to talk to me and try to help me when I got +lonesome; but now I just have to get along the best way I can. +If I like anything it's all right, and if I don't it's the same. + +"I'll just tell you, if it wasn't for Pa, I'd run away from home! As for +being a man, I don't think that it is so wonderful after all. The men +that I know are all so bad. Just look at Ed! I'm getting so that I can +hardly endure Ed!" + +In reply to John's great outburst of sorrow, Will had no words of +sympathy to offer. All that he could propose was that they could spend +their evenings in playing cards (for Will, too, had learned many things +since John had left; and card-playing was one of them). John was pleased +with the suggestion; but he said, "I haven't any cards." As usual, +however, he was quick to invent a way out of that difficulty and added: +"Hey, Will! why couldn't we make some? I know where there's a lot of +cardboard boxes that we could cut up. One could cut while the other +marked them. You would know how to make them, would you not?" + +"Yes, I think so," Will answered. "We could do that all right in the +daytime; but how could we work in the dark? And does it get very cold +in here?" + +"Oh, it doesn't get so awfully cold; and as for a light, I can get a +dish of lard and put a rag in it which we can light! That won't be a +very good light; but I think we can get along." + +The boys found that it was no small task to make the cards. First they +had to cut the cardboard. This John did with a very sharp knife. Next, +they drew hearts and diamonds and other necessary markings. To be sure, +the set of cards was a very crude one when it was finished; and when the +boys began to shuffle them in the pack, they were disappointed because +of the bulky appearance and wished for a more perfect set. But John +had done a good job in cutting them out, and the marking answered the +purpose very well. So night after night, by the aid of the flickering +and sputtering light, furnished by the rag burning in the saucer of +lard, the two boys, with heads bent low, sat scheming and planning, +each striving to get ahead of the other in the game. + +Long before Will's visit was ended, both boys had become so skillful in +playing that the one could scarcely get the better of the other unless +one in some way cheated. This caused them to try many underhanded tricks +and encouraged them to bet and gamble; and in course of time they had +exchanged as wagers the greater part of their simple belongings. Taking +advantage of one another became a part of the game and seemingly was the +principal aim. And the evenings that they did not spend in dancing were +spent in indulging in these dangerous amusements. (Card-playing--as does +also dancing--wields an influence that is very harmful, especially to +the young. As the interest in the game increases, the players' desire +for things that are good and wholesome is lessened. One player sees only +the pleasure that he derives from getting the better of the one he is +playing against. He fails to see that each time he stoops to unfair +methods in order to gain his purpose he helps to pave the way for other +things that are wrong and deceitful.) + +When the first warm days of spring arrived and the grass of the prairie +began to unfold its tiny blades, John's uncle said it was time for him +and his family to return home. "It's a long way, Will," he said; "and +we must get there in good time to plant a big crop of 'tobaker.' You +remember we didn't have near enough to do us last year!" Will agreed; +but the boys were all sorry to be separated again, and when the day of +departure came, it was very hard indeed for them to bid one another +farewell. + +During the winter months John had not thought much about his aunt, for +Will and he had been too deeply interested in other things. But now at +the last moment that old longing again clutched at his heart. When he +saw them disappearing in the distance and finally lost them to view, +like a flash the desire that had so long been smoldering within his +heart was fanned, as it were, into a mighty flame, and in his mind he +resolved what he would do. "I will stay in this home no longer!" he +cried in his distress. "My father may miss me; but if I stay here, +I shall die!" and going to his father, he stated his intentions. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +Leaving Home + + +As John's father looked into the deep pathetic eyes of his son, he +in part understood the meaning of what he read. He could see that the +soul of his child was crying out for something; but again he failed to +understand the true longings of the young heart. He failed to see that +the boy was being crushed by sinful habits, and that for parental care +and interest he was starving. In ignorance the father supposed that +the boy's unrest was due to a longing to know more of the world, to +a feeling akin to that which an explorer experiences. + +Poor man! Could he have known just then what really was troubling his +boy, he could have stayed the spirit of unrest by holding out to John +the "olive branch of peace." He could have said: "John, we have drifted +apart. We are not to one another what we used to be. Stop, my boy; sit +down here. Let us carefully talk these things over before you take such +a step. Out in the world you will meet many temptations and evils, more +than you have ever known." And many other tender words of advice he +might have spoken to the child; but these things were left unspoken. + +Instead, his father only said, "John, I would like to have you remain +at home a while longer; but if you are determined to go, you may, only +remember to try to do as nearly right as you can! I have wanted to bring +you up well for your mother's sake; for she had made so many plans for +your future. My wish, John, is that you become a good man." + +John was deeply touched by his father's farewell speech; and had there +been any other drawing to keep him at home, he certainly would have +remained. As it was, he soon gathered together his belongings, and while +still in his thirteenth year, said good-by to his people, and went away +to work for a thrifty farmer. + +During the two years preceding his departure from home, John had now +and then worked for the farmers in different parts of the country. This +and his attendance at the social gatherings had enabled him to become +acquainted with numbers of boys, some of whom were very wild and rough. +But because of the companionship of Will during the winter months, the +evil influences of his wide circle of friends had not been so strong. +But when the cousins were parted, John's companions were again some of +the roughest and toughest in the community. Because of this his tobacco +and beer bills increased, and to this alarming expenditure he added many +accounts for whiskey. + +John had made a discovery. He had found that Ed, in order to satisfy the +awful craving and gnawing in his stomach (a sensation produced by the +tobacco poison), was using a generous supply of whiskey; and for the +same reason John began to use it. Whiskey did perhaps satisfy for the +time being; but John also discovered that the seemingly good effect +was very soon gone and that the old trouble was again there, only with +renewed force and strength. Another thing he found, too, was that he had +added to his list of evil habits one even more fierce and strong than +the others. + +When John left home, his desire was principally to find relief for his +loneliness; but he had another object. His expenses had been heavy and +hard to defray. And now with the amount he had to pay for his whiskey +added to what he was already spending for beer and tobacco, his bills +were so high he felt that he must have more money in order to meet them. +This seeming necessity was, therefore, one thing that urged him to take +the step he took. + +[Illustration: Leaving the Old Homestead] + +The farmer for whom John began to work was known among his men as "the +captain." All the hired help worked under one manager, or boss; so +John's experience while in this service was new and varied. + +"We have orders today to work for Farmer Z," explained the boss one +morning a few weeks after John's arrival. "And the captain says we must +be sure and get around there early in the morning, for we are to get our +breakfast over there." + +The home of Farmer Z was some distance from that of John's employer; but +the prancing horses on which the men were to ride were soon carrying +them across the prairie, and it was not long until they were in sight +of Farmer Z's modest farmhouse. As they entered the gateway, Farmer Z +stepped into the doorway; and when he greeted the men with a kindly +"Good morning," John particularly noticed his countenance and expression +and wondered why he was so different from the comrades with whom he had +always associated. He noticed, too, that, as the men gathered in the +dining room and took their places around the table, they were quiet and +reserved; and he was puzzled by still another thing--Farmer Z bowed his +head and thanked God for all of His blessings and benefits and goodness +to them all. + +Such things were new and strange to John; and when at the close of the +meal, the farmer invited them into another room, saying, "We always have +reading and prayer immediately after breakfast and would be glad to have +you all join with us," John suddenly felt extremely awkward and out of +place, and he longed to make his escape to the barn. + +John could have given no reason for his feelings, unless it was that the +farmer's suggestion of prayer made him think about his mother and of the +time when his father had taught him the little prayer, "Now I lay me +down to sleep," and had told him that he very much desired him to be +a little man. But it was not strange that John should feel as he did; +for he had so often associated other scenes with that of learning the +prayer, but had since that time heard very little about the Bible. In +fact, the only part of the Bible that he had ever read was a few verses +in the small New Testament that had belonged to his mother; and he had +read these because he had heard that the reading of certain passages +would stop the toothache and relieve the nosebleed. He experimented one +time when he had the nosebleed, and his nosebleed did stop; but he was +not sure that it would not have stopped as soon had he not read the +verses. + +Now, for some reason unknown to himself, John did not want to remain for +worship; so when he noticed one of the other men slipping out of the +back door, he quickly followed. The two were just about to enter the +barn when the farmer, calling to them in words that were gentle but +firm, said, "We always have our help come in with us for worship." +Seeing then that there was no way around going in except to stoutly +refuse, the two returned to the house; and with the others they seated +themselves in the room where it was evident that the family worship was +to be held. This experience was so entirely new to John that he actually +suffered. He did not know what to do nor how to act. + +He observed that the children, the workmen, and the farmer's wife, were +all seated, so he sat down, too. He also observed that the men had left +their hats outside where they had washed; and this caused him to feel +very strangely, because he had his own in his hand. He dropped it, +however, beside his chair; then he began to watch the children and to +try to do just as they were doing. But as no two of the youngsters were +doing the same thing, he again felt troubled. The older members of the +family, he noticed, sat very still; and suddenly John realized that they +must be listening to the farmer, who had been reading. John knew that he +had not heard one single word that had been read, and here, the farmer +was now saying, "Let us pray." + +When they knelt beside their chairs, John was again bewildered; but +having decided to do just as nearly as he possibly could the way the +rest did, he, too, slipped down upon his knees. For some reason that he +could not understand, a burning shame that seemed to benumb his whole +being swept over him, and he could hardly hear the farmer's words; but +he realized suddenly that the farmer was saying, "Dear Lord, bless the +help today, and keep them from accidents and danger." + +Hurriedly glancing around, John saw the children peeking from between +their fingers; and hastily covering his own face with his hands, he gave +a quick glance toward Mr. A, his boss. Mr. A was kneeling beside his +chair, but was picking his teeth and looking out of the window. Just +then the farmer said, "Amen," and they all arose. + +Then, as John compared his own attitude with that of Mr. A.'s, another +feeling of shame came over him; and for some time he kept asking +himself, "Why didn't I act unconcerned like the boss?" But John was not +a bad boy naturally. He was ignorant of what was right. He had never +understood that there is a Savior and that that Savior loved him and +left an example for him to follow. To be sure, he had often heard both +his Savior's and his Creator's names reviled and abused by his evil +companions. But he did not know that these were Beings to whom he could +go when in trouble; nor did he understand that in God's sight he was +a sinner. + +More than once that day while working, John thought of the farmer's +words and wondered if the prayer would have any effect upon the day. +Some way he thought it would, and he decided to watch and see. The day +was ideal, and the help orderly; and God kept them free from accident +and trouble. It was all a mystery to John, and he pondered over it along +the way home and even during the night. Farmer Z had opened up a new +channel for his thoughts. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +With the Circus + + +During the following year a circus that was passing through the country +stopped at a town near by; and John, together with a number of his +associates, attended some of the exhibitions. John's interest was at +once captivated, and he felt that it would be great to join the company +and to act the part of the clown; and he soon began to plan to secretly +join them the following season. His visions of great wealth enlarged day +by day, and in fancy he pictured a future of wonderful fame. + +In due time the show company returned. They gladly accepted John's +proposal to join them; and so John, with his few earthly possessions, +to the surprise of all who knew him, disappeared from his home locality. +But John seemed doomed to disappointment; the showman's life was not +at all as he had pictured it. Instead of becoming fabulously rich in a +fairy-like way, he was taken very ill and had soon lost all the money he +did have. As soon, therefore, as he was able, he returned to his friends +at home, thoroughly disgusted with his undertakings; he was a wiser lad +than he was when he went away. + +But, although John was disgusted, he was not disheartened. When he +was laughed at by his friends, he bravely bore their ridicule, and +endeavored to look on the bright side of things. Also, he explained to +them that show life, on the outside and to the sightseer, was not at +all what it was among the members of the company; but that behind the +curtains oaths were uttered, and abuse and nearly every kind of evils +could be witnessed. + +When he was back once more among his old associates, he endeavored +to pass away the time in as pleasant a way as possible. Card playing, +gambling, and dancing were his amusements, but tobacco and whiskey were +his enjoyments; and as before, he was considered among his friends as a +jolly good fellow. But John was not truly happy; beneath his superficial +joyousness was a longing for something that he was unable to name or +describe. + +Let us stop a moment and look at John. A glance tells us that a great +change has taken place. The ruddy complexion and childish features +were replaced by a sallow hue upon the sunken cheek; and the roguish +expression of the large brown eyes was lost in the haggard look that +well accorded with the telltale cough and the stooping shoulders. The +poisons of the tobacco and whiskey were doing their fatal work. His +entire system was heavily charged with nicotine and alcohol; and the +effect of these poisons constantly operating upon his nervous system and +digestive organs had made him but a wreck of his former self. It is true +that in stature he was as large as the man his father had desired him to +be; but he was far from being of the strong manly type that that parent +would have had him to become. Instead, he was weakly; and his body was +never free from pain and suffering. + +The old adage that ignorance is bliss can never be aptly applied to +nicotine and alcohol. For only those who let them both entirely alone +can be truly happy or safe. When we examine what doctors have written +about the use of these poisons, we find that alcohol as well as nicotine +is a stimulant and a narcotic. As a stimulant, it excites the brain and +nerves, quickens the circulation of the blood, and intoxicates (makes +drunk); while as a narcotic it blunts the powers of the brain and nerves +and produces stupor and death. + +Tests in the army, navy, and arctic explorations have definitely proved +that alcohol is not a food. + +Alcohol will not allay thirst: "Alcohol has a great attraction for +water; and when swallowed, it draws the water to itself, thus depriving +the tissues of the body of that merit necessary inorganic food. Again, +alcohol causes a rush of blood to the skin, which causes a sensation of +warmth to be felt upon the surface of the body. However, the sensation +of heat is, like beauty, 'only skin deep,' as the heat of the system has +really been diminished rather than increased; because when the blood is +upon the surface, it parts with its heat more readily." + +I "The effects of alcohol upon the heart may be summed up in the +following statements: + + "(a) It causes a softening of the muscles of the heart, and a fatty + degeneration, thus clogging the workings of this vital organ. + + "(b) It overworks the heart. + + "(c) Oftentimes it renders the heart weak and flabby. + + "(d) It causes an enlargement or dilation of its parts. + + "(e) There is a consequent effect of drowsiness and lassitude. + + "(f) Its general effect upon the heart is to destroy its strength and + usefulness." + + +II "Alcohol has the following effects upon the lungs: + + "(a) It makes the blood impure, thus increasing the work of the lungs. + + "(b) It paralyzes the blood vessels. + + "(c) It weakens the various lung tissues. + + "(d) It impairs breathing." + + +III "Alcohol's effects upon the stomach: + + "(a) Produces chronic inflammation of the stomach. + + "(b) Injures the mucous lining by hardening the tissues. + + "(c) It destroys some of the small glands and impairs others. + + "(d) It precipitates the pepsin of the gastric juice, thus retarding + digestion. + + "(e) It thickens the mucus of the stomach. + + "(f) The action of the stomach is at first quickened by the presence + of alcohol, and then retarded." + + +IV "The effects of alcohol upon the liver may be: + + "(a) It produces a hardened condition of its tissues. + + "(b) Enlarges the organ. + + "(c) Compresses and lessens the cells for producing bile. + + "(d) Stimulates the liver to overaction, thus reducing the bile supply. + + "(e) It weakens and destroys the usefulness of this organ of digestion." + + +V "Effect of alcohol upon the blood and blood-vessels: + + "(a) It thins and coagulates the blood according to the amount of + alcohol. + + "(b) It hastens the circulation, thus weakening it. + + "(c) It prevents combustion. + + "(d) It impairs and destroys the corpuscles, thus affecting their + powers of transporting oxygen and carbonic acid gas. + + "(e) It weakens the arterial muscles by affecting the nerves governing + them." + + +VI "Effects of alcohol upon the brain and nerves are: + + "(a) It causes apoplexy and epilepsy by confusing the brain. + + "(b) It weakens the will and deadens the feelings. + + "(c) It hardens the brain tissues, producing dullness, insensibility, + and insanity. + + "(d) It destroys the nerve fiber of the brain. + + "(e) It temporarily stimulates and finally depresses this organ. + + "(f) It will at last destroy man, body and soul." + +"Alcohol leads every other drug in its far-reaching influence for +mischief and evil. Were the thousands of ruined homes, the untold +numbers of blasted lives, the sorrows, the sins, numberless crimes, +murders, and deaths brought in panoramic review before us, what a +hell-born picture it would be!" + +"The effect of alcohol upon the morals is awful. All delicacy, courtesy, +and self-respect are gone; the sense of justice and right is faint or +quite extinct. There is no vice into which the victim of drunkenness +does not easily slide; and no crime from which he can be expected to +refrain. Between this condition and insanity there is but a single +step." + +These are only a part of the many evils that come to the one who takes +alcohol into his system. We have already heard something about the +effects of nicotine, the poison that is in tobacco. The constant use of +either poison will impair the health of the strongest person. It saps +the mind of its reasoning qualities; and in nine cases out of ten, +leaves the victim without sufficient strength to seek and obtain his own +deliverance or to live a righteous life. But let us return now to John. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +Caught Unawares + + +At the age of eighteen John had come almost to the point of +discouragement. His health was so poor that he did not know a well +moment; and besides, his longing soul was still unsatisfied. He had +always desired to be good and kind to all; but he did not know how to +rise to a nobler plane of conduct than that on which he was living. He +judged men by their moral conduct, and not by their spiritual life. In +fact, he had very little, if any, comprehension of Christianity. He knew +of a few, like Farmer Z., who professed religion; but he was afraid of +these and he avoided their company. + +He had now and then, with a number of other boys about his own age, +visited some places where religious services were being held. But their +object in going was to have a good time; and they seldom remained long +enough to derive any good. On one of these occasions they went to a +small school house that was located a few miles from the town of C. +The meeting had been widely advertised, and a goodly number were in +attendance; and when John and his companions had taken their seats well +to the rear, there was only standing-room left. Curiosity was pictured +on every face; for the ministers (one elderly, the other young) were two +modestly dressed women, and lady preachers had never been heard of in +that part of the country. + +The singing was beautiful! John thought that the songs were sweeter +than any he had ever heard. When prayer was being offered, he listened +carefully to every word; and when he heard the ministers address God as +their Father, asking Him to direct them in all that they did and said, +and to prepare the hearts of the people to receive the truths that they +were about to speak, he was instantly filled with wonder and awe. + +After they rose from prayer, another song was sung; and then the elderly +lady began to address the people. As she read in a clear, sweet voice a +chapter from the Scriptures, John listened carefully. The account of the +woes pronounced upon the people who would not do right and the promises +made to those who would live right and were prepared to die, were truly +wonderful. Especially was he impressed with one verse she read, though +he realized very little of what it meant: "Therefore be ye also ready: +for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh." + +When this speaker took her seat, the other lady, a young, sweet-faced +girl, arose, and said a few words. After telling of how she had been +converted, and of how the Savior had ever since supplied all the +longings of her heart and had enabled her by his grace to live a life +that was pure and spotless, she spoke of her home in heaven; and then +she told the people that God would do the same for others as He had for +her--for everyone who would give up evil habits and forsake sin, and who +would love His Son, whom He had sent to the earth to suffer and die that +all people might be saved. John listened to every word; and as the girl +sat down, he thought, "Why, I would give everything that I have in the +world to be able to say such things about myself!" + +When making the announcements, the elderly lady said: "This meeting +will be continued for three weeks or more, and we want as many of you as +can to attend regularly; for there will be many portions of the Bible +explained, and we want everyone to learn what is the road to success and +to find out how to be truly happy." John at once decided that he would +attend every service; but since at the same time he felt an interest +similar to that which had inspired him to become a showman, he +remembered that bitter experience and ground his teeth. He was about to +change his decision to attend the meetings regularly, when he remembered +the words, "Therefore be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think +not, the Son of man cometh!" + +Instantly he beheld a great panoramic view of his past life, and many of +the evils that had never before appeared to him as sin were painted with +the blackest dyes. He had not meant to be wicked, but he suddenly +realized that his life had been wasted; and he concluded that he was not +ready to meet Christ. But John believed that Christ would come to the +earth, and he felt that he would give anything to be ready to meet Him. + +As John, whenever he was perplexed or troubled, had been in the habit +of doing, he reached down into his pocket and drew out a large plug of +tobacco and began biting off a piece to chew. But what was the matter? +The tobacco did not taste as it had in the past and it appealed to him +so differently. It was now actually disgusting and repulsive to him; and +he thought: "What a filthy habit! And to think of the time and money +that it has cost me! Why have I been so foolish?" + +The next instant he resolved that he would never again taste the horrid +stuff. And very soon a few scenes of things that happened when he was +under the influence of whisky came to his mind, and he shuddered. Never +again would he touch that stuff, he determined. In fact, the greater +part of the night John spent in reviewing his life; and he found that +the larger portion of the things he had been doing were things he would +not want to be found doing at the Savior's coming. + +The following day John could hardly wait until the time came when he +could again return to the little brown school house to hear more of the +beautiful story that had so charmed him. And night after night found +John in one of the seats in the rear of the building. It was not long +until he discovered the pathway to heaven; he saw it bathed with +heaven's sunshine and could see that it was for him to walk upon. +But the next thing was for him to make the start. + +It is one thing to decide that a certain thing is right and quite +another thing to take a stand (regardless of what anyone may think or +say) for the right. He had heard the preachers telling about the life of +a Christian, the Savior's love and death, and God's great mercy, night +after night for two weeks; but no invitation to come forward had been +given to those desiring to make a change in their manner of living. The +ministers desired that each one be given a full understanding of God's +plan of salvation so that none would take a step in the dark. + +John was fully decided to change his manner of living; but he did not +want to make any more mistakes. For this reason he restrained himself +from going to the motherly lady to inquire of her what he had better do. +His old desire to become a man had revived, but this time he desired to +be a man after God's own heart--pure and holy--like the one that God +created in the beginning. + +The time for an invitation to be given to the penitent finally came. +Upon entering the meeting house that evening John noticed a slight +change in the arrangement of the seats. The long row of chairs supplied +by kind-hearted neighbors to help in seating the people had been +removed, and a long, narrow bench had been put in their place. John +wondered at the change, but did not have to wonder long. An announcement +was soon made, stating that the bench was to serve as an altar, where +those who desired to be converted and who wanted to consecrate their +lives and services to God could gather for prayer. + +An explanation was also made to the effect that, though God is pleased +to see people humble themselves before Him, there was no virtue in the +wooden altar; it was simply a more convenient place to bow for prayer +than their seats would be. The services were shorter than usual; and +when the invitation to come forward was given to those who desired to +yield their hearts to God, John was ready. He longed to go; but although +he had learned a great many things, he was still uncertain just what was +meant by bowing at the altar; and as he wanted to do the right thing, he +decided to wait until he saw how the others would do. He did not have +long to wait; for a girl in front of him arose, went forward, and knelt +down beside the altar. This was enough for John, because it taught him +just what he desired to know; and he was soon kneeling beside her. That +night was indeed a wonderful time. One by one the people flocked to the +front part of the room; and John afterwards learned that many of his +friends and even those whom he thought would ridicule and make fun of +him, were among the number that, as himself, had sought and found pardon +for their sins. + +The invitation lasted a long time; and when it was ended, the ministers +knelt down among the penitent seekers, thanked God for the tender +mercies he had extended to the lost world, and prayed that those who +were at the altar might understand what true salvation is. After +praying, they explained carefully what it meant to be redeemed from all +sin, and told the seekers how God looked upon the sin-cursed world and +its awful wickedness, but also how He was so moved with tender love and +compassion that He sacrificed the brightest Gem of glory--even His only +begotten Son--to be a Redeemer for all who would believe on Him and turn +from their evil ways. + +The redemption price, they said, was great; but nothing less could have +proved so well God's great love for mankind. And they quoted from the +Bible, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, +that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting +life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; +but that the world through him might be saved" (John 3:16, 17); also, +"The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke +19:10). These words were as a soothing balm to John's aching heart. +Having been fully awakened to his awful condition and made to long for +the way of deliverance, he rejoiced as these rays of hope came streaming +down into his soul. + +One by one he recalled his sins--smoking and chewing tobacco, drinking +whisky and beer, stealing, lying, card-playing, betting, gambling, and +many other things; but these he had already given up. One thing only +came to his mind that caused him a struggle, and for a few moments it +seemed that he could not give that up. John loved to dance, and it had +seemed to him that there was nothing wrong with that pastime. Since he +knew none of the pleasures that the Christian enjoys, this was not +strange. Always he had danced just for the pleasure he derived from +dancing, and he considered dancing an innocent amusement. When, however, +he was made aware of the evils of dancing and the temptations it causes +boys and girls whose characters are weak, he could see how that to some +it might mean the loss of virtue; and, too, he found that much of his +suffering had been caused by the late hours that dancing and other +things had caused him to keep. Then he gladly bade adieu to the +dance-hall and all its trivial gaiety. + +After he had asked the Lord to pardon him for his transgressions, his +simple faith took hold of the promises and he received a clear witness +of his acceptance as a child of God. At last, after so many weeks and +months--yes, years--of dissatisfaction, he was indeed truly happy; and +the deep aching in his hungry heart was replaced by the Savior's love. +His companions, too, went away from that service rejoicing. Their +language, once so rough and vile, was now becoming to any Christian; +and the things that they had loved, no longer attracted their attention. +In fact, the entire neighborhood was changed; for many haunts of sin +and vice were entirely vacated. + +John soon found that it was his duty to make all of his wrongs right +as far as it lay in his power to do so; and this he gladly did. In many +instances he was surprised to see the effect that this act of obedience +had upon the ones concerned. Many, with tears in their eyes, exclaimed, +"John, I only wish that I possessed the joy in my own heart that I can +see written in your face!" + + + + +CHAPTER X + +A Child Again + + +No one could doubt the change in John's life; and many wondered how such +a thing could have been accomplished. But they did not realize that with +God all things are possible. How well it was for John that he discovered +before it was too late that he was a sinner, lost in God's sight, and +that it was necessary for him to forsake all of his evil ways and habits +if he would be freed from the binding chain of Satan! Each sinful habit +formed a link in the chain, and its strength could be measured only by +what it took to release him from its binding power. + +John was sorry to see the meetings close; and as he bade the sweet-faced +women farewell, he was loath to see them go, because of their Christian +influence. But life to him was no longer what it had been in the past. +With the poet, he had found that + + "Life is real! life is earnest. + And the grave is not its goal; + Dust thou art, to dust returnest + Was not spoken of the soul." + + +He procured a Bible and studied it diligently. He soon found that it was +a wonderful book, for what troubled him in one part was explained in +another. One day while reading in the tenth chapter of Mark, he found +to his surprise that, instead of his being a man, he was only a child, +a mere babe, in God's sight. John had expected to be changed and to be +different in every way, but he did not know that, in order to realize +his desire to be a "man after God's own heart," he must commence at the +beginning and be as a little child again. But he was willing; for he saw +how his past life had been completely wasted, and he was glad to begin +anew. + +In the second chapter of I Peter, John found much encouragement, also in +I Cor. 13:11, where he read: "When I was a child, I thought as a child: +but when I became a man, I put away childish things." Again he was +determined to become a man, and to develop as quickly as possible. From +that time on he availed himself of every opportunity to do good to all +mankind, and this was no hardship. His great whole-hearted nature made +him love to do good and to be a help to all who were in need. + +At other times John read the conversation between Christ and Nicodemus, +and the account of how Jesus thanked his heavenly Father for hiding His +truths from the wise and prudent and for revealing them to babes. John +was not long in perceiving the mystery concerning the new birth, for he +had gained the experience; and he thanked God that it had been revealed +to him. + +Once while studying the Word of God, John discovered that the twelfth +chapter of I Corinthians teaches that Christian people on the earth +represent Christ's spiritual body. As the natural body possesses many +members--hands, feet, eyes, ears, nose, etc.--each having its own +special work, just so the spiritual body of which He (Christ) is the +head has many members to carry on the Lord's work on the earth. And, as +in the human body, each member has its own work to do; similarly, in the +spiritual body, each member has his own work to perform. Some preach, +some teach, some perform miracles, some (perhaps all) pray for the sick, +and some do various other things, each as he is directed; but all work +in harmony. The members are all assigned their work and places in the +body by the directions of the heavenly Father. + +From reading the second chapter of Acts, John found that soon after +Christ ascended to heaven God sent His Holy Spirit to the earth to +superintend the work of the members of His Son's spiritual body, or +saved people, and that this same Holy Spirit is still guiding and +helping them. He also read in I John 2:15--"Love not the world, neither +the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love +of the Father is not in him." + +By reading further in the apostle John's epistle, John discovered that +there are many false spirits in the world that are trying to deceive +God's people and that it is often necessary to try the spirits to know +which is right. He saw that the test is love. If anyone loves God and +His Son, Jesus, more than anything else in the world, and feels as much +interest in his neighbor's welfare as in his own, that one can be sure +that he is God's own child. And Paul's letter to the Ephesians tells of +an armor that God has prepared for His people to wear that will enable +them to overcome all false spirits. + +A Sunday-school was soon started in the neighborhood and John was +chosen to be the teacher of the infant class. At first he tried to plead +his inability, but no one would listen to his excuses. He was glad +afterward; for he learned to love the little ones very dearly. While he +was meeting with the children Sunday after Sunday, he often thought of +many of the hard places through which he had passed when he was a child +and remembered that it was because he had not been warned that he had, +one step at a time, gone down until he was in misery and on the verge of +despair. So John sought to throw light on each one of these dangerous +places and to point out the dangers so clearly that the children could +plainly see and understand the wrong for themselves before they were +beguiled and then bound by Satan's chain of evil habits. In this way he +helped the children to escape many a snare by which they might otherwise +have been caught unawares. + +As the weeks sped by into months and John continued to unfold to the +tender questioning minds the hidden mysteries of the Bible, the adult +class became interested; and it was not long until they decided that +they needed him for their class more than the children did for theirs. +While he was teaching the advanced Bible class, his own understanding of +spiritual things was greatly broadened and strengthened, and he became +one on whom the entire congregation could lean and in whom they could +confide. + +On one occasion when the lesson was in the epistle of James, John found +by reading the fifth chapter of that book that Jesus is just as able and +ready to heal those who are sick as He was to relieve sufferers in days +gone by and that any who are afflicted may pray expecting to be healed. +He quickly applied the Scripture to himself, and began to pray thus: + +"Lord, thou seest how I am afflicted because of the sinful habits that +I formed in my childhood. Thou hast now taken from me the desire for +these things, but the suffering in my back and lungs is so intense. +Lord Jesus, heal me! Make me well, and I will work for Thee all the days +of my life!" + +God answered that prayer and made him strong and well; then he could say +with the Psalmist, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his +benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy +diseases." Oh, the goodness of the Lord to John! He felt that he never +could cease praising Him. + +The sad and lonely past, the days of his vain struggles to become +the man that his earthly father had desired him to be, could never be +compared to these days of happiness, the days when his desires to attain +to true manhood were being realized. His heart was lonely no longer. +He had a Friend who was dearer than a mother could have been. And he +felt that it is a wonderful privilege to be a member in Christ's body, +the church. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +How John Became a Man + + +As the news of John's wonderful conversion and of his work among the +people spread throughout the country, it reached the ears of Farmer Z, +in whose home John for the first time had attended family worship. The +kind-hearted man had never forgotten the boy who had endeavored to make +his escape to the barn rather than to come into the sitting-room at the +worship hour, and he felt a desire to have a good heart-to-heart visit +with John and to know just how he came to find the Lord. John was, +therefore, very much surprised one day to hear that this good gentleman, +of whom he had in the past been so fearful, was desiring to see him. But +he was glad; for he, too, had felt a great desire to talk with Farmer Z, +the one who was first to open his heart to a ray of heavenly sunshine. + +"I have been hearing wonderful stories about you of late, my boy," the +farmer said as John approached him; and as he took the young man's hand, +his hearty handshake sent the blood tingling through John's veins. +"Come," the farmer continued, "sit down and tell me what it was that +brought about the change. My boy, I understand that you are already +getting to be quite a preacher. Is it true?" + +"Well, Mr. Z," John modestly replied, "I hardly know what answer to +make, except that it was the work of my Savior. I am like the poor +beggar who was blind--'one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now +I see.' The same Jesus that healed the blind man has opened my spiritual +eyes, making me to see and understand what never before seemed +possible." + +Then as John related some of his Christian experiences, the farmer was +made to wonder at the loving-kindness and the great mercy of his God. + +"John," he said, as he looked into the beaming eyes of the young man and +noted the boyish face but manly form (for there was scarcely a trace +of the early dissipation left), "I see that you have found the genuine +article. God has worked a miracle in your life, and I guess he wants you +to go and tell the world about it. How is it, my boy? Do you feel like +preaching the gospel?" + +And then it was that John, in his simple, earnest manner, for which he +was so loved and admired, said: + +"Mr. Z, I feel as though some power within me is leading me about; and +I long to tell everyone I meet of the Jesus, who so loved the lost world +that He laid down His life upon the cross. It seems I can think of +little else." + +"That's it! That's it!" Farmer Z exclaimed; "God has put His Holy Spirit +in your heart and has called you into His harvest-field to go forth and +help spread the gospel. Go, my boy; and may God speed your footsteps in +ways crowned with blessings of success. I rejoice with you in your +calling and shall pray for you. When trials come your way--and they +will--remember that there is always a light in God's window for the +faithful, a light that will guide them safely home at last. Remember +also that He has said, 'Be thou faithful unto death.'" + +When the farmer bade John adieu, the sun had disappeared beyond the +horizon and the crimson shades were gathering in the western sky. The +landscape that stretched before him was beautiful. And while John was +not unconscious of these beautiful surroundings, by his inner vision, +which could not be limited by the vast prairie country with its varied +possibilities, he looked upon another scene far beyond--he saw the +heavenly city, the New Jerusalem, once beheld by the sainted John; +and he wondered what could be more grand and majestic. + +John had at last developed into a noble-hearted Christian, whose +greatest desire in life was to please his God, and to spend his time +wholly in God's service; and one day a few years later he stood on the +deck of a large Atlantic steamer and waved farewell to his friends on +the shore. He was bound for a far-distant land; God was sending him +as a missionary to carry the gospel to the people of another country. + +His large brown eyes, sorrowful no longer, were dimmed by tears of +farewell; but the tears only made them shine the brighter. They +witnessed to the gladness of his heart; and to the eagerness within +his bosom pushing him forward. + +John had at last become a man after God's own heart. + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12493 *** diff --git a/12493-h/12493-h.htm b/12493-h/12493-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4edda4d --- /dev/null +++ b/12493-h/12493-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2297 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of How John Became a Man, by Isabel C. Byrum</title> +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + body { margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%; } + p { text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: .75em; + font-size: 100%; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + .xlist { padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 95%; } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { text-align: center; } + hr { width: 50%; } + hr.full { width: 100%; } + .foot { margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 85%; } + .poem { margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left; } + .poem .stanza { margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em; } + .poem p { margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em; } + .poem p.i2 { margin-left: 1em; } + .toc { margin-left: 15%; font-size: 80%; margin-bottom: 0em;} + center { padding: 0.8em;} + .figure {padding: 1em; margin: 0; text-align: center; font-size: 0.8em; margin: auto;} + .figure img {border: none;} + .figure p + a:link {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + link {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + a:visited {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + a:hover {color:red} + pre {font-size: 9pt;} + + // --> +</style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12493 ***</div> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, How John Became a Man, by Isabel C. Byrum</h1> +<br> +<br> +<center><b>E-text prepared by Joel Erickson, Christine Gehring, David Garcia,<br> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team</b></center> +<br> +<br> +<hr class="full" size=5px noshade> +<br> +<br> + +<a name="image-0001"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="images/john-1.jpg" +alt="Learning to Pray"> +<br>Learning to Pray +</center> + +<div style="height: 2em;"><br><br></div> + +<h1> + HOW JOHN BECAME A MAN +</h1> +<center> + LIFE STORY OF A MOTHERLESS BOY +</center> +<center><b> + By +<br> + ISABEL C. BYRUM +</b></center> +<a name="2H_4_0001"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + Author's Preface +</h2> +<p> + In presenting this little volume, the author hopes that it may be useful + in suggesting to the minds of young boys the great wrong there is in + indulging in evil habits. +</p> +<p> + We read, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge," and this is + true concerning most boys who form habits that are harmful both to body + and soul. +</p> +<p> + The story of John's life is a true one; and his earnest prayer that it + may be the means of helping some boys from Satan's snares and prove a + blessing to them, I trust, will be answered. +</p> +<p style="text-align: right;"> + Isabel C. Byrum +</p> +<p> + Year 1917 +</p> + +<hr class="full"> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2>Contents</h2> + +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0001"> +Chapter I +</a> The Prairie Pasture</p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0002"> +Chapter II +</a> In the Sod Cellar</p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0003"> +Chapter III +</a> What the Big Chest Contained</p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0004"> +Chapter IV +</a> Early School Days</p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0005"> +Chapter V +</a> The Card Parties</p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0006"> +Chapter VI +</a> Visitors and Pastimes</p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0007"> +Chapter VII +</a> Leaving Home</p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0008"> +Chapter VIII +</a> With the Circus</p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0009"> +Chapter IX +</a> Caught Unawares</p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0010"> +Chapter X +</a> A Child Again</p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0011"> +Chapter XI +</a> How John Became a Man</p> + +<center><b>Illustrations</b></center> +<p class="toc"><a href="#image-0001"> +Learning to Pray +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#image-0002"> +Opening the Chest +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#image-0003"> +A Card-party +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#image-0004"> +Leaving the Old Homestead +</a></p> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<hr class="full"> + +<a name="2H_TOC"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h1> +HOW JOHN BECAME A MAN +</h1> + +<a name="2HCH0001"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER I +</h2> +<h3> + The Prairie Pasture +</h3> +<p> + Out on the prairie in one of the western states where buffaloes and + wild horses once had roamed at their pleasure and where cacti and + yuccas still thrived and bloomed could be seen a small two-story frame + building. There was nothing strange in this except that the house was + different from the average house of the plains; for at this particular + time the greater part of the dwellings were made of sod, mud, and brush. +</p> +<p> + The people, generally speaking, were of that type who think principally + of getting all the enjoyment from their every-day lives that it is + possible to obtain. There was, therefore, little thought among them of + the hereafter, when men must give an account of themselves before a just + and living God. In fact, the younger generation scarcely knew that there + was a God who took note of all their ways. +</p> +<p> + The building, so different from the ordinary dwellings upon the prairie, + was the home of a tiny lad named John. It was a happy home; for both + his parents were living, and the love that bound their hearts together + brought peace and happiness to each member of the little household. But + could this happy group have known of the presence of a grim monster just + outside the door, who at that very moment was seeking an entrance, their + joy would have given place to sorrow. Death was soon to destroy the + light and comfort of that home. The devoted wife and mother was not + strong; and after a severe illness lasting but a few short days, her + spirit left the ones she loved and her lifeless body was carried to + its last resting place in the cemetery a few miles away. +</p> +<p> + Little John was, of course, too young to realize the true meaning of the + change; but that something dreadful had happened he very well knew, and + his large pathetic eyes spoke the grief that he did understand and could + not express. During the three years of his short life he had known the + care of a tender, loving mother, whose ambitions were high and noble. + Although not a Christian, she had often expressed her wish that her + little brown-eyed boy might grow up to be an honor to his father and + mother, and a blessing to his country. After her death his papa's eyes + were often filled with tears, for he loved and pitied his little boy. +</p> +<p> + One evening when the lights were dim and the hands of the clock were + pointing to the bedtime hour, John felt his father's arms tenderly + encircled about him and heard him softly saying: "My little John, we are + left all alone now, and you must hurry up and become a man as soon as + you can; for I need you to help me. Mama has gone away and left us, and + she cannot teach you the things that she had planned that you should + know; so we will have to do the best that we can, but you must help me. + First of all, I want you to learn how to pray; for there is a God in + heaven, who made you, and of whom your mother expected to tell you. + Before Him we should bow down and pray every night before we go to + sleep." +</p> +<p> + "Does He hear all the words we say?" asked little John in an awed tone, + quite unable to comprehend his father's meaning, "and does He look at us + when we are asleep?" +</p> +<p> + "Yes," his father answered; "God sees and knows everything. Now, I will + tell you the short prayer that I used to say when I was a little boy + like you—the prayer that my mother taught me." +</p> +<p> + Thus it was that John, kneeling beside his little bed repeated the + prayer that has been lisped by thousands of other baby voices: +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> "Now I lay me down to sleep;</p> + <p> I pray thee, Lord, my soul to keep.</p> + <p> If I should die before I wake,</p> + <p> I pray thee, Lord, my soul to take."</p> +</div></div> +<p> + As the days and weeks sped by, John thought often of his dear mama and + wished that he might see her; but he as often would recall his father's + words to be a little man, and with all his strength he endeavored to be + what he considered a man ought to be. But although he tried, in his + childish way, to be one, he was often very lonely; and had it not been + for frequent visits to his uncle's home, several miles distant, he would + have missed his precious mother even more than he did. While at his + uncle's, he could play with his two cousins, Will and Charley. At last + it was decided that it would be best for John and his father to go and + make their home with the uncle until John was older. +</p> +<p> + Now Charley was just about John's age; but as Charley was a cripple, + John had chosen Will, who was several years the oldest, to be his + closest friend and companion. Regardless of these facts, however, the + three boys generally played together. Their playground was the vast + dooryard extending far out over the prairie. +</p> +<p> + In time they were given the responsibility of herding the cows. To herd + the cows meant to see that the cattle did not wander about in the + neighborhood corn, wheat, and barley fields that were scattered about + here and there over the prairies and that were in but few instances + fenced, and to see that they were driven to some water-place at certain + intervals and were brought home at the milking hour. +</p> +<p> + The watering places were known as "buffalo-wallows," for they had been + made by the buffalos in wallowing. These basins were usually kept filled + with water by the rains. Some of the "wallows," or "ponds," were rather + deep, and were treacherous because of sudden "drop-offs"; but they were + usually shallow, and it was generally safe for the children to play + along the edge. +</p> +<p> + After the first sharp edge of his grief was dulled, John's father did + not feel it so keenly his duty to instruct his child and to teach him + to reverence his Creator; and when John was about six years of age, the + father was kept so busy with his work that he had but little time to + spend with the child. John's aunt, too, although a good woman, was too + much occupied with housekeeping to do her duty by her own two boys, much + less by a third. So John and his cousins had spent nearly all of the + three years that they had been together in doing as they pleased, and in + finding as much enjoyment in living as it was possible for them to find. + It was, therefore, not strange that they had learned and invented many + new ways to get amusement, and that some of these were evil; for Satan, + as he always does in such cases, had lent them a helping hand. +</p> +<p> + The work of attending to the cows did not, of course, occupy nearly all + their time, and the boys found it great sport to play around the wallows + and in them. +</p> +<p> + On one occasion Will said: +</p> +<p> + "Say, boys, did you ever hear the story about the man who walked upon + the water? I don't remember just how the story went; but I heard + somebody say that the man's name was Jesus, and that another man got out + of a boat to go and meet Him. The first fellow did all right, but the + second one came very near drowning because he looked down at the water. + Maybe he wanted to see how deep the water was, and I guess he would have + got drowned if they hadn't been close to the shore. Now, I am going to + do like Jesus did. Want to see me?" +</p> +<p> + Naturally both the boys wanted to see him perform a feat like that, and + Will quickly scampered into the water. Now, the wallow was very shallow + all the way across, and Will was soon on the opposite side. The smaller + boys, not knowing the depth of the water, supposed that it was deep and + that Will had actually done some marvelous thing. Will did not know that + he was doing wrong by speaking lightly of one of the Savior's miracles; + for he had never been in Sunday-school, and his parents had not taught + him the sacredness of the words and acts of the Savior. He simply wanted + to play a joke on his companions. +</p> +<p> + The smaller boys talked the matter over when they were alone, and John + said: +</p> +<p> + "Say, Charley, what do you suppose held Will up the other day on that + water? That wallow must have been deep out in the middle. Let's try it + some time for ourselves when Will isn't around. I believe we could do it + as well as he did." +</p> +<p> + Charley was agreed, and the two smaller lads watched their chance. One + day when Will was not with them, they chose a wallow that they thought + would answer their purpose. "I'll go first," Charley said, and he + hurried forward as rapidly as his little crippled limb could carry him, + to the water's edge and out into the pond. +</p> +<p> + Suddenly poor little Charley disappeared. John saw his cousin as he + went down into the deep water, and realized his danger. He knew that + something must be done and done at once, and with a bound he sprang in + after his companion. He did not, however, go beyond the shallow water, + and when his cousin came to the surface, he reached out his hand and + caught him by the hair; and as Charley had not lost the power to help + himself, he was soon able, by John's assistance, to scramble to a place + of safety. +</p> +<p> + The boys decided that they would say nothing about the accident; and as + they remained away from the house long enough for Charley's clothing to + dry, no questions were asked. But was the scene unnoticed? No. He who + notes the sparrow's fall was watching over these little boys; He had not + forgotten John's little prayer that had been taught him by his father. + God was caring for these little untaught children in that vast prairie + pasture. +</p> +<a name="2HCH0002"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER II +</h2> +<h3> + In the Sod Cellar +</h3> +<p> + Almost without exception the homes on the prairies were provided with + sod cellars. Even the few modern dwellings in the community in which + John's uncle lived were not without these old-fashioned cellars, which + served as a protection in times of storms and tornadoes. The cellars + served also as places in which to store the fruits and vegetables for + winter use. And very often, too, a large quantity of tobacco leaves that + had been dried and kept back when the summer's crop was sold could be + discovered in one of these places. +</p> +<p> + The home of John's uncle was provided with just such a cellar—a deep + hole dug in the ground and covered over with a dense roofing of brush, + mud, and sod. Within this cellar a large supply of tobacco leaves had + been stored. John had been in the cellar many times. He knew the tobacco + was there, and he knew to what use his uncle put the tobacco. He knew + also that his cousin Will both chewed and smoked the leaves, but it had + not occurred to him that he himself could do so. +</p> +<p> + The reason why he had not thought of using it was perhaps that his + father had once told him that the using of tobacco was a bad habit and + urged him to let it alone. But the fact that he had not been tempted did + not guarantee that he would not be; the fact that he had no appetite for + tobacco did not conclusively prove that he would never acquire one; nor + did the fact that he had been told to let tobacco alone warrant that he + would need no further watching—for an unforeseen temptation was lurking + near. +</p> +<p> + One day when John went into the cellar with his cousin Will, his cousin + filled a pipe with the leaves and offered it to him, bidding him smoke. + John shook his head, and said that he did not want to smoke, for his + father had said that using tobacco was a bad habit and that it would + ruin his health. +</p> +<p> + "Then, why does he use it himself?" Will reasoned. "Do you suppose that + he would use it if he thought that it was going to hurt him? Now, John, + look here; you said that you wanted to become a man. Here's your chance. + If you get to where you can smoke a pipe, chew tobacco, and spit, in the + way that your father and my dad do, you will be a man. Just some folks' + saying that it is a bad habit doesn't need to make any difference with + you." +</p> +<p> + As John thought over his cousin's words, they did seem reasonable, and + he remembered that all the men he had ever seen used tobacco. So he + decided that, if he expected to be a man himself, he must soon begin to + use it, too. He therefore accepted the pipe and began to puff vigorously + at the stem. But try as he would, he couldn't make the pretty little + curls of smoke mount up into the air as he had watched his father and + other men do. Very soon, however, a deathly sickness began to steal over + him. His head and stomach hurt, and he could scarcely help falling down + on the floor of the cellar. +</p> +<p> + "O Will," he said, as he gave the pipe to his cousin, "I am so sick! + Let's get out of here. I feel as though I was going to die!" And John + started in an attempt to find the opening through which he had entered + the cellar, but to his surprise and terror he could not find it. +</p> +<p> + "O Will," he said, "this is all your fault! You know I didn't want to + smoke. I wish now that I hadn't listened to you. Father said tobacco + would make me sick, but I didn't know it would be so bad as this. Tell + me, does it always make people sick? and do they ever die?" +</p> +<p> + "Yes, it usually makes them pretty sick," Will answered. "But they + always get over it; and each time they smoke, they get more used to it, + or something, and after a while they don't get sick at all. Look at me. + It never makes me sick, but it did at first. Surely you can stand a + little sickness when you know that it is going to make a man of you!" +</p> +<p> + John concluded that under those circumstances he could endure his + suffering. But he did not try to smoke any more that morning. With + Will's assistance he found the doorway of the cellar and went out where + the air was more pure. Gradually, he began to feel better. When dinner + time came, however, he did not care to eat; but he kept repeating to + himself, "It won't be this way long, and I can afford to suffer if it + will make a man of me." How sad to think that one so young should be + so deceived! +</p> +<p> + Could someone have taught him then that the sick feeling that had so + distressed him was caused by the strong poison contained in the tobacco, + it might have encouraged him never to touch it again. Had his father + explained that every pound of tobacco contains three hundred and twenty + grains of this poison, one grain of which will kill a large dog in about + three minutes; or told him the story of how a man once ran a needle and + thread that had been dipped in the poison through the skin of a frog and + of how the frog in a few moments began to act like a drunken person, + vomited, and hopped about as fast as possible, and then laid down, + twitched for a moment in agony, and died; or informed him that many + people become insane just through the use of tobacco, John might have + yet been influenced to leave the poisonous stuff alone—but perhaps his + father did not know. Anyway, John was left without this much-needed + information. +</p> +<p> + Boys who are not properly warned of the danger of tobacco-using are to + be pitied more than blamed if they indulge; but their ignorance does not + lessen the harm and the evils wrought. When the poison gets into the + system, it affects the most vital organs; it undermines that strength + and destroys that beauty which ornament true manhood and which assure an + individual of success. Besides, the continued using causes the indulger + to form a habit that cannot be easily overcome. +</p> +<p> + John, being not fully warned of the dreadful consequences of using + tobacco, and yet determined to become a man, kept on smoking until he + so accustomed his system to the shock that he felt satisfied he was + becoming a conqueror and would soon be able to show his father that + he was now a man. +</p> +<p> + During the time that John was undergoing such severe temptation, his + father was very busy. He realized that his child needed more instruction + than he was receiving and that Will's influence over John was not good; + but just what advice to give, he hardly knew. Once he thought that he + could smell tobacco smoke on his boy's clothing so calling John to his + side, he said: +</p> +<p> + "John, I feel that I must tell you something more about certain bad + habits that so many boys form while they are young. You remember I told + you that smoking and chewing tobacco ruin many a life. Now, I am not + going to say that you cannot use tobacco; but I wish that for my sake, + as well as for your own, you would let it alone, for it is indeed a very + bad habit." +</p> +<p> + To this advice John made no reply; for an appetite was being formed, + and in his heart he decided to keep right on. It would have been better + could his father have remembered the temptations of his own boyhood + days. He might then have more fully realized how next to impossible it + is for a parent to availingly teach his child to do something without + first setting before the child an example that is worthy of imitation. + Could he have helped his little son to understand the true meaning of + manhood and the necessity of building up within himself in youth a + noble, honest, and always-to-be-depended-upon character, as well as the + need of developing a strong body, he might have laid a foundation upon + which John could have later safely builded. +</p> +<p> + John dearly loved his father and wanted to please him. And to his mind + he could best please his father by as quickly as possible becoming a + man. So, with the thought of early manhood ever before him, he felt + that, in using tobacco, he was doing right. And then, too, Charley had + learned to smoke and chew, and it would be very hard indeed to be near + the boys and not to join in with them. +</p> +<p> + By the time that John had passed his seventh birthday, the small amount + of tobacco that was kept in the cellar was not sufficient to fill the + demand of the three boys without too rapidly diminishing the uncle's + supply, and the boys decided to look elsewhere. +</p> +<p> + Now, John's aunt had at one time explained to the boys that lying and + stealing are wrong; but she had not made it clear that deceiving is + lying and that taking little things that did not belong to them, even + though they took the things from some member of the family, is stealing, + and that just such thefts lead to the greater crimes that send men and + women to prison. Instead, she gave the advice in such a way that, though + they were impressed with a horror of stealing, the boys could only in + part comprehend her meaning. But because she had warned them, she felt + that she had done her duty and that they ought to know right from wrong + in regard to that matter without further explanation. +</p> +<p> + She did not realize that it was her duty to watch, encourage, and + advise, and also to find out when mischief was being planned. In fact, + this aunt and mother, busy with her own cares, knew nothing of the + possibilities for a child whose confidence and love had been won, and + who, through loving counsel, had gained a knowledge of evils and their + effects before he had formed ruinous habits or his mind had been + polluted with false ideas. Being thus left to themselves to discern as + best they could the difference between right and wrong, the boys nearly + always chose the wrong; and as a result, constantly went deeper and + deeper into sinful things. +</p> +<a name="2HCH0003"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER III +</h2> +<h3> + What the Big Chest Contained +</h3> +<p> + Great sins always have a beginning; the first attempts to do evil are + not hard to check if taken in time, but if allowed to be carried out, it + is impossible to tell what the results may be. How sad it was that John + and his cousins did not have someone to check them! +</p> +<p> + The boys now decided to keep close watch, and to avail themselves of + every opportunity to procure tobacco, even if they were forced to steal + it. The word "steal" had, of course, a certain horror to John because + of the picture his aunt had described of a prison and a thief; but he + soothed his conscience by saying, "There isn't anything else in the + world except tobacco that I would think of stealing." But the stealing + habit, like the tobacco habit, continues to grow stronger, unless it + is in some way broken. As tobacco contains a poison that affects the + physical being, so in a similar manner lying and stealing have a ruinous + effect upon the moral nature. The three—lying, stealing, and tobacco + using—too often go hand in hand. +</p> +<p> + The first effort of the boys to secure the much-coveted tobacco was made + one day when they, while roaming about over the prairie, discovered a + man hard at work in a field. The man seemed to be lifting something that + was very heavy, and Will suggested to the boys that they go and lend + their services provided the man would give them each a chew of his + tobacco in return; and Will did not forget to add that they must each + take as generous a bite as their mouths could accommodate. The man was + glad to accept their help; and together with his own efforts, the work + was soon finished. Then, in fulfillment of his agreement, he handed them + his plug of tobacco that they might each take the "chew" he had promised + them. +</p> +<p> + According to Will's suggestion the boys did not stop with an ordinary + chew; but each took all that his mouth would contain. When they returned + the plug, it was so small that the boys were all afraid the man would + find fault with them; so they hurried away from the spot as rapidly as + possible. As soon as they were far enough away, they removed the tobacco + from their mouths; and they found that, by taking very small chews at + a time, the amount was sufficient to last them for some time. Several + times they succeeded in securing tobacco in this way, and by economizing + were able to get along pretty well for a while. But the plan did not + always work; for the neighbors' becoming aware of the scheme, prepared + themselves with a small piece of tobacco to offer the greedy boys. +</p> +<p> + After that, in order to secure their tobacco, they were often forced + to pick up partly-chewed quids, found where they had been thrown away + by the owners. These the boys usually washed; sometimes, however, in + their eagerness they could not wait to attend to even this amount of + cleanliness, but crammed the tobacco into their mouths just as they had + found it. Even cigar stubs; in fact, everything in the form of tobacco, + that had been thrown away, they eagerly gathered and used to satisfy + their ravenous appetites. +</p> +<p> + With a foundation now laid for both lying and stealing and with their + consciences dulled, the boys were constantly laying plans to gratify + their evil desires. Many a pocket they robbed of its contents if it + happened to contain tobacco in any form. But this was a slow process at + best; even under the most favorable circumstances it yielded them but + very little returns for their efforts. But one day Will informed the + boys that he had made a discovery—that he had found out that there was + a lot of plug tobacco in the big chest in his father's room. "Now, if we + could think up some way to get into that chest when the old folks are + gone away to town," he suggested, "we could get all the chewing tobacco + we would want for a long while. I thought I would watch and see where + Dad put the key, but he took it with him. Guess he carries it with him + everywhere he goes. I wonder if we couldn't manage in some way to break + the lock. My, but I tell you we could get a big haul! I wonder if we + hadn't better try it some day when the old folks go to town?" +</p> +<p> + "Hooray, that's just it!" shouted the smaller boys in the same breath. +</p> +<p> + And John asked quickly: "When will they go to town again? This is only + Wednesday." +</p> +<p> + "It won't be long, I'm sure," Will answered reassuringly. "They'll go + either Friday or Saturday sure. But we'll have to get busy and think out + a way to break that lock. My, but won't the old man be mad when he finds + out about it! We'll have to act just as if we couldn't see how on earth + such a thing could have happened." +</p> +<p> + "Yes; and we'll have to hide the tobacco good, or Pa might find it," + chimed in Charley. +</p> +<p> + "Hey, Will," John exclaimed in a hurried undertone—for all the boys had + learned to speak low when mentioning their plans—"if we could take the + hinges off from the back of the chest, we wouldn't have to break the + lock at all." +</p> +<p> + "Why, John, that's just it! How in the world did you think of that + scheme?" Will exclaimed, as he slapped his little cousin on the back. "I + say, my boy, you had better look out or you'll be a man before your big + cousin! It doesn't matter, you know, about the height, if you have the + sense." +</p> +<p> + Now, John (although so young) was quite ingenious; and he often + suggested ideas that, for their shrewdness, were far beyond his years. + For such he was always praised by Will, and was encouraged to make other + plans. +</p> +<p> + Being encouraged by his cousin's praise, the child's brain became even + more active, and he said, "If we just cut a little piece from each plug, + Uncle won't be so apt to miss the tobacco." +</p> +<p> + "That's just it again!" emphatically assented Will. "I declare, John, + you surprise me! And now, we must have everything all ready so that + the minute they leave we can get busy. Let's see, what'll we need? + A screw-driver—and will we need a hammer?" +</p> +<p> + "We'll need a real sharp knife to cut the tobacco," John suggested. +</p> +<p> + "I'll get the things ready," Charley volunteered; and so they planned + and waited for the time to come when they could carry out their scheme. +</p> +<p> + The time came on the following Saturday. Early in the morning the uncle + and aunt drove away in the "buckboard," and were on their way to the + city where they were to do their trading. All three of the boys had been + unusually anxious to help their elders get started, forgetting in their + eagerness that they might be thus revealing some of their plans. + Scarcely did they give the uncle and aunt time to disappear in the + distance before they had commenced their evil work. +</p> +<p> + "Here's the tools," Charley said, as he brought forth the screw-driver, + hammer, and sharp knife. "Where shall I put them?" +</p> +<p> + "Oh, anywhere so they'll be handy!" Will told him; and then the three + boys hastened to the room containing the chest and were soon kneeling on + the floor, examining carefully the object of their interest. +</p> +<p> + The chest, a long, narrow, flat box somewhat darkened with age, was + closed and securely fastened; and the tiny padlock that hung from its + side seemed to say, "If you please, I am here to protect my master's + property from the hand of any thieves; and to the extent that it is + within my power, I shall perform my duty." Its bold front and defiant + appearance did not, however, daunt the purpose of the boys. After giving + it a brief examination, they slipped around to the opposite side of the + chest, and by the aid of the screw-driver, removed the lower half of the + rusty hinges. +</p> +<p> + "Thank goodness, this chest is old!" Will exclaimed as he brushed from + his forehead the large beads of perspiration. "If these screws turned + any harder, I never could get them out. Guess we'll earn our tobacco + this time all right!" +</p> +<a name="image-0002"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="images/john-2.jpg" +alt="Opening the Chest"> +<br>Opening the Chest +</center> + +<p> + Scarcely had the last screw been removed when up came the lid; and + almost instantly three pairs of eager eyes were greedily gazing down + upon the contents of the wooden chest. There were in it a package of + old letters, various articles of clothing, a few trinkets, etc.; but + only that part of the contents that was carefully packed in one corner + claimed the attention of the boys. This, a pile of long brown strips, + or plugs, of tobacco, was what they wanted; and soon Will was busily + engaged in cutting a narrow slice from each plug and John and Charley + were dividing the slices into three equal parts. But in their haste and + excitement, none of the boys forgot to fill their mouths with the filthy + stuff, and to chew while they worked. +</p> +<p> + As Will cut a piece from the last plug, he glanced about over the piles + and said with a look of satisfaction: "Now that ain't so bad, is it, + boys? That ought to last quite a spell; and when it's gone, we can come + back here, or maybe something else will turn up." And then, when he saw + the boys rearranging the tobacco in the chest, he said, "Look out there! + You'll have to get everything just like it was, or we'll be caught and + have had our fun for nothing!" When the chest was repacked, the last + screw in its place, and the tiny scraps of tobacco that had fallen upon + the floor had been carefully preserved, the boys looked at one another + with satisfaction, and Will said, "That's a pretty slick job all right, + if I do say so; and its a lot better than breaking the lock would have + been. I'll tell you it takes some brains to do up a thing like that, + and it makes me feel as if I'd like more of them." +</p> +<p> + To this John smiled and said: "Hey, Will, do you know what's in that + trunk?" John referred to a large trunk that was sitting near the bed + on the opposite side of the room. +</p> +<p> + "Couldn't tell you all that's in it, but it's locked; and it's in that + trunk that Dad keeps his revolvers. There's two of them, because I saw + inside the trunk the other day." And then as the new thought presented + itself to his mind, he exclaimed, "I wonder why we couldn't get into + that trunk the same as we did the chest?" +</p> +<p> + In a twinkling, all the boys were examining the trunk, but to their + dismay, they found that the hinges, instead of being on the outside of + the trunk, were arranged differently, and they could not get at them. + Again it was John who suggested a plan whereby they could accomplish + their desires. "Just take a nail," he said, "and turn the head of it + around in the lock. I've watched my father do that, and he gets his + open every time." +</p> +<p> + The trunk, which was an old one, yielded quickly to the efforts made + by the boys; and upon raising the lid, they saw before them two shining + weapons that were supposed to have been carefully hidden away from their + inexperienced fingers. John and Will each quickly caught one up in his + hand; and Will began handling his as though it were a toy, but not so + did John. +</p> +<p> + John's father had taught him something of the dangers connected with the + handling of a gun or revolver. Besides, John was at one time present + when a duel was fought; and on that occasion one of the duelists was + killed. The memory of that incident and of his father's warnings, made + John very careful about pointing the revolver at either of his cousins. + It was, therefore, with intense fear that John looked into the barrel + of his cousin's revolver as Will snapped it, aimlessly pointing in his + direction; and John exclaimed, "Turn that thing away, or you'll shoot + me." +</p> +<p> + Will's answer was: "You needn't be afraid, John. This revolver isn't + loaded." +</p> +<p> + But John, seeing his cousin's careless attitude, was afraid; and he + dodged down behind a barrel of carpet-rags near which he had been + standing. It was well that John did not longer remain where he had been; + for the revolver contained a solitary load, and the frequent pulling of + the trigger discharged this. The bullet passed the very spot where John + had a moment before been standing, and lodged itself deep in the side of + the trunk. +</p> +<p> + This experience marked an awakening-time in all of the boys' lives; at + that moment their consciences, which had almost fallen asleep, were + aroused, and in startling phrases gave them accounts of their evil + deeds. With great haste the boys returned the weapons to their former + hiding place, relocked the trunk, and in so far as it was possible, + covered all the traces of the accident. Then, with hearts full of guilty + thoughts, the three boys hastened from the place where a scene of horror + had very nearly been enacted. +</p> +<p> + Out in the open, where the air was fresh and pure, their spirits to a + certain degree revived. But their usual laughter, fun, and merry-making + had been dampened; and as they wended their way to the prairie + pasture-land, few words were passed between them. Poor little misguided + boys! warned, and yet left so ignorant of what was the right and the + wrong way. +</p> +<p> + Through the voice of conscience God endeavored to speak to John and to + tell him that his ways were evil and that he and his cousins would some + day get into serious trouble if they continued in the way they were + going; but, although he was sad, he could not understand. He wanted to + be a good boy for his father's sake (for his father was the best friend + he knew); and most of all he desired to become the man that that parent + had wished him to be. John's disregard for his father's warnings from + time to time had been due to the fear that, if he obeyed, his early + manhood would be hindered. +</p> +<p> + Could that father have given his little son an object-lesson such as an + aged monk once, while walking through a forest, gave his scholar, John + might have been spared much suffering. The monk, stepping before four + plants that were close by, pointed to the first, a plant just beginning + to peep above the ground; to the second, one well-rooted in the earth; + to the third, a small shrub; and to the fourth, a full-sized tree. +</p> +<p> + Then turning to his young companion, he said, "Pull up the first." This + the boy easily did. +</p> +<p> + "Now, pull up the second." The youth obeyed, but not with so much ease. +</p> +<p> + "And now the third." This time before the boy succeeded in uprooting the + plant, he had to put forth all his strength and to use both his arms. +</p> +<p> + "And now," said his master, "try your hand on the fourth." But although + the lad grasped the trunk of the tree in his arms, he scarcely shook its + leaves; and he found it impossible to tear its roots from the earth. + Then the wise old man explained the meaning of the four trials. +</p> +<p> + "This, my son," he said, "is just what happens to our bad habits and + passions. When they are young and weak, we can by a little watchfulness + and by a little discipline, easily tear them up; but if we let them cast + their roots deep down into our souls, no human power can uproot them. + Only the almighty hand of the Creator can pluck them out. For this + reason, my boy, watch your first impulses." +</p> +<p> + Or, could John have heard the story of the giant who fell in with a + company of pigmies, he might have taken a different course. The giant + roared with laughter at the insignificant stature and wonderful + boastings of the pigmies. He ridiculed their threats when they told what + they expected to do to him; but when he fell asleep that night, he was + at their mercy. And he did not know until he awoke in the morning that + while he was asleep these tiny people of whom he had made sport had + bound him with innumerable threads and that he was their helpless + captive. But John knew nothing of these stories or of other things that + teach the lessons he so much needed; and perhaps his father did not + know, so that he could tell his son what he should have been told. +</p> +<p> + The use of tobacco is an evil. When God made tobacco and pronounced it + good, He did not mean for it to go into the mouth of any man or woman, + much less into the mouths of children. Tobacco is a deadly poison; and + the constant use of any poison must injure the body of the one who uses + it. When it has sapped the strength from both the mind and the body, it + leaves the individual weakened in every way and makes it harder for him + to live a good, pure life. +</p> +<p> + No person who uses tobacco may be said to be perfectly well. Such a + person may not realize how his health is impaired, because the stupor + that the poison produces numbs his sensibilities; but the very appetite + he has for tobacco is in itself a disease. In order for an habitual user + to realize the harm that tobacco is doing to his health, he has simply + to stop its use for a short time and watch the effect on his system. +</p> +<p> + Tobacco is not a food that God intended man to eat. In man's case it + feeds only a craving that it has itself created. But the leaves of the + tobacco plant do serve as food for the large, green worms that live and + thrive in tobacco fields. Yes; tobacco is "very good" for the "creeping + things" for which it was created; but it was not intended as food for + man. +</p> +<p> + Could John and his cousins have understood all this when the next + tobacco famine came to them, it seems that each would surely have + resisted the temptation to stoop down, pick up a partly chewed quid of + tobacco, cram it greedily into his watering mouth, and chew it as though + it was the sweetest morsel he had ever tasted. But the boys did not + know. They thought such things were manly. +</p> +<a name="2HCH0004"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER IV +</h2> +<h3> + Early School Days +</h3> +<p> + By the time John was eight years old, the evil influences with which he + had been surrounded in his uncle's home were rapidly telling on him. To + be sure, there was still the same pathetic expression in his deep, brown + eyes, and now and then there could be observed in them a mischievous + glance or a merry twinkle; but his general appearance was that of a + sadly neglected child. Still the busy aunt took little notice either + of him or of her own boys. +</p> +<p> + In his heart John was longing for someone to take an interest in him and + to love him—someone to whom he could go with his boyish heartaches and + from whom he could gain the sympathy for which his heart was craving. + To be sure, his father was still kind, and sometimes John would imagine + that he could even feel his father's love. At such times the boy would + press closer to his parent, hoping that he would at least with his arm + caress him; but his father did not understand. He could see only the + outward roughness; and he said in his heart: +</p> +<p> + "It is all because he has never had a chance. He has grown up here on + the prairie like a wild thing. He has never been to school, and I must + send him at once." +</p> +<p> + With this purpose in his heart John's father decided to return with his + child to the place that had once been his happy home. In making the + change there were, of course, many things to take into consideration. + But under the circumstances, to go seemed the best and proper thing to + do. The sad events, he reasoned, were all in a lifetime; and he must + make the best of them. The home would for a time seem desolate, he knew, + but he thought that perhaps they could become used to it; anyway, his + boy must be in school. The school terms would not be long (for only + three or four months of each year were set apart for school purposes); + but even these short terms would be better than none. +</p> +<p> + To John the change meant more. The five years that he had spent in the + home of his uncle had made his cousins seem to him like brothers; but + still, as he considered his father's plans, he thought, "Perhaps it may + be all right." His aunt was very kind while John and his father were + preparing to move; and the day they bade her good-by she said such sweet + things that he wanted to throw his arms about her neck. To his mind it + was the very way in which his own dear mother would have spoken had she + been alive. +</p> +<p> + When all was ready for the departure, the aunt said: "John, here are the + two little turkeys that you have liked so well all summer. You may take + them with you. They will help you to forget that you are alone when your + father is away at his work"; and she handed him a small covered basket. + Then the wagon containing their few belongings moved away from the place + that for nearly five years they had called their home. +</p> +<p> + As they wended their way along the thoroughfare, they saw men at work in + the fields. Some were shucking corn and tossing the bright golden ears + into wagons that were placed between the rows for that purpose, while + others were hauling the grain to their barns to store it away for the + winter's use. The broad corn leaves rustling in the wind seemed to + whisper, "Winter is coming with his cold, bleak storms to rob the earth + of her summer splendor; but he will bring his beautiful coverlet of snow + to protect her fields and to prepare them for the coming year." +</p> +<p> + The foliage on the small bushes that were scattered here and there + was fading; but the air was still soft and mild. Near the willows + might still be seen the bending goldenrods, asters, and sunflowers. + And occasionally blue smoke could be seen curling up from some + sod-house chimney. +</p> +<p> + It was evening when the father and his son drove up to the door of their + long-desolate home; the sun was sinking lower and lower in the west. A + few soft glimmers of its mellow light lingered timidly about the doorway + as if to bid the home-comers welcome, and then they were gone. A rabbit, + hopping boldly about in the neglected doorway, stopped suddenly as if + to ask why these people had come to a place that she had chosen for her + home; and some prairie dogs that had formed a colony close by anxiously + watched from the entrance of their underground homes to see what was + going on. +</p> +<p> + John and his father, each absorbed with his own thoughts, sprang from + the wagon, and soon began to air out the musty house and to rearrange + the furniture that had long been idly awaiting their return. After a + while John found that his aunt had not forgotten that he would be very + hungry, and soon he was sampling some large bread-and-meat sandwiches; + his father, too, came for his share. Thus quickly passed the first + evening in their old home. But before John retired to his own bed, he + saw that his little turkeys received some attention; and in the morning + he let them have their freedom. +</p> +<p> + As the days sped by and lengthened into weeks and months, John would + have indeed been lonely had it not been for his little pets, the + turkeys. They received his earliest attention in the morning, and it + was their little beaks that touched his cheek the last thing before he + retired at night; and to himself alone was their roosting-place known. +</p> +<p> + How different everything seemed to John in his new home! The change from + knowing nothing but perfect freedom in God's great open out-of-doors to + being left alone to hustle off to school in the early morning hours, + where he must sit like a statue and prepare humdrum lessons, was to John + a wonderful change. John, however, was determined to make the very best + of his lot and to do all that he could to please his teacher. +</p> +<p> + Allowing this purpose to govern his life, John's conduct was such that + he became in a very short time the favorite pupil in the school; and his + kindly, generous, and ambitious nature won him many friends. He was soon + noted for his witty remarks, made in a manner so droll and unpretentious + that often merry bursts of laughter were heard from his teacher as well + as his playmates. +</p> +<p> + But regardless of these pleasant conditions, John was far from happy. + He still wanted someone to show deep love for him and to take an interest + in his welfare; and though he constantly tried to smother the deep + suffering he felt it still smoldered in his heart. This, perhaps, caused + him to crave all the more tobacco that in a way had dulled his senses + and caused him to realize his troubles less. +</p> +<a name="2HCH0005"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER V +</h2> +<h3> + The Card Parties +</h3> +<p> + While John was forming new acquaintances at school, Satan was not + asleep. John's active mind was soon being schooled in many evils that he + had not known before. And to make the matter still worse, John's father + had a number of bachelor friends with whom he was in the habit of + meeting for pleasant evenings, and their amusements were mostly drinking + strong drinks and playing card games. +</p> +<p> + Among these men, as among his schoolmates, John became a favorite; and + he was often praised and admired for his shrewd and manly ways. And when + the report concerning his intense desire to become a man was circulated + among them, they urged him to drink beer, saying that it would make him + more manly and that all men must learn how to drink and smoke if they + would be thought of as being manly. As a result John was soon able to + drink his share of the beer, although he did not like the taste at + first. Besides this, John discovered that at these evening gatherings he + could often replenish his supply of tobacco by slipping a little from + someone's pocket when the owner was not on his guard. +</p> +<p> + Poor little John!—such a favorite! so gifted, and yet so neglected! in + regard to high ideals and purposes in life, so ignorant! and so desirous + of that motherly love and interest that were ever denied him! He + endeavored to fill his life with other things; but in his day-dreams he + often pictured his mother, and wondered: "Was she like my aunt? Would + she take me and hold me in her arms while she smoothed my hair with her + hand? Would she bind my bruises? And would she sit by my bedside at + night and hold my hand in hers while telling me stories that she had + read?" "Oh, how would it all seem?" he would ask himself; and then, + remembering that such could never be, he would try to forget and be + happy. His mother was gone, he reasoned, and he must be content. It was + to his two little feathered friends alone that he confided his sorrows. +</p> +<p> + Had John's father remembered the determination that filled his soul on + the dark day of his wife's funeral, and had he continued to teach his + little son to pray and to serve God, how much better it might have been! + How much better might John have understood the difference between right + and wrong! In such a case, John's life's record might have been filled + with good and noble deeds, and his habits might have been clean and + wholesome. +</p> +<p> + As it was, because of his ignorance of right, he was laying a crumbling + foundation formed of evil motives and desires. And should he continue to + build, using similar material, his life's structure would be unsafe; it + would be momentarily in danger of falling. As Satan is ever waiting with + the needed supplies for a work of this kind, so he was ready to aid + little John. The card parties at which John and his father were often + present furnished John with much of his material. +</p> +<p> + The younger men among those who attended these gatherings, recognizing + in John material of the entertaining sort, began at once to educate him. + They taught him, not only to drink beer, but also to play cards and to + swear. To John beer did not at first have a pleasant taste; but as it + was when he was trying to learn to use tobacco, so it was now—the + promise that it would help him in becoming manly encouraged him to take + more; and as he drank, the appetite grew. Finally, he would sometimes + drink so much that he could not keep awake. +</p> +<p> + Usually on these occasions beer was served only as a prize to the + winners of the games. The lucky fellow alone was given a drink while + those who had lost were given only a smell of the bottle. One time when + John had won in a number of games and had been treated to as many drinks + from the bottle of beer, he became very sleepy. Going over to one corner + of the room, he crept up on a table and soon was apparently asleep. + It happened, however, that, although he was sleepy, he was not wholly + unconscious to what was going on; and suddenly he heard a plot that + seemed to him so cruel that he could scarcely believe his ears. +</p> +<a name="image-0003"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="images/john-3.jpg" +alt="A Card-Party"> +<br>A Card-Party +</center> + +<p> + At the close of such gatherings, a chicken-roast was generally in order, + and the fowl used was usually taken from some hen-roost not far distant. + On this particular occasion when the party was about to break up, John + heard the roughest of the company ask: +</p> +<p> + "I say, boys, who's goin' fer the roast tonight? Some one ought to be + off fer it's nigh onter the midnight hour, and I, fer one's got a big + job ahead a me tomorrer." +</p> +<p> + "I'll go, Bill," someone answered; "but wha do ye say ter go?" +</p> +<p> + "Oh, it don't make no difference, so's it's not too fer away!" the other + answered, and added: "Whist, Tom, why can't we git John's turkeys? + They'd make fust-rate eatin' all right. He's too far gone to know + anything about it." +</p> +<p> + John was just about to call out that they must let his turkeys alone + when he remembered how hard it would be in the darkness to discover + their roosting-place, so he remained quiet. It was, however, with some + uneasiness that he awaited the thieves' return. When they came, he was + relieved; for they were carrying chickens instead of turkeys. Although, + because of the safety of his pets, a thrill of satisfaction swept over + John, yet he had received in his heart a wound that was deep and wide. + These cruel, heartless men were willing to take from him, in so + unprincipled a manner, his only companions and playfellows. John + somewhat realized that life had a hard and bitter side for him; but + again he endeavored with all his strength to make the best of it. +</p> +<p> + It was morning before John and his father returned to their home; + and it was with unusual joy that John found his pets waiting for their + breakfast. As he held them close to his breast, with their beaks close + to his cheek, he again thought of his mother; also he wondered about a + certain change that had come over his father. +</p> +<p> + For a time after their removal to their own home, the father had been + very devoted to John and had seemed to understand something of the boy's + loneliness. Perhaps it was a realization of this loneliness and a desire + to bring into the life of the child the motherly interest of which he + had been deprived that had turned the father's heart toward a certain + young lady of his acquaintance. Anyway, whatever was the cause, the + father became more and more interested in this young woman; while, on + the other hand, he paid less attention to John, whose loneliness daily + increased. Night after night John's pillow was dampened by the tears he + shed while waiting and listening for the sound of his father's returning + footsteps. +</p> +<p> + In course of time the father married and brought home his new bride. + At first John was very shy; but he was glad. Oh, how he wished that she + would be what he had day-dreamed that his own mother might have been! + He could then have given her all his love and confidence. He could have + told her all his boyish plans for the future, asking her for the advice + he would need. But the new mother failed to fulfill his hopes. Even she + did not understand the longings of his boyish heart; nor did she realize + that the poor little neglected boy was measuring her by what he had + imagined a true mother to be. She was kind to John; but that was all. + Her time and attention were given to her husband; and John daily saw the + gulf between his father and himself widening and deepening. A feeling of + discord crept into John's heart; all attraction for home was severed; + and he felt that his happiness would have to be sought from other + sources. +</p> +<a name="2HCH0006"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER VI +</h2> +<h3> + Visitors and Pastimes +</h3> +<p> + During the winter that followed his father's marriage, John's + stepmother's brother came to live with the family; and the influence of + this stepuncle, whose name was Ed, was as bad or worse than Will's or + Charley's could ever have been; for Ed was older and wiser, and knew + much more of sin. +</p> +<p> + In Ed's home both the father and the mother used tobacco a long time + before their child was born. When he was just a little infant, he + worried and cried a great deal. He continued to do this, seemingly never + to be satisfied, until finally the parents imagined that he wanted + tobacco; and sure enough he did. The mother tied a small amount in a rag + and gave it to her baby to suck, and immediately he became quiet and + contented. So, from that time she gave him tobacco to stop his crying. + As he grew, the quantity he used gradually increased until, when he was + in his teens, he spent much of his money for tobacco. He went without + many of the necessary things of life in order that he might have the + money those things would cost to spend for tobacco. +</p> +<p> + The Bible tells us that God is abundant in goodness and truth, keeping + mercy for thousands and forgiving iniquity and transgression and + sin ... Parents may be sorry for their sins, and be forgiven for + their transgressions; but their children must suffer from inherited + ill-dispositions, unnatural appetites, or diseases.... Oh, what a + responsibility is resting upon the parents of the future generations! +</p> +<p> + Now, tobacco acts directly on the mind. It clouds the understanding and + dulls the memory; and sometimes it has much worse effects. The story is + told of the experience of a brilliant young man—a graduate from Andover + College—who, for a time, seemed to have a wonderful future before him. + After a few short successful years, however, all hopes were blighted; + he was thrown into an insane asylum a physical wreck. The doctors said + that tobacco had done it; but regardless of this, he was each day given, + according to the rules of the asylum, a small quantity of tobacco. + For twenty years he was in this seemingly hopeless condition; and then + suddenly, one day as he was walking the floor, his reason returned, and + he realized what was the matter. Throwing the plug of tobacco through + the iron grate of his cell, he said: "What brought me here? What keeps + me here? Why am I here? Tobacco! tobacco! tobacco! God help, help! + I will never use it again!" +</p> +<p> + He was restored; and for ten years he preached the gospel. +</p> +<p> + But not only does tobacco injure the mind; it also affects the blood and + sensitive tissues and the different organs of the body, which in order + to act normally and to do their work properly must be in healthful + condition. When the blood becomes saturated with the deadly poison that + comes from the pipe or cigar, and the soft membranes of the mouth become + filled with the poisonous secretion from the quid, as a consequence, + every member of the body becomes affected, and disease and suffering + are the final results. Lord Bacon said, "To smoke is a secret delight, + serving to steal away men's brains." Many others have expressed + themselves in even louder terms against the evil effects of tobacco; + but we must now return to John and to Ed, his stepuncle. +</p> +<p> + Soon after Ed came to live in the family, he paid a visit to a + neighboring town; and while there, he stole from a store a case of plug + tobacco. This he stealthily brought to his sister's new home, confiding + his secret to no one except John; and by generous promises he persuaded + John to say nothing about the matter. At this time John was in his + thirteenth year. He still keenly felt that something was dreadfully + missing in his life; so he turned to Ed, hoping to find that something + in his companionship. But again he was disappointed. The standard of + Ed's ideals were so far below the standard that John had fixed for + himself that John was conscious of a constant repulsion in his heart + toward Ed. As a consequence, John's loneliness increased. +</p> +<p> + About the time Ed arrived in the neighborhood, another dangerous pastime + was introduced. Dancing found a place in the social gatherings; and + again John was an apt scholar. Before very long he was considered to be + one of the best among the young people in this art; and for the time + being he seemed to find real enjoyment in the amusement. There was a + fascination about it that helped him partly to forget his troubles and + heartaches, also the discouragements with which he had been haunted so + much of late. +</p> +<p> + During the winter that followed, the social spirit increased and the + months were full of changes and excitement. The uncle with whom John and + his father had spent several years came with his family for a prolonged + visit. A hearty welcome was given the visitors, especially by John; for + regardless of the fact that in order to make room for the company he had + to exchange his nice warm bed in the house for a less comfortable one in + the sod cellar, he rejoiced in the thought that he could once more be + with his old companion, Will. In fact, any change was appreciated by + John in his restless, discontented frame of mind. +</p> +<p> + The first evening the boys retired early, partly because they had no + light and partly because they wanted to visit about bygone days. They + had so many things to say to each other; and besides, they wanted to lay + their plans for a jolly time while they could be together. Will laughed + heartily about John's intense desire to become a man, and asked him how + he felt about it now. It was in a discouraged tone of voice that John + replied: +</p> +<p> + "There ain't so much fun in it as I supposed. The older I get, the + more unhappy I feel. Why, Will, there are times when I almost wish that + I were dead. No one seems to care for me or to have any time to give me. + It's just 'John here' and 'John there'; and if I dare to say anything, + I'm laughed at or told to keep still. It was different before Pa got + married. Then he used to talk to me and try to help me when I got + lonesome; but now I just have to get along the best way I can. + If I like anything it's all right, and if I don't it's the same. +</p> +<p> + "I'll just tell you, if it wasn't for Pa, I'd run away from home! As for + being a man, I don't think that it is so wonderful after all. The men + that I know are all so bad. Just look at Ed! I'm getting so that I can + hardly endure Ed!" +</p> +<p> + In reply to John's great outburst of sorrow, Will had no words of + sympathy to offer. All that he could propose was that they could spend + their evenings in playing cards (for Will, too, had learned many things + since John had left; and card-playing was one of them). John was pleased + with the suggestion; but he said, "I haven't any cards." As usual, + however, he was quick to invent a way out of that difficulty and added: + "Hey, Will! why couldn't we make some? I know where there's a lot of + cardboard boxes that we could cut up. One could cut while the other + marked them. You would know how to make them, would you not?" +</p> +<p> + "Yes, I think so," Will answered. "We could do that all right in the + daytime; but how could we work in the dark? And does it get very cold + in here?" +</p> +<p> + "Oh, it doesn't get so awfully cold; and as for a light, I can get a + dish of lard and put a rag in it which we can light! That won't be a + very good light; but I think we can get along." +</p> +<p> + The boys found that it was no small task to make the cards. First they + had to cut the cardboard. This John did with a very sharp knife. Next, + they drew hearts and diamonds and other necessary markings. To be sure, + the set of cards was a very crude one when it was finished; and when the + boys began to shuffle them in the pack, they were disappointed because + of the bulky appearance and wished for a more perfect set. But John + had done a good job in cutting them out, and the marking answered the + purpose very well. So night after night, by the aid of the flickering + and sputtering light, furnished by the rag burning in the saucer of + lard, the two boys, with heads bent low, sat scheming and planning, + each striving to get ahead of the other in the game. +</p> +<p> + Long before Will's visit was ended, both boys had become so skillful in + playing that the one could scarcely get the better of the other unless + one in some way cheated. This caused them to try many underhanded tricks + and encouraged them to bet and gamble; and in course of time they had + exchanged as wagers the greater part of their simple belongings. Taking + advantage of one another became a part of the game and seemingly was the + principal aim. And the evenings that they did not spend in dancing were + spent in indulging in these dangerous amusements. (Card-playing—as does + also dancing—wields an influence that is very harmful, especially to + the young. As the interest in the game increases, the players' desire + for things that are good and wholesome is lessened. One player sees only + the pleasure that he derives from getting the better of the one he is + playing against. He fails to see that each time he stoops to unfair + methods in order to gain his purpose he helps to pave the way for other + things that are wrong and deceitful.) +</p> +<p> + When the first warm days of spring arrived and the grass of the prairie + began to unfold its tiny blades, John's uncle said it was time for him + and his family to return home. "It's a long way, Will," he said; "and + we must get there in good time to plant a big crop of 'tobaker.' You + remember we didn't have near enough to do us last year!" Will agreed; + but the boys were all sorry to be separated again, and when the day of + departure came, it was very hard indeed for them to bid one another + farewell. +</p> +<p> + During the winter months John had not thought much about his aunt, for + Will and he had been too deeply interested in other things. But now at + the last moment that old longing again clutched at his heart. When he + saw them disappearing in the distance and finally lost them to view, + like a flash the desire that had so long been smoldering within his + heart was fanned, as it were, into a mighty flame, and in his mind he + resolved what he would do. "I will stay in this home no longer!" he + cried in his distress. "My father may miss me; but if I stay here, + I shall die!" and going to his father, he stated his intentions. +</p> +<a name="2HCH0007"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER VII +</h2> +<h3> + Leaving Home +</h3> +<p> + As John's father looked into the deep pathetic eyes of his son, he + in part understood the meaning of what he read. He could see that the + soul of his child was crying out for something; but again he failed to + understand the true longings of the young heart. He failed to see that + the boy was being crushed by sinful habits, and that for parental care + and interest he was starving. In ignorance the father supposed that + the boy's unrest was due to a longing to know more of the world, to + a feeling akin to that which an explorer experiences. +</p> +<p> + Poor man! Could he have known just then what really was troubling his + boy, he could have stayed the spirit of unrest by holding out to John + the "olive branch of peace." He could have said: "John, we have drifted + apart. We are not to one another what we used to be. Stop, my boy; sit + down here. Let us carefully talk these things over before you take such + a step. Out in the world you will meet many temptations and evils, more + than you have ever known." And many other tender words of advice he + might have spoken to the child; but these things were left unspoken. +</p> +<p> + Instead, his father only said, "John, I would like to have you remain + at home a while longer; but if you are determined to go, you may, only + remember to try to do as nearly right as you can! I have wanted to bring + you up well for your mother's sake; for she had made so many plans for + your future. My wish, John, is that you become a good man." +</p> +<p> + John was deeply touched by his father's farewell speech; and had there + been any other drawing to keep him at home, he certainly would have + remained. As it was, he soon gathered together his belongings, and while + still in his thirteenth year, said good-by to his people, and went away + to work for a thrifty farmer. +</p> +<p> + During the two years preceding his departure from home, John had now + and then worked for the farmers in different parts of the country. This + and his attendance at the social gatherings had enabled him to become + acquainted with numbers of boys, some of whom were very wild and rough. + But because of the companionship of Will during the winter months, the + evil influences of his wide circle of friends had not been so strong. + But when the cousins were parted, John's companions were again some of + the roughest and toughest in the community. Because of this his tobacco + and beer bills increased, and to this alarming expenditure he added many + accounts for whiskey. +</p> +<p> + John had made a discovery. He had found that Ed, in order to satisfy the + awful craving and gnawing in his stomach (a sensation produced by the + tobacco poison), was using a generous supply of whiskey; and for the + same reason John began to use it. Whiskey did perhaps satisfy for the + time being; but John also discovered that the seemingly good effect + was very soon gone and that the old trouble was again there, only with + renewed force and strength. Another thing he found, too, was that he had + added to his list of evil habits one even more fierce and strong than + the others. +</p> +<p> + When John left home, his desire was principally to find relief for his + loneliness; but he had another object. His expenses had been heavy and + hard to defray. And now with the amount he had to pay for his whiskey + added to what he was already spending for beer and tobacco, his bills + were so high he felt that he must have more money in order to meet them. + This seeming necessity was, therefore, one thing that urged him to take + the step he took. +</p> +<a name="image-0004"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="images/john-4.jpg" +alt="Leaving the Old Homestead"> +<br>Leaving the Old Homestead +</center> + +<p> + The farmer for whom John began to work was known among his men as "the + captain." All the hired help worked under one manager, or boss; so + John's experience while in this service was new and varied. +</p> +<p> + "We have orders today to work for Farmer Z," explained the boss one + morning a few weeks after John's arrival. "And the captain says we must + be sure and get around there early in the morning, for we are to get our + breakfast over there." +</p> +<p> + The home of Farmer Z was some distance from that of John's employer; but + the prancing horses on which the men were to ride were soon carrying + them across the prairie, and it was not long until they were in sight + of Farmer Z's modest farmhouse. As they entered the gateway, Farmer Z + stepped into the doorway; and when he greeted the men with a kindly + "Good morning," John particularly noticed his countenance and expression + and wondered why he was so different from the comrades with whom he had + always associated. He noticed, too, that, as the men gathered in the + dining room and took their places around the table, they were quiet and + reserved; and he was puzzled by still another thing—Farmer Z bowed his + head and thanked God for all of His blessings and benefits and goodness + to them all. +</p> +<p> + Such things were new and strange to John; and when at the close of the + meal, the farmer invited them into another room, saying, "We always have + reading and prayer immediately after breakfast and would be glad to have + you all join with us," John suddenly felt extremely awkward and out of + place, and he longed to make his escape to the barn. +</p> +<p> + John could have given no reason for his feelings, unless it was that the + farmer's suggestion of prayer made him think about his mother and of the + time when his father had taught him the little prayer, "Now I lay me + down to sleep," and had told him that he very much desired him to be + a little man. But it was not strange that John should feel as he did; + for he had so often associated other scenes with that of learning the + prayer, but had since that time heard very little about the Bible. In + fact, the only part of the Bible that he had ever read was a few verses + in the small New Testament that had belonged to his mother; and he had + read these because he had heard that the reading of certain passages + would stop the toothache and relieve the nosebleed. He experimented one + time when he had the nosebleed, and his nosebleed did stop; but he was + not sure that it would not have stopped as soon had he not read the + verses. +</p> +<p> + Now, for some reason unknown to himself, John did not want to remain for + worship; so when he noticed one of the other men slipping out of the + back door, he quickly followed. The two were just about to enter the + barn when the farmer, calling to them in words that were gentle but + firm, said, "We always have our help come in with us for worship." + Seeing then that there was no way around going in except to stoutly + refuse, the two returned to the house; and with the others they seated + themselves in the room where it was evident that the family worship was + to be held. This experience was so entirely new to John that he actually + suffered. He did not know what to do nor how to act. +</p> +<p> + He observed that the children, the workmen, and the farmer's wife, were + all seated, so he sat down, too. He also observed that the men had left + their hats outside where they had washed; and this caused him to feel + very strangely, because he had his own in his hand. He dropped it, + however, beside his chair; then he began to watch the children and to + try to do just as they were doing. But as no two of the youngsters were + doing the same thing, he again felt troubled. The older members of the + family, he noticed, sat very still; and suddenly John realized that they + must be listening to the farmer, who had been reading. John knew that he + had not heard one single word that had been read, and here, the farmer + was now saying, "Let us pray." +</p> +<p> + When they knelt beside their chairs, John was again bewildered; but + having decided to do just as nearly as he possibly could the way the + rest did, he, too, slipped down upon his knees. For some reason that he + could not understand, a burning shame that seemed to benumb his whole + being swept over him, and he could hardly hear the farmer's words; but + he realized suddenly that the farmer was saying, "Dear Lord, bless the + help today, and keep them from accidents and danger." +</p> +<p> + Hurriedly glancing around, John saw the children peeking from between + their fingers; and hastily covering his own face with his hands, he gave + a quick glance toward Mr. A, his boss. Mr. A was kneeling beside his + chair, but was picking his teeth and looking out of the window. Just + then the farmer said, "Amen," and they all arose. +</p> +<p> + Then, as John compared his own attitude with that of Mr. A.'s, another + feeling of shame came over him; and for some time he kept asking + himself, "Why didn't I act unconcerned like the boss?" But John was not + a bad boy naturally. He was ignorant of what was right. He had never + understood that there is a Savior and that that Savior loved him and + left an example for him to follow. To be sure, he had often heard both + his Savior's and his Creator's names reviled and abused by his evil + companions. But he did not know that these were Beings to whom he could + go when in trouble; nor did he understand that in God's sight he was + a sinner. +</p> +<p> + More than once that day while working, John thought of the farmer's + words and wondered if the prayer would have any effect upon the day. + Some way he thought it would, and he decided to watch and see. The day + was ideal, and the help orderly; and God kept them free from accident + and trouble. It was all a mystery to John, and he pondered over it along + the way home and even during the night. Farmer Z had opened up a new + channel for his thoughts. +</p> +<a name="2HCH0008"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER VIII +</h2> +<h3> + With the Circus +</h3> +<p> + During the following year a circus that was passing through the country + stopped at a town near by; and John, together with a number of his + associates, attended some of the exhibitions. John's interest was at + once captivated, and he felt that it would be great to join the company + and to act the part of the clown; and he soon began to plan to secretly + join them the following season. His visions of great wealth enlarged day + by day, and in fancy he pictured a future of wonderful fame. +</p> +<p> + In due time the show company returned. They gladly accepted John's + proposal to join them; and so John, with his few earthly possessions, + to the surprise of all who knew him, disappeared from his home locality. + But John seemed doomed to disappointment; the showman's life was not + at all as he had pictured it. Instead of becoming fabulously rich in a + fairy-like way, he was taken very ill and had soon lost all the money he + did have. As soon, therefore, as he was able, he returned to his friends + at home, thoroughly disgusted with his undertakings; he was a wiser lad + than he was when he went away. +</p> +<p> + But, although John was disgusted, he was not disheartened. When he + was laughed at by his friends, he bravely bore their ridicule, and + endeavored to look on the bright side of things. Also, he explained to + them that show life, on the outside and to the sightseer, was not at + all what it was among the members of the company; but that behind the + curtains oaths were uttered, and abuse and nearly every kind of evils + could be witnessed. +</p> +<p> + When he was back once more among his old associates, he endeavored + to pass away the time in as pleasant a way as possible. Card playing, + gambling, and dancing were his amusements, but tobacco and whiskey were + his enjoyments; and as before, he was considered among his friends as a + jolly good fellow. But John was not truly happy; beneath his superficial + joyousness was a longing for something that he was unable to name or + describe. +</p> +<p> + Let us stop a moment and look at John. A glance tells us that a great + change has taken place. The ruddy complexion and childish features + were replaced by a sallow hue upon the sunken cheek; and the roguish + expression of the large brown eyes was lost in the haggard look that + well accorded with the telltale cough and the stooping shoulders. The + poisons of the tobacco and whiskey were doing their fatal work. His + entire system was heavily charged with nicotine and alcohol; and the + effect of these poisons constantly operating upon his nervous system and + digestive organs had made him but a wreck of his former self. It is true + that in stature he was as large as the man his father had desired him to + be; but he was far from being of the strong manly type that that parent + would have had him to become. Instead, he was weakly; and his body was + never free from pain and suffering. +</p> +<p> + The old adage that ignorance is bliss can never be aptly applied to + nicotine and alcohol. For only those who let them both entirely alone + can be truly happy or safe. When we examine what doctors have written + about the use of these poisons, we find that alcohol as well as nicotine + is a stimulant and a narcotic. As a stimulant, it excites the brain and + nerves, quickens the circulation of the blood, and intoxicates (makes + drunk); while as a narcotic it blunts the powers of the brain and nerves + and produces stupor and death. +</p> +<p> + Tests in the army, navy, and arctic explorations have definitely proved + that alcohol is not a food. +</p> +<p> + Alcohol will not allay thirst: "Alcohol has a great attraction for + water; and when swallowed, it draws the water to itself, thus depriving + the tissues of the body of that merit necessary inorganic food. Again, + alcohol causes a rush of blood to the skin, which causes a sensation of + warmth to be felt upon the surface of the body. However, the sensation + of heat is, like beauty, 'only skin deep,' as the heat of the system has + really been diminished rather than increased; because when the blood is + upon the surface, it parts with its heat more readily." +</p> +<p> + <b>I</b> "The effects of alcohol upon the heart may be summed up in the + following statements: +</p> +<p class="xlist"> + "(a) It causes a softening of the muscles of the heart, and a fatty + degeneration, thus clogging the workings of this vital organ. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(b) It overworks the heart. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(c) Oftentimes it renders the heart weak and flabby. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(d) It causes an enlargement or dilation of its parts. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(e) There is a consequent effect of drowsiness and lassitude. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(f) Its general effect upon the heart is to destroy its strength and + usefulness." +</p> +<p> + <b>II</b> "Alcohol has the following effects upon the lungs: +</p> +<p class="xlist"> + "(a) It makes the blood impure, thus increasing the work of the lungs. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(b) It paralyzes the blood vessels. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(c) It weakens the various lung tissues. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(d) It impairs breathing." +</p> +<p> + <b>III</b> "Alcohol's effects upon the stomach: +</p> +<p class="xlist"> + "(a) Produces chronic inflammation of the stomach. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(b) Injures the mucous lining by hardening the tissues. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(c) It destroys some of the small glands and impairs others. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(d) It precipitates the pepsin of the gastric juice, thus retarding + digestion. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(e) It thickens the mucus of the stomach. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(f) The action of the stomach is at first quickened by the presence + of alcohol, and then retarded." +</p> +<p> + <b>IV</b> "The effects of alcohol upon the liver may be: +</p> +<p class="xlist"> + "(a) It produces a hardened condition of its tissues. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(b) Enlarges the organ. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(c) Compresses and lessens the cells for producing bile. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(d) Stimulates the liver to overaction, thus reducing the bile supply. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(e) It weakens and destroys the usefulness of this organ of digestion." +</p> +<p> + <b>V</b> "Effect of alcohol upon the blood and blood-vessels: +</p> +<p class="xlist"> + "(a) It thins and coagulates the blood according to the amount of + alcohol. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(b) It hastens the circulation, thus weakening it. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(c) It prevents combustion. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(d) It impairs and destroys the corpuscles, thus affecting their + powers of transporting oxygen and carbonic acid gas. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(e) It weakens the arterial muscles by affecting the nerves governing + them." +</p> +<p> + <b>VI</b> "Effects of alcohol upon the brain and nerves are: +</p> +<p class="xlist"> + "(a) It causes apoplexy and epilepsy by confusing the brain. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(b) It weakens the will and deadens the feelings. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(c) It hardens the brain tissues, producing dullness, insensibility, + and insanity. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(d) It destroys the nerve fiber of the brain. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(e) It temporarily stimulates and finally depresses this organ. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(f) It will at last destroy man, body and soul." +</p> +<p> + "Alcohol leads every other drug in its far-reaching influence for + mischief and evil. Were the thousands of ruined homes, the untold + numbers of blasted lives, the sorrows, the sins, numberless crimes, + murders, and deaths brought in panoramic review before us, what a + hell-born picture it would be!" +</p> +<p> + "The effect of alcohol upon the morals is awful. All delicacy, courtesy, + and self-respect are gone; the sense of justice and right is faint or + quite extinct. There is no vice into which the victim of drunkenness + does not easily slide; and no crime from which he can be expected to + refrain. Between this condition and insanity there is but a single + step." +</p> +<p> + These are only a part of the many evils that come to the one who takes + alcohol into his system. We have already heard something about the + effects of nicotine, the poison that is in tobacco. The constant use of + either poison will impair the health of the strongest person. It saps + the mind of its reasoning qualities; and in nine cases out of ten, + leaves the victim without sufficient strength to seek and obtain his own + deliverance or to live a righteous life. But let us return now to John. +</p> +<a name="2HCH0009"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER IX +</h2> +<h3> + Caught Unawares +</h3> +<p> + At the age of eighteen John had come almost to the point of + discouragement. His health was so poor that he did not know a well + moment; and besides, his longing soul was still unsatisfied. He had + always desired to be good and kind to all; but he did not know how to + rise to a nobler plane of conduct than that on which he was living. He + judged men by their moral conduct, and not by their spiritual life. In + fact, he had very little, if any, comprehension of Christianity. He knew + of a few, like Farmer Z., who professed religion; but he was afraid of + these and he avoided their company. +</p> +<p> + He had now and then, with a number of other boys about his own age, + visited some places where religious services were being held. But their + object in going was to have a good time; and they seldom remained long + enough to derive any good. On one of these occasions they went to a + small school house that was located a few miles from the town of C. + The meeting had been widely advertised, and a goodly number were in + attendance; and when John and his companions had taken their seats well + to the rear, there was only standing-room left. Curiosity was pictured + on every face; for the ministers (one elderly, the other young) were two + modestly dressed women, and lady preachers had never been heard of in + that part of the country. +</p> +<p> + The singing was beautiful! John thought that the songs were sweeter + than any he had ever heard. When prayer was being offered, he listened + carefully to every word; and when he heard the ministers address God as + their Father, asking Him to direct them in all that they did and said, + and to prepare the hearts of the people to receive the truths that they + were about to speak, he was instantly filled with wonder and awe. +</p> +<p> + After they rose from prayer, another song was sung; and then the elderly + lady began to address the people. As she read in a clear, sweet voice a + chapter from the Scriptures, John listened carefully. The account of the + woes pronounced upon the people who would not do right and the promises + made to those who would live right and were prepared to die, were truly + wonderful. Especially was he impressed with one verse she read, though + he realized very little of what it meant: "Therefore be ye also ready: + for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh." +</p> +<p> + When this speaker took her seat, the other lady, a young, sweet-faced + girl, arose, and said a few words. After telling of how she had been + converted, and of how the Savior had ever since supplied all the + longings of her heart and had enabled her by his grace to live a life + that was pure and spotless, she spoke of her home in heaven; and then + she told the people that God would do the same for others as He had for + her—for everyone who would give up evil habits and forsake sin, and who + would love His Son, whom He had sent to the earth to suffer and die that + all people might be saved. John listened to every word; and as the girl + sat down, he thought, "Why, I would give everything that I have in the + world to be able to say such things about myself!" +</p> +<p> + When making the announcements, the elderly lady said: "This meeting + will be continued for three weeks or more, and we want as many of you as + can to attend regularly; for there will be many portions of the Bible + explained, and we want everyone to learn what is the road to success and + to find out how to be truly happy." John at once decided that he would + attend every service; but since at the same time he felt an interest + similar to that which had inspired him to become a showman, he + remembered that bitter experience and ground his teeth. He was about to + change his decision to attend the meetings regularly, when he remembered + the words, "Therefore be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think + not, the Son of man cometh!" +</p> +<p> + Instantly he beheld a great panoramic view of his past life, and many of + the evils that had never before appeared to him as sin were painted with + the blackest dyes. He had not meant to be wicked, but he suddenly + realized that his life had been wasted; and he concluded that he was not + ready to meet Christ. But John believed that Christ would come to the + earth, and he felt that he would give anything to be ready to meet Him. +</p> +<p> + As John, whenever he was perplexed or troubled, had been in the habit + of doing, he reached down into his pocket and drew out a large plug of + tobacco and began biting off a piece to chew. But what was the matter? + The tobacco did not taste as it had in the past and it appealed to him + so differently. It was now actually disgusting and repulsive to him; and + he thought: "What a filthy habit! And to think of the time and money + that it has cost me! Why have I been so foolish?" +</p> +<p> + The next instant he resolved that he would never again taste the horrid + stuff. And very soon a few scenes of things that happened when he was + under the influence of whisky came to his mind, and he shuddered. Never + again would he touch that stuff, he determined. In fact, the greater + part of the night John spent in reviewing his life; and he found that + the larger portion of the things he had been doing were things he would + not want to be found doing at the Savior's coming. +</p> +<p> + The following day John could hardly wait until the time came when he + could again return to the little brown school house to hear more of the + beautiful story that had so charmed him. And night after night found + John in one of the seats in the rear of the building. It was not long + until he discovered the pathway to heaven; he saw it bathed with + heaven's sunshine and could see that it was for him to walk upon. + But the next thing was for him to make the start. +</p> +<p> + It is one thing to decide that a certain thing is right and quite + another thing to take a stand (regardless of what anyone may think or + say) for the right. He had heard the preachers telling about the life of + a Christian, the Savior's love and death, and God's great mercy, night + after night for two weeks; but no invitation to come forward had been + given to those desiring to make a change in their manner of living. The + ministers desired that each one be given a full understanding of God's + plan of salvation so that none would take a step in the dark. +</p> +<p> + John was fully decided to change his manner of living; but he did not + want to make any more mistakes. For this reason he restrained himself + from going to the motherly lady to inquire of her what he had better do. + His old desire to become a man had revived, but this time he desired to + be a man after God's own heart—pure and holy—like the one that God + created in the beginning. +</p> +<p> + The time for an invitation to be given to the penitent finally came. + Upon entering the meeting house that evening John noticed a slight + change in the arrangement of the seats. The long row of chairs supplied + by kind-hearted neighbors to help in seating the people had been + removed, and a long, narrow bench had been put in their place. John + wondered at the change, but did not have to wonder long. An announcement + was soon made, stating that the bench was to serve as an altar, where + those who desired to be converted and who wanted to consecrate their + lives and services to God could gather for prayer. +</p> +<p> + An explanation was also made to the effect that, though God is pleased + to see people humble themselves before Him, there was no virtue in the + wooden altar; it was simply a more convenient place to bow for prayer + than their seats would be. The services were shorter than usual; and + when the invitation to come forward was given to those who desired to + yield their hearts to God, John was ready. He longed to go; but although + he had learned a great many things, he was still uncertain just what was + meant by bowing at the altar; and as he wanted to do the right thing, he + decided to wait until he saw how the others would do. He did not have + long to wait; for a girl in front of him arose, went forward, and knelt + down beside the altar. This was enough for John, because it taught him + just what he desired to know; and he was soon kneeling beside her. That + night was indeed a wonderful time. One by one the people flocked to the + front part of the room; and John afterwards learned that many of his + friends and even those whom he thought would ridicule and make fun of + him, were among the number that, as himself, had sought and found pardon + for their sins. +</p> +<p> + The invitation lasted a long time; and when it was ended, the ministers + knelt down among the penitent seekers, thanked God for the tender + mercies he had extended to the lost world, and prayed that those who + were at the altar might understand what true salvation is. After + praying, they explained carefully what it meant to be redeemed from all + sin, and told the seekers how God looked upon the sin-cursed world and + its awful wickedness, but also how He was so moved with tender love and + compassion that He sacrificed the brightest Gem of glory—even His only + begotten Son—to be a Redeemer for all who would believe on Him and turn + from their evil ways. +</p> +<p> + The redemption price, they said, was great; but nothing less could have + proved so well God's great love for mankind. And they quoted from the + Bible, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, + that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting + life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; + but that the world through him might be saved" (John 3:16, 17); also, + "The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke + 19:10). These words were as a soothing balm to John's aching heart. + Having been fully awakened to his awful condition and made to long for + the way of deliverance, he rejoiced as these rays of hope came streaming + down into his soul. +</p> +<p> + One by one he recalled his sins—smoking and chewing tobacco, drinking + whisky and beer, stealing, lying, card-playing, betting, gambling, and + many other things; but these he had already given up. One thing only + came to his mind that caused him a struggle, and for a few moments it + seemed that he could not give that up. John loved to dance, and it had + seemed to him that there was nothing wrong with that pastime. Since he + knew none of the pleasures that the Christian enjoys, this was not + strange. Always he had danced just for the pleasure he derived from + dancing, and he considered dancing an innocent amusement. When, however, + he was made aware of the evils of dancing and the temptations it causes + boys and girls whose characters are weak, he could see how that to some + it might mean the loss of virtue; and, too, he found that much of his + suffering had been caused by the late hours that dancing and other + things had caused him to keep. Then he gladly bade adieu to the + dance-hall and all its trivial gaiety. +</p> +<p> + After he had asked the Lord to pardon him for his transgressions, his + simple faith took hold of the promises and he received a clear witness + of his acceptance as a child of God. At last, after so many weeks and + months—yes, years—of dissatisfaction, he was indeed truly happy; and + the deep aching in his hungry heart was replaced by the Savior's love. + His companions, too, went away from that service rejoicing. Their + language, once so rough and vile, was now becoming to any Christian; + and the things that they had loved, no longer attracted their attention. + In fact, the entire neighborhood was changed; for many haunts of sin + and vice were entirely vacated. +</p> +<p> + John soon found that it was his duty to make all of his wrongs right + as far as it lay in his power to do so; and this he gladly did. In many + instances he was surprised to see the effect that this act of obedience + had upon the ones concerned. Many, with tears in their eyes, exclaimed, + "John, I only wish that I possessed the joy in my own heart that I can + see written in your face!" +</p> +<a name="2HCH0010"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER X +</h2> +<h3> + A Child Again +</h3> +<p> + No one could doubt the change in John's life; and many wondered how such + a thing could have been accomplished. But they did not realize that with + God all things are possible. How well it was for John that he discovered + before it was too late that he was a sinner, lost in God's sight, and + that it was necessary for him to forsake all of his evil ways and habits + if he would be freed from the binding chain of Satan! Each sinful habit + formed a link in the chain, and its strength could be measured only by + what it took to release him from its binding power. +</p> +<p> + John was sorry to see the meetings close; and as he bade the sweet-faced + women farewell, he was loath to see them go, because of their Christian + influence. But life to him was no longer what it had been in the past. + With the poet, he had found that +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> "Life is real! life is earnest.</p> + <p> And the grave is not its goal;</p> + <p> Dust thou art, to dust returnest</p> + <p> Was not spoken of the soul."</p> +</div></div> +<p> + He procured a Bible and studied it diligently. He soon found that it was + a wonderful book, for what troubled him in one part was explained in + another. One day while reading in the tenth chapter of Mark, he found + to his surprise that, instead of his being a man, he was only a child, + a mere babe, in God's sight. John had expected to be changed and to be + different in every way, but he did not know that, in order to realize + his desire to be a "man after God's own heart," he must commence at the + beginning and be as a little child again. But he was willing; for he saw + how his past life had been completely wasted, and he was glad to begin + anew. +</p> +<p> + In the second chapter of I Peter, John found much encouragement, also in + I Cor. 13:11, where he read: "When I was a child, I thought as a child: + but when I became a man, I put away childish things." Again he was + determined to become a man, and to develop as quickly as possible. From + that time on he availed himself of every opportunity to do good to all + mankind, and this was no hardship. His great whole-hearted nature made + him love to do good and to be a help to all who were in need. +</p> +<p> + At other times John read the conversation between Christ and Nicodemus, + and the account of how Jesus thanked his heavenly Father for hiding His + truths from the wise and prudent and for revealing them to babes. John + was not long in perceiving the mystery concerning the new birth, for he + had gained the experience; and he thanked God that it had been revealed + to him. +</p> +<p> + Once while studying the Word of God, John discovered that the twelfth + chapter of I Corinthians teaches that Christian people on the earth + represent Christ's spiritual body. As the natural body possesses many + members—hands, feet, eyes, ears, nose, etc.—each having its own + special work, just so the spiritual body of which He (Christ) is the + head has many members to carry on the Lord's work on the earth. And, as + in the human body, each member has its own work to do; similarly, in the + spiritual body, each member has his own work to perform. Some preach, + some teach, some perform miracles, some (perhaps all) pray for the sick, + and some do various other things, each as he is directed; but all work + in harmony. The members are all assigned their work and places in the + body by the directions of the heavenly Father. +</p> +<p> + From reading the second chapter of Acts, John found that soon after + Christ ascended to heaven God sent His Holy Spirit to the earth to + superintend the work of the members of His Son's spiritual body, or + saved people, and that this same Holy Spirit is still guiding and + helping them. He also read in I John 2:15—"Love not the world, neither + the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love + of the Father is not in him." +</p> +<p> + By reading further in the apostle John's epistle, John discovered that + there are many false spirits in the world that are trying to deceive + God's people and that it is often necessary to try the spirits to know + which is right. He saw that the test is love. If anyone loves God and + His Son, Jesus, more than anything else in the world, and feels as much + interest in his neighbor's welfare as in his own, that one can be sure + that he is God's own child. And Paul's letter to the Ephesians tells of + an armor that God has prepared for His people to wear that will enable + them to overcome all false spirits. +</p> +<p> + A Sunday-school was soon started in the neighborhood and John was + chosen to be the teacher of the infant class. At first he tried to plead + his inability, but no one would listen to his excuses. He was glad + afterward; for he learned to love the little ones very dearly. While he + was meeting with the children Sunday after Sunday, he often thought of + many of the hard places through which he had passed when he was a child + and remembered that it was because he had not been warned that he had, + one step at a time, gone down until he was in misery and on the verge of + despair. So John sought to throw light on each one of these dangerous + places and to point out the dangers so clearly that the children could + plainly see and understand the wrong for themselves before they were + beguiled and then bound by Satan's chain of evil habits. In this way he + helped the children to escape many a snare by which they might otherwise + have been caught unawares. +</p> +<p> + As the weeks sped by into months and John continued to unfold to the + tender questioning minds the hidden mysteries of the Bible, the adult + class became interested; and it was not long until they decided that + they needed him for their class more than the children did for theirs. + While he was teaching the advanced Bible class, his own understanding of + spiritual things was greatly broadened and strengthened, and he became + one on whom the entire congregation could lean and in whom they could + confide. +</p> +<p> + On one occasion when the lesson was in the epistle of James, John found + by reading the fifth chapter of that book that Jesus is just as able and + ready to heal those who are sick as He was to relieve sufferers in days + gone by and that any who are afflicted may pray expecting to be healed. + He quickly applied the Scripture to himself, and began to pray thus: +</p> +<p> + "Lord, thou seest how I am afflicted because of the sinful habits that + I formed in my childhood. Thou hast now taken from me the desire for + these things, but the suffering in my back and lungs is so intense. + Lord Jesus, heal me! Make me well, and I will work for Thee all the days + of my life!" +</p> +<p> + God answered that prayer and made him strong and well; then he could say + with the Psalmist, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his + benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy + diseases." Oh, the goodness of the Lord to John! He felt that he never + could cease praising Him. +</p> +<p> + The sad and lonely past, the days of his vain struggles to become + the man that his earthly father had desired him to be, could never be + compared to these days of happiness, the days when his desires to attain + to true manhood were being realized. His heart was lonely no longer. + He had a Friend who was dearer than a mother could have been. And he + felt that it is a wonderful privilege to be a member in Christ's body, + the church. +</p> +<a name="2HCH0011"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER XI +</h2> +<h3> + How John Became a Man +</h3> +<p> + As the news of John's wonderful conversion and of his work among the + people spread throughout the country, it reached the ears of Farmer Z, + in whose home John for the first time had attended family worship. The + kind-hearted man had never forgotten the boy who had endeavored to make + his escape to the barn rather than to come into the sitting-room at the + worship hour, and he felt a desire to have a good heart-to-heart visit + with John and to know just how he came to find the Lord. John was, + therefore, very much surprised one day to hear that this good gentleman, + of whom he had in the past been so fearful, was desiring to see him. But + he was glad; for he, too, had felt a great desire to talk with Farmer Z, + the one who was first to open his heart to a ray of heavenly sunshine. +</p> +<p> + "I have been hearing wonderful stories about you of late, my boy," the + farmer said as John approached him; and as he took the young man's hand, + his hearty handshake sent the blood tingling through John's veins. + "Come," the farmer continued, "sit down and tell me what it was that + brought about the change. My boy, I understand that you are already + getting to be quite a preacher. Is it true?" +</p> +<p> + "Well, Mr. Z," John modestly replied, "I hardly know what answer to + make, except that it was the work of my Savior. I am like the poor + beggar who was blind—'one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now + I see.' The same Jesus that healed the blind man has opened my spiritual + eyes, making me to see and understand what never before seemed + possible." +</p> +<p> + Then as John related some of his Christian experiences, the farmer was + made to wonder at the loving-kindness and the great mercy of his God. +</p> +<p> + "John," he said, as he looked into the beaming eyes of the young man and + noted the boyish face but manly form (for there was scarcely a trace + of the early dissipation left), "I see that you have found the genuine + article. God has worked a miracle in your life, and I guess he wants you + to go and tell the world about it. How is it, my boy? Do you feel like + preaching the gospel?" +</p> +<p> + And then it was that John, in his simple, earnest manner, for which he + was so loved and admired, said: +</p> +<p> + "Mr. Z, I feel as though some power within me is leading me about; and + I long to tell everyone I meet of the Jesus, who so loved the lost world + that He laid down His life upon the cross. It seems I can think of + little else." +</p> +<p> + "That's it! That's it!" Farmer Z exclaimed; "God has put His Holy Spirit + in your heart and has called you into His harvest-field to go forth and + help spread the gospel. Go, my boy; and may God speed your footsteps in + ways crowned with blessings of success. I rejoice with you in your + calling and shall pray for you. When trials come your way—and they + will—remember that there is always a light in God's window for the + faithful, a light that will guide them safely home at last. Remember + also that He has said, 'Be thou faithful unto death.'" +</p> +<p> + When the farmer bade John adieu, the sun had disappeared beyond the + horizon and the crimson shades were gathering in the western sky. The + landscape that stretched before him was beautiful. And while John was + not unconscious of these beautiful surroundings, by his inner vision, + which could not be limited by the vast prairie country with its varied + possibilities, he looked upon another scene far beyond—he saw the + heavenly city, the New Jerusalem, once beheld by the sainted John; + and he wondered what could be more grand and majestic. +</p> +<p> + John had at last developed into a noble-hearted Christian, whose + greatest desire in life was to please his God, and to spend his time + wholly in God's service; and one day a few years later he stood on the + deck of a large Atlantic steamer and waved farewell to his friends on + the shore. He was bound for a far-distant land; God was sending him + as a missionary to carry the gospel to the people of another country. +</p> +<p> + His large brown eyes, sorrowful no longer, were dimmed by tears of + farewell; but the tears only made them shine the brighter. They + witnessed to the gladness of his heart; and to the eagerness within + his bosom pushing him forward. +</p> +<p> + John had at last become a man after God's own heart. +</p> +<br> +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12493 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/12493-h/images/john-1.jpg b/12493-h/images/john-1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9cedec7 --- /dev/null +++ b/12493-h/images/john-1.jpg diff --git a/12493-h/images/john-2.jpg b/12493-h/images/john-2.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d8e8ffa --- /dev/null +++ b/12493-h/images/john-2.jpg diff --git a/12493-h/images/john-3.jpg b/12493-h/images/john-3.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9999dfc --- /dev/null +++ b/12493-h/images/john-3.jpg diff --git a/12493-h/images/john-4.jpg b/12493-h/images/john-4.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d23ee79 --- /dev/null +++ b/12493-h/images/john-4.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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Byrum</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: How John Became a Man</p> +<p>Author: Isabel C. Byrum</p> +<p>Release Date: June 3, 2004 [eBook #12493]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: iso-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOW JOHN BECAME A MAN***</p> +<br> +<br> +<center><b>E-text prepared by Joel Erickson, Christine Gehring, David Garcia,<br> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team</b></center> +<br> +<br> +<hr class="full" size=5px noshade> +<br> +<br> + +<a name="image-0001"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="images/john-1.jpg" +alt="Learning to Pray"> +<br>Learning to Pray +</center> + +<div style="height: 2em;"><br><br></div> + +<h1> + HOW JOHN BECAME A MAN +</h1> +<center> + LIFE STORY OF A MOTHERLESS BOY +</center> +<center><b> + By +<br> + ISABEL C. BYRUM +</b></center> +<a name="2H_4_0001"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + Author's Preface +</h2> +<p> + In presenting this little volume, the author hopes that it may be useful + in suggesting to the minds of young boys the great wrong there is in + indulging in evil habits. +</p> +<p> + We read, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge," and this is + true concerning most boys who form habits that are harmful both to body + and soul. +</p> +<p> + The story of John's life is a true one; and his earnest prayer that it + may be the means of helping some boys from Satan's snares and prove a + blessing to them, I trust, will be answered. +</p> +<p style="text-align: right;"> + Isabel C. Byrum +</p> +<p> + Year 1917 +</p> + +<hr class="full"> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2>Contents</h2> + +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0001"> +Chapter I +</a> The Prairie Pasture</p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0002"> +Chapter II +</a> In the Sod Cellar</p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0003"> +Chapter III +</a> What the Big Chest Contained</p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0004"> +Chapter IV +</a> Early School Days</p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0005"> +Chapter V +</a> The Card Parties</p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0006"> +Chapter VI +</a> Visitors and Pastimes</p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0007"> +Chapter VII +</a> Leaving Home</p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0008"> +Chapter VIII +</a> With the Circus</p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0009"> +Chapter IX +</a> Caught Unawares</p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0010"> +Chapter X +</a> A Child Again</p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2HCH0011"> +Chapter XI +</a> How John Became a Man</p> + +<center><b>Illustrations</b></center> +<p class="toc"><a href="#image-0001"> +Learning to Pray +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#image-0002"> +Opening the Chest +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#image-0003"> +A Card-party +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#image-0004"> +Leaving the Old Homestead +</a></p> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<hr class="full"> + +<a name="2H_TOC"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h1> +HOW JOHN BECAME A MAN +</h1> + +<a name="2HCH0001"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER I +</h2> +<h3> + The Prairie Pasture +</h3> +<p> + Out on the prairie in one of the western states where buffaloes and + wild horses once had roamed at their pleasure and where cacti and + yuccas still thrived and bloomed could be seen a small two-story frame + building. There was nothing strange in this except that the house was + different from the average house of the plains; for at this particular + time the greater part of the dwellings were made of sod, mud, and brush. +</p> +<p> + The people, generally speaking, were of that type who think principally + of getting all the enjoyment from their every-day lives that it is + possible to obtain. There was, therefore, little thought among them of + the hereafter, when men must give an account of themselves before a just + and living God. In fact, the younger generation scarcely knew that there + was a God who took note of all their ways. +</p> +<p> + The building, so different from the ordinary dwellings upon the prairie, + was the home of a tiny lad named John. It was a happy home; for both + his parents were living, and the love that bound their hearts together + brought peace and happiness to each member of the little household. But + could this happy group have known of the presence of a grim monster just + outside the door, who at that very moment was seeking an entrance, their + joy would have given place to sorrow. Death was soon to destroy the + light and comfort of that home. The devoted wife and mother was not + strong; and after a severe illness lasting but a few short days, her + spirit left the ones she loved and her lifeless body was carried to + its last resting place in the cemetery a few miles away. +</p> +<p> + Little John was, of course, too young to realize the true meaning of the + change; but that something dreadful had happened he very well knew, and + his large pathetic eyes spoke the grief that he did understand and could + not express. During the three years of his short life he had known the + care of a tender, loving mother, whose ambitions were high and noble. + Although not a Christian, she had often expressed her wish that her + little brown-eyed boy might grow up to be an honor to his father and + mother, and a blessing to his country. After her death his papa's eyes + were often filled with tears, for he loved and pitied his little boy. +</p> +<p> + One evening when the lights were dim and the hands of the clock were + pointing to the bedtime hour, John felt his father's arms tenderly + encircled about him and heard him softly saying: "My little John, we are + left all alone now, and you must hurry up and become a man as soon as + you can; for I need you to help me. Mama has gone away and left us, and + she cannot teach you the things that she had planned that you should + know; so we will have to do the best that we can, but you must help me. + First of all, I want you to learn how to pray; for there is a God in + heaven, who made you, and of whom your mother expected to tell you. + Before Him we should bow down and pray every night before we go to + sleep." +</p> +<p> + "Does He hear all the words we say?" asked little John in an awed tone, + quite unable to comprehend his father's meaning, "and does He look at us + when we are asleep?" +</p> +<p> + "Yes," his father answered; "God sees and knows everything. Now, I will + tell you the short prayer that I used to say when I was a little boy + like you—the prayer that my mother taught me." +</p> +<p> + Thus it was that John, kneeling beside his little bed repeated the + prayer that has been lisped by thousands of other baby voices: +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> "Now I lay me down to sleep;</p> + <p> I pray thee, Lord, my soul to keep.</p> + <p> If I should die before I wake,</p> + <p> I pray thee, Lord, my soul to take."</p> +</div></div> +<p> + As the days and weeks sped by, John thought often of his dear mama and + wished that he might see her; but he as often would recall his father's + words to be a little man, and with all his strength he endeavored to be + what he considered a man ought to be. But although he tried, in his + childish way, to be one, he was often very lonely; and had it not been + for frequent visits to his uncle's home, several miles distant, he would + have missed his precious mother even more than he did. While at his + uncle's, he could play with his two cousins, Will and Charley. At last + it was decided that it would be best for John and his father to go and + make their home with the uncle until John was older. +</p> +<p> + Now Charley was just about John's age; but as Charley was a cripple, + John had chosen Will, who was several years the oldest, to be his + closest friend and companion. Regardless of these facts, however, the + three boys generally played together. Their playground was the vast + dooryard extending far out over the prairie. +</p> +<p> + In time they were given the responsibility of herding the cows. To herd + the cows meant to see that the cattle did not wander about in the + neighborhood corn, wheat, and barley fields that were scattered about + here and there over the prairies and that were in but few instances + fenced, and to see that they were driven to some water-place at certain + intervals and were brought home at the milking hour. +</p> +<p> + The watering places were known as "buffalo-wallows," for they had been + made by the buffalos in wallowing. These basins were usually kept filled + with water by the rains. Some of the "wallows," or "ponds," were rather + deep, and were treacherous because of sudden "drop-offs"; but they were + usually shallow, and it was generally safe for the children to play + along the edge. +</p> +<p> + After the first sharp edge of his grief was dulled, John's father did + not feel it so keenly his duty to instruct his child and to teach him + to reverence his Creator; and when John was about six years of age, the + father was kept so busy with his work that he had but little time to + spend with the child. John's aunt, too, although a good woman, was too + much occupied with housekeeping to do her duty by her own two boys, much + less by a third. So John and his cousins had spent nearly all of the + three years that they had been together in doing as they pleased, and in + finding as much enjoyment in living as it was possible for them to find. + It was, therefore, not strange that they had learned and invented many + new ways to get amusement, and that some of these were evil; for Satan, + as he always does in such cases, had lent them a helping hand. +</p> +<p> + The work of attending to the cows did not, of course, occupy nearly all + their time, and the boys found it great sport to play around the wallows + and in them. +</p> +<p> + On one occasion Will said: +</p> +<p> + "Say, boys, did you ever hear the story about the man who walked upon + the water? I don't remember just how the story went; but I heard + somebody say that the man's name was Jesus, and that another man got out + of a boat to go and meet Him. The first fellow did all right, but the + second one came very near drowning because he looked down at the water. + Maybe he wanted to see how deep the water was, and I guess he would have + got drowned if they hadn't been close to the shore. Now, I am going to + do like Jesus did. Want to see me?" +</p> +<p> + Naturally both the boys wanted to see him perform a feat like that, and + Will quickly scampered into the water. Now, the wallow was very shallow + all the way across, and Will was soon on the opposite side. The smaller + boys, not knowing the depth of the water, supposed that it was deep and + that Will had actually done some marvelous thing. Will did not know that + he was doing wrong by speaking lightly of one of the Savior's miracles; + for he had never been in Sunday-school, and his parents had not taught + him the sacredness of the words and acts of the Savior. He simply wanted + to play a joke on his companions. +</p> +<p> + The smaller boys talked the matter over when they were alone, and John + said: +</p> +<p> + "Say, Charley, what do you suppose held Will up the other day on that + water? That wallow must have been deep out in the middle. Let's try it + some time for ourselves when Will isn't around. I believe we could do it + as well as he did." +</p> +<p> + Charley was agreed, and the two smaller lads watched their chance. One + day when Will was not with them, they chose a wallow that they thought + would answer their purpose. "I'll go first," Charley said, and he + hurried forward as rapidly as his little crippled limb could carry him, + to the water's edge and out into the pond. +</p> +<p> + Suddenly poor little Charley disappeared. John saw his cousin as he + went down into the deep water, and realized his danger. He knew that + something must be done and done at once, and with a bound he sprang in + after his companion. He did not, however, go beyond the shallow water, + and when his cousin came to the surface, he reached out his hand and + caught him by the hair; and as Charley had not lost the power to help + himself, he was soon able, by John's assistance, to scramble to a place + of safety. +</p> +<p> + The boys decided that they would say nothing about the accident; and as + they remained away from the house long enough for Charley's clothing to + dry, no questions were asked. But was the scene unnoticed? No. He who + notes the sparrow's fall was watching over these little boys; He had not + forgotten John's little prayer that had been taught him by his father. + God was caring for these little untaught children in that vast prairie + pasture. +</p> +<a name="2HCH0002"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER II +</h2> +<h3> + In the Sod Cellar +</h3> +<p> + Almost without exception the homes on the prairies were provided with + sod cellars. Even the few modern dwellings in the community in which + John's uncle lived were not without these old-fashioned cellars, which + served as a protection in times of storms and tornadoes. The cellars + served also as places in which to store the fruits and vegetables for + winter use. And very often, too, a large quantity of tobacco leaves that + had been dried and kept back when the summer's crop was sold could be + discovered in one of these places. +</p> +<p> + The home of John's uncle was provided with just such a cellar—a deep + hole dug in the ground and covered over with a dense roofing of brush, + mud, and sod. Within this cellar a large supply of tobacco leaves had + been stored. John had been in the cellar many times. He knew the tobacco + was there, and he knew to what use his uncle put the tobacco. He knew + also that his cousin Will both chewed and smoked the leaves, but it had + not occurred to him that he himself could do so. +</p> +<p> + The reason why he had not thought of using it was perhaps that his + father had once told him that the using of tobacco was a bad habit and + urged him to let it alone. But the fact that he had not been tempted did + not guarantee that he would not be; the fact that he had no appetite for + tobacco did not conclusively prove that he would never acquire one; nor + did the fact that he had been told to let tobacco alone warrant that he + would need no further watching—for an unforeseen temptation was lurking + near. +</p> +<p> + One day when John went into the cellar with his cousin Will, his cousin + filled a pipe with the leaves and offered it to him, bidding him smoke. + John shook his head, and said that he did not want to smoke, for his + father had said that using tobacco was a bad habit and that it would + ruin his health. +</p> +<p> + "Then, why does he use it himself?" Will reasoned. "Do you suppose that + he would use it if he thought that it was going to hurt him? Now, John, + look here; you said that you wanted to become a man. Here's your chance. + If you get to where you can smoke a pipe, chew tobacco, and spit, in the + way that your father and my dad do, you will be a man. Just some folks' + saying that it is a bad habit doesn't need to make any difference with + you." +</p> +<p> + As John thought over his cousin's words, they did seem reasonable, and + he remembered that all the men he had ever seen used tobacco. So he + decided that, if he expected to be a man himself, he must soon begin to + use it, too. He therefore accepted the pipe and began to puff vigorously + at the stem. But try as he would, he couldn't make the pretty little + curls of smoke mount up into the air as he had watched his father and + other men do. Very soon, however, a deathly sickness began to steal over + him. His head and stomach hurt, and he could scarcely help falling down + on the floor of the cellar. +</p> +<p> + "O Will," he said, as he gave the pipe to his cousin, "I am so sick! + Let's get out of here. I feel as though I was going to die!" And John + started in an attempt to find the opening through which he had entered + the cellar, but to his surprise and terror he could not find it. +</p> +<p> + "O Will," he said, "this is all your fault! You know I didn't want to + smoke. I wish now that I hadn't listened to you. Father said tobacco + would make me sick, but I didn't know it would be so bad as this. Tell + me, does it always make people sick? and do they ever die?" +</p> +<p> + "Yes, it usually makes them pretty sick," Will answered. "But they + always get over it; and each time they smoke, they get more used to it, + or something, and after a while they don't get sick at all. Look at me. + It never makes me sick, but it did at first. Surely you can stand a + little sickness when you know that it is going to make a man of you!" +</p> +<p> + John concluded that under those circumstances he could endure his + suffering. But he did not try to smoke any more that morning. With + Will's assistance he found the doorway of the cellar and went out where + the air was more pure. Gradually, he began to feel better. When dinner + time came, however, he did not care to eat; but he kept repeating to + himself, "It won't be this way long, and I can afford to suffer if it + will make a man of me." How sad to think that one so young should be + so deceived! +</p> +<p> + Could someone have taught him then that the sick feeling that had so + distressed him was caused by the strong poison contained in the tobacco, + it might have encouraged him never to touch it again. Had his father + explained that every pound of tobacco contains three hundred and twenty + grains of this poison, one grain of which will kill a large dog in about + three minutes; or told him the story of how a man once ran a needle and + thread that had been dipped in the poison through the skin of a frog and + of how the frog in a few moments began to act like a drunken person, + vomited, and hopped about as fast as possible, and then laid down, + twitched for a moment in agony, and died; or informed him that many + people become insane just through the use of tobacco, John might have + yet been influenced to leave the poisonous stuff alone—but perhaps his + father did not know. Anyway, John was left without this much-needed + information. +</p> +<p> + Boys who are not properly warned of the danger of tobacco-using are to + be pitied more than blamed if they indulge; but their ignorance does not + lessen the harm and the evils wrought. When the poison gets into the + system, it affects the most vital organs; it undermines that strength + and destroys that beauty which ornament true manhood and which assure an + individual of success. Besides, the continued using causes the indulger + to form a habit that cannot be easily overcome. +</p> +<p> + John, being not fully warned of the dreadful consequences of using + tobacco, and yet determined to become a man, kept on smoking until he + so accustomed his system to the shock that he felt satisfied he was + becoming a conqueror and would soon be able to show his father that + he was now a man. +</p> +<p> + During the time that John was undergoing such severe temptation, his + father was very busy. He realized that his child needed more instruction + than he was receiving and that Will's influence over John was not good; + but just what advice to give, he hardly knew. Once he thought that he + could smell tobacco smoke on his boy's clothing so calling John to his + side, he said: +</p> +<p> + "John, I feel that I must tell you something more about certain bad + habits that so many boys form while they are young. You remember I told + you that smoking and chewing tobacco ruin many a life. Now, I am not + going to say that you cannot use tobacco; but I wish that for my sake, + as well as for your own, you would let it alone, for it is indeed a very + bad habit." +</p> +<p> + To this advice John made no reply; for an appetite was being formed, + and in his heart he decided to keep right on. It would have been better + could his father have remembered the temptations of his own boyhood + days. He might then have more fully realized how next to impossible it + is for a parent to availingly teach his child to do something without + first setting before the child an example that is worthy of imitation. + Could he have helped his little son to understand the true meaning of + manhood and the necessity of building up within himself in youth a + noble, honest, and always-to-be-depended-upon character, as well as the + need of developing a strong body, he might have laid a foundation upon + which John could have later safely builded. +</p> +<p> + John dearly loved his father and wanted to please him. And to his mind + he could best please his father by as quickly as possible becoming a + man. So, with the thought of early manhood ever before him, he felt + that, in using tobacco, he was doing right. And then, too, Charley had + learned to smoke and chew, and it would be very hard indeed to be near + the boys and not to join in with them. +</p> +<p> + By the time that John had passed his seventh birthday, the small amount + of tobacco that was kept in the cellar was not sufficient to fill the + demand of the three boys without too rapidly diminishing the uncle's + supply, and the boys decided to look elsewhere. +</p> +<p> + Now, John's aunt had at one time explained to the boys that lying and + stealing are wrong; but she had not made it clear that deceiving is + lying and that taking little things that did not belong to them, even + though they took the things from some member of the family, is stealing, + and that just such thefts lead to the greater crimes that send men and + women to prison. Instead, she gave the advice in such a way that, though + they were impressed with a horror of stealing, the boys could only in + part comprehend her meaning. But because she had warned them, she felt + that she had done her duty and that they ought to know right from wrong + in regard to that matter without further explanation. +</p> +<p> + She did not realize that it was her duty to watch, encourage, and + advise, and also to find out when mischief was being planned. In fact, + this aunt and mother, busy with her own cares, knew nothing of the + possibilities for a child whose confidence and love had been won, and + who, through loving counsel, had gained a knowledge of evils and their + effects before he had formed ruinous habits or his mind had been + polluted with false ideas. Being thus left to themselves to discern as + best they could the difference between right and wrong, the boys nearly + always chose the wrong; and as a result, constantly went deeper and + deeper into sinful things. +</p> +<a name="2HCH0003"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER III +</h2> +<h3> + What the Big Chest Contained +</h3> +<p> + Great sins always have a beginning; the first attempts to do evil are + not hard to check if taken in time, but if allowed to be carried out, it + is impossible to tell what the results may be. How sad it was that John + and his cousins did not have someone to check them! +</p> +<p> + The boys now decided to keep close watch, and to avail themselves of + every opportunity to procure tobacco, even if they were forced to steal + it. The word "steal" had, of course, a certain horror to John because + of the picture his aunt had described of a prison and a thief; but he + soothed his conscience by saying, "There isn't anything else in the + world except tobacco that I would think of stealing." But the stealing + habit, like the tobacco habit, continues to grow stronger, unless it + is in some way broken. As tobacco contains a poison that affects the + physical being, so in a similar manner lying and stealing have a ruinous + effect upon the moral nature. The three—lying, stealing, and tobacco + using—too often go hand in hand. +</p> +<p> + The first effort of the boys to secure the much-coveted tobacco was made + one day when they, while roaming about over the prairie, discovered a + man hard at work in a field. The man seemed to be lifting something that + was very heavy, and Will suggested to the boys that they go and lend + their services provided the man would give them each a chew of his + tobacco in return; and Will did not forget to add that they must each + take as generous a bite as their mouths could accommodate. The man was + glad to accept their help; and together with his own efforts, the work + was soon finished. Then, in fulfillment of his agreement, he handed them + his plug of tobacco that they might each take the "chew" he had promised + them. +</p> +<p> + According to Will's suggestion the boys did not stop with an ordinary + chew; but each took all that his mouth would contain. When they returned + the plug, it was so small that the boys were all afraid the man would + find fault with them; so they hurried away from the spot as rapidly as + possible. As soon as they were far enough away, they removed the tobacco + from their mouths; and they found that, by taking very small chews at + a time, the amount was sufficient to last them for some time. Several + times they succeeded in securing tobacco in this way, and by economizing + were able to get along pretty well for a while. But the plan did not + always work; for the neighbors' becoming aware of the scheme, prepared + themselves with a small piece of tobacco to offer the greedy boys. +</p> +<p> + After that, in order to secure their tobacco, they were often forced + to pick up partly-chewed quids, found where they had been thrown away + by the owners. These the boys usually washed; sometimes, however, in + their eagerness they could not wait to attend to even this amount of + cleanliness, but crammed the tobacco into their mouths just as they had + found it. Even cigar stubs; in fact, everything in the form of tobacco, + that had been thrown away, they eagerly gathered and used to satisfy + their ravenous appetites. +</p> +<p> + With a foundation now laid for both lying and stealing and with their + consciences dulled, the boys were constantly laying plans to gratify + their evil desires. Many a pocket they robbed of its contents if it + happened to contain tobacco in any form. But this was a slow process at + best; even under the most favorable circumstances it yielded them but + very little returns for their efforts. But one day Will informed the + boys that he had made a discovery—that he had found out that there was + a lot of plug tobacco in the big chest in his father's room. "Now, if we + could think up some way to get into that chest when the old folks are + gone away to town," he suggested, "we could get all the chewing tobacco + we would want for a long while. I thought I would watch and see where + Dad put the key, but he took it with him. Guess he carries it with him + everywhere he goes. I wonder if we couldn't manage in some way to break + the lock. My, but I tell you we could get a big haul! I wonder if we + hadn't better try it some day when the old folks go to town?" +</p> +<p> + "Hooray, that's just it!" shouted the smaller boys in the same breath. +</p> +<p> + And John asked quickly: "When will they go to town again? This is only + Wednesday." +</p> +<p> + "It won't be long, I'm sure," Will answered reassuringly. "They'll go + either Friday or Saturday sure. But we'll have to get busy and think out + a way to break that lock. My, but won't the old man be mad when he finds + out about it! We'll have to act just as if we couldn't see how on earth + such a thing could have happened." +</p> +<p> + "Yes; and we'll have to hide the tobacco good, or Pa might find it," + chimed in Charley. +</p> +<p> + "Hey, Will," John exclaimed in a hurried undertone—for all the boys had + learned to speak low when mentioning their plans—"if we could take the + hinges off from the back of the chest, we wouldn't have to break the + lock at all." +</p> +<p> + "Why, John, that's just it! How in the world did you think of that + scheme?" Will exclaimed, as he slapped his little cousin on the back. "I + say, my boy, you had better look out or you'll be a man before your big + cousin! It doesn't matter, you know, about the height, if you have the + sense." +</p> +<p> + Now, John (although so young) was quite ingenious; and he often + suggested ideas that, for their shrewdness, were far beyond his years. + For such he was always praised by Will, and was encouraged to make other + plans. +</p> +<p> + Being encouraged by his cousin's praise, the child's brain became even + more active, and he said, "If we just cut a little piece from each plug, + Uncle won't be so apt to miss the tobacco." +</p> +<p> + "That's just it again!" emphatically assented Will. "I declare, John, + you surprise me! And now, we must have everything all ready so that + the minute they leave we can get busy. Let's see, what'll we need? + A screw-driver—and will we need a hammer?" +</p> +<p> + "We'll need a real sharp knife to cut the tobacco," John suggested. +</p> +<p> + "I'll get the things ready," Charley volunteered; and so they planned + and waited for the time to come when they could carry out their scheme. +</p> +<p> + The time came on the following Saturday. Early in the morning the uncle + and aunt drove away in the "buckboard," and were on their way to the + city where they were to do their trading. All three of the boys had been + unusually anxious to help their elders get started, forgetting in their + eagerness that they might be thus revealing some of their plans. + Scarcely did they give the uncle and aunt time to disappear in the + distance before they had commenced their evil work. +</p> +<p> + "Here's the tools," Charley said, as he brought forth the screw-driver, + hammer, and sharp knife. "Where shall I put them?" +</p> +<p> + "Oh, anywhere so they'll be handy!" Will told him; and then the three + boys hastened to the room containing the chest and were soon kneeling on + the floor, examining carefully the object of their interest. +</p> +<p> + The chest, a long, narrow, flat box somewhat darkened with age, was + closed and securely fastened; and the tiny padlock that hung from its + side seemed to say, "If you please, I am here to protect my master's + property from the hand of any thieves; and to the extent that it is + within my power, I shall perform my duty." Its bold front and defiant + appearance did not, however, daunt the purpose of the boys. After giving + it a brief examination, they slipped around to the opposite side of the + chest, and by the aid of the screw-driver, removed the lower half of the + rusty hinges. +</p> +<p> + "Thank goodness, this chest is old!" Will exclaimed as he brushed from + his forehead the large beads of perspiration. "If these screws turned + any harder, I never could get them out. Guess we'll earn our tobacco + this time all right!" +</p> +<a name="image-0002"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="images/john-2.jpg" +alt="Opening the Chest"> +<br>Opening the Chest +</center> + +<p> + Scarcely had the last screw been removed when up came the lid; and + almost instantly three pairs of eager eyes were greedily gazing down + upon the contents of the wooden chest. There were in it a package of + old letters, various articles of clothing, a few trinkets, etc.; but + only that part of the contents that was carefully packed in one corner + claimed the attention of the boys. This, a pile of long brown strips, + or plugs, of tobacco, was what they wanted; and soon Will was busily + engaged in cutting a narrow slice from each plug and John and Charley + were dividing the slices into three equal parts. But in their haste and + excitement, none of the boys forgot to fill their mouths with the filthy + stuff, and to chew while they worked. +</p> +<p> + As Will cut a piece from the last plug, he glanced about over the piles + and said with a look of satisfaction: "Now that ain't so bad, is it, + boys? That ought to last quite a spell; and when it's gone, we can come + back here, or maybe something else will turn up." And then, when he saw + the boys rearranging the tobacco in the chest, he said, "Look out there! + You'll have to get everything just like it was, or we'll be caught and + have had our fun for nothing!" When the chest was repacked, the last + screw in its place, and the tiny scraps of tobacco that had fallen upon + the floor had been carefully preserved, the boys looked at one another + with satisfaction, and Will said, "That's a pretty slick job all right, + if I do say so; and its a lot better than breaking the lock would have + been. I'll tell you it takes some brains to do up a thing like that, + and it makes me feel as if I'd like more of them." +</p> +<p> + To this John smiled and said: "Hey, Will, do you know what's in that + trunk?" John referred to a large trunk that was sitting near the bed + on the opposite side of the room. +</p> +<p> + "Couldn't tell you all that's in it, but it's locked; and it's in that + trunk that Dad keeps his revolvers. There's two of them, because I saw + inside the trunk the other day." And then as the new thought presented + itself to his mind, he exclaimed, "I wonder why we couldn't get into + that trunk the same as we did the chest?" +</p> +<p> + In a twinkling, all the boys were examining the trunk, but to their + dismay, they found that the hinges, instead of being on the outside of + the trunk, were arranged differently, and they could not get at them. + Again it was John who suggested a plan whereby they could accomplish + their desires. "Just take a nail," he said, "and turn the head of it + around in the lock. I've watched my father do that, and he gets his + open every time." +</p> +<p> + The trunk, which was an old one, yielded quickly to the efforts made + by the boys; and upon raising the lid, they saw before them two shining + weapons that were supposed to have been carefully hidden away from their + inexperienced fingers. John and Will each quickly caught one up in his + hand; and Will began handling his as though it were a toy, but not so + did John. +</p> +<p> + John's father had taught him something of the dangers connected with the + handling of a gun or revolver. Besides, John was at one time present + when a duel was fought; and on that occasion one of the duelists was + killed. The memory of that incident and of his father's warnings, made + John very careful about pointing the revolver at either of his cousins. + It was, therefore, with intense fear that John looked into the barrel + of his cousin's revolver as Will snapped it, aimlessly pointing in his + direction; and John exclaimed, "Turn that thing away, or you'll shoot + me." +</p> +<p> + Will's answer was: "You needn't be afraid, John. This revolver isn't + loaded." +</p> +<p> + But John, seeing his cousin's careless attitude, was afraid; and he + dodged down behind a barrel of carpet-rags near which he had been + standing. It was well that John did not longer remain where he had been; + for the revolver contained a solitary load, and the frequent pulling of + the trigger discharged this. The bullet passed the very spot where John + had a moment before been standing, and lodged itself deep in the side of + the trunk. +</p> +<p> + This experience marked an awakening-time in all of the boys' lives; at + that moment their consciences, which had almost fallen asleep, were + aroused, and in startling phrases gave them accounts of their evil + deeds. With great haste the boys returned the weapons to their former + hiding place, relocked the trunk, and in so far as it was possible, + covered all the traces of the accident. Then, with hearts full of guilty + thoughts, the three boys hastened from the place where a scene of horror + had very nearly been enacted. +</p> +<p> + Out in the open, where the air was fresh and pure, their spirits to a + certain degree revived. But their usual laughter, fun, and merry-making + had been dampened; and as they wended their way to the prairie + pasture-land, few words were passed between them. Poor little misguided + boys! warned, and yet left so ignorant of what was the right and the + wrong way. +</p> +<p> + Through the voice of conscience God endeavored to speak to John and to + tell him that his ways were evil and that he and his cousins would some + day get into serious trouble if they continued in the way they were + going; but, although he was sad, he could not understand. He wanted to + be a good boy for his father's sake (for his father was the best friend + he knew); and most of all he desired to become the man that that parent + had wished him to be. John's disregard for his father's warnings from + time to time had been due to the fear that, if he obeyed, his early + manhood would be hindered. +</p> +<p> + Could that father have given his little son an object-lesson such as an + aged monk once, while walking through a forest, gave his scholar, John + might have been spared much suffering. The monk, stepping before four + plants that were close by, pointed to the first, a plant just beginning + to peep above the ground; to the second, one well-rooted in the earth; + to the third, a small shrub; and to the fourth, a full-sized tree. +</p> +<p> + Then turning to his young companion, he said, "Pull up the first." This + the boy easily did. +</p> +<p> + "Now, pull up the second." The youth obeyed, but not with so much ease. +</p> +<p> + "And now the third." This time before the boy succeeded in uprooting the + plant, he had to put forth all his strength and to use both his arms. +</p> +<p> + "And now," said his master, "try your hand on the fourth." But although + the lad grasped the trunk of the tree in his arms, he scarcely shook its + leaves; and he found it impossible to tear its roots from the earth. + Then the wise old man explained the meaning of the four trials. +</p> +<p> + "This, my son," he said, "is just what happens to our bad habits and + passions. When they are young and weak, we can by a little watchfulness + and by a little discipline, easily tear them up; but if we let them cast + their roots deep down into our souls, no human power can uproot them. + Only the almighty hand of the Creator can pluck them out. For this + reason, my boy, watch your first impulses." +</p> +<p> + Or, could John have heard the story of the giant who fell in with a + company of pigmies, he might have taken a different course. The giant + roared with laughter at the insignificant stature and wonderful + boastings of the pigmies. He ridiculed their threats when they told what + they expected to do to him; but when he fell asleep that night, he was + at their mercy. And he did not know until he awoke in the morning that + while he was asleep these tiny people of whom he had made sport had + bound him with innumerable threads and that he was their helpless + captive. But John knew nothing of these stories or of other things that + teach the lessons he so much needed; and perhaps his father did not + know, so that he could tell his son what he should have been told. +</p> +<p> + The use of tobacco is an evil. When God made tobacco and pronounced it + good, He did not mean for it to go into the mouth of any man or woman, + much less into the mouths of children. Tobacco is a deadly poison; and + the constant use of any poison must injure the body of the one who uses + it. When it has sapped the strength from both the mind and the body, it + leaves the individual weakened in every way and makes it harder for him + to live a good, pure life. +</p> +<p> + No person who uses tobacco may be said to be perfectly well. Such a + person may not realize how his health is impaired, because the stupor + that the poison produces numbs his sensibilities; but the very appetite + he has for tobacco is in itself a disease. In order for an habitual user + to realize the harm that tobacco is doing to his health, he has simply + to stop its use for a short time and watch the effect on his system. +</p> +<p> + Tobacco is not a food that God intended man to eat. In man's case it + feeds only a craving that it has itself created. But the leaves of the + tobacco plant do serve as food for the large, green worms that live and + thrive in tobacco fields. Yes; tobacco is "very good" for the "creeping + things" for which it was created; but it was not intended as food for + man. +</p> +<p> + Could John and his cousins have understood all this when the next + tobacco famine came to them, it seems that each would surely have + resisted the temptation to stoop down, pick up a partly chewed quid of + tobacco, cram it greedily into his watering mouth, and chew it as though + it was the sweetest morsel he had ever tasted. But the boys did not + know. They thought such things were manly. +</p> +<a name="2HCH0004"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER IV +</h2> +<h3> + Early School Days +</h3> +<p> + By the time John was eight years old, the evil influences with which he + had been surrounded in his uncle's home were rapidly telling on him. To + be sure, there was still the same pathetic expression in his deep, brown + eyes, and now and then there could be observed in them a mischievous + glance or a merry twinkle; but his general appearance was that of a + sadly neglected child. Still the busy aunt took little notice either + of him or of her own boys. +</p> +<p> + In his heart John was longing for someone to take an interest in him and + to love him—someone to whom he could go with his boyish heartaches and + from whom he could gain the sympathy for which his heart was craving. + To be sure, his father was still kind, and sometimes John would imagine + that he could even feel his father's love. At such times the boy would + press closer to his parent, hoping that he would at least with his arm + caress him; but his father did not understand. He could see only the + outward roughness; and he said in his heart: +</p> +<p> + "It is all because he has never had a chance. He has grown up here on + the prairie like a wild thing. He has never been to school, and I must + send him at once." +</p> +<p> + With this purpose in his heart John's father decided to return with his + child to the place that had once been his happy home. In making the + change there were, of course, many things to take into consideration. + But under the circumstances, to go seemed the best and proper thing to + do. The sad events, he reasoned, were all in a lifetime; and he must + make the best of them. The home would for a time seem desolate, he knew, + but he thought that perhaps they could become used to it; anyway, his + boy must be in school. The school terms would not be long (for only + three or four months of each year were set apart for school purposes); + but even these short terms would be better than none. +</p> +<p> + To John the change meant more. The five years that he had spent in the + home of his uncle had made his cousins seem to him like brothers; but + still, as he considered his father's plans, he thought, "Perhaps it may + be all right." His aunt was very kind while John and his father were + preparing to move; and the day they bade her good-by she said such sweet + things that he wanted to throw his arms about her neck. To his mind it + was the very way in which his own dear mother would have spoken had she + been alive. +</p> +<p> + When all was ready for the departure, the aunt said: "John, here are the + two little turkeys that you have liked so well all summer. You may take + them with you. They will help you to forget that you are alone when your + father is away at his work"; and she handed him a small covered basket. + Then the wagon containing their few belongings moved away from the place + that for nearly five years they had called their home. +</p> +<p> + As they wended their way along the thoroughfare, they saw men at work in + the fields. Some were shucking corn and tossing the bright golden ears + into wagons that were placed between the rows for that purpose, while + others were hauling the grain to their barns to store it away for the + winter's use. The broad corn leaves rustling in the wind seemed to + whisper, "Winter is coming with his cold, bleak storms to rob the earth + of her summer splendor; but he will bring his beautiful coverlet of snow + to protect her fields and to prepare them for the coming year." +</p> +<p> + The foliage on the small bushes that were scattered here and there + was fading; but the air was still soft and mild. Near the willows + might still be seen the bending goldenrods, asters, and sunflowers. + And occasionally blue smoke could be seen curling up from some + sod-house chimney. +</p> +<p> + It was evening when the father and his son drove up to the door of their + long-desolate home; the sun was sinking lower and lower in the west. A + few soft glimmers of its mellow light lingered timidly about the doorway + as if to bid the home-comers welcome, and then they were gone. A rabbit, + hopping boldly about in the neglected doorway, stopped suddenly as if + to ask why these people had come to a place that she had chosen for her + home; and some prairie dogs that had formed a colony close by anxiously + watched from the entrance of their underground homes to see what was + going on. +</p> +<p> + John and his father, each absorbed with his own thoughts, sprang from + the wagon, and soon began to air out the musty house and to rearrange + the furniture that had long been idly awaiting their return. After a + while John found that his aunt had not forgotten that he would be very + hungry, and soon he was sampling some large bread-and-meat sandwiches; + his father, too, came for his share. Thus quickly passed the first + evening in their old home. But before John retired to his own bed, he + saw that his little turkeys received some attention; and in the morning + he let them have their freedom. +</p> +<p> + As the days sped by and lengthened into weeks and months, John would + have indeed been lonely had it not been for his little pets, the + turkeys. They received his earliest attention in the morning, and it + was their little beaks that touched his cheek the last thing before he + retired at night; and to himself alone was their roosting-place known. +</p> +<p> + How different everything seemed to John in his new home! The change from + knowing nothing but perfect freedom in God's great open out-of-doors to + being left alone to hustle off to school in the early morning hours, + where he must sit like a statue and prepare humdrum lessons, was to John + a wonderful change. John, however, was determined to make the very best + of his lot and to do all that he could to please his teacher. +</p> +<p> + Allowing this purpose to govern his life, John's conduct was such that + he became in a very short time the favorite pupil in the school; and his + kindly, generous, and ambitious nature won him many friends. He was soon + noted for his witty remarks, made in a manner so droll and unpretentious + that often merry bursts of laughter were heard from his teacher as well + as his playmates. +</p> +<p> + But regardless of these pleasant conditions, John was far from happy. + He still wanted someone to show deep love for him and to take an interest + in his welfare; and though he constantly tried to smother the deep + suffering he felt it still smoldered in his heart. This, perhaps, caused + him to crave all the more tobacco that in a way had dulled his senses + and caused him to realize his troubles less. +</p> +<a name="2HCH0005"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER V +</h2> +<h3> + The Card Parties +</h3> +<p> + While John was forming new acquaintances at school, Satan was not + asleep. John's active mind was soon being schooled in many evils that he + had not known before. And to make the matter still worse, John's father + had a number of bachelor friends with whom he was in the habit of + meeting for pleasant evenings, and their amusements were mostly drinking + strong drinks and playing card games. +</p> +<p> + Among these men, as among his schoolmates, John became a favorite; and + he was often praised and admired for his shrewd and manly ways. And when + the report concerning his intense desire to become a man was circulated + among them, they urged him to drink beer, saying that it would make him + more manly and that all men must learn how to drink and smoke if they + would be thought of as being manly. As a result John was soon able to + drink his share of the beer, although he did not like the taste at + first. Besides this, John discovered that at these evening gatherings he + could often replenish his supply of tobacco by slipping a little from + someone's pocket when the owner was not on his guard. +</p> +<p> + Poor little John!—such a favorite! so gifted, and yet so neglected! in + regard to high ideals and purposes in life, so ignorant! and so desirous + of that motherly love and interest that were ever denied him! He + endeavored to fill his life with other things; but in his day-dreams he + often pictured his mother, and wondered: "Was she like my aunt? Would + she take me and hold me in her arms while she smoothed my hair with her + hand? Would she bind my bruises? And would she sit by my bedside at + night and hold my hand in hers while telling me stories that she had + read?" "Oh, how would it all seem?" he would ask himself; and then, + remembering that such could never be, he would try to forget and be + happy. His mother was gone, he reasoned, and he must be content. It was + to his two little feathered friends alone that he confided his sorrows. +</p> +<p> + Had John's father remembered the determination that filled his soul on + the dark day of his wife's funeral, and had he continued to teach his + little son to pray and to serve God, how much better it might have been! + How much better might John have understood the difference between right + and wrong! In such a case, John's life's record might have been filled + with good and noble deeds, and his habits might have been clean and + wholesome. +</p> +<p> + As it was, because of his ignorance of right, he was laying a crumbling + foundation formed of evil motives and desires. And should he continue to + build, using similar material, his life's structure would be unsafe; it + would be momentarily in danger of falling. As Satan is ever waiting with + the needed supplies for a work of this kind, so he was ready to aid + little John. The card parties at which John and his father were often + present furnished John with much of his material. +</p> +<p> + The younger men among those who attended these gatherings, recognizing + in John material of the entertaining sort, began at once to educate him. + They taught him, not only to drink beer, but also to play cards and to + swear. To John beer did not at first have a pleasant taste; but as it + was when he was trying to learn to use tobacco, so it was now—the + promise that it would help him in becoming manly encouraged him to take + more; and as he drank, the appetite grew. Finally, he would sometimes + drink so much that he could not keep awake. +</p> +<p> + Usually on these occasions beer was served only as a prize to the + winners of the games. The lucky fellow alone was given a drink while + those who had lost were given only a smell of the bottle. One time when + John had won in a number of games and had been treated to as many drinks + from the bottle of beer, he became very sleepy. Going over to one corner + of the room, he crept up on a table and soon was apparently asleep. + It happened, however, that, although he was sleepy, he was not wholly + unconscious to what was going on; and suddenly he heard a plot that + seemed to him so cruel that he could scarcely believe his ears. +</p> +<a name="image-0003"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="images/john-3.jpg" +alt="A Card-Party"> +<br>A Card-Party +</center> + +<p> + At the close of such gatherings, a chicken-roast was generally in order, + and the fowl used was usually taken from some hen-roost not far distant. + On this particular occasion when the party was about to break up, John + heard the roughest of the company ask: +</p> +<p> + "I say, boys, who's goin' fer the roast tonight? Some one ought to be + off fer it's nigh onter the midnight hour, and I, fer one's got a big + job ahead a me tomorrer." +</p> +<p> + "I'll go, Bill," someone answered; "but wha do ye say ter go?" +</p> +<p> + "Oh, it don't make no difference, so's it's not too fer away!" the other + answered, and added: "Whist, Tom, why can't we git John's turkeys? + They'd make fust-rate eatin' all right. He's too far gone to know + anything about it." +</p> +<p> + John was just about to call out that they must let his turkeys alone + when he remembered how hard it would be in the darkness to discover + their roosting-place, so he remained quiet. It was, however, with some + uneasiness that he awaited the thieves' return. When they came, he was + relieved; for they were carrying chickens instead of turkeys. Although, + because of the safety of his pets, a thrill of satisfaction swept over + John, yet he had received in his heart a wound that was deep and wide. + These cruel, heartless men were willing to take from him, in so + unprincipled a manner, his only companions and playfellows. John + somewhat realized that life had a hard and bitter side for him; but + again he endeavored with all his strength to make the best of it. +</p> +<p> + It was morning before John and his father returned to their home; + and it was with unusual joy that John found his pets waiting for their + breakfast. As he held them close to his breast, with their beaks close + to his cheek, he again thought of his mother; also he wondered about a + certain change that had come over his father. +</p> +<p> + For a time after their removal to their own home, the father had been + very devoted to John and had seemed to understand something of the boy's + loneliness. Perhaps it was a realization of this loneliness and a desire + to bring into the life of the child the motherly interest of which he + had been deprived that had turned the father's heart toward a certain + young lady of his acquaintance. Anyway, whatever was the cause, the + father became more and more interested in this young woman; while, on + the other hand, he paid less attention to John, whose loneliness daily + increased. Night after night John's pillow was dampened by the tears he + shed while waiting and listening for the sound of his father's returning + footsteps. +</p> +<p> + In course of time the father married and brought home his new bride. + At first John was very shy; but he was glad. Oh, how he wished that she + would be what he had day-dreamed that his own mother might have been! + He could then have given her all his love and confidence. He could have + told her all his boyish plans for the future, asking her for the advice + he would need. But the new mother failed to fulfill his hopes. Even she + did not understand the longings of his boyish heart; nor did she realize + that the poor little neglected boy was measuring her by what he had + imagined a true mother to be. She was kind to John; but that was all. + Her time and attention were given to her husband; and John daily saw the + gulf between his father and himself widening and deepening. A feeling of + discord crept into John's heart; all attraction for home was severed; + and he felt that his happiness would have to be sought from other + sources. +</p> +<a name="2HCH0006"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER VI +</h2> +<h3> + Visitors and Pastimes +</h3> +<p> + During the winter that followed his father's marriage, John's + stepmother's brother came to live with the family; and the influence of + this stepuncle, whose name was Ed, was as bad or worse than Will's or + Charley's could ever have been; for Ed was older and wiser, and knew + much more of sin. +</p> +<p> + In Ed's home both the father and the mother used tobacco a long time + before their child was born. When he was just a little infant, he + worried and cried a great deal. He continued to do this, seemingly never + to be satisfied, until finally the parents imagined that he wanted + tobacco; and sure enough he did. The mother tied a small amount in a rag + and gave it to her baby to suck, and immediately he became quiet and + contented. So, from that time she gave him tobacco to stop his crying. + As he grew, the quantity he used gradually increased until, when he was + in his teens, he spent much of his money for tobacco. He went without + many of the necessary things of life in order that he might have the + money those things would cost to spend for tobacco. +</p> +<p> + The Bible tells us that God is abundant in goodness and truth, keeping + mercy for thousands and forgiving iniquity and transgression and + sin ... Parents may be sorry for their sins, and be forgiven for + their transgressions; but their children must suffer from inherited + ill-dispositions, unnatural appetites, or diseases.... Oh, what a + responsibility is resting upon the parents of the future generations! +</p> +<p> + Now, tobacco acts directly on the mind. It clouds the understanding and + dulls the memory; and sometimes it has much worse effects. The story is + told of the experience of a brilliant young man—a graduate from Andover + College—who, for a time, seemed to have a wonderful future before him. + After a few short successful years, however, all hopes were blighted; + he was thrown into an insane asylum a physical wreck. The doctors said + that tobacco had done it; but regardless of this, he was each day given, + according to the rules of the asylum, a small quantity of tobacco. + For twenty years he was in this seemingly hopeless condition; and then + suddenly, one day as he was walking the floor, his reason returned, and + he realized what was the matter. Throwing the plug of tobacco through + the iron grate of his cell, he said: "What brought me here? What keeps + me here? Why am I here? Tobacco! tobacco! tobacco! God help, help! + I will never use it again!" +</p> +<p> + He was restored; and for ten years he preached the gospel. +</p> +<p> + But not only does tobacco injure the mind; it also affects the blood and + sensitive tissues and the different organs of the body, which in order + to act normally and to do their work properly must be in healthful + condition. When the blood becomes saturated with the deadly poison that + comes from the pipe or cigar, and the soft membranes of the mouth become + filled with the poisonous secretion from the quid, as a consequence, + every member of the body becomes affected, and disease and suffering + are the final results. Lord Bacon said, "To smoke is a secret delight, + serving to steal away men's brains." Many others have expressed + themselves in even louder terms against the evil effects of tobacco; + but we must now return to John and to Ed, his stepuncle. +</p> +<p> + Soon after Ed came to live in the family, he paid a visit to a + neighboring town; and while there, he stole from a store a case of plug + tobacco. This he stealthily brought to his sister's new home, confiding + his secret to no one except John; and by generous promises he persuaded + John to say nothing about the matter. At this time John was in his + thirteenth year. He still keenly felt that something was dreadfully + missing in his life; so he turned to Ed, hoping to find that something + in his companionship. But again he was disappointed. The standard of + Ed's ideals were so far below the standard that John had fixed for + himself that John was conscious of a constant repulsion in his heart + toward Ed. As a consequence, John's loneliness increased. +</p> +<p> + About the time Ed arrived in the neighborhood, another dangerous pastime + was introduced. Dancing found a place in the social gatherings; and + again John was an apt scholar. Before very long he was considered to be + one of the best among the young people in this art; and for the time + being he seemed to find real enjoyment in the amusement. There was a + fascination about it that helped him partly to forget his troubles and + heartaches, also the discouragements with which he had been haunted so + much of late. +</p> +<p> + During the winter that followed, the social spirit increased and the + months were full of changes and excitement. The uncle with whom John and + his father had spent several years came with his family for a prolonged + visit. A hearty welcome was given the visitors, especially by John; for + regardless of the fact that in order to make room for the company he had + to exchange his nice warm bed in the house for a less comfortable one in + the sod cellar, he rejoiced in the thought that he could once more be + with his old companion, Will. In fact, any change was appreciated by + John in his restless, discontented frame of mind. +</p> +<p> + The first evening the boys retired early, partly because they had no + light and partly because they wanted to visit about bygone days. They + had so many things to say to each other; and besides, they wanted to lay + their plans for a jolly time while they could be together. Will laughed + heartily about John's intense desire to become a man, and asked him how + he felt about it now. It was in a discouraged tone of voice that John + replied: +</p> +<p> + "There ain't so much fun in it as I supposed. The older I get, the + more unhappy I feel. Why, Will, there are times when I almost wish that + I were dead. No one seems to care for me or to have any time to give me. + It's just 'John here' and 'John there'; and if I dare to say anything, + I'm laughed at or told to keep still. It was different before Pa got + married. Then he used to talk to me and try to help me when I got + lonesome; but now I just have to get along the best way I can. + If I like anything it's all right, and if I don't it's the same. +</p> +<p> + "I'll just tell you, if it wasn't for Pa, I'd run away from home! As for + being a man, I don't think that it is so wonderful after all. The men + that I know are all so bad. Just look at Ed! I'm getting so that I can + hardly endure Ed!" +</p> +<p> + In reply to John's great outburst of sorrow, Will had no words of + sympathy to offer. All that he could propose was that they could spend + their evenings in playing cards (for Will, too, had learned many things + since John had left; and card-playing was one of them). John was pleased + with the suggestion; but he said, "I haven't any cards." As usual, + however, he was quick to invent a way out of that difficulty and added: + "Hey, Will! why couldn't we make some? I know where there's a lot of + cardboard boxes that we could cut up. One could cut while the other + marked them. You would know how to make them, would you not?" +</p> +<p> + "Yes, I think so," Will answered. "We could do that all right in the + daytime; but how could we work in the dark? And does it get very cold + in here?" +</p> +<p> + "Oh, it doesn't get so awfully cold; and as for a light, I can get a + dish of lard and put a rag in it which we can light! That won't be a + very good light; but I think we can get along." +</p> +<p> + The boys found that it was no small task to make the cards. First they + had to cut the cardboard. This John did with a very sharp knife. Next, + they drew hearts and diamonds and other necessary markings. To be sure, + the set of cards was a very crude one when it was finished; and when the + boys began to shuffle them in the pack, they were disappointed because + of the bulky appearance and wished for a more perfect set. But John + had done a good job in cutting them out, and the marking answered the + purpose very well. So night after night, by the aid of the flickering + and sputtering light, furnished by the rag burning in the saucer of + lard, the two boys, with heads bent low, sat scheming and planning, + each striving to get ahead of the other in the game. +</p> +<p> + Long before Will's visit was ended, both boys had become so skillful in + playing that the one could scarcely get the better of the other unless + one in some way cheated. This caused them to try many underhanded tricks + and encouraged them to bet and gamble; and in course of time they had + exchanged as wagers the greater part of their simple belongings. Taking + advantage of one another became a part of the game and seemingly was the + principal aim. And the evenings that they did not spend in dancing were + spent in indulging in these dangerous amusements. (Card-playing—as does + also dancing—wields an influence that is very harmful, especially to + the young. As the interest in the game increases, the players' desire + for things that are good and wholesome is lessened. One player sees only + the pleasure that he derives from getting the better of the one he is + playing against. He fails to see that each time he stoops to unfair + methods in order to gain his purpose he helps to pave the way for other + things that are wrong and deceitful.) +</p> +<p> + When the first warm days of spring arrived and the grass of the prairie + began to unfold its tiny blades, John's uncle said it was time for him + and his family to return home. "It's a long way, Will," he said; "and + we must get there in good time to plant a big crop of 'tobaker.' You + remember we didn't have near enough to do us last year!" Will agreed; + but the boys were all sorry to be separated again, and when the day of + departure came, it was very hard indeed for them to bid one another + farewell. +</p> +<p> + During the winter months John had not thought much about his aunt, for + Will and he had been too deeply interested in other things. But now at + the last moment that old longing again clutched at his heart. When he + saw them disappearing in the distance and finally lost them to view, + like a flash the desire that had so long been smoldering within his + heart was fanned, as it were, into a mighty flame, and in his mind he + resolved what he would do. "I will stay in this home no longer!" he + cried in his distress. "My father may miss me; but if I stay here, + I shall die!" and going to his father, he stated his intentions. +</p> +<a name="2HCH0007"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER VII +</h2> +<h3> + Leaving Home +</h3> +<p> + As John's father looked into the deep pathetic eyes of his son, he + in part understood the meaning of what he read. He could see that the + soul of his child was crying out for something; but again he failed to + understand the true longings of the young heart. He failed to see that + the boy was being crushed by sinful habits, and that for parental care + and interest he was starving. In ignorance the father supposed that + the boy's unrest was due to a longing to know more of the world, to + a feeling akin to that which an explorer experiences. +</p> +<p> + Poor man! Could he have known just then what really was troubling his + boy, he could have stayed the spirit of unrest by holding out to John + the "olive branch of peace." He could have said: "John, we have drifted + apart. We are not to one another what we used to be. Stop, my boy; sit + down here. Let us carefully talk these things over before you take such + a step. Out in the world you will meet many temptations and evils, more + than you have ever known." And many other tender words of advice he + might have spoken to the child; but these things were left unspoken. +</p> +<p> + Instead, his father only said, "John, I would like to have you remain + at home a while longer; but if you are determined to go, you may, only + remember to try to do as nearly right as you can! I have wanted to bring + you up well for your mother's sake; for she had made so many plans for + your future. My wish, John, is that you become a good man." +</p> +<p> + John was deeply touched by his father's farewell speech; and had there + been any other drawing to keep him at home, he certainly would have + remained. As it was, he soon gathered together his belongings, and while + still in his thirteenth year, said good-by to his people, and went away + to work for a thrifty farmer. +</p> +<p> + During the two years preceding his departure from home, John had now + and then worked for the farmers in different parts of the country. This + and his attendance at the social gatherings had enabled him to become + acquainted with numbers of boys, some of whom were very wild and rough. + But because of the companionship of Will during the winter months, the + evil influences of his wide circle of friends had not been so strong. + But when the cousins were parted, John's companions were again some of + the roughest and toughest in the community. Because of this his tobacco + and beer bills increased, and to this alarming expenditure he added many + accounts for whiskey. +</p> +<p> + John had made a discovery. He had found that Ed, in order to satisfy the + awful craving and gnawing in his stomach (a sensation produced by the + tobacco poison), was using a generous supply of whiskey; and for the + same reason John began to use it. Whiskey did perhaps satisfy for the + time being; but John also discovered that the seemingly good effect + was very soon gone and that the old trouble was again there, only with + renewed force and strength. Another thing he found, too, was that he had + added to his list of evil habits one even more fierce and strong than + the others. +</p> +<p> + When John left home, his desire was principally to find relief for his + loneliness; but he had another object. His expenses had been heavy and + hard to defray. And now with the amount he had to pay for his whiskey + added to what he was already spending for beer and tobacco, his bills + were so high he felt that he must have more money in order to meet them. + This seeming necessity was, therefore, one thing that urged him to take + the step he took. +</p> +<a name="image-0004"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="images/john-4.jpg" +alt="Leaving the Old Homestead"> +<br>Leaving the Old Homestead +</center> + +<p> + The farmer for whom John began to work was known among his men as "the + captain." All the hired help worked under one manager, or boss; so + John's experience while in this service was new and varied. +</p> +<p> + "We have orders today to work for Farmer Z," explained the boss one + morning a few weeks after John's arrival. "And the captain says we must + be sure and get around there early in the morning, for we are to get our + breakfast over there." +</p> +<p> + The home of Farmer Z was some distance from that of John's employer; but + the prancing horses on which the men were to ride were soon carrying + them across the prairie, and it was not long until they were in sight + of Farmer Z's modest farmhouse. As they entered the gateway, Farmer Z + stepped into the doorway; and when he greeted the men with a kindly + "Good morning," John particularly noticed his countenance and expression + and wondered why he was so different from the comrades with whom he had + always associated. He noticed, too, that, as the men gathered in the + dining room and took their places around the table, they were quiet and + reserved; and he was puzzled by still another thing—Farmer Z bowed his + head and thanked God for all of His blessings and benefits and goodness + to them all. +</p> +<p> + Such things were new and strange to John; and when at the close of the + meal, the farmer invited them into another room, saying, "We always have + reading and prayer immediately after breakfast and would be glad to have + you all join with us," John suddenly felt extremely awkward and out of + place, and he longed to make his escape to the barn. +</p> +<p> + John could have given no reason for his feelings, unless it was that the + farmer's suggestion of prayer made him think about his mother and of the + time when his father had taught him the little prayer, "Now I lay me + down to sleep," and had told him that he very much desired him to be + a little man. But it was not strange that John should feel as he did; + for he had so often associated other scenes with that of learning the + prayer, but had since that time heard very little about the Bible. In + fact, the only part of the Bible that he had ever read was a few verses + in the small New Testament that had belonged to his mother; and he had + read these because he had heard that the reading of certain passages + would stop the toothache and relieve the nosebleed. He experimented one + time when he had the nosebleed, and his nosebleed did stop; but he was + not sure that it would not have stopped as soon had he not read the + verses. +</p> +<p> + Now, for some reason unknown to himself, John did not want to remain for + worship; so when he noticed one of the other men slipping out of the + back door, he quickly followed. The two were just about to enter the + barn when the farmer, calling to them in words that were gentle but + firm, said, "We always have our help come in with us for worship." + Seeing then that there was no way around going in except to stoutly + refuse, the two returned to the house; and with the others they seated + themselves in the room where it was evident that the family worship was + to be held. This experience was so entirely new to John that he actually + suffered. He did not know what to do nor how to act. +</p> +<p> + He observed that the children, the workmen, and the farmer's wife, were + all seated, so he sat down, too. He also observed that the men had left + their hats outside where they had washed; and this caused him to feel + very strangely, because he had his own in his hand. He dropped it, + however, beside his chair; then he began to watch the children and to + try to do just as they were doing. But as no two of the youngsters were + doing the same thing, he again felt troubled. The older members of the + family, he noticed, sat very still; and suddenly John realized that they + must be listening to the farmer, who had been reading. John knew that he + had not heard one single word that had been read, and here, the farmer + was now saying, "Let us pray." +</p> +<p> + When they knelt beside their chairs, John was again bewildered; but + having decided to do just as nearly as he possibly could the way the + rest did, he, too, slipped down upon his knees. For some reason that he + could not understand, a burning shame that seemed to benumb his whole + being swept over him, and he could hardly hear the farmer's words; but + he realized suddenly that the farmer was saying, "Dear Lord, bless the + help today, and keep them from accidents and danger." +</p> +<p> + Hurriedly glancing around, John saw the children peeking from between + their fingers; and hastily covering his own face with his hands, he gave + a quick glance toward Mr. A, his boss. Mr. A was kneeling beside his + chair, but was picking his teeth and looking out of the window. Just + then the farmer said, "Amen," and they all arose. +</p> +<p> + Then, as John compared his own attitude with that of Mr. A.'s, another + feeling of shame came over him; and for some time he kept asking + himself, "Why didn't I act unconcerned like the boss?" But John was not + a bad boy naturally. He was ignorant of what was right. He had never + understood that there is a Savior and that that Savior loved him and + left an example for him to follow. To be sure, he had often heard both + his Savior's and his Creator's names reviled and abused by his evil + companions. But he did not know that these were Beings to whom he could + go when in trouble; nor did he understand that in God's sight he was + a sinner. +</p> +<p> + More than once that day while working, John thought of the farmer's + words and wondered if the prayer would have any effect upon the day. + Some way he thought it would, and he decided to watch and see. The day + was ideal, and the help orderly; and God kept them free from accident + and trouble. It was all a mystery to John, and he pondered over it along + the way home and even during the night. Farmer Z had opened up a new + channel for his thoughts. +</p> +<a name="2HCH0008"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER VIII +</h2> +<h3> + With the Circus +</h3> +<p> + During the following year a circus that was passing through the country + stopped at a town near by; and John, together with a number of his + associates, attended some of the exhibitions. John's interest was at + once captivated, and he felt that it would be great to join the company + and to act the part of the clown; and he soon began to plan to secretly + join them the following season. His visions of great wealth enlarged day + by day, and in fancy he pictured a future of wonderful fame. +</p> +<p> + In due time the show company returned. They gladly accepted John's + proposal to join them; and so John, with his few earthly possessions, + to the surprise of all who knew him, disappeared from his home locality. + But John seemed doomed to disappointment; the showman's life was not + at all as he had pictured it. Instead of becoming fabulously rich in a + fairy-like way, he was taken very ill and had soon lost all the money he + did have. As soon, therefore, as he was able, he returned to his friends + at home, thoroughly disgusted with his undertakings; he was a wiser lad + than he was when he went away. +</p> +<p> + But, although John was disgusted, he was not disheartened. When he + was laughed at by his friends, he bravely bore their ridicule, and + endeavored to look on the bright side of things. Also, he explained to + them that show life, on the outside and to the sightseer, was not at + all what it was among the members of the company; but that behind the + curtains oaths were uttered, and abuse and nearly every kind of evils + could be witnessed. +</p> +<p> + When he was back once more among his old associates, he endeavored + to pass away the time in as pleasant a way as possible. Card playing, + gambling, and dancing were his amusements, but tobacco and whiskey were + his enjoyments; and as before, he was considered among his friends as a + jolly good fellow. But John was not truly happy; beneath his superficial + joyousness was a longing for something that he was unable to name or + describe. +</p> +<p> + Let us stop a moment and look at John. A glance tells us that a great + change has taken place. The ruddy complexion and childish features + were replaced by a sallow hue upon the sunken cheek; and the roguish + expression of the large brown eyes was lost in the haggard look that + well accorded with the telltale cough and the stooping shoulders. The + poisons of the tobacco and whiskey were doing their fatal work. His + entire system was heavily charged with nicotine and alcohol; and the + effect of these poisons constantly operating upon his nervous system and + digestive organs had made him but a wreck of his former self. It is true + that in stature he was as large as the man his father had desired him to + be; but he was far from being of the strong manly type that that parent + would have had him to become. Instead, he was weakly; and his body was + never free from pain and suffering. +</p> +<p> + The old adage that ignorance is bliss can never be aptly applied to + nicotine and alcohol. For only those who let them both entirely alone + can be truly happy or safe. When we examine what doctors have written + about the use of these poisons, we find that alcohol as well as nicotine + is a stimulant and a narcotic. As a stimulant, it excites the brain and + nerves, quickens the circulation of the blood, and intoxicates (makes + drunk); while as a narcotic it blunts the powers of the brain and nerves + and produces stupor and death. +</p> +<p> + Tests in the army, navy, and arctic explorations have definitely proved + that alcohol is not a food. +</p> +<p> + Alcohol will not allay thirst: "Alcohol has a great attraction for + water; and when swallowed, it draws the water to itself, thus depriving + the tissues of the body of that merit necessary inorganic food. Again, + alcohol causes a rush of blood to the skin, which causes a sensation of + warmth to be felt upon the surface of the body. However, the sensation + of heat is, like beauty, 'only skin deep,' as the heat of the system has + really been diminished rather than increased; because when the blood is + upon the surface, it parts with its heat more readily." +</p> +<p> + <b>I</b> "The effects of alcohol upon the heart may be summed up in the + following statements: +</p> +<p class="xlist"> + "(a) It causes a softening of the muscles of the heart, and a fatty + degeneration, thus clogging the workings of this vital organ. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(b) It overworks the heart. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(c) Oftentimes it renders the heart weak and flabby. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(d) It causes an enlargement or dilation of its parts. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(e) There is a consequent effect of drowsiness and lassitude. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(f) Its general effect upon the heart is to destroy its strength and + usefulness." +</p> +<p> + <b>II</b> "Alcohol has the following effects upon the lungs: +</p> +<p class="xlist"> + "(a) It makes the blood impure, thus increasing the work of the lungs. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(b) It paralyzes the blood vessels. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(c) It weakens the various lung tissues. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(d) It impairs breathing." +</p> +<p> + <b>III</b> "Alcohol's effects upon the stomach: +</p> +<p class="xlist"> + "(a) Produces chronic inflammation of the stomach. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(b) Injures the mucous lining by hardening the tissues. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(c) It destroys some of the small glands and impairs others. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(d) It precipitates the pepsin of the gastric juice, thus retarding + digestion. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(e) It thickens the mucus of the stomach. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(f) The action of the stomach is at first quickened by the presence + of alcohol, and then retarded." +</p> +<p> + <b>IV</b> "The effects of alcohol upon the liver may be: +</p> +<p class="xlist"> + "(a) It produces a hardened condition of its tissues. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(b) Enlarges the organ. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(c) Compresses and lessens the cells for producing bile. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(d) Stimulates the liver to overaction, thus reducing the bile supply. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(e) It weakens and destroys the usefulness of this organ of digestion." +</p> +<p> + <b>V</b> "Effect of alcohol upon the blood and blood-vessels: +</p> +<p class="xlist"> + "(a) It thins and coagulates the blood according to the amount of + alcohol. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(b) It hastens the circulation, thus weakening it. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(c) It prevents combustion. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(d) It impairs and destroys the corpuscles, thus affecting their + powers of transporting oxygen and carbonic acid gas. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(e) It weakens the arterial muscles by affecting the nerves governing + them." +</p> +<p> + <b>VI</b> "Effects of alcohol upon the brain and nerves are: +</p> +<p class="xlist"> + "(a) It causes apoplexy and epilepsy by confusing the brain. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(b) It weakens the will and deadens the feelings. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(c) It hardens the brain tissues, producing dullness, insensibility, + and insanity. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(d) It destroys the nerve fiber of the brain. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(e) It temporarily stimulates and finally depresses this organ. +</p><p class="xlist"> + "(f) It will at last destroy man, body and soul." +</p> +<p> + "Alcohol leads every other drug in its far-reaching influence for + mischief and evil. Were the thousands of ruined homes, the untold + numbers of blasted lives, the sorrows, the sins, numberless crimes, + murders, and deaths brought in panoramic review before us, what a + hell-born picture it would be!" +</p> +<p> + "The effect of alcohol upon the morals is awful. All delicacy, courtesy, + and self-respect are gone; the sense of justice and right is faint or + quite extinct. There is no vice into which the victim of drunkenness + does not easily slide; and no crime from which he can be expected to + refrain. Between this condition and insanity there is but a single + step." +</p> +<p> + These are only a part of the many evils that come to the one who takes + alcohol into his system. We have already heard something about the + effects of nicotine, the poison that is in tobacco. The constant use of + either poison will impair the health of the strongest person. It saps + the mind of its reasoning qualities; and in nine cases out of ten, + leaves the victim without sufficient strength to seek and obtain his own + deliverance or to live a righteous life. But let us return now to John. +</p> +<a name="2HCH0009"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER IX +</h2> +<h3> + Caught Unawares +</h3> +<p> + At the age of eighteen John had come almost to the point of + discouragement. His health was so poor that he did not know a well + moment; and besides, his longing soul was still unsatisfied. He had + always desired to be good and kind to all; but he did not know how to + rise to a nobler plane of conduct than that on which he was living. He + judged men by their moral conduct, and not by their spiritual life. In + fact, he had very little, if any, comprehension of Christianity. He knew + of a few, like Farmer Z., who professed religion; but he was afraid of + these and he avoided their company. +</p> +<p> + He had now and then, with a number of other boys about his own age, + visited some places where religious services were being held. But their + object in going was to have a good time; and they seldom remained long + enough to derive any good. On one of these occasions they went to a + small school house that was located a few miles from the town of C. + The meeting had been widely advertised, and a goodly number were in + attendance; and when John and his companions had taken their seats well + to the rear, there was only standing-room left. Curiosity was pictured + on every face; for the ministers (one elderly, the other young) were two + modestly dressed women, and lady preachers had never been heard of in + that part of the country. +</p> +<p> + The singing was beautiful! John thought that the songs were sweeter + than any he had ever heard. When prayer was being offered, he listened + carefully to every word; and when he heard the ministers address God as + their Father, asking Him to direct them in all that they did and said, + and to prepare the hearts of the people to receive the truths that they + were about to speak, he was instantly filled with wonder and awe. +</p> +<p> + After they rose from prayer, another song was sung; and then the elderly + lady began to address the people. As she read in a clear, sweet voice a + chapter from the Scriptures, John listened carefully. The account of the + woes pronounced upon the people who would not do right and the promises + made to those who would live right and were prepared to die, were truly + wonderful. Especially was he impressed with one verse she read, though + he realized very little of what it meant: "Therefore be ye also ready: + for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh." +</p> +<p> + When this speaker took her seat, the other lady, a young, sweet-faced + girl, arose, and said a few words. After telling of how she had been + converted, and of how the Savior had ever since supplied all the + longings of her heart and had enabled her by his grace to live a life + that was pure and spotless, she spoke of her home in heaven; and then + she told the people that God would do the same for others as He had for + her—for everyone who would give up evil habits and forsake sin, and who + would love His Son, whom He had sent to the earth to suffer and die that + all people might be saved. John listened to every word; and as the girl + sat down, he thought, "Why, I would give everything that I have in the + world to be able to say such things about myself!" +</p> +<p> + When making the announcements, the elderly lady said: "This meeting + will be continued for three weeks or more, and we want as many of you as + can to attend regularly; for there will be many portions of the Bible + explained, and we want everyone to learn what is the road to success and + to find out how to be truly happy." John at once decided that he would + attend every service; but since at the same time he felt an interest + similar to that which had inspired him to become a showman, he + remembered that bitter experience and ground his teeth. He was about to + change his decision to attend the meetings regularly, when he remembered + the words, "Therefore be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think + not, the Son of man cometh!" +</p> +<p> + Instantly he beheld a great panoramic view of his past life, and many of + the evils that had never before appeared to him as sin were painted with + the blackest dyes. He had not meant to be wicked, but he suddenly + realized that his life had been wasted; and he concluded that he was not + ready to meet Christ. But John believed that Christ would come to the + earth, and he felt that he would give anything to be ready to meet Him. +</p> +<p> + As John, whenever he was perplexed or troubled, had been in the habit + of doing, he reached down into his pocket and drew out a large plug of + tobacco and began biting off a piece to chew. But what was the matter? + The tobacco did not taste as it had in the past and it appealed to him + so differently. It was now actually disgusting and repulsive to him; and + he thought: "What a filthy habit! And to think of the time and money + that it has cost me! Why have I been so foolish?" +</p> +<p> + The next instant he resolved that he would never again taste the horrid + stuff. And very soon a few scenes of things that happened when he was + under the influence of whisky came to his mind, and he shuddered. Never + again would he touch that stuff, he determined. In fact, the greater + part of the night John spent in reviewing his life; and he found that + the larger portion of the things he had been doing were things he would + not want to be found doing at the Savior's coming. +</p> +<p> + The following day John could hardly wait until the time came when he + could again return to the little brown school house to hear more of the + beautiful story that had so charmed him. And night after night found + John in one of the seats in the rear of the building. It was not long + until he discovered the pathway to heaven; he saw it bathed with + heaven's sunshine and could see that it was for him to walk upon. + But the next thing was for him to make the start. +</p> +<p> + It is one thing to decide that a certain thing is right and quite + another thing to take a stand (regardless of what anyone may think or + say) for the right. He had heard the preachers telling about the life of + a Christian, the Savior's love and death, and God's great mercy, night + after night for two weeks; but no invitation to come forward had been + given to those desiring to make a change in their manner of living. The + ministers desired that each one be given a full understanding of God's + plan of salvation so that none would take a step in the dark. +</p> +<p> + John was fully decided to change his manner of living; but he did not + want to make any more mistakes. For this reason he restrained himself + from going to the motherly lady to inquire of her what he had better do. + His old desire to become a man had revived, but this time he desired to + be a man after God's own heart—pure and holy—like the one that God + created in the beginning. +</p> +<p> + The time for an invitation to be given to the penitent finally came. + Upon entering the meeting house that evening John noticed a slight + change in the arrangement of the seats. The long row of chairs supplied + by kind-hearted neighbors to help in seating the people had been + removed, and a long, narrow bench had been put in their place. John + wondered at the change, but did not have to wonder long. An announcement + was soon made, stating that the bench was to serve as an altar, where + those who desired to be converted and who wanted to consecrate their + lives and services to God could gather for prayer. +</p> +<p> + An explanation was also made to the effect that, though God is pleased + to see people humble themselves before Him, there was no virtue in the + wooden altar; it was simply a more convenient place to bow for prayer + than their seats would be. The services were shorter than usual; and + when the invitation to come forward was given to those who desired to + yield their hearts to God, John was ready. He longed to go; but although + he had learned a great many things, he was still uncertain just what was + meant by bowing at the altar; and as he wanted to do the right thing, he + decided to wait until he saw how the others would do. He did not have + long to wait; for a girl in front of him arose, went forward, and knelt + down beside the altar. This was enough for John, because it taught him + just what he desired to know; and he was soon kneeling beside her. That + night was indeed a wonderful time. One by one the people flocked to the + front part of the room; and John afterwards learned that many of his + friends and even those whom he thought would ridicule and make fun of + him, were among the number that, as himself, had sought and found pardon + for their sins. +</p> +<p> + The invitation lasted a long time; and when it was ended, the ministers + knelt down among the penitent seekers, thanked God for the tender + mercies he had extended to the lost world, and prayed that those who + were at the altar might understand what true salvation is. After + praying, they explained carefully what it meant to be redeemed from all + sin, and told the seekers how God looked upon the sin-cursed world and + its awful wickedness, but also how He was so moved with tender love and + compassion that He sacrificed the brightest Gem of glory—even His only + begotten Son—to be a Redeemer for all who would believe on Him and turn + from their evil ways. +</p> +<p> + The redemption price, they said, was great; but nothing less could have + proved so well God's great love for mankind. And they quoted from the + Bible, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, + that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting + life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; + but that the world through him might be saved" (John 3:16, 17); also, + "The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke + 19:10). These words were as a soothing balm to John's aching heart. + Having been fully awakened to his awful condition and made to long for + the way of deliverance, he rejoiced as these rays of hope came streaming + down into his soul. +</p> +<p> + One by one he recalled his sins—smoking and chewing tobacco, drinking + whisky and beer, stealing, lying, card-playing, betting, gambling, and + many other things; but these he had already given up. One thing only + came to his mind that caused him a struggle, and for a few moments it + seemed that he could not give that up. John loved to dance, and it had + seemed to him that there was nothing wrong with that pastime. Since he + knew none of the pleasures that the Christian enjoys, this was not + strange. Always he had danced just for the pleasure he derived from + dancing, and he considered dancing an innocent amusement. When, however, + he was made aware of the evils of dancing and the temptations it causes + boys and girls whose characters are weak, he could see how that to some + it might mean the loss of virtue; and, too, he found that much of his + suffering had been caused by the late hours that dancing and other + things had caused him to keep. Then he gladly bade adieu to the + dance-hall and all its trivial gaiety. +</p> +<p> + After he had asked the Lord to pardon him for his transgressions, his + simple faith took hold of the promises and he received a clear witness + of his acceptance as a child of God. At last, after so many weeks and + months—yes, years—of dissatisfaction, he was indeed truly happy; and + the deep aching in his hungry heart was replaced by the Savior's love. + His companions, too, went away from that service rejoicing. Their + language, once so rough and vile, was now becoming to any Christian; + and the things that they had loved, no longer attracted their attention. + In fact, the entire neighborhood was changed; for many haunts of sin + and vice were entirely vacated. +</p> +<p> + John soon found that it was his duty to make all of his wrongs right + as far as it lay in his power to do so; and this he gladly did. In many + instances he was surprised to see the effect that this act of obedience + had upon the ones concerned. Many, with tears in their eyes, exclaimed, + "John, I only wish that I possessed the joy in my own heart that I can + see written in your face!" +</p> +<a name="2HCH0010"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER X +</h2> +<h3> + A Child Again +</h3> +<p> + No one could doubt the change in John's life; and many wondered how such + a thing could have been accomplished. But they did not realize that with + God all things are possible. How well it was for John that he discovered + before it was too late that he was a sinner, lost in God's sight, and + that it was necessary for him to forsake all of his evil ways and habits + if he would be freed from the binding chain of Satan! Each sinful habit + formed a link in the chain, and its strength could be measured only by + what it took to release him from its binding power. +</p> +<p> + John was sorry to see the meetings close; and as he bade the sweet-faced + women farewell, he was loath to see them go, because of their Christian + influence. But life to him was no longer what it had been in the past. + With the poet, he had found that +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <p> "Life is real! life is earnest.</p> + <p> And the grave is not its goal;</p> + <p> Dust thou art, to dust returnest</p> + <p> Was not spoken of the soul."</p> +</div></div> +<p> + He procured a Bible and studied it diligently. He soon found that it was + a wonderful book, for what troubled him in one part was explained in + another. One day while reading in the tenth chapter of Mark, he found + to his surprise that, instead of his being a man, he was only a child, + a mere babe, in God's sight. John had expected to be changed and to be + different in every way, but he did not know that, in order to realize + his desire to be a "man after God's own heart," he must commence at the + beginning and be as a little child again. But he was willing; for he saw + how his past life had been completely wasted, and he was glad to begin + anew. +</p> +<p> + In the second chapter of I Peter, John found much encouragement, also in + I Cor. 13:11, where he read: "When I was a child, I thought as a child: + but when I became a man, I put away childish things." Again he was + determined to become a man, and to develop as quickly as possible. From + that time on he availed himself of every opportunity to do good to all + mankind, and this was no hardship. His great whole-hearted nature made + him love to do good and to be a help to all who were in need. +</p> +<p> + At other times John read the conversation between Christ and Nicodemus, + and the account of how Jesus thanked his heavenly Father for hiding His + truths from the wise and prudent and for revealing them to babes. John + was not long in perceiving the mystery concerning the new birth, for he + had gained the experience; and he thanked God that it had been revealed + to him. +</p> +<p> + Once while studying the Word of God, John discovered that the twelfth + chapter of I Corinthians teaches that Christian people on the earth + represent Christ's spiritual body. As the natural body possesses many + members—hands, feet, eyes, ears, nose, etc.—each having its own + special work, just so the spiritual body of which He (Christ) is the + head has many members to carry on the Lord's work on the earth. And, as + in the human body, each member has its own work to do; similarly, in the + spiritual body, each member has his own work to perform. Some preach, + some teach, some perform miracles, some (perhaps all) pray for the sick, + and some do various other things, each as he is directed; but all work + in harmony. The members are all assigned their work and places in the + body by the directions of the heavenly Father. +</p> +<p> + From reading the second chapter of Acts, John found that soon after + Christ ascended to heaven God sent His Holy Spirit to the earth to + superintend the work of the members of His Son's spiritual body, or + saved people, and that this same Holy Spirit is still guiding and + helping them. He also read in I John 2:15—"Love not the world, neither + the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love + of the Father is not in him." +</p> +<p> + By reading further in the apostle John's epistle, John discovered that + there are many false spirits in the world that are trying to deceive + God's people and that it is often necessary to try the spirits to know + which is right. He saw that the test is love. If anyone loves God and + His Son, Jesus, more than anything else in the world, and feels as much + interest in his neighbor's welfare as in his own, that one can be sure + that he is God's own child. And Paul's letter to the Ephesians tells of + an armor that God has prepared for His people to wear that will enable + them to overcome all false spirits. +</p> +<p> + A Sunday-school was soon started in the neighborhood and John was + chosen to be the teacher of the infant class. At first he tried to plead + his inability, but no one would listen to his excuses. He was glad + afterward; for he learned to love the little ones very dearly. While he + was meeting with the children Sunday after Sunday, he often thought of + many of the hard places through which he had passed when he was a child + and remembered that it was because he had not been warned that he had, + one step at a time, gone down until he was in misery and on the verge of + despair. So John sought to throw light on each one of these dangerous + places and to point out the dangers so clearly that the children could + plainly see and understand the wrong for themselves before they were + beguiled and then bound by Satan's chain of evil habits. In this way he + helped the children to escape many a snare by which they might otherwise + have been caught unawares. +</p> +<p> + As the weeks sped by into months and John continued to unfold to the + tender questioning minds the hidden mysteries of the Bible, the adult + class became interested; and it was not long until they decided that + they needed him for their class more than the children did for theirs. + While he was teaching the advanced Bible class, his own understanding of + spiritual things was greatly broadened and strengthened, and he became + one on whom the entire congregation could lean and in whom they could + confide. +</p> +<p> + On one occasion when the lesson was in the epistle of James, John found + by reading the fifth chapter of that book that Jesus is just as able and + ready to heal those who are sick as He was to relieve sufferers in days + gone by and that any who are afflicted may pray expecting to be healed. + He quickly applied the Scripture to himself, and began to pray thus: +</p> +<p> + "Lord, thou seest how I am afflicted because of the sinful habits that + I formed in my childhood. Thou hast now taken from me the desire for + these things, but the suffering in my back and lungs is so intense. + Lord Jesus, heal me! Make me well, and I will work for Thee all the days + of my life!" +</p> +<p> + God answered that prayer and made him strong and well; then he could say + with the Psalmist, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his + benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy + diseases." Oh, the goodness of the Lord to John! He felt that he never + could cease praising Him. +</p> +<p> + The sad and lonely past, the days of his vain struggles to become + the man that his earthly father had desired him to be, could never be + compared to these days of happiness, the days when his desires to attain + to true manhood were being realized. His heart was lonely no longer. + He had a Friend who was dearer than a mother could have been. And he + felt that it is a wonderful privilege to be a member in Christ's body, + the church. +</p> +<a name="2HCH0011"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER XI +</h2> +<h3> + How John Became a Man +</h3> +<p> + As the news of John's wonderful conversion and of his work among the + people spread throughout the country, it reached the ears of Farmer Z, + in whose home John for the first time had attended family worship. The + kind-hearted man had never forgotten the boy who had endeavored to make + his escape to the barn rather than to come into the sitting-room at the + worship hour, and he felt a desire to have a good heart-to-heart visit + with John and to know just how he came to find the Lord. John was, + therefore, very much surprised one day to hear that this good gentleman, + of whom he had in the past been so fearful, was desiring to see him. But + he was glad; for he, too, had felt a great desire to talk with Farmer Z, + the one who was first to open his heart to a ray of heavenly sunshine. +</p> +<p> + "I have been hearing wonderful stories about you of late, my boy," the + farmer said as John approached him; and as he took the young man's hand, + his hearty handshake sent the blood tingling through John's veins. + "Come," the farmer continued, "sit down and tell me what it was that + brought about the change. My boy, I understand that you are already + getting to be quite a preacher. Is it true?" +</p> +<p> + "Well, Mr. Z," John modestly replied, "I hardly know what answer to + make, except that it was the work of my Savior. I am like the poor + beggar who was blind—'one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now + I see.' The same Jesus that healed the blind man has opened my spiritual + eyes, making me to see and understand what never before seemed + possible." +</p> +<p> + Then as John related some of his Christian experiences, the farmer was + made to wonder at the loving-kindness and the great mercy of his God. +</p> +<p> + "John," he said, as he looked into the beaming eyes of the young man and + noted the boyish face but manly form (for there was scarcely a trace + of the early dissipation left), "I see that you have found the genuine + article. God has worked a miracle in your life, and I guess he wants you + to go and tell the world about it. How is it, my boy? Do you feel like + preaching the gospel?" +</p> +<p> + And then it was that John, in his simple, earnest manner, for which he + was so loved and admired, said: +</p> +<p> + "Mr. Z, I feel as though some power within me is leading me about; and + I long to tell everyone I meet of the Jesus, who so loved the lost world + that He laid down His life upon the cross. It seems I can think of + little else." +</p> +<p> + "That's it! That's it!" Farmer Z exclaimed; "God has put His Holy Spirit + in your heart and has called you into His harvest-field to go forth and + help spread the gospel. Go, my boy; and may God speed your footsteps in + ways crowned with blessings of success. I rejoice with you in your + calling and shall pray for you. When trials come your way—and they + will—remember that there is always a light in God's window for the + faithful, a light that will guide them safely home at last. Remember + also that He has said, 'Be thou faithful unto death.'" +</p> +<p> + When the farmer bade John adieu, the sun had disappeared beyond the + horizon and the crimson shades were gathering in the western sky. The + landscape that stretched before him was beautiful. And while John was + not unconscious of these beautiful surroundings, by his inner vision, + which could not be limited by the vast prairie country with its varied + possibilities, he looked upon another scene far beyond—he saw the + heavenly city, the New Jerusalem, once beheld by the sainted John; + and he wondered what could be more grand and majestic. +</p> +<p> + John had at last developed into a noble-hearted Christian, whose + greatest desire in life was to please his God, and to spend his time + wholly in God's service; and one day a few years later he stood on the + deck of a large Atlantic steamer and waved farewell to his friends on + the shore. He was bound for a far-distant land; God was sending him + as a missionary to carry the gospel to the people of another country. +</p> +<p> + His large brown eyes, sorrowful no longer, were dimmed by tears of + farewell; but the tears only made them shine the brighter. They + witnessed to the gladness of his heart; and to the eagerness within + his bosom pushing him forward. +</p> +<p> + John had at last become a man after God's own heart. +</p> +<br> +<hr class="full" size=5px noshade> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOW JOHN BECAME A MAN***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 12493-h.txt or 12493-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/4/9/12493">https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/4/9/12493</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Byrum + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: How John Became a Man + +Author: Isabel C. Byrum + +Release Date: June 3, 2004 [eBook #12493] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOW JOHN BECAME A MAN*** + + +E-text prepared by Joel Erickson, Christine Gehring, David Garcia, and the +Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 12493-h.htm or 12493-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/4/9/12493/12493-h/12493-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/4/9/12493/12493-h.zip) + + + + +HOW JOHN BECAME A MAN + +Life Story of a Motherless Boy + +By + +ISABEL C. BYRUM + + + + + + +[Illustration: Learning to Pray] + + + + +Author's Preface + + +In presenting this little volume, the author hopes that it may be useful +in suggesting to the minds of young boys the great wrong there is in +indulging in evil habits. + +We read, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge," and this is +true concerning most boys who form habits that are harmful both to body +and soul. + +The story of John's life is a true one; and his earnest prayer that it +may be the means of helping some boys from Satan's snares and prove a +blessing to them, I trust, will be answered. + +Isabel C. Byrum + +Year 1917 + + + + + +Contents + + +Chapter + +I The Prairie Pasture +II In the Sod Cellar +III What the Big Chest Contained +IV Early School Days +V The Card Parties +VI Visitors and Pastimes +VII Leaving Home +VIII With the Circus +IX Caught Unawares +X A Child Again +XI How John Became a Man + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + +Learning to Pray +Opening the Chest +A Card Party +Leaving the Old Homestead + + + + + +CHAPTER I + +The Prairie Pasture + + +Out on the prairie in one of the western states where buffaloes and +wild horses once had roamed at their pleasure and where cacti and +yuccas still thrived and bloomed could be seen a small two-story frame +building. There was nothing strange in this except that the house was +different from the average house of the plains; for at this particular +time the greater part of the dwellings were made of sod, mud, and brush. + +The people, generally speaking, were of that type who think principally +of getting all the enjoyment from their every-day lives that it is +possible to obtain. There was, therefore, little thought among them of +the hereafter, when men must give an account of themselves before a just +and living God. In fact, the younger generation scarcely knew that there +was a God who took note of all their ways. + +The building, so different from the ordinary dwellings upon the prairie, +was the home of a tiny lad named John. It was a happy home; for both +his parents were living, and the love that bound their hearts together +brought peace and happiness to each member of the little household. But +could this happy group have known of the presence of a grim monster just +outside the door, who at that very moment was seeking an entrance, their +joy would have given place to sorrow. Death was soon to destroy the +light and comfort of that home. The devoted wife and mother was not +strong; and after a severe illness lasting but a few short days, her +spirit left the ones she loved and her lifeless body was carried to +its last resting place in the cemetery a few miles away. + +Little John was, of course, too young to realize the true meaning of the +change; but that something dreadful had happened he very well knew, and +his large pathetic eyes spoke the grief that he did understand and could +not express. During the three years of his short life he had known the +care of a tender, loving mother, whose ambitions were high and noble. +Although not a Christian, she had often expressed her wish that her +little brown-eyed boy might grow up to be an honor to his father and +mother, and a blessing to his country. After her death his papa's eyes +were often filled with tears, for he loved and pitied his little boy. + +One evening when the lights were dim and the hands of the clock were +pointing to the bedtime hour, John felt his father's arms tenderly +encircled about him and heard him softly saying: "My little John, we are +left all alone now, and you must hurry up and become a man as soon as +you can; for I need you to help me. Mama has gone away and left us, and +she cannot teach you the things that she had planned that you should +know; so we will have to do the best that we can, but you must help me. +First of all, I want you to learn how to pray; for there is a God in +heaven, who made you, and of whom your mother expected to tell you. +Before Him we should bow down and pray every night before we go to +sleep." + +"Does He hear all the words we say?" asked little John in an awed tone, +quite unable to comprehend his father's meaning, "and does He look at us +when we are asleep?" + +"Yes," his father answered; "God sees and knows everything. Now, I will +tell you the short prayer that I used to say when I was a little boy +like you--the prayer that my mother taught me." + +Thus it was that John, kneeling beside his little bed repeated the +prayer that has been lisped by thousands of other baby voices: + + "Now I lay me down to sleep; + I pray thee, Lord, my soul to keep. + If I should die before I wake, + I pray thee, Lord, my soul to take." + + +As the days and weeks sped by, John thought often of his dear mama and +wished that he might see her; but he as often would recall his father's +words to be a little man, and with all his strength he endeavored to be +what he considered a man ought to be. But although he tried, in his +childish way, to be one, he was often very lonely; and had it not been +for frequent visits to his uncle's home, several miles distant, he would +have missed his precious mother even more than he did. While at his +uncle's, he could play with his two cousins, Will and Charley. At last +it was decided that it would be best for John and his father to go and +make their home with the uncle until John was older. + +Now Charley was just about John's age; but as Charley was a cripple, +John had chosen Will, who was several years the oldest, to be his +closest friend and companion. Regardless of these facts, however, the +three boys generally played together. Their playground was the vast +dooryard extending far out over the prairie. + +In time they were given the responsibility of herding the cows. To herd +the cows meant to see that the cattle did not wander about in the +neighborhood corn, wheat, and barley fields that were scattered about +here and there over the prairies and that were in but few instances +fenced, and to see that they were driven to some water-place at certain +intervals and were brought home at the milking hour. + +The watering places were known as "buffalo-wallows," for they had been +made by the buffalos in wallowing. These basins were usually kept filled +with water by the rains. Some of the "wallows," or "ponds," were rather +deep, and were treacherous because of sudden "drop-offs"; but they were +usually shallow, and it was generally safe for the children to play +along the edge. + +After the first sharp edge of his grief was dulled, John's father did +not feel it so keenly his duty to instruct his child and to teach him +to reverence his Creator; and when John was about six years of age, the +father was kept so busy with his work that he had but little time to +spend with the child. John's aunt, too, although a good woman, was too +much occupied with housekeeping to do her duty by her own two boys, much +less by a third. So John and his cousins had spent nearly all of the +three years that they had been together in doing as they pleased, and in +finding as much enjoyment in living as it was possible for them to find. +It was, therefore, not strange that they had learned and invented many +new ways to get amusement, and that some of these were evil; for Satan, +as he always does in such cases, had lent them a helping hand. + +The work of attending to the cows did not, of course, occupy nearly all +their time, and the boys found it great sport to play around the wallows +and in them. + +On one occasion Will said: + +"Say, boys, did you ever hear the story about the man who walked upon +the water? I don't remember just how the story went; but I heard +somebody say that the man's name was Jesus, and that another man got out +of a boat to go and meet Him. The first fellow did all right, but the +second one came very near drowning because he looked down at the water. +Maybe he wanted to see how deep the water was, and I guess he would have +got drowned if they hadn't been close to the shore. Now, I am going to +do like Jesus did. Want to see me?" + +Naturally both the boys wanted to see him perform a feat like that, and +Will quickly scampered into the water. Now, the wallow was very shallow +all the way across, and Will was soon on the opposite side. The smaller +boys, not knowing the depth of the water, supposed that it was deep and +that Will had actually done some marvelous thing. Will did not know that +he was doing wrong by speaking lightly of one of the Savior's miracles; +for he had never been in Sunday-school, and his parents had not taught +him the sacredness of the words and acts of the Savior. He simply wanted +to play a joke on his companions. + +The smaller boys talked the matter over when they were alone, and John +said: + +"Say, Charley, what do you suppose held Will up the other day on that +water? That wallow must have been deep out in the middle. Let's try it +some time for ourselves when Will isn't around. I believe we could do it +as well as he did." + +Charley was agreed, and the two smaller lads watched their chance. One +day when Will was not with them, they chose a wallow that they thought +would answer their purpose. "I'll go first," Charley said, and he +hurried forward as rapidly as his little crippled limb could carry him, +to the water's edge and out into the pond. + +Suddenly poor little Charley disappeared. John saw his cousin as he +went down into the deep water, and realized his danger. He knew that +something must be done and done at once, and with a bound he sprang in +after his companion. He did not, however, go beyond the shallow water, +and when his cousin came to the surface, he reached out his hand and +caught him by the hair; and as Charley had not lost the power to help +himself, he was soon able, by John's assistance, to scramble to a place +of safety. + +The boys decided that they would say nothing about the accident; and as +they remained away from the house long enough for Charley's clothing to +dry, no questions were asked. But was the scene unnoticed? No. He who +notes the sparrow's fall was watching over these little boys; He had not +forgotten John's little prayer that had been taught him by his father. +God was caring for these little untaught children in that vast prairie +pasture. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +In the Sod Cellar + + +Almost without exception the homes on the prairies were provided with +sod cellars. Even the few modern dwellings in the community in which +John's uncle lived were not without these old-fashioned cellars, which +served as a protection in times of storms and tornadoes. The cellars +served also as places in which to store the fruits and vegetables for +winter use. And very often, too, a large quantity of tobacco leaves that +had been dried and kept back when the summer's crop was sold could be +discovered in one of these places. + +The home of John's uncle was provided with just such a cellar--a deep +hole dug in the ground and covered over with a dense roofing of brush, +mud, and sod. Within this cellar a large supply of tobacco leaves had +been stored. John had been in the cellar many times. He knew the tobacco +was there, and he knew to what use his uncle put the tobacco. He knew +also that his cousin Will both chewed and smoked the leaves, but it had +not occurred to him that he himself could do so. + +The reason why he had not thought of using it was perhaps that his +father had once told him that the using of tobacco was a bad habit and +urged him to let it alone. But the fact that he had not been tempted did +not guarantee that he would not be; the fact that he had no appetite for +tobacco did not conclusively prove that he would never acquire one; nor +did the fact that he had been told to let tobacco alone warrant that he +would need no further watching--for an unforeseen temptation was lurking +near. + +One day when John went into the cellar with his cousin Will, his cousin +filled a pipe with the leaves and offered it to him, bidding him smoke. +John shook his head, and said that he did not want to smoke, for his +father had said that using tobacco was a bad habit and that it would +ruin his health. + +"Then, why does he use it himself?" Will reasoned. "Do you suppose that +he would use it if he thought that it was going to hurt him? Now, John, +look here; you said that you wanted to become a man. Here's your chance. +If you get to where you can smoke a pipe, chew tobacco, and spit, in the +way that your father and my dad do, you will be a man. Just some folks' +saying that it is a bad habit doesn't need to make any difference with +you." + +As John thought over his cousin's words, they did seem reasonable, and +he remembered that all the men he had ever seen used tobacco. So he +decided that, if he expected to be a man himself, he must soon begin to +use it, too. He therefore accepted the pipe and began to puff vigorously +at the stem. But try as he would, he couldn't make the pretty little +curls of smoke mount up into the air as he had watched his father and +other men do. Very soon, however, a deathly sickness began to steal over +him. His head and stomach hurt, and he could scarcely help falling down +on the floor of the cellar. + +"O Will," he said, as he gave the pipe to his cousin, "I am so sick! +Let's get out of here. I feel as though I was going to die!" And John +started in an attempt to find the opening through which he had entered +the cellar, but to his surprise and terror he could not find it. + +"O Will," he said, "this is all your fault! You know I didn't want to +smoke. I wish now that I hadn't listened to you. Father said tobacco +would make me sick, but I didn't know it would be so bad as this. Tell +me, does it always make people sick? and do they ever die?" + +"Yes, it usually makes them pretty sick," Will answered. "But they +always get over it; and each time they smoke, they get more used to it, +or something, and after a while they don't get sick at all. Look at me. +It never makes me sick, but it did at first. Surely you can stand a +little sickness when you know that it is going to make a man of you!" + +John concluded that under those circumstances he could endure his +suffering. But he did not try to smoke any more that morning. With +Will's assistance he found the doorway of the cellar and went out where +the air was more pure. Gradually, he began to feel better. When dinner +time came, however, he did not care to eat; but he kept repeating to +himself, "It won't be this way long, and I can afford to suffer if it +will make a man of me." How sad to think that one so young should be +so deceived! + +Could someone have taught him then that the sick feeling that had so +distressed him was caused by the strong poison contained in the tobacco, +it might have encouraged him never to touch it again. Had his father +explained that every pound of tobacco contains three hundred and twenty +grains of this poison, one grain of which will kill a large dog in about +three minutes; or told him the story of how a man once ran a needle and +thread that had been dipped in the poison through the skin of a frog and +of how the frog in a few moments began to act like a drunken person, +vomited, and hopped about as fast as possible, and then laid down, +twitched for a moment in agony, and died; or informed him that many +people become insane just through the use of tobacco, John might have +yet been influenced to leave the poisonous stuff alone--but perhaps his +father did not know. Anyway, John was left without this much-needed +information. + +Boys who are not properly warned of the danger of tobacco-using are to +be pitied more than blamed if they indulge; but their ignorance does not +lessen the harm and the evils wrought. When the poison gets into the +system, it affects the most vital organs; it undermines that strength +and destroys that beauty which ornament true manhood and which assure an +individual of success. Besides, the continued using causes the indulger +to form a habit that cannot be easily overcome. + +John, being not fully warned of the dreadful consequences of using +tobacco, and yet determined to become a man, kept on smoking until he +so accustomed his system to the shock that he felt satisfied he was +becoming a conqueror and would soon be able to show his father that +he was now a man. + +During the time that John was undergoing such severe temptation, his +father was very busy. He realized that his child needed more instruction +than he was receiving and that Will's influence over John was not good; +but just what advice to give, he hardly knew. Once he thought that he +could smell tobacco smoke on his boy's clothing so calling John to his +side, he said: + +"John, I feel that I must tell you something more about certain bad +habits that so many boys form while they are young. You remember I told +you that smoking and chewing tobacco ruin many a life. Now, I am not +going to say that you cannot use tobacco; but I wish that for my sake, +as well as for your own, you would let it alone, for it is indeed a very +bad habit." + +To this advice John made no reply; for an appetite was being formed, +and in his heart he decided to keep right on. It would have been better +could his father have remembered the temptations of his own boyhood +days. He might then have more fully realized how next to impossible it +is for a parent to availingly teach his child to do something without +first setting before the child an example that is worthy of imitation. +Could he have helped his little son to understand the true meaning of +manhood and the necessity of building up within himself in youth a +noble, honest, and always-to-be-depended-upon character, as well as the +need of developing a strong body, he might have laid a foundation upon +which John could have later safely builded. + +John dearly loved his father and wanted to please him. And to his mind +he could best please his father by as quickly as possible becoming a +man. So, with the thought of early manhood ever before him, he felt +that, in using tobacco, he was doing right. And then, too, Charley had +learned to smoke and chew, and it would be very hard indeed to be near +the boys and not to join in with them. + +By the time that John had passed his seventh birthday, the small amount +of tobacco that was kept in the cellar was not sufficient to fill the +demand of the three boys without too rapidly diminishing the uncle's +supply, and the boys decided to look elsewhere. + +Now, John's aunt had at one time explained to the boys that lying and +stealing are wrong; but she had not made it clear that deceiving is +lying and that taking little things that did not belong to them, even +though they took the things from some member of the family, is stealing, +and that just such thefts lead to the greater crimes that send men and +women to prison. Instead, she gave the advice in such a way that, though +they were impressed with a horror of stealing, the boys could only in +part comprehend her meaning. But because she had warned them, she felt +that she had done her duty and that they ought to know right from wrong +in regard to that matter without further explanation. + +She did not realize that it was her duty to watch, encourage, and +advise, and also to find out when mischief was being planned. In fact, +this aunt and mother, busy with her own cares, knew nothing of the +possibilities for a child whose confidence and love had been won, and +who, through loving counsel, had gained a knowledge of evils and their +effects before he had formed ruinous habits or his mind had been +polluted with false ideas. Being thus left to themselves to discern as +best they could the difference between right and wrong, the boys nearly +always chose the wrong; and as a result, constantly went deeper and +deeper into sinful things. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +What the Big Chest Contained + + +Great sins always have a beginning; the first attempts to do evil are +not hard to check if taken in time, but if allowed to be carried out, it +is impossible to tell what the results may be. How sad it was that John +and his cousins did not have someone to check them! + +The boys now decided to keep close watch, and to avail themselves of +every opportunity to procure tobacco, even if they were forced to steal +it. The word "steal" had, of course, a certain horror to John because +of the picture his aunt had described of a prison and a thief; but he +soothed his conscience by saying, "There isn't anything else in the +world except tobacco that I would think of stealing." But the stealing +habit, like the tobacco habit, continues to grow stronger, unless it +is in some way broken. As tobacco contains a poison that affects the +physical being, so in a similar manner lying and stealing have a ruinous +effect upon the moral nature. The three--lying, stealing, and tobacco +using--too often go hand in hand. + +The first effort of the boys to secure the much-coveted tobacco was made +one day when they, while roaming about over the prairie, discovered a +man hard at work in a field. The man seemed to be lifting something that +was very heavy, and Will suggested to the boys that they go and lend +their services provided the man would give them each a chew of his +tobacco in return; and Will did not forget to add that they must each +take as generous a bite as their mouths could accommodate. The man was +glad to accept their help; and together with his own efforts, the work +was soon finished. Then, in fulfillment of his agreement, he handed them +his plug of tobacco that they might each take the "chew" he had promised +them. + +According to Will's suggestion the boys did not stop with an ordinary +chew; but each took all that his mouth would contain. When they returned +the plug, it was so small that the boys were all afraid the man would +find fault with them; so they hurried away from the spot as rapidly as +possible. As soon as they were far enough away, they removed the tobacco +from their mouths; and they found that, by taking very small chews at +a time, the amount was sufficient to last them for some time. Several +times they succeeded in securing tobacco in this way, and by economizing +were able to get along pretty well for a while. But the plan did not +always work; for the neighbors' becoming aware of the scheme, prepared +themselves with a small piece of tobacco to offer the greedy boys. + +After that, in order to secure their tobacco, they were often forced +to pick up partly-chewed quids, found where they had been thrown away +by the owners. These the boys usually washed; sometimes, however, in +their eagerness they could not wait to attend to even this amount of +cleanliness, but crammed the tobacco into their mouths just as they had +found it. Even cigar stubs; in fact, everything in the form of tobacco, +that had been thrown away, they eagerly gathered and used to satisfy +their ravenous appetites. + +With a foundation now laid for both lying and stealing and with their +consciences dulled, the boys were constantly laying plans to gratify +their evil desires. Many a pocket they robbed of its contents if it +happened to contain tobacco in any form. But this was a slow process at +best; even under the most favorable circumstances it yielded them but +very little returns for their efforts. But one day Will informed the +boys that he had made a discovery--that he had found out that there was +a lot of plug tobacco in the big chest in his father's room. "Now, if we +could think up some way to get into that chest when the old folks are +gone away to town," he suggested, "we could get all the chewing tobacco +we would want for a long while. I thought I would watch and see where +Dad put the key, but he took it with him. Guess he carries it with him +everywhere he goes. I wonder if we couldn't manage in some way to break +the lock. My, but I tell you we could get a big haul! I wonder if we +hadn't better try it some day when the old folks go to town?" + +"Hooray, that's just it!" shouted the smaller boys in the same breath. + +And John asked quickly: "When will they go to town again? This is only +Wednesday." + +"It won't be long, I'm sure," Will answered reassuringly. "They'll go +either Friday or Saturday sure. But we'll have to get busy and think out +a way to break that lock. My, but won't the old man be mad when he finds +out about it! We'll have to act just as if we couldn't see how on earth +such a thing could have happened." + +"Yes; and we'll have to hide the tobacco good, or Pa might find it," +chimed in Charley. + +"Hey, Will," John exclaimed in a hurried undertone--for all the boys had +learned to speak low when mentioning their plans--"if we could take the +hinges off from the back of the chest, we wouldn't have to break the +lock at all." + +"Why, John, that's just it! How in the world did you think of that +scheme?" Will exclaimed, as he slapped his little cousin on the back. "I +say, my boy, you had better look out or you'll be a man before your big +cousin! It doesn't matter, you know, about the height, if you have the +sense." + +Now, John (although so young) was quite ingenious; and he often +suggested ideas that, for their shrewdness, were far beyond his years. +For such he was always praised by Will, and was encouraged to make other +plans. + +Being encouraged by his cousin's praise, the child's brain became even +more active, and he said, "If we just cut a little piece from each plug, +Uncle won't be so apt to miss the tobacco." + +"That's just it again!" emphatically assented Will. "I declare, John, +you surprise me! And now, we must have everything all ready so that +the minute they leave we can get busy. Let's see, what'll we need? +A screw-driver--and will we need a hammer?" + +"We'll need a real sharp knife to cut the tobacco," John suggested. + +"I'll get the things ready," Charley volunteered; and so they planned +and waited for the time to come when they could carry out their scheme. + +The time came on the following Saturday. Early in the morning the uncle +and aunt drove away in the "buckboard," and were on their way to the +city where they were to do their trading. All three of the boys had been +unusually anxious to help their elders get started, forgetting in their +eagerness that they might be thus revealing some of their plans. +Scarcely did they give the uncle and aunt time to disappear in the +distance before they had commenced their evil work. + +"Here's the tools," Charley said, as he brought forth the screw-driver, +hammer, and sharp knife. "Where shall I put them?" + +"Oh, anywhere so they'll be handy!" Will told him; and then the three +boys hastened to the room containing the chest and were soon kneeling on +the floor, examining carefully the object of their interest. + +The chest, a long, narrow, flat box somewhat darkened with age, was +closed and securely fastened; and the tiny padlock that hung from its +side seemed to say, "If you please, I am here to protect my master's +property from the hand of any thieves; and to the extent that it is +within my power, I shall perform my duty." Its bold front and defiant +appearance did not, however, daunt the purpose of the boys. After giving +it a brief examination, they slipped around to the opposite side of the +chest, and by the aid of the screw-driver, removed the lower half of the +rusty hinges. + +"Thank goodness, this chest is old!" Will exclaimed as he brushed from +his forehead the large beads of perspiration. "If these screws turned +any harder, I never could get them out. Guess we'll earn our tobacco +this time all right!" + +[Illustration: Opening the Chest] + +Scarcely had the last screw been removed when up came the lid; and +almost instantly three pairs of eager eyes were greedily gazing down +upon the contents of the wooden chest. There were in it a package of +old letters, various articles of clothing, a few trinkets, etc.; but +only that part of the contents that was carefully packed in one corner +claimed the attention of the boys. This, a pile of long brown strips, +or plugs, of tobacco, was what they wanted; and soon Will was busily +engaged in cutting a narrow slice from each plug and John and Charley +were dividing the slices into three equal parts. But in their haste and +excitement, none of the boys forgot to fill their mouths with the filthy +stuff, and to chew while they worked. + +As Will cut a piece from the last plug, he glanced about over the piles +and said with a look of satisfaction: "Now that ain't so bad, is it, +boys? That ought to last quite a spell; and when it's gone, we can come +back here, or maybe something else will turn up." And then, when he saw +the boys rearranging the tobacco in the chest, he said, "Look out there! +You'll have to get everything just like it was, or we'll be caught and +have had our fun for nothing!" When the chest was repacked, the last +screw in its place, and the tiny scraps of tobacco that had fallen upon +the floor had been carefully preserved, the boys looked at one another +with satisfaction, and Will said, "That's a pretty slick job all right, +if I do say so; and its a lot better than breaking the lock would have +been. I'll tell you it takes some brains to do up a thing like that, +and it makes me feel as if I'd like more of them." + +To this John smiled and said: "Hey, Will, do you know what's in that +trunk?" John referred to a large trunk that was sitting near the bed +on the opposite side of the room. + +"Couldn't tell you all that's in it, but it's locked; and it's in that +trunk that Dad keeps his revolvers. There's two of them, because I saw +inside the trunk the other day." And then as the new thought presented +itself to his mind, he exclaimed, "I wonder why we couldn't get into +that trunk the same as we did the chest?" + +In a twinkling, all the boys were examining the trunk, but to their +dismay, they found that the hinges, instead of being on the outside of +the trunk, were arranged differently, and they could not get at them. +Again it was John who suggested a plan whereby they could accomplish +their desires. "Just take a nail," he said, "and turn the head of it +around in the lock. I've watched my father do that, and he gets his +open every time." + +The trunk, which was an old one, yielded quickly to the efforts made +by the boys; and upon raising the lid, they saw before them two shining +weapons that were supposed to have been carefully hidden away from their +inexperienced fingers. John and Will each quickly caught one up in his +hand; and Will began handling his as though it were a toy, but not so +did John. + +John's father had taught him something of the dangers connected with the +handling of a gun or revolver. Besides, John was at one time present +when a duel was fought; and on that occasion one of the duelists was +killed. The memory of that incident and of his father's warnings, made +John very careful about pointing the revolver at either of his cousins. +It was, therefore, with intense fear that John looked into the barrel +of his cousin's revolver as Will snapped it, aimlessly pointing in his +direction; and John exclaimed, "Turn that thing away, or you'll shoot +me." + +Will's answer was: "You needn't be afraid, John. This revolver isn't +loaded." + +But John, seeing his cousin's careless attitude, was afraid; and he +dodged down behind a barrel of carpet-rags near which he had been +standing. It was well that John did not longer remain where he had been; +for the revolver contained a solitary load, and the frequent pulling of +the trigger discharged this. The bullet passed the very spot where John +had a moment before been standing, and lodged itself deep in the side of +the trunk. + +This experience marked an awakening-time in all of the boys' lives; at +that moment their consciences, which had almost fallen asleep, were +aroused, and in startling phrases gave them accounts of their evil +deeds. With great haste the boys returned the weapons to their former +hiding place, relocked the trunk, and in so far as it was possible, +covered all the traces of the accident. Then, with hearts full of guilty +thoughts, the three boys hastened from the place where a scene of horror +had very nearly been enacted. + +Out in the open, where the air was fresh and pure, their spirits to a +certain degree revived. But their usual laughter, fun, and merry-making +had been dampened; and as they wended their way to the prairie +pasture-land, few words were passed between them. Poor little misguided +boys! warned, and yet left so ignorant of what was the right and the +wrong way. + +Through the voice of conscience God endeavored to speak to John and to +tell him that his ways were evil and that he and his cousins would some +day get into serious trouble if they continued in the way they were +going; but, although he was sad, he could not understand. He wanted to +be a good boy for his father's sake (for his father was the best friend +he knew); and most of all he desired to become the man that that parent +had wished him to be. John's disregard for his father's warnings from +time to time had been due to the fear that, if he obeyed, his early +manhood would be hindered. + +Could that father have given his little son an object-lesson such as an +aged monk once, while walking through a forest, gave his scholar, John +might have been spared much suffering. The monk, stepping before four +plants that were close by, pointed to the first, a plant just beginning +to peep above the ground; to the second, one well-rooted in the earth; +to the third, a small shrub; and to the fourth, a full-sized tree. + +Then turning to his young companion, he said, "Pull up the first." This +the boy easily did. + +"Now, pull up the second." The youth obeyed, but not with so much ease. + +"And now the third." This time before the boy succeeded in uprooting the +plant, he had to put forth all his strength and to use both his arms. + +"And now," said his master, "try your hand on the fourth." But although +the lad grasped the trunk of the tree in his arms, he scarcely shook its +leaves; and he found it impossible to tear its roots from the earth. +Then the wise old man explained the meaning of the four trials. + +"This, my son," he said, "is just what happens to our bad habits and +passions. When they are young and weak, we can by a little watchfulness +and by a little discipline, easily tear them up; but if we let them cast +their roots deep down into our souls, no human power can uproot them. +Only the almighty hand of the Creator can pluck them out. For this +reason, my boy, watch your first impulses." + +Or, could John have heard the story of the giant who fell in with a +company of pigmies, he might have taken a different course. The giant +roared with laughter at the insignificant stature and wonderful +boastings of the pigmies. He ridiculed their threats when they told what +they expected to do to him; but when he fell asleep that night, he was +at their mercy. And he did not know until he awoke in the morning that +while he was asleep these tiny people of whom he had made sport had +bound him with innumerable threads and that he was their helpless +captive. But John knew nothing of these stories or of other things that +teach the lessons he so much needed; and perhaps his father did not +know, so that he could tell his son what he should have been told. + +The use of tobacco is an evil. When God made tobacco and pronounced it +good, He did not mean for it to go into the mouth of any man or woman, +much less into the mouths of children. Tobacco is a deadly poison; and +the constant use of any poison must injure the body of the one who uses +it. When it has sapped the strength from both the mind and the body, it +leaves the individual weakened in every way and makes it harder for him +to live a good, pure life. + +No person who uses tobacco may be said to be perfectly well. Such a +person may not realize how his health is impaired, because the stupor +that the poison produces numbs his sensibilities; but the very appetite +he has for tobacco is in itself a disease. In order for an habitual user +to realize the harm that tobacco is doing to his health, he has simply +to stop its use for a short time and watch the effect on his system. + +Tobacco is not a food that God intended man to eat. In man's case it +feeds only a craving that it has itself created. But the leaves of the +tobacco plant do serve as food for the large, green worms that live and +thrive in tobacco fields. Yes; tobacco is "very good" for the "creeping +things" for which it was created; but it was not intended as food for +man. + +Could John and his cousins have understood all this when the next +tobacco famine came to them, it seems that each would surely have +resisted the temptation to stoop down, pick up a partly chewed quid of +tobacco, cram it greedily into his watering mouth, and chew it as though +it was the sweetest morsel he had ever tasted. But the boys did not +know. They thought such things were manly. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +Early School Days + + +By the time John was eight years old, the evil influences with which he +had been surrounded in his uncle's home were rapidly telling on him. To +be sure, there was still the same pathetic expression in his deep, brown +eyes, and now and then there could be observed in them a mischievous +glance or a merry twinkle; but his general appearance was that of a +sadly neglected child. Still the busy aunt took little notice either +of him or of her own boys. + +In his heart John was longing for someone to take an interest in him and +to love him--someone to whom he could go with his boyish heartaches and +from whom he could gain the sympathy for which his heart was craving. +To be sure, his father was still kind, and sometimes John would imagine +that he could even feel his father's love. At such times the boy would +press closer to his parent, hoping that he would at least with his arm +caress him; but his father did not understand. He could see only the +outward roughness; and he said in his heart: + +"It is all because he has never had a chance. He has grown up here on +the prairie like a wild thing. He has never been to school, and I must +send him at once." + +With this purpose in his heart John's father decided to return with his +child to the place that had once been his happy home. In making the +change there were, of course, many things to take into consideration. +But under the circumstances, to go seemed the best and proper thing to +do. The sad events, he reasoned, were all in a lifetime; and he must +make the best of them. The home would for a time seem desolate, he knew, +but he thought that perhaps they could become used to it; anyway, his +boy must be in school. The school terms would not be long (for only +three or four months of each year were set apart for school purposes); +but even these short terms would be better than none. + +To John the change meant more. The five years that he had spent in the +home of his uncle had made his cousins seem to him like brothers; but +still, as he considered his father's plans, he thought, "Perhaps it may +be all right." His aunt was very kind while John and his father were +preparing to move; and the day they bade her good-by she said such sweet +things that he wanted to throw his arms about her neck. To his mind it +was the very way in which his own dear mother would have spoken had she +been alive. + +When all was ready for the departure, the aunt said: "John, here are the +two little turkeys that you have liked so well all summer. You may take +them with you. They will help you to forget that you are alone when your +father is away at his work"; and she handed him a small covered basket. +Then the wagon containing their few belongings moved away from the place +that for nearly five years they had called their home. + +As they wended their way along the thoroughfare, they saw men at work in +the fields. Some were shucking corn and tossing the bright golden ears +into wagons that were placed between the rows for that purpose, while +others were hauling the grain to their barns to store it away for the +winter's use. The broad corn leaves rustling in the wind seemed to +whisper, "Winter is coming with his cold, bleak storms to rob the earth +of her summer splendor; but he will bring his beautiful coverlet of snow +to protect her fields and to prepare them for the coming year." + +The foliage on the small bushes that were scattered here and there +was fading; but the air was still soft and mild. Near the willows +might still be seen the bending goldenrods, asters, and sunflowers. +And occasionally blue smoke could be seen curling up from some +sod-house chimney. + +It was evening when the father and his son drove up to the door of their +long-desolate home; the sun was sinking lower and lower in the west. A +few soft glimmers of its mellow light lingered timidly about the doorway +as if to bid the home-comers welcome, and then they were gone. A rabbit, +hopping boldly about in the neglected doorway, stopped suddenly as if +to ask why these people had come to a place that she had chosen for her +home; and some prairie dogs that had formed a colony close by anxiously +watched from the entrance of their underground homes to see what was +going on. + +John and his father, each absorbed with his own thoughts, sprang from +the wagon, and soon began to air out the musty house and to rearrange +the furniture that had long been idly awaiting their return. After a +while John found that his aunt had not forgotten that he would be very +hungry, and soon he was sampling some large bread-and-meat sandwiches; +his father, too, came for his share. Thus quickly passed the first +evening in their old home. But before John retired to his own bed, he +saw that his little turkeys received some attention; and in the morning +he let them have their freedom. + +As the days sped by and lengthened into weeks and months, John would +have indeed been lonely had it not been for his little pets, the +turkeys. They received his earliest attention in the morning, and it +was their little beaks that touched his cheek the last thing before he +retired at night; and to himself alone was their roosting-place known. + +How different everything seemed to John in his new home! The change from +knowing nothing but perfect freedom in God's great open out-of-doors to +being left alone to hustle off to school in the early morning hours, +where he must sit like a statue and prepare humdrum lessons, was to John +a wonderful change. John, however, was determined to make the very best +of his lot and to do all that he could to please his teacher. + +Allowing this purpose to govern his life, John's conduct was such that +he became in a very short time the favorite pupil in the school; and his +kindly, generous, and ambitious nature won him many friends. He was soon +noted for his witty remarks, made in a manner so droll and unpretentious +that often merry bursts of laughter were heard from his teacher as well +as his playmates. + +But regardless of these pleasant conditions, John was far from happy. +He still wanted someone to show deep love for him and to take an interest +in his welfare; and though he constantly tried to smother the deep +suffering he felt it still smoldered in his heart. This, perhaps, caused +him to crave all the more tobacco that in a way had dulled his senses +and caused him to realize his troubles less. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +The Card Parties + + +While John was forming new acquaintances at school, Satan was not +asleep. John's active mind was soon being schooled in many evils that he +had not known before. And to make the matter still worse, John's father +had a number of bachelor friends with whom he was in the habit of +meeting for pleasant evenings, and their amusements were mostly drinking +strong drinks and playing card games. + +Among these men, as among his schoolmates, John became a favorite; and +he was often praised and admired for his shrewd and manly ways. And when +the report concerning his intense desire to become a man was circulated +among them, they urged him to drink beer, saying that it would make him +more manly and that all men must learn how to drink and smoke if they +would be thought of as being manly. As a result John was soon able to +drink his share of the beer, although he did not like the taste at +first. Besides this, John discovered that at these evening gatherings he +could often replenish his supply of tobacco by slipping a little from +someone's pocket when the owner was not on his guard. + +Poor little John!--such a favorite! so gifted, and yet so neglected! in +regard to high ideals and purposes in life, so ignorant! and so desirous +of that motherly love and interest that were ever denied him! He +endeavored to fill his life with other things; but in his day-dreams he +often pictured his mother, and wondered: "Was she like my aunt? Would +she take me and hold me in her arms while she smoothed my hair with her +hand? Would she bind my bruises? And would she sit by my bedside at +night and hold my hand in hers while telling me stories that she had +read?" "Oh, how would it all seem?" he would ask himself; and then, +remembering that such could never be, he would try to forget and be +happy. His mother was gone, he reasoned, and he must be content. It was +to his two little feathered friends alone that he confided his sorrows. + +Had John's father remembered the determination that filled his soul on +the dark day of his wife's funeral, and had he continued to teach his +little son to pray and to serve God, how much better it might have been! +How much better might John have understood the difference between right +and wrong! In such a case, John's life's record might have been filled +with good and noble deeds, and his habits might have been clean and +wholesome. + +As it was, because of his ignorance of right, he was laying a crumbling +foundation formed of evil motives and desires. And should he continue to +build, using similar material, his life's structure would be unsafe; it +would be momentarily in danger of falling. As Satan is ever waiting with +the needed supplies for a work of this kind, so he was ready to aid +little John. The card parties at which John and his father were often +present furnished John with much of his material. + +The younger men among those who attended these gatherings, recognizing +in John material of the entertaining sort, began at once to educate him. +They taught him, not only to drink beer, but also to play cards and to +swear. To John beer did not at first have a pleasant taste; but as it +was when he was trying to learn to use tobacco, so it was now--the +promise that it would help him in becoming manly encouraged him to take +more; and as he drank, the appetite grew. Finally, he would sometimes +drink so much that he could not keep awake. + +Usually on these occasions beer was served only as a prize to the +winners of the games. The lucky fellow alone was given a drink while +those who had lost were given only a smell of the bottle. One time when +John had won in a number of games and had been treated to as many drinks +from the bottle of beer, he became very sleepy. Going over to one corner +of the room, he crept up on a table and soon was apparently asleep. +It happened, however, that, although he was sleepy, he was not wholly +unconscious to what was going on; and suddenly he heard a plot that +seemed to him so cruel that he could scarcely believe his ears. + +[Illustration: A Card-Party] + +At the close of such gatherings, a chicken-roast was generally in order, +and the fowl used was usually taken from some hen-roost not far distant. +On this particular occasion when the party was about to break up, John +heard the roughest of the company ask: + +"I say, boys, who's goin' fer the roast tonight? Some one ought to be +off fer it's nigh onter the midnight hour, and I, fer one's got a big +job ahead a me tomorrer." + +"I'll go, Bill," someone answered; "but wha do ye say ter go?" + +"Oh, it don't make no difference, so's it's not too fer away!" the other +answered, and added: "Whist, Tom, why can't we git John's turkeys? +They'd make fust-rate eatin' all right. He's too far gone to know +anything about it." + +John was just about to call out that they must let his turkeys alone +when he remembered how hard it would be in the darkness to discover +their roosting-place, so he remained quiet. It was, however, with some +uneasiness that he awaited the thieves' return. When they came, he was +relieved; for they were carrying chickens instead of turkeys. Although, +because of the safety of his pets, a thrill of satisfaction swept over +John, yet he had received in his heart a wound that was deep and wide. +These cruel, heartless men were willing to take from him, in so +unprincipled a manner, his only companions and playfellows. John +somewhat realized that life had a hard and bitter side for him; but +again he endeavored with all his strength to make the best of it. + +It was morning before John and his father returned to their home; +and it was with unusual joy that John found his pets waiting for their +breakfast. As he held them close to his breast, with their beaks close +to his cheek, he again thought of his mother; also he wondered about a +certain change that had come over his father. + +For a time after their removal to their own home, the father had been +very devoted to John and had seemed to understand something of the boy's +loneliness. Perhaps it was a realization of this loneliness and a desire +to bring into the life of the child the motherly interest of which he +had been deprived that had turned the father's heart toward a certain +young lady of his acquaintance. Anyway, whatever was the cause, the +father became more and more interested in this young woman; while, on +the other hand, he paid less attention to John, whose loneliness daily +increased. Night after night John's pillow was dampened by the tears he +shed while waiting and listening for the sound of his father's returning +footsteps. + +In course of time the father married and brought home his new bride. +At first John was very shy; but he was glad. Oh, how he wished that she +would be what he had day-dreamed that his own mother might have been! +He could then have given her all his love and confidence. He could have +told her all his boyish plans for the future, asking her for the advice +he would need. But the new mother failed to fulfill his hopes. Even she +did not understand the longings of his boyish heart; nor did she realize +that the poor little neglected boy was measuring her by what he had +imagined a true mother to be. She was kind to John; but that was all. +Her time and attention were given to her husband; and John daily saw the +gulf between his father and himself widening and deepening. A feeling of +discord crept into John's heart; all attraction for home was severed; +and he felt that his happiness would have to be sought from other +sources. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +Visitors and Pastimes + + +During the winter that followed his father's marriage, John's +stepmother's brother came to live with the family; and the influence of +this stepuncle, whose name was Ed, was as bad or worse than Will's or +Charley's could ever have been; for Ed was older and wiser, and knew +much more of sin. + +In Ed's home both the father and the mother used tobacco a long time +before their child was born. When he was just a little infant, he +worried and cried a great deal. He continued to do this, seemingly never +to be satisfied, until finally the parents imagined that he wanted +tobacco; and sure enough he did. The mother tied a small amount in a rag +and gave it to her baby to suck, and immediately he became quiet and +contented. So, from that time she gave him tobacco to stop his crying. +As he grew, the quantity he used gradually increased until, when he was +in his teens, he spent much of his money for tobacco. He went without +many of the necessary things of life in order that he might have the +money those things would cost to spend for tobacco. + +The Bible tells us that God is abundant in goodness and truth, keeping +mercy for thousands and forgiving iniquity and transgression and +sin ... Parents may be sorry for their sins, and be forgiven for +their transgressions; but their children must suffer from inherited +ill-dispositions, unnatural appetites, or diseases.... Oh, what a +responsibility is resting upon the parents of the future generations! + +Now, tobacco acts directly on the mind. It clouds the understanding and +dulls the memory; and sometimes it has much worse effects. The story is +told of the experience of a brilliant young man--a graduate from Andover +College--who, for a time, seemed to have a wonderful future before him. +After a few short successful years, however, all hopes were blighted; +he was thrown into an insane asylum a physical wreck. The doctors said +that tobacco had done it; but regardless of this, he was each day given, +according to the rules of the asylum, a small quantity of tobacco. +For twenty years he was in this seemingly hopeless condition; and then +suddenly, one day as he was walking the floor, his reason returned, and +he realized what was the matter. Throwing the plug of tobacco through +the iron grate of his cell, he said: "What brought me here? What keeps +me here? Why am I here? Tobacco! tobacco! tobacco! God help, help! +I will never use it again!" + +He was restored; and for ten years he preached the gospel. + +But not only does tobacco injure the mind; it also affects the blood and +sensitive tissues and the different organs of the body, which in order +to act normally and to do their work properly must be in healthful +condition. When the blood becomes saturated with the deadly poison that +comes from the pipe or cigar, and the soft membranes of the mouth become +filled with the poisonous secretion from the quid, as a consequence, +every member of the body becomes affected, and disease and suffering +are the final results. Lord Bacon said, "To smoke is a secret delight, +serving to steal away men's brains." Many others have expressed +themselves in even louder terms against the evil effects of tobacco; +but we must now return to John and to Ed, his stepuncle. + +Soon after Ed came to live in the family, he paid a visit to a +neighboring town; and while there, he stole from a store a case of plug +tobacco. This he stealthily brought to his sister's new home, confiding +his secret to no one except John; and by generous promises he persuaded +John to say nothing about the matter. At this time John was in his +thirteenth year. He still keenly felt that something was dreadfully +missing in his life; so he turned to Ed, hoping to find that something +in his companionship. But again he was disappointed. The standard of +Ed's ideals were so far below the standard that John had fixed for +himself that John was conscious of a constant repulsion in his heart +toward Ed. As a consequence, John's loneliness increased. + +About the time Ed arrived in the neighborhood, another dangerous pastime +was introduced. Dancing found a place in the social gatherings; and +again John was an apt scholar. Before very long he was considered to be +one of the best among the young people in this art; and for the time +being he seemed to find real enjoyment in the amusement. There was a +fascination about it that helped him partly to forget his troubles and +heartaches, also the discouragements with which he had been haunted so +much of late. + +During the winter that followed, the social spirit increased and the +months were full of changes and excitement. The uncle with whom John and +his father had spent several years came with his family for a prolonged +visit. A hearty welcome was given the visitors, especially by John; for +regardless of the fact that in order to make room for the company he had +to exchange his nice warm bed in the house for a less comfortable one in +the sod cellar, he rejoiced in the thought that he could once more be +with his old companion, Will. In fact, any change was appreciated by +John in his restless, discontented frame of mind. + +The first evening the boys retired early, partly because they had no +light and partly because they wanted to visit about bygone days. They +had so many things to say to each other; and besides, they wanted to lay +their plans for a jolly time while they could be together. Will laughed +heartily about John's intense desire to become a man, and asked him how +he felt about it now. It was in a discouraged tone of voice that John +replied: + +"There ain't so much fun in it as I supposed. The older I get, the +more unhappy I feel. Why, Will, there are times when I almost wish that +I were dead. No one seems to care for me or to have any time to give me. +It's just 'John here' and 'John there'; and if I dare to say anything, +I'm laughed at or told to keep still. It was different before Pa got +married. Then he used to talk to me and try to help me when I got +lonesome; but now I just have to get along the best way I can. +If I like anything it's all right, and if I don't it's the same. + +"I'll just tell you, if it wasn't for Pa, I'd run away from home! As for +being a man, I don't think that it is so wonderful after all. The men +that I know are all so bad. Just look at Ed! I'm getting so that I can +hardly endure Ed!" + +In reply to John's great outburst of sorrow, Will had no words of +sympathy to offer. All that he could propose was that they could spend +their evenings in playing cards (for Will, too, had learned many things +since John had left; and card-playing was one of them). John was pleased +with the suggestion; but he said, "I haven't any cards." As usual, +however, he was quick to invent a way out of that difficulty and added: +"Hey, Will! why couldn't we make some? I know where there's a lot of +cardboard boxes that we could cut up. One could cut while the other +marked them. You would know how to make them, would you not?" + +"Yes, I think so," Will answered. "We could do that all right in the +daytime; but how could we work in the dark? And does it get very cold +in here?" + +"Oh, it doesn't get so awfully cold; and as for a light, I can get a +dish of lard and put a rag in it which we can light! That won't be a +very good light; but I think we can get along." + +The boys found that it was no small task to make the cards. First they +had to cut the cardboard. This John did with a very sharp knife. Next, +they drew hearts and diamonds and other necessary markings. To be sure, +the set of cards was a very crude one when it was finished; and when the +boys began to shuffle them in the pack, they were disappointed because +of the bulky appearance and wished for a more perfect set. But John +had done a good job in cutting them out, and the marking answered the +purpose very well. So night after night, by the aid of the flickering +and sputtering light, furnished by the rag burning in the saucer of +lard, the two boys, with heads bent low, sat scheming and planning, +each striving to get ahead of the other in the game. + +Long before Will's visit was ended, both boys had become so skillful in +playing that the one could scarcely get the better of the other unless +one in some way cheated. This caused them to try many underhanded tricks +and encouraged them to bet and gamble; and in course of time they had +exchanged as wagers the greater part of their simple belongings. Taking +advantage of one another became a part of the game and seemingly was the +principal aim. And the evenings that they did not spend in dancing were +spent in indulging in these dangerous amusements. (Card-playing--as does +also dancing--wields an influence that is very harmful, especially to +the young. As the interest in the game increases, the players' desire +for things that are good and wholesome is lessened. One player sees only +the pleasure that he derives from getting the better of the one he is +playing against. He fails to see that each time he stoops to unfair +methods in order to gain his purpose he helps to pave the way for other +things that are wrong and deceitful.) + +When the first warm days of spring arrived and the grass of the prairie +began to unfold its tiny blades, John's uncle said it was time for him +and his family to return home. "It's a long way, Will," he said; "and +we must get there in good time to plant a big crop of 'tobaker.' You +remember we didn't have near enough to do us last year!" Will agreed; +but the boys were all sorry to be separated again, and when the day of +departure came, it was very hard indeed for them to bid one another +farewell. + +During the winter months John had not thought much about his aunt, for +Will and he had been too deeply interested in other things. But now at +the last moment that old longing again clutched at his heart. When he +saw them disappearing in the distance and finally lost them to view, +like a flash the desire that had so long been smoldering within his +heart was fanned, as it were, into a mighty flame, and in his mind he +resolved what he would do. "I will stay in this home no longer!" he +cried in his distress. "My father may miss me; but if I stay here, +I shall die!" and going to his father, he stated his intentions. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +Leaving Home + + +As John's father looked into the deep pathetic eyes of his son, he +in part understood the meaning of what he read. He could see that the +soul of his child was crying out for something; but again he failed to +understand the true longings of the young heart. He failed to see that +the boy was being crushed by sinful habits, and that for parental care +and interest he was starving. In ignorance the father supposed that +the boy's unrest was due to a longing to know more of the world, to +a feeling akin to that which an explorer experiences. + +Poor man! Could he have known just then what really was troubling his +boy, he could have stayed the spirit of unrest by holding out to John +the "olive branch of peace." He could have said: "John, we have drifted +apart. We are not to one another what we used to be. Stop, my boy; sit +down here. Let us carefully talk these things over before you take such +a step. Out in the world you will meet many temptations and evils, more +than you have ever known." And many other tender words of advice he +might have spoken to the child; but these things were left unspoken. + +Instead, his father only said, "John, I would like to have you remain +at home a while longer; but if you are determined to go, you may, only +remember to try to do as nearly right as you can! I have wanted to bring +you up well for your mother's sake; for she had made so many plans for +your future. My wish, John, is that you become a good man." + +John was deeply touched by his father's farewell speech; and had there +been any other drawing to keep him at home, he certainly would have +remained. As it was, he soon gathered together his belongings, and while +still in his thirteenth year, said good-by to his people, and went away +to work for a thrifty farmer. + +During the two years preceding his departure from home, John had now +and then worked for the farmers in different parts of the country. This +and his attendance at the social gatherings had enabled him to become +acquainted with numbers of boys, some of whom were very wild and rough. +But because of the companionship of Will during the winter months, the +evil influences of his wide circle of friends had not been so strong. +But when the cousins were parted, John's companions were again some of +the roughest and toughest in the community. Because of this his tobacco +and beer bills increased, and to this alarming expenditure he added many +accounts for whiskey. + +John had made a discovery. He had found that Ed, in order to satisfy the +awful craving and gnawing in his stomach (a sensation produced by the +tobacco poison), was using a generous supply of whiskey; and for the +same reason John began to use it. Whiskey did perhaps satisfy for the +time being; but John also discovered that the seemingly good effect +was very soon gone and that the old trouble was again there, only with +renewed force and strength. Another thing he found, too, was that he had +added to his list of evil habits one even more fierce and strong than +the others. + +When John left home, his desire was principally to find relief for his +loneliness; but he had another object. His expenses had been heavy and +hard to defray. And now with the amount he had to pay for his whiskey +added to what he was already spending for beer and tobacco, his bills +were so high he felt that he must have more money in order to meet them. +This seeming necessity was, therefore, one thing that urged him to take +the step he took. + +[Illustration: Leaving the Old Homestead] + +The farmer for whom John began to work was known among his men as "the +captain." All the hired help worked under one manager, or boss; so +John's experience while in this service was new and varied. + +"We have orders today to work for Farmer Z," explained the boss one +morning a few weeks after John's arrival. "And the captain says we must +be sure and get around there early in the morning, for we are to get our +breakfast over there." + +The home of Farmer Z was some distance from that of John's employer; but +the prancing horses on which the men were to ride were soon carrying +them across the prairie, and it was not long until they were in sight +of Farmer Z's modest farmhouse. As they entered the gateway, Farmer Z +stepped into the doorway; and when he greeted the men with a kindly +"Good morning," John particularly noticed his countenance and expression +and wondered why he was so different from the comrades with whom he had +always associated. He noticed, too, that, as the men gathered in the +dining room and took their places around the table, they were quiet and +reserved; and he was puzzled by still another thing--Farmer Z bowed his +head and thanked God for all of His blessings and benefits and goodness +to them all. + +Such things were new and strange to John; and when at the close of the +meal, the farmer invited them into another room, saying, "We always have +reading and prayer immediately after breakfast and would be glad to have +you all join with us," John suddenly felt extremely awkward and out of +place, and he longed to make his escape to the barn. + +John could have given no reason for his feelings, unless it was that the +farmer's suggestion of prayer made him think about his mother and of the +time when his father had taught him the little prayer, "Now I lay me +down to sleep," and had told him that he very much desired him to be +a little man. But it was not strange that John should feel as he did; +for he had so often associated other scenes with that of learning the +prayer, but had since that time heard very little about the Bible. In +fact, the only part of the Bible that he had ever read was a few verses +in the small New Testament that had belonged to his mother; and he had +read these because he had heard that the reading of certain passages +would stop the toothache and relieve the nosebleed. He experimented one +time when he had the nosebleed, and his nosebleed did stop; but he was +not sure that it would not have stopped as soon had he not read the +verses. + +Now, for some reason unknown to himself, John did not want to remain for +worship; so when he noticed one of the other men slipping out of the +back door, he quickly followed. The two were just about to enter the +barn when the farmer, calling to them in words that were gentle but +firm, said, "We always have our help come in with us for worship." +Seeing then that there was no way around going in except to stoutly +refuse, the two returned to the house; and with the others they seated +themselves in the room where it was evident that the family worship was +to be held. This experience was so entirely new to John that he actually +suffered. He did not know what to do nor how to act. + +He observed that the children, the workmen, and the farmer's wife, were +all seated, so he sat down, too. He also observed that the men had left +their hats outside where they had washed; and this caused him to feel +very strangely, because he had his own in his hand. He dropped it, +however, beside his chair; then he began to watch the children and to +try to do just as they were doing. But as no two of the youngsters were +doing the same thing, he again felt troubled. The older members of the +family, he noticed, sat very still; and suddenly John realized that they +must be listening to the farmer, who had been reading. John knew that he +had not heard one single word that had been read, and here, the farmer +was now saying, "Let us pray." + +When they knelt beside their chairs, John was again bewildered; but +having decided to do just as nearly as he possibly could the way the +rest did, he, too, slipped down upon his knees. For some reason that he +could not understand, a burning shame that seemed to benumb his whole +being swept over him, and he could hardly hear the farmer's words; but +he realized suddenly that the farmer was saying, "Dear Lord, bless the +help today, and keep them from accidents and danger." + +Hurriedly glancing around, John saw the children peeking from between +their fingers; and hastily covering his own face with his hands, he gave +a quick glance toward Mr. A, his boss. Mr. A was kneeling beside his +chair, but was picking his teeth and looking out of the window. Just +then the farmer said, "Amen," and they all arose. + +Then, as John compared his own attitude with that of Mr. A.'s, another +feeling of shame came over him; and for some time he kept asking +himself, "Why didn't I act unconcerned like the boss?" But John was not +a bad boy naturally. He was ignorant of what was right. He had never +understood that there is a Savior and that that Savior loved him and +left an example for him to follow. To be sure, he had often heard both +his Savior's and his Creator's names reviled and abused by his evil +companions. But he did not know that these were Beings to whom he could +go when in trouble; nor did he understand that in God's sight he was +a sinner. + +More than once that day while working, John thought of the farmer's +words and wondered if the prayer would have any effect upon the day. +Some way he thought it would, and he decided to watch and see. The day +was ideal, and the help orderly; and God kept them free from accident +and trouble. It was all a mystery to John, and he pondered over it along +the way home and even during the night. Farmer Z had opened up a new +channel for his thoughts. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +With the Circus + + +During the following year a circus that was passing through the country +stopped at a town near by; and John, together with a number of his +associates, attended some of the exhibitions. John's interest was at +once captivated, and he felt that it would be great to join the company +and to act the part of the clown; and he soon began to plan to secretly +join them the following season. His visions of great wealth enlarged day +by day, and in fancy he pictured a future of wonderful fame. + +In due time the show company returned. They gladly accepted John's +proposal to join them; and so John, with his few earthly possessions, +to the surprise of all who knew him, disappeared from his home locality. +But John seemed doomed to disappointment; the showman's life was not +at all as he had pictured it. Instead of becoming fabulously rich in a +fairy-like way, he was taken very ill and had soon lost all the money he +did have. As soon, therefore, as he was able, he returned to his friends +at home, thoroughly disgusted with his undertakings; he was a wiser lad +than he was when he went away. + +But, although John was disgusted, he was not disheartened. When he +was laughed at by his friends, he bravely bore their ridicule, and +endeavored to look on the bright side of things. Also, he explained to +them that show life, on the outside and to the sightseer, was not at +all what it was among the members of the company; but that behind the +curtains oaths were uttered, and abuse and nearly every kind of evils +could be witnessed. + +When he was back once more among his old associates, he endeavored +to pass away the time in as pleasant a way as possible. Card playing, +gambling, and dancing were his amusements, but tobacco and whiskey were +his enjoyments; and as before, he was considered among his friends as a +jolly good fellow. But John was not truly happy; beneath his superficial +joyousness was a longing for something that he was unable to name or +describe. + +Let us stop a moment and look at John. A glance tells us that a great +change has taken place. The ruddy complexion and childish features +were replaced by a sallow hue upon the sunken cheek; and the roguish +expression of the large brown eyes was lost in the haggard look that +well accorded with the telltale cough and the stooping shoulders. The +poisons of the tobacco and whiskey were doing their fatal work. His +entire system was heavily charged with nicotine and alcohol; and the +effect of these poisons constantly operating upon his nervous system and +digestive organs had made him but a wreck of his former self. It is true +that in stature he was as large as the man his father had desired him to +be; but he was far from being of the strong manly type that that parent +would have had him to become. Instead, he was weakly; and his body was +never free from pain and suffering. + +The old adage that ignorance is bliss can never be aptly applied to +nicotine and alcohol. For only those who let them both entirely alone +can be truly happy or safe. When we examine what doctors have written +about the use of these poisons, we find that alcohol as well as nicotine +is a stimulant and a narcotic. As a stimulant, it excites the brain and +nerves, quickens the circulation of the blood, and intoxicates (makes +drunk); while as a narcotic it blunts the powers of the brain and nerves +and produces stupor and death. + +Tests in the army, navy, and arctic explorations have definitely proved +that alcohol is not a food. + +Alcohol will not allay thirst: "Alcohol has a great attraction for +water; and when swallowed, it draws the water to itself, thus depriving +the tissues of the body of that merit necessary inorganic food. Again, +alcohol causes a rush of blood to the skin, which causes a sensation of +warmth to be felt upon the surface of the body. However, the sensation +of heat is, like beauty, 'only skin deep,' as the heat of the system has +really been diminished rather than increased; because when the blood is +upon the surface, it parts with its heat more readily." + +I "The effects of alcohol upon the heart may be summed up in the +following statements: + + "(a) It causes a softening of the muscles of the heart, and a fatty + degeneration, thus clogging the workings of this vital organ. + + "(b) It overworks the heart. + + "(c) Oftentimes it renders the heart weak and flabby. + + "(d) It causes an enlargement or dilation of its parts. + + "(e) There is a consequent effect of drowsiness and lassitude. + + "(f) Its general effect upon the heart is to destroy its strength and + usefulness." + + +II "Alcohol has the following effects upon the lungs: + + "(a) It makes the blood impure, thus increasing the work of the lungs. + + "(b) It paralyzes the blood vessels. + + "(c) It weakens the various lung tissues. + + "(d) It impairs breathing." + + +III "Alcohol's effects upon the stomach: + + "(a) Produces chronic inflammation of the stomach. + + "(b) Injures the mucous lining by hardening the tissues. + + "(c) It destroys some of the small glands and impairs others. + + "(d) It precipitates the pepsin of the gastric juice, thus retarding + digestion. + + "(e) It thickens the mucus of the stomach. + + "(f) The action of the stomach is at first quickened by the presence + of alcohol, and then retarded." + + +IV "The effects of alcohol upon the liver may be: + + "(a) It produces a hardened condition of its tissues. + + "(b) Enlarges the organ. + + "(c) Compresses and lessens the cells for producing bile. + + "(d) Stimulates the liver to overaction, thus reducing the bile supply. + + "(e) It weakens and destroys the usefulness of this organ of digestion." + + +V "Effect of alcohol upon the blood and blood-vessels: + + "(a) It thins and coagulates the blood according to the amount of + alcohol. + + "(b) It hastens the circulation, thus weakening it. + + "(c) It prevents combustion. + + "(d) It impairs and destroys the corpuscles, thus affecting their + powers of transporting oxygen and carbonic acid gas. + + "(e) It weakens the arterial muscles by affecting the nerves governing + them." + + +VI "Effects of alcohol upon the brain and nerves are: + + "(a) It causes apoplexy and epilepsy by confusing the brain. + + "(b) It weakens the will and deadens the feelings. + + "(c) It hardens the brain tissues, producing dullness, insensibility, + and insanity. + + "(d) It destroys the nerve fiber of the brain. + + "(e) It temporarily stimulates and finally depresses this organ. + + "(f) It will at last destroy man, body and soul." + +"Alcohol leads every other drug in its far-reaching influence for +mischief and evil. Were the thousands of ruined homes, the untold +numbers of blasted lives, the sorrows, the sins, numberless crimes, +murders, and deaths brought in panoramic review before us, what a +hell-born picture it would be!" + +"The effect of alcohol upon the morals is awful. All delicacy, courtesy, +and self-respect are gone; the sense of justice and right is faint or +quite extinct. There is no vice into which the victim of drunkenness +does not easily slide; and no crime from which he can be expected to +refrain. Between this condition and insanity there is but a single +step." + +These are only a part of the many evils that come to the one who takes +alcohol into his system. We have already heard something about the +effects of nicotine, the poison that is in tobacco. The constant use of +either poison will impair the health of the strongest person. It saps +the mind of its reasoning qualities; and in nine cases out of ten, +leaves the victim without sufficient strength to seek and obtain his own +deliverance or to live a righteous life. But let us return now to John. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +Caught Unawares + + +At the age of eighteen John had come almost to the point of +discouragement. His health was so poor that he did not know a well +moment; and besides, his longing soul was still unsatisfied. He had +always desired to be good and kind to all; but he did not know how to +rise to a nobler plane of conduct than that on which he was living. He +judged men by their moral conduct, and not by their spiritual life. In +fact, he had very little, if any, comprehension of Christianity. He knew +of a few, like Farmer Z., who professed religion; but he was afraid of +these and he avoided their company. + +He had now and then, with a number of other boys about his own age, +visited some places where religious services were being held. But their +object in going was to have a good time; and they seldom remained long +enough to derive any good. On one of these occasions they went to a +small school house that was located a few miles from the town of C. +The meeting had been widely advertised, and a goodly number were in +attendance; and when John and his companions had taken their seats well +to the rear, there was only standing-room left. Curiosity was pictured +on every face; for the ministers (one elderly, the other young) were two +modestly dressed women, and lady preachers had never been heard of in +that part of the country. + +The singing was beautiful! John thought that the songs were sweeter +than any he had ever heard. When prayer was being offered, he listened +carefully to every word; and when he heard the ministers address God as +their Father, asking Him to direct them in all that they did and said, +and to prepare the hearts of the people to receive the truths that they +were about to speak, he was instantly filled with wonder and awe. + +After they rose from prayer, another song was sung; and then the elderly +lady began to address the people. As she read in a clear, sweet voice a +chapter from the Scriptures, John listened carefully. The account of the +woes pronounced upon the people who would not do right and the promises +made to those who would live right and were prepared to die, were truly +wonderful. Especially was he impressed with one verse she read, though +he realized very little of what it meant: "Therefore be ye also ready: +for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh." + +When this speaker took her seat, the other lady, a young, sweet-faced +girl, arose, and said a few words. After telling of how she had been +converted, and of how the Savior had ever since supplied all the +longings of her heart and had enabled her by his grace to live a life +that was pure and spotless, she spoke of her home in heaven; and then +she told the people that God would do the same for others as He had for +her--for everyone who would give up evil habits and forsake sin, and who +would love His Son, whom He had sent to the earth to suffer and die that +all people might be saved. John listened to every word; and as the girl +sat down, he thought, "Why, I would give everything that I have in the +world to be able to say such things about myself!" + +When making the announcements, the elderly lady said: "This meeting +will be continued for three weeks or more, and we want as many of you as +can to attend regularly; for there will be many portions of the Bible +explained, and we want everyone to learn what is the road to success and +to find out how to be truly happy." John at once decided that he would +attend every service; but since at the same time he felt an interest +similar to that which had inspired him to become a showman, he +remembered that bitter experience and ground his teeth. He was about to +change his decision to attend the meetings regularly, when he remembered +the words, "Therefore be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think +not, the Son of man cometh!" + +Instantly he beheld a great panoramic view of his past life, and many of +the evils that had never before appeared to him as sin were painted with +the blackest dyes. He had not meant to be wicked, but he suddenly +realized that his life had been wasted; and he concluded that he was not +ready to meet Christ. But John believed that Christ would come to the +earth, and he felt that he would give anything to be ready to meet Him. + +As John, whenever he was perplexed or troubled, had been in the habit +of doing, he reached down into his pocket and drew out a large plug of +tobacco and began biting off a piece to chew. But what was the matter? +The tobacco did not taste as it had in the past and it appealed to him +so differently. It was now actually disgusting and repulsive to him; and +he thought: "What a filthy habit! And to think of the time and money +that it has cost me! Why have I been so foolish?" + +The next instant he resolved that he would never again taste the horrid +stuff. And very soon a few scenes of things that happened when he was +under the influence of whisky came to his mind, and he shuddered. Never +again would he touch that stuff, he determined. In fact, the greater +part of the night John spent in reviewing his life; and he found that +the larger portion of the things he had been doing were things he would +not want to be found doing at the Savior's coming. + +The following day John could hardly wait until the time came when he +could again return to the little brown school house to hear more of the +beautiful story that had so charmed him. And night after night found +John in one of the seats in the rear of the building. It was not long +until he discovered the pathway to heaven; he saw it bathed with +heaven's sunshine and could see that it was for him to walk upon. +But the next thing was for him to make the start. + +It is one thing to decide that a certain thing is right and quite +another thing to take a stand (regardless of what anyone may think or +say) for the right. He had heard the preachers telling about the life of +a Christian, the Savior's love and death, and God's great mercy, night +after night for two weeks; but no invitation to come forward had been +given to those desiring to make a change in their manner of living. The +ministers desired that each one be given a full understanding of God's +plan of salvation so that none would take a step in the dark. + +John was fully decided to change his manner of living; but he did not +want to make any more mistakes. For this reason he restrained himself +from going to the motherly lady to inquire of her what he had better do. +His old desire to become a man had revived, but this time he desired to +be a man after God's own heart--pure and holy--like the one that God +created in the beginning. + +The time for an invitation to be given to the penitent finally came. +Upon entering the meeting house that evening John noticed a slight +change in the arrangement of the seats. The long row of chairs supplied +by kind-hearted neighbors to help in seating the people had been +removed, and a long, narrow bench had been put in their place. John +wondered at the change, but did not have to wonder long. An announcement +was soon made, stating that the bench was to serve as an altar, where +those who desired to be converted and who wanted to consecrate their +lives and services to God could gather for prayer. + +An explanation was also made to the effect that, though God is pleased +to see people humble themselves before Him, there was no virtue in the +wooden altar; it was simply a more convenient place to bow for prayer +than their seats would be. The services were shorter than usual; and +when the invitation to come forward was given to those who desired to +yield their hearts to God, John was ready. He longed to go; but although +he had learned a great many things, he was still uncertain just what was +meant by bowing at the altar; and as he wanted to do the right thing, he +decided to wait until he saw how the others would do. He did not have +long to wait; for a girl in front of him arose, went forward, and knelt +down beside the altar. This was enough for John, because it taught him +just what he desired to know; and he was soon kneeling beside her. That +night was indeed a wonderful time. One by one the people flocked to the +front part of the room; and John afterwards learned that many of his +friends and even those whom he thought would ridicule and make fun of +him, were among the number that, as himself, had sought and found pardon +for their sins. + +The invitation lasted a long time; and when it was ended, the ministers +knelt down among the penitent seekers, thanked God for the tender +mercies he had extended to the lost world, and prayed that those who +were at the altar might understand what true salvation is. After +praying, they explained carefully what it meant to be redeemed from all +sin, and told the seekers how God looked upon the sin-cursed world and +its awful wickedness, but also how He was so moved with tender love and +compassion that He sacrificed the brightest Gem of glory--even His only +begotten Son--to be a Redeemer for all who would believe on Him and turn +from their evil ways. + +The redemption price, they said, was great; but nothing less could have +proved so well God's great love for mankind. And they quoted from the +Bible, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, +that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting +life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; +but that the world through him might be saved" (John 3:16, 17); also, +"The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke +19:10). These words were as a soothing balm to John's aching heart. +Having been fully awakened to his awful condition and made to long for +the way of deliverance, he rejoiced as these rays of hope came streaming +down into his soul. + +One by one he recalled his sins--smoking and chewing tobacco, drinking +whisky and beer, stealing, lying, card-playing, betting, gambling, and +many other things; but these he had already given up. One thing only +came to his mind that caused him a struggle, and for a few moments it +seemed that he could not give that up. John loved to dance, and it had +seemed to him that there was nothing wrong with that pastime. Since he +knew none of the pleasures that the Christian enjoys, this was not +strange. Always he had danced just for the pleasure he derived from +dancing, and he considered dancing an innocent amusement. When, however, +he was made aware of the evils of dancing and the temptations it causes +boys and girls whose characters are weak, he could see how that to some +it might mean the loss of virtue; and, too, he found that much of his +suffering had been caused by the late hours that dancing and other +things had caused him to keep. Then he gladly bade adieu to the +dance-hall and all its trivial gaiety. + +After he had asked the Lord to pardon him for his transgressions, his +simple faith took hold of the promises and he received a clear witness +of his acceptance as a child of God. At last, after so many weeks and +months--yes, years--of dissatisfaction, he was indeed truly happy; and +the deep aching in his hungry heart was replaced by the Savior's love. +His companions, too, went away from that service rejoicing. Their +language, once so rough and vile, was now becoming to any Christian; +and the things that they had loved, no longer attracted their attention. +In fact, the entire neighborhood was changed; for many haunts of sin +and vice were entirely vacated. + +John soon found that it was his duty to make all of his wrongs right +as far as it lay in his power to do so; and this he gladly did. In many +instances he was surprised to see the effect that this act of obedience +had upon the ones concerned. Many, with tears in their eyes, exclaimed, +"John, I only wish that I possessed the joy in my own heart that I can +see written in your face!" + + + + +CHAPTER X + +A Child Again + + +No one could doubt the change in John's life; and many wondered how such +a thing could have been accomplished. But they did not realize that with +God all things are possible. How well it was for John that he discovered +before it was too late that he was a sinner, lost in God's sight, and +that it was necessary for him to forsake all of his evil ways and habits +if he would be freed from the binding chain of Satan! Each sinful habit +formed a link in the chain, and its strength could be measured only by +what it took to release him from its binding power. + +John was sorry to see the meetings close; and as he bade the sweet-faced +women farewell, he was loath to see them go, because of their Christian +influence. But life to him was no longer what it had been in the past. +With the poet, he had found that + + "Life is real! life is earnest. + And the grave is not its goal; + Dust thou art, to dust returnest + Was not spoken of the soul." + + +He procured a Bible and studied it diligently. He soon found that it was +a wonderful book, for what troubled him in one part was explained in +another. One day while reading in the tenth chapter of Mark, he found +to his surprise that, instead of his being a man, he was only a child, +a mere babe, in God's sight. John had expected to be changed and to be +different in every way, but he did not know that, in order to realize +his desire to be a "man after God's own heart," he must commence at the +beginning and be as a little child again. But he was willing; for he saw +how his past life had been completely wasted, and he was glad to begin +anew. + +In the second chapter of I Peter, John found much encouragement, also in +I Cor. 13:11, where he read: "When I was a child, I thought as a child: +but when I became a man, I put away childish things." Again he was +determined to become a man, and to develop as quickly as possible. From +that time on he availed himself of every opportunity to do good to all +mankind, and this was no hardship. His great whole-hearted nature made +him love to do good and to be a help to all who were in need. + +At other times John read the conversation between Christ and Nicodemus, +and the account of how Jesus thanked his heavenly Father for hiding His +truths from the wise and prudent and for revealing them to babes. John +was not long in perceiving the mystery concerning the new birth, for he +had gained the experience; and he thanked God that it had been revealed +to him. + +Once while studying the Word of God, John discovered that the twelfth +chapter of I Corinthians teaches that Christian people on the earth +represent Christ's spiritual body. As the natural body possesses many +members--hands, feet, eyes, ears, nose, etc.--each having its own +special work, just so the spiritual body of which He (Christ) is the +head has many members to carry on the Lord's work on the earth. And, as +in the human body, each member has its own work to do; similarly, in the +spiritual body, each member has his own work to perform. Some preach, +some teach, some perform miracles, some (perhaps all) pray for the sick, +and some do various other things, each as he is directed; but all work +in harmony. The members are all assigned their work and places in the +body by the directions of the heavenly Father. + +From reading the second chapter of Acts, John found that soon after +Christ ascended to heaven God sent His Holy Spirit to the earth to +superintend the work of the members of His Son's spiritual body, or +saved people, and that this same Holy Spirit is still guiding and +helping them. He also read in I John 2:15--"Love not the world, neither +the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love +of the Father is not in him." + +By reading further in the apostle John's epistle, John discovered that +there are many false spirits in the world that are trying to deceive +God's people and that it is often necessary to try the spirits to know +which is right. He saw that the test is love. If anyone loves God and +His Son, Jesus, more than anything else in the world, and feels as much +interest in his neighbor's welfare as in his own, that one can be sure +that he is God's own child. And Paul's letter to the Ephesians tells of +an armor that God has prepared for His people to wear that will enable +them to overcome all false spirits. + +A Sunday-school was soon started in the neighborhood and John was +chosen to be the teacher of the infant class. At first he tried to plead +his inability, but no one would listen to his excuses. He was glad +afterward; for he learned to love the little ones very dearly. While he +was meeting with the children Sunday after Sunday, he often thought of +many of the hard places through which he had passed when he was a child +and remembered that it was because he had not been warned that he had, +one step at a time, gone down until he was in misery and on the verge of +despair. So John sought to throw light on each one of these dangerous +places and to point out the dangers so clearly that the children could +plainly see and understand the wrong for themselves before they were +beguiled and then bound by Satan's chain of evil habits. In this way he +helped the children to escape many a snare by which they might otherwise +have been caught unawares. + +As the weeks sped by into months and John continued to unfold to the +tender questioning minds the hidden mysteries of the Bible, the adult +class became interested; and it was not long until they decided that +they needed him for their class more than the children did for theirs. +While he was teaching the advanced Bible class, his own understanding of +spiritual things was greatly broadened and strengthened, and he became +one on whom the entire congregation could lean and in whom they could +confide. + +On one occasion when the lesson was in the epistle of James, John found +by reading the fifth chapter of that book that Jesus is just as able and +ready to heal those who are sick as He was to relieve sufferers in days +gone by and that any who are afflicted may pray expecting to be healed. +He quickly applied the Scripture to himself, and began to pray thus: + +"Lord, thou seest how I am afflicted because of the sinful habits that +I formed in my childhood. Thou hast now taken from me the desire for +these things, but the suffering in my back and lungs is so intense. +Lord Jesus, heal me! Make me well, and I will work for Thee all the days +of my life!" + +God answered that prayer and made him strong and well; then he could say +with the Psalmist, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his +benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy +diseases." Oh, the goodness of the Lord to John! He felt that he never +could cease praising Him. + +The sad and lonely past, the days of his vain struggles to become +the man that his earthly father had desired him to be, could never be +compared to these days of happiness, the days when his desires to attain +to true manhood were being realized. His heart was lonely no longer. +He had a Friend who was dearer than a mother could have been. And he +felt that it is a wonderful privilege to be a member in Christ's body, +the church. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +How John Became a Man + + +As the news of John's wonderful conversion and of his work among the +people spread throughout the country, it reached the ears of Farmer Z, +in whose home John for the first time had attended family worship. The +kind-hearted man had never forgotten the boy who had endeavored to make +his escape to the barn rather than to come into the sitting-room at the +worship hour, and he felt a desire to have a good heart-to-heart visit +with John and to know just how he came to find the Lord. John was, +therefore, very much surprised one day to hear that this good gentleman, +of whom he had in the past been so fearful, was desiring to see him. But +he was glad; for he, too, had felt a great desire to talk with Farmer Z, +the one who was first to open his heart to a ray of heavenly sunshine. + +"I have been hearing wonderful stories about you of late, my boy," the +farmer said as John approached him; and as he took the young man's hand, +his hearty handshake sent the blood tingling through John's veins. +"Come," the farmer continued, "sit down and tell me what it was that +brought about the change. My boy, I understand that you are already +getting to be quite a preacher. Is it true?" + +"Well, Mr. Z," John modestly replied, "I hardly know what answer to +make, except that it was the work of my Savior. I am like the poor +beggar who was blind--'one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now +I see.' The same Jesus that healed the blind man has opened my spiritual +eyes, making me to see and understand what never before seemed +possible." + +Then as John related some of his Christian experiences, the farmer was +made to wonder at the loving-kindness and the great mercy of his God. + +"John," he said, as he looked into the beaming eyes of the young man and +noted the boyish face but manly form (for there was scarcely a trace +of the early dissipation left), "I see that you have found the genuine +article. God has worked a miracle in your life, and I guess he wants you +to go and tell the world about it. How is it, my boy? Do you feel like +preaching the gospel?" + +And then it was that John, in his simple, earnest manner, for which he +was so loved and admired, said: + +"Mr. Z, I feel as though some power within me is leading me about; and +I long to tell everyone I meet of the Jesus, who so loved the lost world +that He laid down His life upon the cross. It seems I can think of +little else." + +"That's it! That's it!" Farmer Z exclaimed; "God has put His Holy Spirit +in your heart and has called you into His harvest-field to go forth and +help spread the gospel. Go, my boy; and may God speed your footsteps in +ways crowned with blessings of success. I rejoice with you in your +calling and shall pray for you. When trials come your way--and they +will--remember that there is always a light in God's window for the +faithful, a light that will guide them safely home at last. Remember +also that He has said, 'Be thou faithful unto death.'" + +When the farmer bade John adieu, the sun had disappeared beyond the +horizon and the crimson shades were gathering in the western sky. The +landscape that stretched before him was beautiful. And while John was +not unconscious of these beautiful surroundings, by his inner vision, +which could not be limited by the vast prairie country with its varied +possibilities, he looked upon another scene far beyond--he saw the +heavenly city, the New Jerusalem, once beheld by the sainted John; +and he wondered what could be more grand and majestic. + +John had at last developed into a noble-hearted Christian, whose +greatest desire in life was to please his God, and to spend his time +wholly in God's service; and one day a few years later he stood on the +deck of a large Atlantic steamer and waved farewell to his friends on +the shore. He was bound for a far-distant land; God was sending him +as a missionary to carry the gospel to the people of another country. + +His large brown eyes, sorrowful no longer, were dimmed by tears of +farewell; but the tears only made them shine the brighter. They +witnessed to the gladness of his heart; and to the eagerness within +his bosom pushing him forward. + +John had at last become a man after God's own heart. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOW JOHN BECAME A MAN*** + + +******* This file should be named 12493.txt or 12493.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/4/9/12493 + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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