"Fudge," exclaimed James. "You would make out that a man has no self-respect, and no will to govern his appet.i.te."
"That is exactly what I mean to make out," added Nat. "The habit of using intoxicating drinks nurtures an irresistible appet.i.te, so that there is not one hard drinker in ten who could now stop drinking if he should try."
"Are you green enough to believe that?" asked James, in a tone of derision.
"He is just _ripe_ enough to believe it," interrupted Marcus. "A green-horn has a good deal to learn before he can believe the truth;"
and this sly hit James felt.
"I suppose that you all expect that _I_ shall be picked out of the gutter one day, because I can"t control my appet.i.te," said James. "I should think so by your talk."
"For one, I should not be at all surprised," replied Nat, "unless you change your views. You certainly maintain the gutter theory."
"Gutter or no gutter," added James, "I shall not sacrifice my liberty by joining a total abstinence society. I will have people know that there is one child who can drink when he pleases, or let it alone."
It was usual at that time, for youth to drink, as well as adults, on certain occasions. If a company of them were out upon an excursion, or attending a party, they did not hesitate to take a gla.s.s of wine, and even something stronger. It was according to the custom of the times. It was fashionable to treat callers to something of the kind, and to furnish it as a necessary part of the entertainment at social gatherings. Nat and his companions were accustomed to accept the gla.s.s on such occasions. But they were discriminating enough to perceive that there was danger. They did not dare to trust themselves to sustain the drinking usages of the the day. They had heard public lectures upon the subject, in which the perils of the times, both to the young and old, in this respect, were delineated, and they were wise enough to acknowledge the truth of what they heard. Nat espoused the cause from the beginning, with his usual enthusiasm and invincible purpose.
It was decided to organize a Total Abstinence Society, and arrangements were made to effect the object on the following week. Notice was given accordingly, and many of the young people were spoken with upon the subject. The friends of temperance generally encouraged the movement, as a very hopeful one for the young. Nat, a.s.sisted by his companions, drafted a const.i.tution before the evening of organization arrived, in order to facilitate the business. The proposition met with many hearty responses.
On the evening appointed to form the society, as many were present as could be expected, and most of them came resolved to join the society. A few were drawn thither by curiosity, having little sympathy with the movement. The meeting was called to order by one of the number, and a temporary chairman elected.
"Mr. Chairman," said Nat, rising from his seat, "we have met here to-night to organize a Total Abstinence Society, and most of us have come with the intention of joining. In order, therefore, to effect a speedy organization, I will present to the meeting the following const.i.tution, which some of us have prepared, for their adoption or rejection. If the const.i.tution is adopted, it will then be proper to circulate it for signatures, and afterwards proceed to the choice of officers."
Nat read the const.i.tution and by-laws, and they were unanimously adopted, and then circulated for signatures. The pledge was incorporated into the const.i.tution, so that signing that was also signing the pledge.
"I move you now," said Charlie, "that we proceed to the choice of officers." The motion was carried.
"How shall the officers be chosen?" inquired the chairman.
"I move they be chosen by ballot," said Frank. This motion was also carried.
"Please prepare and bring in your votes for president," announced the chairman.
Two or three boys" caps made convenient ballot-boxes, so that this order was soon obeyed.
"Votes all in?" inquired the chairman. "If so, I declare the ballot closed."
After counting the ballots, the president announced the result.
"You have made choice of Frank Martin for your president," said he.
Frank took the chair, and the temporary chairman retired.
"Please prepare and bring in your votes for secretary," said Frank.
The order was speedily executed, and the president declared the ballot.
"You have made choice of Charles Stone for your secretary," and Charles took his place at the table.
The remaining officers were duly elected, and other business performed, and thus the first Total Abstinence Society, in Nat"s native place, was started by himself and a.s.sociates. When we consider how long ago it was, and the perils that surrounded the young at that time, on account of the drinking usages, we must concede that it was a very important event to all who put their names to that const.i.tution and pledge. It probably exerted a moulding influence upon their characters through life.
Possibly it saved some of them from a drunkard"s grave.
The formation of such a society was calculated to create considerable of a sensation in the village, and to provoke many remarks for and against. The principle of total abstinence was so novel to many, that they thought its advocates must be almost insane. Even some temperance men and women, who had defended the cause on the old ground, concluded that there was more zeal than knowledge in taking such a step. In the grog-shops the subject was discussed with much _spirit_.
"You"ll have to shut up shop "fore long," said one customer to Miles, a rumseller, "if the temperance folks can have their own way."
"I guess they won"t have their way," replied Miles. "Very few people will sell their liberty out so cheap. I don"t apprehend that it will make much difference with my business, whether they have a temperance society or not."
"You haven"t heard how swimmingly the young folks went on the other night, I reckon."
"Yes I have; and that was one of Nat"s movements. He"s dead set against drinking, they say, but he is welcome to all he can make out of this."
"He better be minding his own business, and not meddle with other people"s affairs. They say he studies more than he works now; but if he had been compelled to work on at his trade, it would turn out better for him and all concerned."
"Nat is a smart feller," said the rumseller; "but he"ll have to be a good deal smarter before he can get many people to say they"ll never drink."
"That"s certain," responded the customer. "There is no use in trying to do what can"t be done. But boys are getting to know more than their fathers in these ere times. I "spose there are some folks who would like to tell us what we shall eat and wear, and what we shan"t."
"I wonder if Jim Cole joined the society?" inquired the rumseller.
"Jim! no! you wouldn"t ketch him to make such a dunce of himself. He believes in using a little when he wants it, and that"s my doctrine."
"Jim is steady as a deacon natrally," continued the vender, "and I didn"t know but he might be influenced by Nat to join."
"He didn"t; for he told _me_ that he shouldn"t sign away his liberty for anybody, and he said that he told Nat, and the other fellers, that they would drink wine at the first party they went to."
"He was wrong there, I"m thinking," answered the rumseller; "for Nat is independent, and he don"t back out of any thing he undertakes. He"ll be the last one to give it up."
"Doesn"t Jim patronize you sometimes?"
"Yes; he occasionally drops in, and takes a little; but Jim doesn"t favor hard drinking. He thinks that many men drink too much."
If all the remarks and discussions that were consequent upon the organization of the Total Abstinence Society, could be collected, the result would be a volume. But we must be satisfied with this single ill.u.s.tration, and pa.s.s on.
The members of the society studied to know how to make it interesting and prosperous. Various plans were suggested, and many opinions were advanced.
"Let us invite Nat to deliver a lecture," said Frank to Charlie. "He will prepare a good one, and it will interest the people in our movement."
"I had not thought of that," answered Charlie. "Perhaps it would be a good plan. But do you suppose he would do it?"
"I think we could urge him to it," replied Frank. "He likes to speak as well as he does to eat, and a little better; and I know that he can give a capital lecture if he will."
"I think it might be the means of inducing more of the young people to join the society," continued Charlie. "The more popular we make it, the more readily some of them will join us."
"I will go and see Nat at once about it if _you_ will," said Frank. "If he does it, the sooner he knows about it the better."
They went to see Nat, and found him in his study. The subject was duly opened, and, after some urging, he consented to deliver a public lecture. At the meeting of the Society on that week, a formal invitation was voted to Nat, and the time of the lecture appointed.
At that time, it required much more decision, perseverance, and moral principle, to espouse the temperance cause than it does to-day. It was a new thing, and many looked with suspicion upon it. Of course, it was a better test of Nat"s principles and purpose, than such a movement would be now. That it was a good stand for him to take, and one suited to tell upon his future character, we need scarcely say. It is an important event when a youth of this day resolves that he will never tamper with intoxicating drinks--and that he will pledge his word and honor to this end. It was a far more important event _then_. And when we look upon that group of youth, conferring together upon the claims of the total abstinence principle, and their resolve to adopt it in the face of opposition, we can but record it as one of the most hopeful and sublime events of Nat"s early life.