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there were many that followed the example of this great leader.
An occasional instance of moral heroism appeared amidst the wreck and ruin wrought by indulgence in strong drink:
A little drummer-boy in one of our regiments,
says an army correspondent, “who had become a great favorite with many of the officers by his unremitting good nature, happened on one occasion to be in the officers' tent, when the bane of the soldiers' life passed around.
A captain handed a glass to the little fellow, but he refused it, saying, ‘ I am a cadet of temperance, and do not taste strong drink.’
‘But you must take some now — I insist on it. You belong to our mess to-day, and cannot refuse.’
Still the boy stood firm on the rock of total abstinence, and held fast to his integrity.
The
Captain, turning to the
Major, said, ‘ H-is afraid to drink; and he will never make a soldier.’
‘How is this?’
said the
Major, playfully; and then assuming another tone, added — I command you to take a drink, and you know it is death to disobey orders.
‘ The little hero, raising his young form to its full height, and fixing his clear blue eyes, lit up with unusual brilliancy, on the face of the officer, said, ’ Sir, my father died a drunkard; and when I entered the Army I promised my dear mother on my bended knees that, by the help of God, I would not taste a drop of ruin, and I mean to keep my promise.
I am sorry to disobey orders, sir, but I would rather suffer than disgrace my mother and break my temperance pledge.”
This boy hero, and thousands of others, have had reason to make the following thrilling lines the expression of their abhorrence of drunkenness:
A young lady who was in the habit of writing considerably and in stirring tones on the subject of temperance, was in her writings so full of pathos, and evinced such deep emotion of soul, that a friend accused her of
