serviceable to him in other places, appear in this brief
experience, while an unquenchable thirst for knowledge lay behind them
to goad them on to victory.

CHAPTER XXVI.

THE TEMPERANCE SOCIETY.

In Nat's boyhood the principle of total abstinence was not advocated by
the friends of temperance. He was considered temperate who drank
intoxicating liquor sparingly, and there were few persons who did not
use it at all. But a few years later, at the period of his life to which
we have now arrived, the total abstinence theory began to command the
public attention. The movement commenced with the New York State
Temperance Society, and spread rapidly over the country. It reached
Nat's native village, and considerable interest was awakened.

"I have been thinking," said Nat to his companions, when they were
together one evening, "that we better form a young people's total
abstinence society. That is evidently the only right principle of
conducting the temperance reform."

"_I_ am ready for it," replied Charlie. "Something ought to be done to
stop the evils of intemperance. I understand the adults are going to
organize a society, and there will be more interest awakened if we young
people have one among ourselves."

"I suppose we can belong to the town society if we choose," said Frank,
"though I think there would be more interest, as you say, if we have one
among ourselves. I am ready to do either."

"What do _you_ say, Marcus?" inquired Nat.

"I say 'amen' to it, with real Methodist unction," answered Marcus, with
his usual good humor. "Any way that will smash the decanters and get rid
of the rum."

"_You_ like it as well as anybody," said James Cole, somewhat pettishly,
as he was touched by this last remark of Marcus. "I wouldn't trust you
out of sight with a decanter, whether you join the society or not."

"What! are you opposed to it, James?" asked Nat.

"Yes, I am; it is all nonsense to talk about never tasting of liquor
again. The whole of you would drink wine at the first party where it is
passed around. Not one of you would dare refuse."

"You will have a chance to see," said Frank. "The time is not far off
when no one will provide wine for a party, if the total abstinence
cause advances, as I believe it will."

"Well, I shall not sign away my liberty," continued James, "by putting
my name to a pledge. I shall drink when I please, and stop when I
please."

"I have no more intention of signing a