"Yes, let us renounce these habits; they are hard to renounce; temptation is hard to resist."
"The present pledge is not safe for us," said the keeper of the cellar, as he took a demijohn of liquor up the steps, and emptied it in the gutter.
"Then let us have one of our own," said the first speaker. "Let it be called 'The Hope of the Fallen;' for we are indeed fallen, and this, our last refuge from more fearful evils, is our only hope. May it not disappoint us! May we cling to it as the drowning man grasps the rope thrown out for his rescue! And not for us alone shall this hope exist. Let us go to every unfortunate in our land, and speak kindly to him. Al, my friends, we know the value of a kind word. Let us lift him from the gutter, place him upon his feet, and say, 'Stand up! I myself also am a man.'"
Having said this, he sent out for pen, ink and paper, and a pledge was carefully drawn up, of which the following is a copy:
"We, whose names are hereunto affixed, knowing by sad experience that the use of wine, beer, cider, rum, brandy, gin, and all kinds of intoxicating drinks, is hurtful to man, beast and reptile, do hereby pledge ourselves most solemnly to abstain now, henceforth, and forever, from the use of them in whatever shape they may be presented; to neither eat, drink, touch, taste, nor handle them; and in every place, and on every occasion, to use our influence in inducing others to do the same."
The speaker was the first to place his name to this document; and the keeper of the cellar started when he read the name of "Edward Dayton."
"Is it possible!" said he, and, grasping his hand, he shook it most heartily.
Edward was as much astonished as he. Such a change had taken place that they could not at first recognize each other.
"Yes," said Edward, "you tempted me to drink. I forgive. I now tempt you to sign this pledge."
No words were required to induce all present to sign.