\"Yes,weought,butsomehowwedon\'tseemtogetupmuchsteamaboutitlately。Ifmorepeoplebelonged,andwecouldhaveagrandtimenowandthen,itwouldbejolly\";andJacksighedatthelackofinterestfeltbyoutsidersintheloyallittleLodgewhichwentonyearafteryearkeptupbythefaithfulfew。
\"IrememberwheninthisverytownweusedtohaveaColdWaterArmy,andinthesummerturnoutwithprocessions,banners,andbandsofmusictomarchabout,andendwithapicnic,songs,andspeechesinsomegroveorhall。Nearlyallthechildrenbelongedtoit,andtheparentsalso,andwehadfinetimesheretwenty—fiveorthirtyyearsago。\"
\"Itdidn\'tdomuchgood,seemstome,forpeoplestilldrink,andwehaven\'tadecenthotelintheplace,\"saidFrank,ashismothersatlookingoutofthewindowasifshesawagainthepleasantsightofoldandyoungworkingtogetheragainstthegreatenemyofhomepeaceandsafety。
\"Ohyes,itdid,mydear;fortothisdaymanyofthosechildrenaretruetotheirpledge。Onelittlegirlwas,Iamsure,andnowhastwobigboystofightforthereformshehasupheldallherlife。Thetownisbetterthanitwasinthosedays,andifweeachdoourpartfaithfully,itwillimproveyetmore。Everyboyandgirlwhojoinsisonegained,perhaps,andyourexampleisthebesttemperancelectureyoucangive。Holdfast,anddon\'tmindifitisn\'t\'jolly\':itisright,andthatshouldbeenoughforus。\"
Mammaspokewarmly,forsheheartilybelievedinyoungpeople\'sguardingagainstthisdangerousvicebeforeitbecameatemptation,andhopedherboyswouldneverbreakthepledgetheyhadtaken;for,youngastheywere,theywereoldenoughtoseeitsworth,feelitswisdom,andpridethemselvesonthepromisewhichwasfastgrowingintoaprinciple。Jack\'sfacebrightenedashelistened,andFranksaid,withthesteadylookwhichmadehisfacemanly,\"Itshallbe。NowI\'lltellyouwhatIwasgoingtokeepasasurprisetillto—night,forIwantedtohavemysecretaswellasotherfolks。