g
drink, of which he knew so much through long, bitter experience.
Familiar to all of us, perhaps, is the thrilling word picture of the
young men who launched their rowboat upon the quiet, smooth waters of
the broad Niagara river a few miles above the mighty cataract. [Draw
the boat and the young men, completing Fig. 96. It might be well to
prepare this first scene in advance.]

[Illustration: Fig. 96]

"'Now,' says Mr. Gough, as he enters into the narrative, 'launch your
bark upon the Niagara river. It is bright and smooth and still; there
is a ripple at the bow; the silvery wake you leave behind you adds to
your enjoyment. Down the stream you glide; you have your oars, and you
think you are prepared for every emergency--and thus you go on your
pleasure excursion, thinking naught of dangers ahead. Some one cries
from the bank! Hark!

"'Young men, ahoy!'

"'What is it?' you ask.

"'The rapids are below you!'

"'Ha, ha! We have heard of the rapids below us,' you laugh, 'but we
are not such fools as to get into them. When we find we are going too
fast, we will pull for the shore.'

"'_Young men, ahoy_!'

"'What is it?

"'The rapids are below you!'

"'Ha, ha! We will laugh and quaff; all things delight us; what care we
for the future? No man ever saw it. "Sufficient unto the day is the
evil thereof." We will enjoy life while we may, and catch pleasure as
it flies. This is the time for enjoyment. It is time enough to steer
out of danger when we find we are going too swiftly with the stream.'

"'YOUNG MEN, AHOY!'

"'What is it?'

"'The rapids are below you! Now see the water foaming all around you!
See how fast you go! _Quick_! QUICK! Pull for your very lives!
Pull till the blood starts from your nostrils and the veins stand like
whipcords on your brow!'

[At this point, quickly detach the drawing from the board, turn it
one-fourth around and re-attach with thumb tacks; then, add the lines
to complete Fig. 97.]

[Illustration: Fig. 97]

"'Ah, it is too late! Shrieking, cursing, blaspheming, over the falls
you go!--and thousands thus go over every year by the power of evil
habits, declaring, "When I find it is hurting me, I will quit." But
these latter do not go by the water way, but by the whiskey way, which
is a thousand times worse! No man today fills a drunkard's grave who
did not once think he could quit--but he found, too late, that he
couldn't.'

"'Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and