times. I 'spose there are some folks who would like
to tell us what we shall eat and wear, and what we shan't."

"I wonder if Jim Cole joined the society?" inquired the rumseller.

"Jim! no! you wouldn't ketch him to make such a dunce of himself. He
believes in using a little when he wants it, and that's my doctrine."

"Jim is steady as a deacon natrally," continued the vender, "and I
didn't know but he might be influenced by Nat to join."

"He didn't; for he told _me_ that he shouldn't sign away his liberty for
anybody, and he said that he told Nat, and the other fellers, that they
would drink wine at the first party they went to."

"He was wrong there, I'm thinking," answered the rumseller; "for Nat is
independent, and he don't back out of any thing he undertakes. He'll be
the last one to give it up."

"Doesn't Jim patronize you sometimes?"

"Yes; he occasionally drops in, and takes a little; but Jim doesn't
favor hard drinking. He thinks that many men drink too much."

If all the remarks and discussions that were consequent upon the
organization of the Total Abstinence Society, could be collected, the
result would be a volume. But we must be satisfied with this single
illustration, and pass on.

The members of the society studied to know how to make it interesting
and prosperous. Various plans were suggested, and many opinions were
advanced.

"Let us invite Nat to deliver a lecture," said Frank to Charlie. "He
will prepare a good one, and it will interest the people in our
movement."

"I had not thought of that," answered Charlie. "Perhaps it would be a
good plan. But do you suppose he would do it?"

"I think we could urge him to it," replied Frank. "He likes to speak as
well as he does to eat, and a little better; and I know that he can give
a capital lecture if he will."

"I think it might be the means of inducing more of the young people to
join the society," continued Charlie. "The more popular we make it, the
more readily some of them will join us."

"I will go and see Nat at once about it if _you_ will," said Frank. "If
he does it, the sooner he knows about it the better."

They went to see Nat, and found him in his study. The subject was duly
opened, and, after some urging, he consented to deliver a public
lecture. At the meeting of the Society on that week, a formal invitation
was voted to Nat, and the time of the lecture appointed.

At that time, it required much more decision, perseveranc