How John Became a Man: Life Story of a Motherless Boy

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s that he had not known before. And to make the matter still worse, John's father had a number of bachelor friends with whom he w

ey urged him to drink beer, saying that it would make him more manly and that all men must learn how to drink and smoke if they would be thought of as being manly. As a result John was soon able to drink his share of the beer, alt

e often pictured his mother, and wondered: "Was she like my aunt? Would she take me and hold me in her arms while she smoothed my hair with her hand? Would she bind my bruises? And would she sit by my bedside at night and hold my hand in hers while telling me stories that she ha

le son to pray and to serve God, how much better it might have been! How much better might John have understood the difference between right and

imilar material, his life's structure would be unsafe; it would be momentarily in danger of falling. As Satan is ever waiting with the needed supplies for a wo

beer, but also to play cards and to swear. To John beer did not at first have a pleasant taste; but as it was when he was trying to learn to use tobacco, so it was now-the promi

John had won in a number of games and had been treated to as many drinks from the bottle of beer, he became very sleepy. Going over to one corner of the room, he crept up on a table and soon was apparently a

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used was usually taken from some hen-roost not far distant. On this particular occas

ne ought to be off fer it's nigh onter the midnight hou

eone answered; "but

swered, and added: "Whist, Tom, why can't we git John's turkeys? They'd mak

urn. When they came, he was relieved; for they were carrying chickens instead of turkeys. Although, because of the safety of his pets, a thrill of satisfaction swept over John, yet he had received in his heart a wound that was deep and wide. These cru

d his pets waiting for their breakfast. As he held them close to his breast, with their beaks close to his c

f the child the motherly interest of which he had been deprived that had turned the father's heart toward a certain young lady of his acquaintance. Anyway, whatever was the cause, the father became more and more interested in this young wom

ans for the future, asking her for the advice he would need. But the new mother failed to fulfill his hopes. Even she did not understand the longings of his boyish heart; nor did she realize that the poor little neglected boy was measuring her by what he had imagined a true mother to be. She was kind to John