[Sidenote: Drunkard’s Son]
John Shoemaker and Carl Jones were classmates in the eighth grade. John
was a pale-faced, undersized boy, the son of a drunkard. Carl was a
plump-faced, rosy-cheeked son of a well-to-do farmer, the picture of
good health and physical energy. Carl’s parents had very strong opinions
regarding temperance, and they were very anxious that their only son
Carl should grow up with the same feelings as themselves about the use
of intoxicating liquors. They often talked to him, and in his presence,
to others, of the evils of intemperance, and by way of illustration, and
in order to give point to their instructions, would sometimes add, “Just
see what intoxicating liquors have done for the Shoemakers! Old man
Shoemaker is a disgrace to the town and John hasn’t a decent suit of
clothes to his back! He looks as if he never had enough to eat!”
Unfortunately, Carl had not learned during these otherwise wholesome
lessons to distinguish between the sin and the sinner, or even between
the sinner and innocent victims of another’s sin. One recess Carl, full
of the “I-am-more-righteous-than-thou” attitude in which most persons
who have never been tempted are wont to indulge, called out to John in a
mocking tone:
“O Shoe-shoe-Shoemaker,
When did you make your shoes?”
John’s pale face flushed, for he knew his toes were peeping through the
ragged shoes, and when a moment later the younger boys caught up the
jingle, repeating it in unison with great emphasis upon the accented
syllables, John suddenly sprang at Carl and in a moment both boys were
rolling on the ground in a desperate fight.
The teacher, Miss Black, called the boys to order, ascertained the cause
of the fight, and then said, “I am very sorry, boys, but I shall have to
keep both of you in from recess for a month. It is a very serious
offense to fight on the school grounds. Perhaps by the end of the month
both of you can learn to be gentlemen.”
Carl received the sentence angrily, as he thought of all the fun he
would miss, and John’s hurt face revealed how keenly he felt the
injustice of the situation.