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How John Became a Man - Life Story of a Motherless Boy by Isabel C. (Isabel Coston) Byrum
page 41 of 65 (63%)

During the two years preceding his departure from home, John had now
and then worked for the farmers in different parts of the country. This
and his attendance at the social gatherings had enabled him to become
acquainted with numbers of boys, some of whom were very wild and rough.
But because of the companionship of Will during the winter months, the
evil influences of his wide circle of friends had not been so strong.
But when the cousins were parted, John's companions were again some of
the roughest and toughest in the community. Because of this his tobacco
and beer bills increased, and to this alarming expenditure he added many
accounts for whiskey.

John had made a discovery. He had found that Ed, in order to satisfy the
awful craving and gnawing in his stomach (a sensation produced by the
tobacco poison), was using a generous supply of whiskey; and for the
same reason John began to use it. Whiskey did perhaps satisfy for the
time being; but John also discovered that the seemingly good effect
was very soon gone and that the old trouble was again there, only with
renewed force and strength. Another thing he found, too, was that he had
added to his list of evil habits one even more fierce and strong than
the others.

When John left home, his desire was principally to find relief for his
loneliness; but he had another object. His expenses had been heavy and
hard to defray. And now with the amount he had to pay for his whiskey
added to what he was already spending for beer and tobacco, his bills
were so high he felt that he must have more money in order to meet them.
This seeming necessity was, therefore, one thing that urged him to take
the step he took.

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