The hot blood rushed into his head and
throbbed painfully.
He looked at the young Englishman who was loading the
hay on the rack, with a sudden impulse. But Arthur was
wrapped in his own mask of insular reserve, and so saw
nothing of the storm that was sweeping over the boy's
soul.
Then the very spirit of evil laid hold on Tom. When the
powers of good are present in the heart, and can find no
outlet in action, they turn to evil. Tom had the desire
to he kind and generous; ambition was stirring in him.
His sullenness and discontent were but the outward signs
of the inward ferment. He could not put into action the
powers for good without breaking away, in a measure at
least, from his father and mother.
He felt that he had to do something. He was hungry for
the society of other young people like himself. He wanted
life and action and excitement.
There is one place where a young man can always go and
find life and gaiety and good-fellowship. One door stands
invitingly open to all. When the church of God is cold
and dark and silent, and the homes of Christ's followers
are closed except to the chosen few, the bar-room throws
out its evil welcome to the young man on the street.
Tom had never heard any argument against intemperance,
only that it was expensive. Now he hated all the petty
meanness that he had been so carefully taught.
The first evening that Tom went into the bar-room of the
Millford hotel he was given a royal welcome.
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