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Observer, Volume 2, Issue 37, 28 May 1881, Page 397

Talking to boys at Sunday schools is getting to be an art and a science. A "most respected" citizen, whom you all know, is a great temperance lecturer, and, the other day, he was preaching to the young on his favourite theme. He said : " Now, boys, when I ask you a question you mustn't be afraid to speak right out and answer me. When you look around and see all the fine houses and shops, do you ever think who owns them all now ? Your fathers own them, do they not?" "Yes, sir," shouted a hundred voices. "Well, where will your fathers be in twenty years from now?" "Dead!" shouted the boys. "That's right. And avlio will own all this property then ?" ■'Us boys," shouted the urchins. "Right. Now tell* me, did you ever in going along the streets notice the drunkards lounging about the hotel doors, waiting for somebody to treat them?" "Yes, sir, lots of them." "Well, where will they be in twenty years from now?" " Dead," exclaimed the boys. " And who will be the drunkards then?" "Us boys!" The lecturer was thunderstruck for a moment, but recovering himself, tried to tell the boys how to escape such a fate.