The Litchfield County post., 1827-08-02
From the Christian Waterman.
A SOLEMN WARNING TO PARENTS.


Mr.. ED1ToR,-Not many months since.
while visiting friend in the town of P,
Mass. the following occurrence was related to
me, as having recently taken place in that
neighbourhood
A young lady, aged about eighteen, was
suddenly cast upon sick bed. Her opportu-
mites for acquiring religious education had
been small, for she was not a child of fortune;
and her parents, especially her father, cared
not for the things of eternity, and wholly dis
regarded the salvation of the souls of his chill
dren. A few weeks previously to her sick
ness, her attention had in some measure been
arrested by the pious prayers and admonitions
of her instructor, but she had no hope beyond
the grave. Her fever ragged, reason in man.
ner fOrsOOk its throne, and marks of her final
dissolution were evident to all around her,
When she was informed that her case was
desperate, and that few more days,or hours,
would terminate her earthly existence, all the
faculties of her soul were awakened, even in
her moments of arrangement, to the interests
OF eternity. She expressed the deepest soil
citude for the salvation of her soul, and that
her peace might be made with God. But,
though she wished for longer life, and hoped
that those were not her last moments, the clo-
sing scene soon came. Just before the soul
took its flight, her father entered the room to
take his leave Of his dear child, when she i'm
mediately turned her dying eyes upon him,
and with vehemence, though with faltering
tongue, exclaimed, There is the father, who
never told me that was born to die There
is the father, who never instructed me in the
things of religion, and told me that there was
heaven and hell There is the father, who
never read the Bible to me, nor prayed for
me! Oh, what father and now / am going
to eternity ----w
will not attempt to describe the remorse
that must harrow up the conscience of such
father, while standing by the dying bed of
dear child. Let those who are parents Judge.
cannot but add, Let those who are parents BE-
tcare, and bring up their children "in the n,r-
.fure and adnoaition Of the Lord" RHO.
"a SIGNS OF INTEMPERANCE.
Erracts from DR. Beechsrs Sermons on Intenperamcs.
=, a. Another sign Of intemperance may be
found in the desire of cOncealment. When
man finds himself disposed to drink oftener,
and more than he is will'.lg to do before his
family and the world, and begins to drink
silly and in secret places, he betrays a con-
ciOusness that he is disposed to drink more
than to Others will appear safe and proper.
and what he suspects others may think, he
ought to suppose that they have cause to think,
and reform instantly. For now he has arri-
we'd at a period in the history of intemperauce,
where, 1t ne does not stop, he will hasten on
to ruin with accelerated movement. So long
as the eyeof friendship aud regard to pub.
lie observation kept him within limits, there
was some hope of reformation but when he
cuts this last cord and launches out alone.
with his boat and bottle, he has committed
himself to mountain waves and furious winds
and probably will never return,
5. When man allows himself to drink al
ways in company so much as he may think
he can bear without awakening in others the
suspicion Of inebriation, he will deceive him
self and no one beside. For abused nature
herself will publish the excess in the bloated
countenance, and flushed yisage, and tainted
breath, and inhamed eye; and were all these
banners OF intempeFance struck, the man
with his own tongue viii reveal his shame.
AT first there viii be something strange 10 his
appearance or conduct, to awaken Observa-
ton. and induce scrutiny. until at length, with
III his carefulnesss in some nnguarded mo-