Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-09-20

4 ms tdfher'S hund-beat 10 death IN q
manner so revolving as TO cause every
one who hears the tale TO shudder. The
father is now suffering the penalty of the
law in state prison. And il that wife
could speak, she could tell Of scenes Of
suffering which would harrow up the soul.
\ The fourth son, o. was miser; and
strange to tell, a drnnkard 1t is sell
dom that these characters meet in one
individual, and when they do, it is one
of sins most monstrous births; and even
its parent would fain dsown it. This
miser and drunkard-this excess Of de-
pravity, went down into drunkard's
grave about two years since, and no one
wept over him; for all rejoced that death
had wiped out so foul a stain upon man.
kind.
The fifth son, l.. excellcd all that went
before him in wckedness. He, too,
was most abandoned drunkard, and
died ut the early age ofabout twenty-twoI
years. And to close the scene, a few
months since, Mercurios the father, died
and went TO judgment to meet his sons;
and he died as he lived, hardened in sin
und unyielding in iniquity.
The above is simple narrative of
facts, general it is tluc, but sufficiently
minute to give rise to several interesting
and instructive reflections.
And the first remark suggested by the
preceding family history is, The influence
Of parental example, and The ELECTS Of pa
rental neglect.
In the history Of Mercurios and his
family, we see one-hali that family de-
scending to early and unhonored graves,
or filling out life Of iniumy in prison
house, purely bv the evil example and
the neglect Of u father. That father
was violent and ungoverned in his pas
sions; proiane, debauched and vulgar in
his habits; a scof'er and reviler of Sc
rious things; and his five sons were like
him-they excelled hun in depravhy.-
The father had far gone down in the
scale OF morals, but the sons each of
them went still lower; and what is worthy
Of notice, there was regular Descent
The eldest was worse than his father;
the second worse than the first, the third
than the second, and thus on till the fifth,
who drank the very dregs Of sin. And
this is most generally the effects Of evil
examples. The father they are remov-
cd from the prime actor, the more dole
terious and wide spread is the poisonous
influence. Every individual in society
is aware Of the influence which parents
have over the minds of their children, or
at least every one might on a little re-
Election, be aware of it. My father said
and did thus and so, is with many suf-
fcient reason for saying and doing the
same thing; and if IA parent INDUCES IN
saies Of passion, in proianeness, IN mod
crate or immoderate drinking, the sons
ofthat parent are likely to indulge in the
same vices and iollies. True tins is not
always the case, neither is example the
only reason why the children of vicious
parents are frequently vicious. But it is
one reason, and one which has a very
powerful influence.
A second remak / wish to make is,
How much injury one drunkard may do,
to society and to individuals.
Were all the misery of which Mercu-
ly, to the families of his sons, and to all
connected with them, placed in one view
before the mind, the amount would be
perfectly astounding But just look at
the third son. He married into a very
worthy family, and his wife is worthy
woman. lie prospered in business and
became wealthy. Yet passionate, and
furious, and drunken, his family knew no
peace. The abuse in person and char
acter which he inflicted upon his wife,
will not all be known till the Judgment
There are deeds OF darkness of which
but iow have aEy knowledge; and earth
now conceals them till eternity shall call
them forth to light. But his wife was
compelled to flee from her home, and
then in his fury he did the deed which
has consigned him to prison. What
train of misery is here; and all to be
traced to the conduct Of one drunkard-
and that drunkard father!
A third remark arises, viz: How great
ly do the vendors of ardent spirit jeop-
ardize not only their own temporal and
eternal interests, but endangcr also those
of their children and their children's chill
dren.
AS we have before remarked, paren-
tai example has an inconccivablc in1u-
ence over the future destiny and habits
Of children. Multtudes who are now
living, like multitudes who are dead can
trace their ruin to the pcrnicious conduct
ofparents. Were il Unnecessary, thousands
Of examples could be produced, IN which
the urmingled ruin which the vendors oi
ardent spirit have brought upon others,
has returned upon themselves or upon
their families. Were thorough inves-