Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1833-02-14

invitation was gwen W nIy "h'''s "
audience who might choose, to make re
marks or detail facts on the subject oil
tempcrance: the venerable Deacon b
of a neighboring town rose and saId, tnat
he accepted the invitation, and consid-
cred il his duty to come forward IN sup
mort of the cause Of temperance, ,hough
the facts he had 10 relate were but the
confessions of his own faults, and expos
ed to public view the vices and m'slor-
tunes of his own family; yet, such was
his reoard for the sacred cause, he was,
willing to make the sacrifice, great as 1t
was.
The hoary headed veteran, with tear
ful eve, a quiverng lip, and voice trem-
nlous, more with grief than age, and at
times almost choked with sorrow, went
on to state that he was now nearly iour
score years of age, and well remember
cd the first declaration Of that lndepeh-
dence which he had assisted his country
to achieve-that he had been for hlty
years the head of Il family, and waa inc
father Of many children, whom he had
brought up in the custom OF the times IN
which he had lived. lie had, SIN his
way" attempted to oppose lntemper-
ance, but he still had drank little him
self and had furnished little to his chill
6ren and domestics. lie had not then
thought of total abstinence, though now
he is convinced il is the only way to pro-
mote Temperance, and that all others are
vain and futile.
His oldest son was smart, active lad.
There was a great want of blacksmith
in the vicinity, and he hired journey
man to come TO his house and teach his
son the trade. The labor was hard, the
fire was hot-he thought little rum was
needful; and he, incansiderately, furnish
ed it both to the workman and his son -
Alas! be had furnished Rim with his de-
struction. He had put poison in his way
which was fatal to his son and to his own
peace of mind. The trade was learnt,
The son set up the business; was success
fol and respectable, bat the poison be-
gan to work. He suspected Il, but a
fond fathers eyes were blinded; he would
not sec the truth; be could not bear to
look upon it. One night, being about to
depart on long journey on the morrow,
he went to his sons house to take hls
leave Of him. lie was absent lie wait
ed long for him, but he did not RETURN
AT last his wife, with tears and sobs, was
compelled to open the truth to her aston
ished Eather-in-Iaw Her husband was
at his cups, long and weary were the eve,
nincs she had spent without him, and
when he did return, he came home
brute.
Grief and amazcmcnt seized the father
Tie could not return home that night
He went to bed. but not to sleep. Ago
nv was his companion until the morning,
when he expostulatcd with his son, who
took il in good part, and promised a
mendment; and the old man took his
Journey somewhat relieved, but still ne
was anxious. But bow easy the descent
how hard to return when the poison has
once taken effect, how difficult the cure
the son went step by step in the down.
ward path, until he became a conhrmeo
drunkard The father demonstrated, bu
his remons.rances were no longer hearo
patiently. The son became angry and
abusive, and at length wrote his father
letter, accusing him Of being the cause Q,
his ruin, By bringing him mp TO d'1nh.-
The fathers conscience told him 1t was
true; he could not but plead guilty to the
unnatural accusation, and pangs of re-
morse added poignancy to his grief.-
The son sank into a drunkard's grave;
and died without hope, leaving his wife
and children pennyless.
The good old man shook his white
locks and dashed the tears from his eyes
while with sighs and groans he warned
the parents then present to beware how
.hey put the poisoned chalice to the
children's lips. 1t had embittered In
life: 1t had strewed his path with thorns
and he stood there wretched monumcn
of his own thoughtle and sa'
narning to other parents, and noth'n:
would have tempted him so to expose ht
own faults and the disgrace Of his FAM
", but the hope that others might be de
TERED by his fatal example. The hoar,
head, whitened with the SHOWS Of nearl
four score winters, supported by tai
and long frame which so many years haC
but slightly bendcd, the weeping eye
the tremulous voice the faultering tongue
and the deep sigh Of The veteran Of In
dependence, together with the intens,
interest Of his story, related in a plaIr
matter-of fact way, had a striking efiec
ON the audience The crowded meeting
house was as still rs tomb; except hi'
shrill and trembling voice, which echoed
through the breathless gallerles---on'