Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1845-07-24
For the Portage Sentinel.
Evils of Intemper ance.
CoNcLUpED.

crative trade, and his prospects for future
life, were truly promising. He was united
to lovely female, whose talents in every re-
spec It equalled his own. She possessed all
those interesting and lovely traits Of charac-
ter, calculated to secure the confidence and
esteem of all with whom she associated; she
was adored by her husband, he loved her as
himself; her smiles aud cheerful voice blessed
hinRwhenver he entered his dwelling. In
dustry, economy, and Deafness were obsery-
able both On and about the house; three
lovely children composed their family; they
seemed Cat least in this worldly destined TO
bliss. This man, was then a temperate man,
he had not madea league with the bottle.
Would to God, he had continued 30; but alas!
he soon fell victim to intempera his ap-
proachi towards the awful whirlpool, Dide
and toan,ing was slow, but fatal. He came
within its roar and stopt; he almost resolved
to turn about; but an unnatural thirst forar.
dent spirit had already been created, he there
fore concluded cautiously to proceeda little
farther, and stilla little farther, till atlength
be came within its attractive influence. He
moved around in the outer circle, it was a
pleasing delirium, he apprehended no danger,
though he was approaching nearer. and still
nearer its awful center. s.,e. 4, II,
His steps as he proceeded, became quicker,
n Y e
and he seemed eager, TO plunge himself into
the pit which opened wide to receive him.
Lost, irrecoyerably lost. was the fearful ap~
prehension of all his friends. His business
was Of course neglected; and his shop. de-
serted by his former customers, soon became
the scene of bachanalian revels. ;fl5. ass
The loss of property, Of friends, and of
reputation, sunk him down into nopish indif-
ference; and for season he gave himself to
rioting and drunkenness, ny1ai 45ai sttp
1. Every day found him unfit for business or
society! This awful degeneracy was gradual;
the frs, stages Of it were perceivable only
in the simple look or the fiat insipid con-
versation; these were noticed first BY his
wife, who endeavored as far as possible to
conceal them from observation, but in vain
the signs Of intemperance, which abused ma
ture first or last never fails to held out, soon
became 80 obvious, that conceal lment was i'm
possible; he drank freely, and upon all occa-
sions. Often would he return from the tay
ern reeling and stammering, a loathsome OBJ
lject indeed, whose altered visage sckened the
hearts Of his ever faithful companion; she en-
treated, she expostulated, but q drunkard'l
heart could not feel; regardless Of property
Of reputation. and Of The solemn marriage
vows, he would ''rise up early that he nigh
follow strong drink" The voice Of pleasure
was no longer heard in his dwellings, th
smile Of joy no longer beamed upon tn
counteEance of her., who once welcomed tn,
lreturn. of him who was the companion. of hel
youth. All hope was gone, their propert,
squandered for rum, their reputation blasted
and their no use, once the picture of neatness
and industry, nowfexhibiting all the appalling
signs of intemperance. The rife and mothe
whose cheerful voice and pleasant look ono,
made happy all the inmates. had now becom,
sullen and cheerless, she fell a prey to cor
foding grief and to drown her heart felt troub
le, resorted to the bottle. It proved kin.
opiate; for a season, under the celebrating
influence of alcohol she felt no roubIe; sh,
repeated the medicine, and again repeated
| till at length, like her husband she lost al
sh anne, and gave herself up to drunkenness
Imagination's gloomiest reverie never con
ceiyed Of more revolving object than tha
Of a wife and mother, defling in her owr
person, the fairest work Of God; and setting
at naught the holy engagements for which
be created her. Who shall watch over tbs
budding virtues Of her children, and pluck
up the young weeds of passion and vice
She. in whose own bosom, every thing beau
tifp' has withered, and every thing vile ant
hateful grown rankl Who shall teach then
10 bend. their little knees in devotion, and re-
peat their Saviour's prayer against telnpta'
tion2 She, who is, herself temptation's fet-
tered slayea These are truly the mother.
labor's. but they are not hers. Maternal ten
derness blooms no longer for her;she is dead
to an the tender feelingsof a mother. Thu
| is not the invention OF heated fancy; No
painful, as heart rendiag as was the scene,
have witnessedit. The most amiable ofwo
Il y 1tFf Ff..~a .ai