Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1845-06-19

AcWis @"sSA hs Ae dIuukhfu6 account is
cammonly short, and soon told. Business
neglected, foolish bargains contracted, credit
ruined, land, house, and furniture mortgaged,
and then the sheriff and the prison stand rea-
dy toclose up the reckoning.
IrecolIect reading an account of a man who
had established tippling house, and being
about to erect his sign, he requested his
neighbor's advice, what inscription to put
upon IL; the man replied, | advise you to write
on it ~Beggars made here" DR.. Rush. in
describing the scenes of misery and wretched- i
ness which mark the track Of Intoxicating
liquors. observes, "Houses without windows,
gardens without fences, fields without tillage,
barns without roofs, and children without
principles, clothing, morals or manners. Well
has ID been said of this wee: SIT breakfasts
with plenty, dimes with poverty and sups with
Gaf0my.'"
Fonrth-- Drunkenness inpatrs reason. The
sInn under the influence ofalcohol, is ss actu
ally bereft Of reason as any lunatic on earth.
If be fails under this influence as habit, the
understanding gradually becomes torpid, the
smemory, and all other faculties Of the
mind sink into mopisl inactivity, till at last
90 use the language of another, she becomes
exactly that useless. contemplate creatures
describedin one comprehensive syllable, a sot.
Reason has been often, and very justly styled
.sthe light Of the mind" and Mr.. Loche with
great force and beauty, styles It sthe candle
ot>the Lord, shining within man." This no
ble faculty Of the human mind, alone is the
arhter Of all our ordinary concerns, for these,
we have no other guide, and can submit them
TO no other control, In word, reason snakes
us men: without it we should be bruits. But
this invaluable possession, this essence of his
character as human being, himself, his all,
the druukard gradually destroys. O, how have
the mighty fallen by the ruthless hand of this
unfeeling monster; the towring intellect, and
the most brilliant and promising talents have
been checked and clogged in their upward soar.
ings, and not unfrequently have been dashed
from their giddy height to the depths ofinfam,
g. disgrace; ;.lost to themselves & to the world.
Tihh-Lssemperance ertingnishes the best
ssasibilities cfthe human heart. We are often
met with this withering retort from those whc
s.folto,c strong driak,"''I we suffer for oul
ind,scretions, what is that to others?' What
is it nothing to cast yourselves as useless
drones and burdens on community? nothing
to reduce to the painful alternative of seeing
yoa starve, or Of feeding you with the hant
ofcharitya Is it nothing to blast the hopes
ofyour best frie nds? Follow me TO The lionel,
and dreary dwelling Of an aged father ant
mosher, whose gray hairs are brought down
with sorrow to the brink Of the grave. One
they hailed tbs birth of promising son; the,
nursed him in the cradle Of infancy; the.
watched over the pillow of sickness witt
undylng solicjtude. Their affections grew
with his growing years, and they fondly an
ticipated the time whea he should becom'
che solace of their declining days land bless
dog to-the world. But alas! how blghtee
and ruined their hopes; their son is 'follou
err Of strong drink" he is a drunkard. A
midnight, corroding care prays upon thei
wounded hearts; their slum5ers are ipvadet
and broken by the distressing thought, tha
he, who was to be the hope Of their helpless
years, sports with their admonitions, thei
prayers, their tears, and is companion of ri
otous men.
O!ye who delight in Bacchanalian revels
and sport with the tears Of your dearest
friends, 60 with me to the solitary cottage
which intemperance has made the abode Of
wretchedness. Scarcely does its totteret
covering afford shelter from the cold wind
and the drenchng ram. Look within its
broken walls, and see an amiab'e woman
bred. perhaps. in eaaa and prosperity, once
che joy ard pride Of doting parents. now desti
tute Of every earthly comfort. How meagre
and how pale with suffering is that counte-
oance, which once beamed with joy. Help
less and friendless she has become the victim
Of corroding grief. He who solemnly prom
iced to cherish, protect and provide for he
in sickness and in health, leaves bis family t.
weat and wretchedness, breaks from all tn
duties and endaarments Of home, TO graft!
avile sordid appetite. Behold the husband
the father returning from the grcg-shop,
stammering reeling drunkard? what deeds Q
violence is he not liable to commit! Oh, tn
pangs Of his heart-broken wife, and the chill
dren. instead drumming to meet the enbrac
Of a fond father, affrighted, fly from him a
ftom demon. Is this fiction? would t
God that ii were! but facts innumerable, to-
plainly prove that it is a reality.
Thus we see, that iatemperance chills tn
warmest sensibilities Of the human heart.
70 BE CONTINUED.
Ravenna, June ls, 1s4j w. G. J.