Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1850-11-22

dltdlninenlSi ieACelleut feelings, anu neaVy |
responsibilities, are any security, might,
with more than usual reason, have fat
tered themselves with the assurance of
safety; men of all professions, of strong
nerves, and numerous resolutions and
precautions, at last reduced to a level
with the brutes; and this spectacle for
ces the conviction that entire abstinence
is the only security against final ruin
Had you tree in your gardens, the fruit
of which should be discovered to have
inflicted disease as often as the prudent
use of ardent spirits has resulted in the ]
sorrows Of ofintemperance, that tree would
be rooted up. Its fruit would be entitled
poison. The neighborhood would be a.
fraid ofit. Children would be taught TO
beware of so much as venturing TO try
how il tastes.
Again: The total disuse of ardent spir-
its on the part Of parents, IS the only plan
ofsafety in bringing up their chiIdren.-
How many are the parents whose lives
are cursed with children who, were it
not that "no drunkard hath any inher-
itance in the kingdom of Cod" they
would be relieved to hear were dead -
But how were those children ruined?-
".Ah, By those corTupting companions; By
that vile dramshop," the parents would
answer. But what first inclined their
way to that house of seduction I. By
what avenue did evil associates first eff
feet Judgement in those children's
hearts, How many parents must turn
and look at home for an answer They
have not been intemperate but while
the tastes and habits of their children
were forming, they used to drink moder-
ately of ardent spirits. The decanter
containing it had an honorable place on
the sideboard and on the table. 1t was
treated respectfully, as a fountain ol
strength to the feeble, of refreshment tc
+ the weary; and as perfectly safe wheH
J used in moderation. To offer it to q
friend was debt of hospitality. THUS
the whole weight of parental example
| was employed in impressing those chill
dren with a favorable idea Of the pleas.
! ure, the benefit and the security, not tc
speak of the necessity, of the use Of ar
dent spirits. Thus the parents presen.
ted the decanter of strong drink to theil
/ children, with recommendation as for
! chile as if every day they had encirclet
: it with chaplet of roses, and pronounced
. an oration in its praise.
e And what consequences were to b.
expected ? Children who revere thei
( parents will honor what their parents
. delight to honor. 1t was not to be sup
: posed that those children would do els,
' than initiate the high example befor
: them. Most naturally would they tr,
; the taste, and emulate to acquire fond
v ness for strong drink. They would thin
: it sheer folly 10 be afraid of what thei
i parents used In little while the ia
: yor would become grateful They woul
d learn 10 think of it, ask for it, contriv
$ ways of obtaining it, and be very acces
!. fsible.:o the snares of those who used i
; to. excess. Thus easily would the
IS slide into the pit. And thus the histc
1t ry of the decline, and fall, and death {
l. nultltudes must commence, not at th
4 dFam-shop, but at the tables of parents
ID not with describing the infuance of Sc
4 ductive companions, but with lament;
lg ton over the examples of inconsiderat
te parents, who furnished those companion
d, with their strongest argument, an
10 wreathed their cup of death with ga
b. land of honor
ds Such consequences must be locke
{ for wherever parental example is e:
n pected to be held in reverence amor
al children. A father may venture to Il
,ir brink of a precipice, and stand witho
g, giddiness upon the margin of the torre
Sc that rushes by and plunges into de,
nd abyss; but will he trust his child
ey occupy the same position? But if Il
i'd child see him there, is there no da
of ger that when the parents eye is ava
ed he 100 will venture, and go and play u
Ie- on the frightful verge, and be anus
,or with the bubbles as they dance alo
Mt. the side Of the cataract, and at last b
ie come giddy, and be drawn in with t
Iey rush Of the tide?
ent Entire abstinence from the drink
Jay drunkaIds is the parents only plan
ii training up their children.
Again: The total disltse of ardent sp
md ats IS essential to the beneficial influence
ley the example fthe temperate upon soci
od- at large.
re- However novel the assertion to sor
ust it can be easily shown that the exam
9TH Of all who use ardent spirits, except
ave they use prescribed medicine, IS in
ible scale Of intemperGace. As far as its
- auence extends, it helps directly to
hat up the ranks of the Incorporate,
min annually to launch multitude ofimp
ice, itent souls into hopeless eternity.
idst this be true3 Suppose all the ris
ling generation, in imitation of their eld,
,er should commence the moderate use
oe strong drink. They are thus attrac
an into the current of the stream whicI
har- setting silently, smoothly, powerful