Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-04-11
AN APPEAL TO PARENTS.

From an overhowing heart and deepl
conviction of the unspeakable evils of in
temperance, we would earnestly entreat pa
rents over whom we may have the least In
huence, to exert themselves to protect their
children from this dreadful and insidious
curse.
You have sons in tender years-they
are the light and joy of your home, and you
spend many an hour in thinking Of their fu-
ture welfare. But consider what they may
become, should the tempter grasp them
The boy who now looks up into your face
With affection and reverence, may one day
be poor, miserable, degraded drunkard-
his better nature dead-his hands it may
be, stained with human blood. He may
spend years of bitter unavailing remorse in
a prison, or even expiate his offences on the
gallows. All that is necessary to put him
on such course, is intemperance. and all
that is wanting to make him incorporate is
the habit of moderate drinking. Thousands
of others, as promising as your son, have
pursued that course and perished miserably.
You have daughters, and experience
shows that even daughters are not safe from
this destroyer. Multitudes of lives written
in tears and blood have been lived by fe-
males, and the same temptations and snsres
are laid for the destruction of others.
Think, parents, of the bitter woes which
would wiring your hearts, should beloved
daughter acquire an appetite for stimulating
drinks, and proceeding from step to step in
degradation and sin, should at last fill a
drunkard's grave What in such case
must be her suffering and yours? Do you
spurn the thought as impossible? All, take
heed Let him that tinketh he standeth
beware lest he fall {!
Above all, what would be your horror
and distress, if your children should form
Incorporate habits and rush upon ruin
through your influence? What if your daily
glass of wine, beer, ale or cider, or brandy
and water, should lay the foundation fol
your children's ruin? Suppose you can dC
it in safety, are you sure your children vii
never go beyond your example? And if
when they plunge into the depths of vice
poverty and wretchedness, can you feel tina
you did nothing to sink them there?
! Parents, God and nature have given yo
! tremendous influence over your children
> character and destiny, and awful is the re
sponsibility you incur when you encourag
in any degree the Intoxicating cup. Ever
parent should use his utmost endeavors
create in his children S minds an adherence
i a shivering dread of strong drinks-he shoul
u aim to fortify them against the temptation
: they will meet with IN society shoul
: be taught to abhor the cup in all its forms
they would poison suicide and murder.
! Moderate drinking fathers, wine drinkir
= mothers, for the sake of your dear, innocel
- and now happy children, putaway the glas
= Listen, oh listen to the deep heart-rendir
! : wall of anguish which comes up from IL
'e world of intemperancc, and say, can yC
= send your son, your daughter, to join tt
- - company of the lost and undone? Be el
" treated as soon as you have read this artic
- !. to form pledge of total abstinence. P
:, :, your own names to it, and explain it to yo
= children and take their pledge also. Th
" live consistently, and in all probability 20
- loved ones will be saved from the snares
10 the world, and live happy, temperate, vir
Gus lives. Now we have done our dut
!, do yours!