Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-10-10
AN APPEAL TO PARENTS.

From an overlooking heart and a deep
conviction of the unspeakable evils of in
temperance, we would earnestly entreat
parents, over whom we may have the
least influence, to exert themselves TO
prot ect 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 future welfare. But, consider what
they may become, should the tempter
grasp them. The boy who now looks
up into your face with affection and rev.
erence, may one day be a poor, misera-
bic, degraded drunkard-his better ma
ture dead-his hands, it may be-, stained
with blood. He may spend years of Bit
ter unVailing remorse in a prison, or even
expiate his offence on the galIows. All
that is necessary to put him on such a
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 persisted mise
rably.
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 females, and the same tempta-
tons and snares are laid for the destruc-
ton Of others.
Think, parents, of the bitter woes
which would wiring your hearts, should
a beloved daughter acquire an appetite
for stimulating drinks, and proceeding
from step to step in degradation and sin,
should at last fill a d~runkard's grave.
What in such a case must be her suffer-
ing and yours? Do you spurn the thought
as impossible All, take heed i! Let him
that thinketh he standeth beware lest he
fall.
Above all, what would be your hor-
ror 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 for your children's luin Sup
pose you can do it in safety, are YOU
sure your children will never 90 beyond
your example And, when they plunge
into the depths of vice, poverty and
w~retchedness, can yeu feel that you did
nothing to sink them there?
Parents, God and nature have given
you q tremendous influence over your
childrehs character and destiny. and
awful is the responsibility incurred when
you encourage. in any degree, the intox-
icating cup. Every parent should use
his utmost endeavors 10 create in his
children's minds an adherence, a shiv.
ering dread of strong drinks-he should
aim 10 fortify them against the tempta-
tons they will meet with in society,"
they should be taught to abhor the cup
in all its forms as they would poison, sui
eide aud murder.
Moderate drinking fathers, wine drink
ing mothers, for the sake of your dear,
innocent, and now happy children, put
away the glass. Listen, oh, listen, to The
deep heart.rendering wall of anguish
which comes up from the world Of in
temperance, aud say, can you send your
son, your daughter, to Join the company
ofthe lost and undone? Be entreated
as soon as you have read this article 10
form a pledge of total abstinence. Put.
your own names to it, and explain it to
your children and take their pledge also.
Then live consistently, and in all proba-
bility your loved ones will be saved from
the snares Of the world, and live happy,
temperate, virtuous lives. Now, we have
dohe our duty, do yours.