The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-12-24

# the ste IN instruction Of a father to hi
S son, of erroneous and depraYed prih
: ciples and passions, terminate in hi
: corr upting and polluting the channels
g of virtue and morality, and drenchine
: the earth with the blood of his coun-
: trymen. Hence, how great, how re-
: sponsible the station occupied by pa
rents and teachers. But, here is the
? incident
The family was composed Of a
father, mother and four children. The
parents were devoted advocates of the
temperance cause, and had impaired
early instruction to their children in
reference to the debasing effects of
the use of intoxicating liquors--that
. it had cursed and ruined individuals,
communities and whole nations.
The mother had been presented
with Balsam apple, and in order to
preserve its medical qualities, it be-
came necessary to have it embaImed
in alcoholic spirits. Having procured
a bottle suitable for the purpose, she
called her oldest boy, about eleven
years of age, and directed him +" to go
to the drug store, and get the bottle
filed with good whisky
The boy, with great astonishment,
first looked at the bottle, and then at
his mother, while it was perceptible
in his countenance, that there was a
fierce struggle going on within, be-
tween his principles and diSoJedience
to his mother; but, finally, disobedi-
ence began to manifest itself; first, by
a kind Of a shake of the head, and
then by exclaiming:
q" Me buy whisky, mother Me a
Cadet Of Temperance l cannot do
it. l will not violate my pledge"
The mother falsely armed herself
with all her maternal authority, in or
der to test the noble stand taken by
her boy, but it was of no effect she
could not prevail on him to go. With
feelings of Joy and delight at the
staunch integrity of her son, she turned
and called in the next oldest, a daugh-
ter, and said in rather a commanding
tone:
Gamma, go to the drug store and
get this bottle filled with the best
whisky"
Annals countenance quickly exhb-
tied the same expression of astonish-
ment as did her oldest brothers, and
likewise betokened disobedience. She
said
"Why, mothcrl | am ashamed to
carry bottle of Vljs&y through the
, streets. Oh don't send me, mother"
This was said in rather persuasive
: manner.
The mother then called the third
c child, Henry, who was a very differ
7 ent disposition from the others. lie
t was a very happy little fellow--fond
: of fun, and no objection TO have a
little mischief sprinkled in with it.
When he entered the room, the mother
said, with some hopes of success, in
the same stern voice:
"Henry, go to the drug store, and
get this bottle filed with good
whisky"
The little fellow looked right square
into his mothers face, while you could
read from his sparkling eye, the old
saying, " catching before hanging"
Sure enough, as he began to back out
towards the door, he said:
"Did you say " Wh-i-S-k e-e Z"
mother :"
Yes, I said whisIy."
"Well, you can't come it, madam!"
and he slid out the door.
His mother Immediately called him
into her presence again, and ordered
him to await further orders.
As the last and only hope to obtain
the liquor, without ruthlessly tramp
ling under foot the very principles
which she and her husband had so
thoroughly inculcated, was to call on
her youngest one, which she did, and
repeated to her the same order.
why, mother" said the little girl,
elf | carry whisky along the street,
people will think my fathers a drunk
ard. | don't want to go.''
At this, the mother felt that her
orders were entirely too much disre-
garded, and her maternal authority
was considerably aroused, and said
in avery determined manner, directing
her orders to the two younger ones,
that " one or the other should go or
take whipping" The two children
saw at once, that one or the other had
to go, and they both began to cry
aloud, to be thus sentenced to perform
such an unholy Office, as they be-
lieved.
Come, Henry-start,' was the
command.
Henry, who stood rubbing his eyes
like condemned criminal, said, g II
you will put the Balsam apple in the
bottle, so people won't think we want
!. it to drink, Ill 60"
fpbo ,,,otl,ov oboo,.c,1J,, $50, ~. w