The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-04-29

How long, o God! shall the pestilentis
vapors from out these chambers fhell
continue to "wither the vigor Of youth an
dishonor the gray hairs of age?"
To that young man who is prone to "tarr
I long at the wne," we would offer a word
Do you intend to become drunkard! YoI
are holding in your hand probably your frs
glass of wine. Remember, it's the frs
glass that makes the drunkard. Were ther,
no first glasses, there would be no drunkards
Dash 1t do,en, 'ereit is everlastingly too late
Dash 1t do,On, for in its sparkling depths there
turks demon you may not withstand. Dasi
1t dorm, 'ere you find yourself ahoat upor
the dread ocean ofintemperance--that ocean
whose briny waves are human tears, wrune
from bursting hearts, whose winds are sighs
from out despairing breasts, and whose wrecks
are human souls! Would you evade that horrd
ocean! Dash that glass to atoms, where
you stand! Now! stop not to reason the matter
! for single moment; for, in that moment, the
demon may possess you, and you will be gone
forever!
Notwithstanding all the loathsomeness
connected with the everyday life of the poor
nebrate--notwithstan the disgusting
evidences of his brutality and depraved con-
dition--let us not "pass by him on the other
side," but let US rather act the part of the
good Samaritan, and bind up his wounds and
lead him in a way that he has not known.
There is too great tendency to frown upon
them, even when they are trying to reform.
This is not as it should be. Whenever see
drunken person reeling to and fro in the
street (Which, by the way, is painfully
frequently, try to acquant myself with his
situation. My mind wonders back to his
infancy. Perhaps his youth was dark and
cheerless; no fond mother led him to the foot
of the cross to learn to know and to love the
Saviour--no sisters kissed proved protection
in the hour of temptation. His father was a
drunkard, his mother was a drunkard, his
sistersa merciful Providence called away.
Is it strange, then, that under these crcun,-
stances and in the face of a frowning world,
that boy should become drupkard and go
reeling down to grave OF infamy! WoulditI
not be much more marve ilous if he had proved
a sober and Industrious citizen!
Or, perhaps, he had praying mother.
She clasped his dimpled hands together and
taught him to lisp, "Our Father who art in
Heaven;" he had praying father, a gentle,
loving sister. He left the parental roof,
severed the thousand ties that bound him to |
his home, and went forth to battle with the
great world. He carried with him upon his
head the impression of his mothers hand, in
mingled tears of himself and sster-he felt
the strong, manly embrace of his good old fa-
ther still about him, he heard his blessing
still, and upon his soul he wore the impress
of his mothers teachings. Thus armed, he
went to meet the temptations that beset u.s.
With all his powerful armor, it proved too
weak to protect him. Hercuean were his
efforts to resist them, but they came in such
enchanting shapes that he could not with
stand. Here he saw the wire glass filled at
the costly side-board, and proffered by the
hand of woman--there taste and wealth had
'twined it with garlands." So the old i'm
pressions were erased or orgotten--tempta-
tions thicken. Now he has seen the lurking
demon in the cup, but he cannot dash it down.
His prayers are forgotten, and he emerges
FROM drinking hell, no more the plastic
infant, but the grown up, besotted man.
Let us compare him with another man, one
who has walked the "straight and narrow
path" of strict morality. The world points
to him and says, "Behold pattern for that
drunken wretch!" Wise world! Had your
"pattern" been exposed to one thousandth
part of the temptations that assailed that
he would have fallen, for he had
"no security from affliction above earth's
surface" Had that poor drunkard been
exposed to no more temptations than assailed
the "pattern," he would now be in far
different position. Let us, then,judge man
by the various trials and temptations he has
met, and the spirit he has manifested in over.
coming them, and not place so much stress
upon their actual position. Yon miserable
occupant of the gutter has expended more
energies in attempting to resist temptation
than your "pattern" ever possesel. With all
this before us, how ardently we should pray;
Lead as not into temptation"