The Delaware herald., 1854-04-12
Written for The Herald.
Woman and Temperance.
BY LoRA.

THERE is nothing more surprising to me than
the general indifference with which woman re-
CARDS the great temperance movement now
stalking with the tread of an avalanche over
the world. Who suffers most deeply from the
dire consequences of drunkenness is query 10
which but one response can be returned
Woman aud her helpless and inofensive off
spring. Madness alone, could induce the sup
position that the inebrate, with moral and
physical sensations blunted through continued
draughts from the intoxicating bowl, possesses
within himself the capability OF realizing, IN
its full and startling force, the depraVlty OF his
course, or the overwhelming ruin in which 1t
is to result. But the lone wife, upon whose
moral perceptions no such supplying effect has
fallen, plies her busy needle i'll silence, and has
ample time for the soul-harrowing reflections
which do not come up to torment her wretched
drunken husband. She has not only to mourn
the desolating storm-cloud which has swept
with its black and defiant wing the serene sky
of her girlhood, thereby crushing ana whiting
until they lie in the loathsome mlre, with no
trace of their former beauty, the mowers OF
hope his hand once planted about her ltes
pathway-but she must nerve herself tor stlll
increasing agony, as each year more hopelessiy
flows into the deep, dread current OF tnhe-
/
soul meets a drunkard's reward, and his chill
dren 90 out in the harsh Implying world, bur-
dened with the curse of the drunkard's child
Why should she be idle then? Or, IN what
situation can she dare fold the mantle OF secu-
rity about her hearts idols with the presump-
tuous assurance they are safe Bright, blue
eyed, golden-haired boys sport about her Knee
and she gazes upon them with mothers pride,
for are they not the brightest Jewels OF her
hearts casket! But, ah ! no love can conhdent-
ly assert theirs shall be the glorious lie OF a
noble and v.rtuous manhood. Or can she MI
for herself or another the sparkling wlne cup
and press its 5ubble-wreatheG brlm to her lips
W tn 1t gentle smile and serene brow, then turn
away TO lneel III humble prayer that God will
! keep hiui pure ami safe from the alluremen-s oi
! siu-de1ied and sordid world. There are taT
and gentle girls whose lustrous eyes turn ever
to her for their surest, safest, wlsest model ;
how can she say they shall not be drunktrds
wives, and yet fold her arms IDLY upon heI
breast, nor give utterance to an earnest voice
which might help toward supprcssing the red
orr, mt o. death that sweeps DER the land.--
GoG his linked gentle but potent influences
with woman's bedu.y; and her very Gcpendnnce
upon nan; let her look to them and exert them
ar,rnt ere the night OF death cometh when
none can work. She should be--she must De
more actively busy in this holy work; and away
down from the Ol0 North State,
AS bIissfll a region tins side Of Heaven"
| send feeble plea to my tar-otf sisters in YOU
fair and thriving town, to neglect no opportu
n!ty to encourage the advancement OF this grea
and glorious reform. Perhaps they are as ener
getc and watchful as the noble cause demands
then God speed them on their way and reward
their declining years with every element o
social and moral prosperity which affection
solicits upon the households of all those whom
their hearts hold dear.
/, NORTH CAROLINA