The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-07-26
CHe Drinks.o

Oh how thrillingly sad to us are
these words. What volumes of woe
and misery they contain. OF how
many heart broken parents, friendless
orphans, and desolate households, thsy
speak.
"He Drinks 70 Look at that noble,
intellectual and intelligent young man.
He has been endowed by his Maker
with talents of no ordinary stamp
a mind that grasps everything that can
be reached by human beings. In every
lineament of his face you see intellec-
tuality of the highest order, beaming
in vivid light: Did he wish, he could
take the proudest rank in the annals of
his country's glory. But ah "He
Drinks % The intoxicating cup is Of
ten at his lips. The unnatural excite
ment, produced by stimulating bever-
age, is too often to be seen in his coun-
tenance and actions. Oh! how it
grieves the heart of the fond father,
who had fondly hoped to see his boy
ranked among the great and the good
of the land, indulging in midnight car
ousals and destroying the talents given
him by his God. The idolizing mother,
oh! how it wrings her heart with an
guish when she sees her only son stag
gering home under the influence of
liquor. Fondly she claps him in her
arms, and with all the eloquence of
mothers love, begs him to desist from
the damning practice that is fast send
ing them both to the grave. Tearfully
he promises amendment, but no sooner
is he out of her company, than the
promise he so sacredly made is forgot
ton, ard again the Intoxicating bowl is
pressed to his lips. These he con-
tinues, until his parents die of broken
hearts, and the young man fills drunk
ards grave.
"He Drinks p But a short time ago
a fair young girl stood before the altar
leaning fondly and trustingly on the
arm of one, who had promised before
his God to love, cherish and protect
her until separated by death. She had
given her heart and happiness into his
keeping. For time all went WELL
Then the flushed face, the unsteady
step told, in language not to be mis-
taken, that the young husband was fast
sinking to degradation and ruin. Harsh
words, and blows frequently fell upon
the wife's unresisting form. Sadly,
with no hope to cheer her, she goes
about her daily duties longing for death
to come so that she may find rest in
the grave. What sad end to the
bright hopes and anticipations that
once animated the young girls heart
He Drinks!'' A fair young girl
sits in chair busily sewing; around
her trying to warm their shivering
limbs at the scanty fire, and crying in
vain for bread, are her younger broth
ers and sisters stretched upon mis-
erable bed with barely enough cloth
ing to cover her, lies the poor mother
dying of broken heart. A step is
} heard upon the estairs-staggering into
the room, with brutal oath, the father
orders the poor woman to get up and
cook him something to eat. The
young children shrink in terror from
the man whom above all on earth they
, should love and respect. Selling his
daughter roughly by the arm he de-
manded of her the few cents she had
earned that day by sewing, and it's
given him; he goes to the nearest grog
shop and spends it for drink. The
young children already in a state Of
starvation, are compelled to go supper
less to bed. Ere long the poor mother
, once the favorite child of wealthy and
aristocratic parents, fills pauper's
grave and her children become inmates
of the poor house.
| "He Drinks - Young men, let il
; never be said of you. Oh never lei
your mother or father have to blush for
3 their son. We beseech you by all
that you hold dearly the love you
bear your parents-by the respect you
should have for your self-and more
than all, for the sake of your souls sal
vation, "Touch not, taste not, the in
!, oxicating bowl.