American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-01-20
Somebody's Son.
BY REV. THEo. L oUYLER.


ing through the streets of New Haven at
a terrific rate, dragging wagon that con-
tanned small lad who was screaming with
fright The wagon brought up against
the sidewalk with fearful crash. A crowd
hurried to the spot One old lady, with
cap-strings flying, rushed out into the
street, although her daughter exclaimed,
Mother, mother, don't get into the crowd;
you can't do any good Seeing her agi-
tation, lady who was passing by kindly
inquired, is he your son? F? 'Oh, no"
replied the true-hearted matron, but he
is somebody's son.
The good mother was ready enough to
lend hand to save somebody's boy; but
we fear there is many matron and many
daughter who, during the approaching
holiday festivities, will lend hand to lead
somebody's son right toward destruction.
They are already planning Christmas par
ty or New Years entertainment andin
their liberal bill of fare will be included a
full supply of champagne and sherry, per-
haps, too, Of hot punch and brandy. These
are days of fast living money comes easy
who cares Good Friends there are ma
ny of us who care for our children if we do
not for our purses; and before you set
forth those attractive poisons, suffer me to
make an honest appeal in behalf of one
hundred thousand tempted young men.
l. Let me say to you that true hospital
ity does not require intoxicating liquors
on such occasions-noranyo occasion. We
honor the kindly spirit which, on the birth
day of the year, prepares liberal enter
tainment Wehonor the hospitality which
filings the door to all who wish to come in
and enjoy it. But the well fugaished mar
kets and groceries of every town have an
ample store of creature comforts without
drawing upon the liquor-cellars and the
wine-vaults. There are many drinks both
palateable and proper thatmay never cause
redness of the eyes, or thickness of speech,
or delirium of the brain. Under theirin-
fuence young men do otreel on the side
walks, or mistake the door-plates of their
friends, or venture on silly impertinence
toward the ladies who entertain them.-
Under their influence nobody's son is car
ried home drunk--to shame and rend a
parents heart. But the pernicious Gus
tom of wine giving and punch-brewing on
New Years day produces many sad
scene of excess and inebriation. On all
festive occasions temptation grows strong
and selfrestraint grows weak. On every
New Years day, hospitable dwellings are
turned into drinking-houses Youngmen
enter them with flushed faces, and with
tongues quite too rapid for propriety-
Many merchants clerk has whetted an
evil appetite that has cost him valuable
situation. A returned officer who went
out last New Years day to receive the
congratulations of his friends, found the
decanters more fatal than the rebel shells,
and when he reeled home, his shame strick-
en- family would rather have received him
wounded and bleeding from the battle
field. He was somebody sson-and some
body's husband, too Friends you have
no moral right to tamper thus with other
peoples appetites, or to rob other house
holds of their hopes and their happiness.
Woe unto him that putteth the bottle to
his neighborp
III. As a second reason against offering
strong drinks on holidays or at any social
entertainment, we would urge that many
persons are confirmed by them in habits of
intoxication. Social drinking, yea and
drunkenness, were never more prevalent
than now. There are members of my own
church, probably, too, of most other church
es, who are already sliding insensibly over
that glass railr0aF whose smooth track
leads downward to perdition. Thousands
Of young men are facing an enemy more
deadly than ever frowned from the heights
of Fredericksburg. With such young men
a contest isnow waging between conscience
and appetite They see their danger
They realize in their calm moments, that
they will soon lose their self-control, and
are periling their places, their health, their
lives, and their undying souls. Those
young men enter your dwellings with a
sharp conflict going on between theirsense
of right and their appetite on their regard
for fashion IF no Intoxicating cup is held
out to them, they are comparatively safe.
They will not seek the drink, unless the
drink seeks them. But one glass may ruin
them. On the summit of a hillin West
ern State is Court house so situated that
the rain-drops that fall on one side of the