Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1867-06-21
II Total Abstinence Dsst.


While on a visit TO my unclcs, when was
a youth, he had dinner party At his house.
There we're at the table two clcrgymen sud
their wives, several other gentlemen and their
wives, aud among ms unclcs family tWo sons
not far from nay own age. Tie table was serv-
ell with wine and porter; all araak escetA
myself. Uncle observed my sbetiaence and
asked me il was a "tcetcfalcr' answered
"yss, sir" "Have You signed The pledge p
aye, sir lie apolosised to the company for
the rustic habits Of his nephew, and proceeded
to speak at length, Of the fclly Of temperance
who must bind himself with pledge In order
to be able to govern his appetite, Of the want
Of character Of man who could not driak
without drinking to excess and Of the hygie.
mic and social advantages Of = moderate use Of
wine and beer. was not capable Of defend
ing myself, and too young and bashful to at
tempt it in such company. All eyes were
turned upon me and l sat blushing and con-
fused Others expressed their assent to his
opinions, and added their testimony to bis arr
guments-one Of the clergymen a1vsseed the
clerical argument - little wine for the stom-
ach's sake" and ladies lifting their glassss to
their lips looked at me and smiled, - much 40
to say, 1--WE are on his side" As they began
to feel the inspiration Of the wine the conver>
sation grew more lively, and some things were
said about the ateetotslers' sufficiently wittyto
create general and hearty laughter, tyou know
it does not require anything very witty -
make people laugh when they are filed with
winc,) and some sharp speeches were made =
desigaedly to cut me, and then all would look
at me with evident satsfaction,@ Robert and
the ladies no less than others. While sat
| there silent and covered with confusion,
| thought could do nothing to defend myself,
could not refrain from thinking that there
was strange power in my example, that it
and THAT so small an incident as lads de-
| clining dish at table--shonld give direction
| to the conversation Of such . company for
nearly an hour that We were seated there. ]
| thought sit must be silent rcbuke to them
which they feel so keenly that it has provoked
| all this outbursts Of eloquence and wit 10 JUS
tify themselves, and they are battling with
| their own conseiences as much as with me-
Years passed on, Robert was q student Of
| law in the Office Of Fillmore s Hall, Of Buffalo
He was young man of good attachments and
excellent social accomplishments, and his un-
common intellectual powers gave promise of
| brilliant future. He was admitted to the bar;
and when Mr.. Fillmore went to Washington
| as vice president, he was admitted as . men-
Der of the firm. Bnt the instructions he had
received at home, and the arguments and ex-
ample Of his father and the clergymcn and
ladies had already begun 10 bear their fruits.
He drank habitually, and mere and more fire.
quently TO excess. When Mr.. Fillmore re-
turned from w ashiagton, Robert habits had
become 50 bad that he was excluded from the
| firm. Acting now by himself, and having al
\ ready reputation which secured him all the
business he could attend to- he went rapidly
down. lie was sot. His friends gathered
| TO contrive some means for his rescue. and
make some desperate effort to save him. After
several experiments there, it was agreed THAI
he and another young man should form .
partnership, 60 away from his old haunts anA
associates and begin business anew in some
western town. Roc ford, Ills, was & xed upon
as the place. Three months had passed snl
| Robert had not tasted Of intoxicating drinks.
Even the father had now discovered that The
total abstinence rule was the only one avail
able. Roberts partner watched him, took
care of him and kept him away from every
place of temptation. lie had become So estab-
lshed in his new mode Of life that his part.
ner ventured to leave him for a week on busi-
ness at Chicago. The week had not passed
before it was announced in the Chicago papers
"Died in Rockford, after short illness, Rob>
ert -, &c." Undertakers we're sent after
the body; it was taken to Canadaigua, n. Y,
and there inferred. As saw the family group
gathered around the coffin and saw the same
uncle, his head now white with years, weep
ing bitter tears, how vividly came back the
recollection of that scene at the dinner table
Did feel disposed to retaliate upon him now?
No; his sorrow was too deep; o, pitied him.
But could not avoid thinking, if that father
had instructed his boys in total abstinence
principles and practices, he would not prob
ably now be weeping over a son dead from de-
lirium tremens. OF this We are sure, If Rob-
ert had taken the pledge in his boyhood, and
had kept it, he would not now be sleeping in
a drunkard's grave. And you c:crgymen
that quoted scripture against totas abstinence
and yon ladies who lifted your glasses and
smiled what is that up N your hands What!
viii it not rub off? Go wash them. IL il
there yet? All! it is indelible-it is the
! blood Of poor Robert