The Sweetwater forerunner. [volume] (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1867-1869, 1868-03-13
|CoMUNICATED,

In yonr paper OF the 29th Feb, | read
an article, or rathera statement of the man
norof imbibiGs ardent spirit7--thc cerc-
monies, at different times, and in different
places, commencing with the question,
"itow il is done"
Iproposc to answer few questions Sug-
go'.e3 by your article above referred to-
viii you aud your readers ask the superin-
tendont and keeper of your State prison,
how il come to be filed with so many mis-
cradle victims-tho vOtaries of crime of
oyry possible grade? and they will answer,
Intoxicating drinks! Ask that aged gray
headed man as he walks listlosSly along
your Stroets-palc, sad and caro-worn-
ask him, why so sad1 Why that troubled
brow why that face so worn with care
and anxiety! and he viii point you to be-
Sot,od son, Who was once the hope of his
declining years, mourfully whisper in
your ear, strong drink Ask that poor dis
trussed hCart-brokcn female, so thinly
clad, as she stands at your door demanding
charity at your hands, ask her why so poor,
80 de.titue--so pcnilessl and with spectral
and ghost-like finger, she will point you to
the wreck of a man, whom she once deligh-
ted to call husband and say strong drink
Ask that group composed of starving wild
ow and ragged children why they cry for
bresd, clothing and shelterl and they will
point you, to q now-made grave, that con-
ceals from mortal gaze, the bloated form
Of one who bore the name and relation of
husband and father, and say strong drink
d,adened all the finer sonsibilities of
his noble and generous nature, wasted his
substance, poisoned his body, bcggard his
wife and children and doomed his soul to
utter ruin. And could we be permitted
to draw aside the veil, and look into the
awful future of the wicked, what fondish
forms wouldmeet our sight What groans
would reach our ears! All echoing back
the 50 me fcarful-woeful answcr--Strong
drink! And will men make merry OYER
thc miscries of their own race-over their
own ruin, in the life that now is and in that
which is to come! Surely he is murderer
who puts the cup to his neighbours lips
and this is the work, aud tho ,vay 81 TO done.
think the strongest rcbuke to dram
drinking ever heard, occurred but the
other day in my presence. The impress
ion made upon my own mind will never be
erased. was with several of my friends
sitting in my Office enjoying a social hour
discussing and discoursing upon the current
events of the day, when another friend ac-
companed by his son--a bright-eycd little
boy, of perhaps seven or eight summers,
were added to our company. In a few mo-
ments discovered that this friend was IN
der the influence of his dram: this was made
patent to all present, Ply his boisterous, and
excited manner of speech, interspersed as
it was here and there, with an appeal to
COP to damn his (deathless) soul.
The little son-Heayens' gift to that
father listened impatiently and I may say
seriously to his father--knowing his con-
dition, and having asked leave to be absent
for time with his play -mates-which being
granted him by an indulgent though drum
ken father-before leaving approached him
lovingly, and gently laying his hand upon
his knec--looking mp into that fathers face,
with an expression Of earnestness and love
that would importune Con, said: "Father,
please don't take another DRAM"
81 wont, my son." escaped the paraent's
lips and the request was repeated, "Father,
now please don't take another dram to-day"
And away the; little, fellow bounded, with
somewhat of faith in the fathers promise.
| looked at the retreating form of the child,
and then at the father and wondered if
strong drink did make men mad. Here
was a scene over which it does seem to me
an angel would have wept. Did he keep
ibis promise The did not-he tarried at
the wine, and was drunk-drunk-Oh! what
misery and ruin in such home! What a
/ b1iobt unon tbo vonno baart of that little