The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-04-14
I'll take what Father takes.

| "What viii you take to drink p asked the
waiter OF young lad, who for the first time ac
conpanied his father to public dinner. I'm
certain what to say, and feeling sure that he
| would not be wrong If he followed his fathers
example, he replied, I'll take what father takes .
The answer reached his farther's ear aud in
| stantly the responsibility of his position flashed
upon him. Ii he said, IL II take ale as he had
always said before his son would take it also,
and then! And the father shuddered as the
| history of several young men, who, once prom
lsing as his own bright lad. had been ruined by
Sing drink, started up in solemn warming be-
fore him. Should his hopes also be blasted, aud
that open faced noble lad become burden and a
curse us they had become! But for strong
drink they would have been active, earnest, pros
porous men; and ifi could work such ruin upon
them, was his own lad safe? Quicker than ght-
ning these thoughts passed through his mind
and In moment the decision was made. "lt
the boy falls he shall not have ME to blame,'
and then In tones Iremulous with emotion to the
astonishment of those who knew him. he said;
Waiter, Ill take water and from that day to
this, strong drink has been banished from that
mans table aud from that mans home.
That young lad, in the brief utterance, was
really the representative of the generation to
which he belongs. God has so directed it, that
tather is the highest authority in the world to
ms child. Who does not know that ''My father
said So is the end of controversy with the little
around us! Who does not see the parent
zones and gate, and manners reproduced contin-
ually Ill the children whose nature is now soft
wax to receive an impression, and rigid as
marble to retain it," and who watch with quick
aud an initiating eye, those who to them are
God S viceregents. ....s .. t..-.sts
Would that We could impress upon the faith
ers and mothers OF this country the solemn fact
that the future character of the children is being
formed by them. That if they are trained up
III the way they should 60, when they are old
they will not depart from it. But if they become
vain, sensual aud degraded the seeds will have
peen deposited, and the bias given in the early
morning of their lives. Ii we teach them that
strong dring is good creature of God, they will
believe US; and when, depending upon our judg
urent and truth, they shall have taken it, and it
shall have shown itself to be the devils master
piece and have bitten, crushed and dragged them
down to ruin, we may weep and pray as we
please; the blame will be our own and We
must not accuse God, or cast reflection upon the
Gospel. We shall have sown to the flesh and OF
the flesh have reaped corruption. God will have
visited the sins of the fathers upon the children.
They only took what their fathers took. Ii on
homes, and, in the hours when their young and
trusting hearts are most open to our teaching
We tell them that wine is mocker, that strong
dring is raging, and warn them that no serpent
is SO dangerous, no adder SO much to be dreaded
we shall be co-workers with that all-merciiul and
wise God who, to preserve them from taken it,
has sent them into the world with loathing OF
its taste Our children will believe us. They
VIII grow up with natural instinct fortified by
our instructions and examples. They will be
preserved from poisonous influences of the des-
troyer. There will be a bridgeless gulf between
them, and the companions who are most likely to
lead them into the ways Of sin. They will be
preserved from habits of extravaganza and
waste. They will have no companions but those
who walk in the ways of God, no employment
for their spare tirle but that which is elevating
and purifying; and when we pass to our reward,
they will rise up aud call US blessed, for they,
took what their fathers took"