The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1869-05-28

we actually needed wine in the
house, either for our health or com
fort p
"Why. l think it has added to
our comfort, Cora"
"How %
"Oh! in many ways"
"Name one of them.
why in the enjoyment Of ou,
guests"
"Ah! but am speaking of our.
selves, Henry-of you, and me,
and of our own little family. Has
it ever ministered to our comfort p
"No, I can't say that it has"
"And if it was banished from
our house to-day and forever. as a
beverage. should we suffer in con-
scqucnce?"
"Certainly. What would ou1
friends
All! but stop. l am only speak.
ing Of our own affairs, shut out
from the world, by our own fircside.
/ want all extraneous considera.
tions left out Of the question
Should We, as = family, suffer in
our moral, physical, social, or do
mcstic affairs, in tho total absti'
nsnce from this be verage?''
"No, l don't know that w
should"
"Then to you, as a husband, and
= father, and as q man, it is of nc
earthly use ?"
"No.'
"And it would cost You 20 effort,
so far as you alone are concerned
to bleak clear from it,"
"Not = particle.
"And now, Henry" pursued the
wife, with increased earnestness
II have a few more questions t.
ask Do you believe that th'
drinking Of intoxicating beverage.
is an evil in this country y?'
"Why as it is now going on,
certainly do
"And isn't it an evil in society,"
"Yes."
Look over this city, and tel
me if it is not a terrible evil !"
-, "A terrible evil grows out o'
the abuse of it. Cora"
" And will you tell me wha
good grows out Of the use Of it?
Really, love, when you com'
down to this abstract point, 20,
have the field. But people shoult
govern !S,S n. their aSir.1p apPe'i's': All thing
Yes. But will you tell ME tn
usc-the real good-to be derive.
from drinking vino and brandy ?"
AS I said before, it is a socia
Gust ,n,, aud hos It's vl,arnl..''
All there you have it. Henry
1t does have its charms, as tn,
deadly snake is said to have, an,
as other vices have. But I sec 20,
are in hurry
" 1t is time l was at the store.
II will detain you but a momen
longer, Henry. Just answer me .
few more questions. Now call t,
mind all the families of your &C
quaintance think of all the do
mestic circles you have known frou
your school-boy days to the present
run your thoughts through the vari
our homes where you have been in
timate-do this, and tell me, if i,
any one instance you ever knew :
single JOY to be planted by tn
hcarth-stone from the wine-cup p
Did you ever know one item of goot
to aow to a family from its use ?"
No; l can not say that eve1
did-not as you mean"
And now answer me again. -
Think Of those homes once more
call to memory the playmates o
your childhood, think Of the homes
they have made, think Of othe
homes, think of the firesides where
all you have known dwell-and tel
me if you have seen any SORROW.
flow from the wine-cup? Have yo,
seen any great oRIEFs planted BY
the intoxicating bowl upon the
hearth-stone -
Henry Seaburn did not answer
for there passed before him sucl
grim spectres Of SORROW and GRIEF
that he shuddered at the mental
vision. He saw the youth cut dowl
in the hour Of promise he saw tn.
gray head fall in dishonor he saw
hearts broken he saw homes made
desolate he saw affection withe,
up and die !; and saw noble intellec,
stricken down Good Heaven
what sights he saw as no unrollee
the canvas Of his memory.
Henry" whispered his wife,
moving to his side and winding one
arm gently about his neck, "w<
have two boys. They are growing
to be men. They are noble. gener.
ous, and tender-hearted. They love
their home and honor their parents
They are here to form those charac.
ters, to receive those impressions,
which shall be the basis upon which
their future veal or woe must rest
Look at tbem-oh think Of them.
Shall they carry out from thei,
home our evil influence .? Shall they
in the time to come fall by the way,
side, cut down by the demon Of the
cup. and in their dying hour curse
the example whence they derived
the appetite ?-Oh for our twe
children---f0r those two boys-fo,