The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-04-29

felt as well acquainted With them all
as if he had known them for years.
The supper was delicious, especially
to a boy whose salary could afford
him only the plainest living.
/ After supper wine was brought in.
Mrs. Warren pouring it out herself,
and with a winning smile passed a
| glass of the sparkling liquid 70
| the guest. Alfred took itwith some
hesitation, but did not raise it to his
lips. Each of the family held a
glass; waiting topledge their visitor.
But Alfred feared tho drink. He
set the goblet on the table, while
burning blush overspread his face
what do not drink wine" asked
Mrs. Warren, in her pleasant tones.
4 have been taught not to drink"
said Alfred.
"You have had good teaching, 1
doubt not" said the lady, "and I
honor you for respecting it; but I
think 1t maks a difference where and
in what company you take it. [
should not be willing for George to
90 into a bar-roOm in company with
dissipated young men, and call for
wine, but at home, in the family cir
Gle, it is different. A moderate use
of wine never hurts any one. It
is only when carried to excess that
it is injurious. You had better
drink yours. So little as that will
never hurt.
Jessie was sitting by Alfred. She
took up the glass he had set on the
table and gave it to him with a
chaming smile.
Again he took the goblet in his
hand. The glowing wine was
tempting, but the faces around him
were more tempting still. He raised
it towards his lips. But st that mo-
ment there rose up before Aim a
pale, sweet face, with pleading eyes
-theface of his mother in heaven.
The boy laid down the glass with a
firm hand, and with firm tones said:
Il cannot drink it. It was my
mothers dying request that I should
never taste Of wine, and If l disre-
gard it now 1 fear greater tempta-
tions will follow. You must pardon
my seeming discourtesy, but I can
not drink it."
A silence fell upon the little circle.
No one spoke for several minutes.
Then Mrs. Warren said, in voice
choked with emotion: Forgive ne
my boy, for tempting you to violate
your conscience. Would that all
young men would show as high a
sense of duty.
Every one Of the family put down
their wine untasted.
The boy is right" said Mr.. War
reA. Drinking wine leads to deeper
pOtatiOns. We have done wrong in
setting such an example before our
chldren.-Here, Ellen" he called to
the servant take away this decant-
er.
And, as the table was cleared ofthe
wine and glasses, Mr.. Warren said,
solemnly:-"NoW here, in the pres
enee Of you all, l make a solemn
vow never to have any more wine on
my table, or drink it myself as a bev-
erage; and may my influence and
precepts be as binding on my child
ren. as the request of this boys
mother to him"
And Mrs. Warren softly respond
ed: @Amen."
Mr.. Warren turned to Alfred.
"We are not drunkards, nor wine4
bibbers here, my boy. Ihaye always
preached temperance to my child
Ten, but 1 have never realized before
how an occasional glass Of vine, if
partaken of in good society, could
injuTe. l see it now. If a person
can drink another, and vet another,
and it is hard to know Just where to
draw the line. / thank YOU for this
lesson. I viii show that have as
much manliness as amere boy. My
children will follow your example,
and pledge to abstain totally from
wine as beverage"
"We will, father" was the reponse.
This pledge was never broken by
any Of the family, and never did Al
fred have cause to regret that
he resisted the temptation to drink
one glass Of wine Years afterward,
whom prosperous and worthy
merchant, and sweet Jessie Warren
was his wife, they often spoke Of the
consequences which might have fol
lowed, had he yielded to that one
temptation; and Jessie tries to i'm
press as firm principles upon the
minds of her children as her hus.
| bands mother instilled into the heart
of her boy.