Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-03-18

~ lilly SldSS Stoou ny tHo Ciulu PidtC.
When the wine passed round, that little
glass was filed to the brim, and when the
father of the family raised his glass, and
bowed the signal 20 drink, boy-lips tasted
the ruby-wine, and the warm blood of
childhood took more fervent heat. You
could see the rosy cheeks put on a roster
hue, and the bright eyes sparkle with
richer lustre.
"Is it safe, Mr.. Lowry pn asked an inti-
mate friend from q neighboring city, who
It was after dinner and he was sitting
alone with the boys father.
Il think So" was the reply pure
wine is good substance, and SO, to the
desire for drink, what bread is to the de-
sire for food"
"Water for thirst, say rather" returned
the friend.
"No, wine. Our Eurogean neighbors
understand this better than we do. Wine
is their table drink, and takes. among
large numbers, the place of our tea and
coffee. Bread is not a natural product; it
is made of wheat and so of wine-it is
the product Of grapes. The two things
are good in themselves, and represent all
that is nourishing and satisfying in food
and drink. From time immemorial men
have used the one as freely as the other;
rs we know from both sacred and pro-
fame history"
And both sacred and profane history"
answered the friend,''warn us. by EXAM
Pies as well as by precept, of the danger
hat lies in the use of wine"
Warn us about its abuse said Mr..
Lowry against drunkenness and glutto-
ny alike.
All excess is evil, whether it be in eating
or drinking. A moderate use of pure wine
is no more hurtful to man than the mod
crate use of good food"
The pure wine and the moderation
are not always given," replied the friend
They are given here" was said with
an air of mingled pride and self-confi-
dence. 81 use only pure wine"
Without the admixture of alcohol P''
Without of course"
The friend shook his head, answering:
"Alcohol is the product of fermenta-
tion. Every glass of the best wine you
can get contains its proportion of this
unfermented, the simple expressed juice of
the grape, before you can call it perfect
ly harmless beverage. Every glass of
iuiCHlcu WiHc ti1t SOcs iHto your eyS-
tenn carries with it Notwithstanding
power.n
81 was not aware, before" remarked
the friend, ''that you had gone over to the
side of temperance tanaticism."
There was something in the way this
was said that hurt the other, who was
sensitive to ridicule. He replied with
some reserve Of manner:
Excuse me for alluding to the subject
1t was the concern felt for the dear lit
tie boy of yours that caused me to speak
of itn
"Oh you may set your heart at rest on
his account" answered Mr. Lowry. 81
win take good care that no harm comes to
him from an occasional glass of pure wine.
| shall teach him moderation in all things
how to use and not abuse the good gifts
of our Heavenly Father. This is the true
way to guard our children, and save them
from evil allurements when they go out
into the world"
Mr.. Lowry friend did not press the
subject, for he saw that it would be use
less but his concern for the little boy was
not removed.
A year afterward the friend of Mr.. Low
ry again sat at the table. The little son
was there almost head taller. Beside
his plate was wineglass, but larg-
er than the tiny thing that stood there
year before. He had outgrown that
This glass was filed, when the bottle of
wine went round, and raised to the boys
lips with quite an air when the others
drank
You must bear with me, my friend"
said the visitor, us they sat alone after
dinner "This putting of temptation in
your boys way troubles me-"
Mr.. Lowry tried not to feel annoyed,
and, to cover what he did feel, smiled
with an appearance of unconcern as he
answered;
"Cant get away from your hobby,
see. Well, every one must have some
thing to ride, if only for amusement"
ut is something more than hobby"
returned the friend, seriously You may
not have observed it, but /, after years
absence, can see that your boy has more
than doubled his quantity of wine. and
drinks it with marked increase of relish.n
''He is year older" said Mr.. Lowry.
"And has a years strength of habit
habit that is too truly called second ma
ture."
Mr.. Lowry did not reply. His friend
saw a little cloud on his face !; but whether
it was from concern or annoyance, he did
not know. When he spoke, it was on an
other subject.
1t so happened that several years went
by ere Mr.. Lowry's friend again sat at the
table. The boy had grown to be sixteen
years of age. Something in his counte-
nance betrayed weakened or depraved
moral sense. No wine was served-a
little to the friends surprise. After dinner
the two gentlemen retired to the library,
and talked of old times and old acquain-
tances.
What has become of VS. Youngest
boy, asked Mr.. Lowry, referring to the
son of an old companion of former years
| heard that he was little fast. But
trust he has got over that"
mo, and never will, j fear" was an
swered. Poor W! 1t has almost
broke his heart; and as for his mother, it
is killing her"
Not so bad as all that ?" said Mr.. Low
ry, slight pallor overspreading his face.
Even SO bad" replied the friend.