Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1871-07-27
WHAT WE HAVE SEEN.
By ETHEL DANE.

We have seen family where Happi-
ness and Love once dwelt; where peace
and prosperity were found where Vir-
tue sat enthrOned, and where the voice
of prayer and thanksgiving arose from
an unbroken family circle. But, alas
in an unguarded hour the father was
beset with temptation, and partOok Of
the temptinQ bowl. Oh could he have
seen the draughts of sorrow which
that cup contained, surely he would
have dashed it down and cursed the
hand which held it forth to lure him
from virtues path into those Of sin
and degradation.
Into that home once so happy and
joyous, there crept q gaunt figure-its
name Iutemperance-ts Ising death ana
bitter heart-agony to all those who
came within it's reach OF that family,
the father now sleeps in a drunkard's
grave; one son was hung for a mur-
derer; another was sent to prison for
burglary and the third is yet free,
| roaming the earth a vagabond. The
mother still lives, carrying in her heart
sorrow enough to crush the world. All
this misery and disgrace caused by
tampering at the wine cup.
| We have seen drunkenness in almost
every form, from the moderate tippler
! to the beastly wretch that falls insensi-
BILE, there to lie in sweet oblivion Of
his shame in a drunken sleep. We
have seen little children-little girls
| who had been sent with perhaps the
last penny which the purse contained,
and compelled to ask for whisky; for
/ -, h.o-r Il.
and makes the father a demon, the
mother fcnd.
We have seen old, gray headed men
| who were tottering on the brink of the
| grave, 90 down into these dens of vice
and degradation, to partake of that
which breweth only contention and
strife. We have seen young men, who
might become noble and true, go down
those same steps and drink from the
accursed cup, which fills the heart with
impurity and scorches up all good re-
solves and high born principles We
have seen those same young men come
up with flushed faces and bloodsLot
eyes, with unsteady steps, and pass by
to meet other boon companions and
probably go through wors- scenes be-
, fore morning. Often, when we have
! watched those youth, with staggering
, gait-those who should be the hope
of our ceuntry-we have felt con
r strained to 60 and pull them back by
main force, if no other way presented
/ itself, to prevent them from entering
the gates which lead to death.
Every day new additions are being
: made to these moderate tipplers," /" who
r soon become fast young men, and are
, then swiftly and surely hurried on un
! til they become perfect inebriates. We
| pity such people, and would, it were
in our power, do something that would
2 free them from the chains which bind
f them be worse than humanbondage-fo
Intemperance binds their souls as vel
, as bodies in a region of darkness.
The question arises, what can we dc
towards helping this evil Shall We
2 endeavor to reclaim our brothers? Or
: shall we sand in cold indifference ant
t see them sink in hopeless despair, al
, the angry floods carry them beyond
: our reach, and they are lost forever il
e its whirling waters? MOI Come wea
; or woe, we wish to do the duty which
I our heart prompts us to perform, 81
g that it may of US be said: "She hatE
q done what she could