Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-12-17
For the Spectator.
TO YOU /!

The Chri.tmas and New Year holidays and
festivities are near at hand, and We fear tha'
there are many IN our city. who, during these
holiday festivities, will lend hand to lead
| sons sbody's son right toward destruction.
Yu are already planning your Christmas
and New Years entertainments, aud in your
bills Of fare You doubtless have included a lid
eral supply OF Wine, Hot Pauch, Apple-Tod
dg Egg -nog, &c
Before you set forth these stimulating poi
sons. permit "a s'umbler," an often .orely-
tried and tempted one, to make an appeal on
behalf OF his tempted brother man.
We honor the kindly spirit. which, on such
occasions, prepares a bounteouS entertainment.
We hon n the hospitality which filings vide the
d 'ors to all who desire TO come n and e Joy it.
Bat your hospitality does not require intoxica
ing beverages ON such occa-on-. The we'll
furnished groceries and market of our city have
an ample store of wholesome creature com
f,rts, without drawing upon the liquor-stores
or wine-celiars fhsrs are many drinks. both
palatable aud proper, that never cause redness
ot eye, or thick less OF speech or derium OF
he brain You have no moral right to endan-
ger the veal of hers and 20 rob other house
holds Of their hopes and their happiness.
''Wo unto him who giveth bis neighbor
drink We have In our CRY many who are
struggling against the evil habit, partially form
ed. Many who are almost gone who, bu, a
few short years ago, were sober as the 81 ber-
est A fearful contest is going on within theu
| between conscience and appetite They both
see and feel their danger. They begin to real
zthat If the, go much further they shall lose
their se-controI-they will destroy their pros
pect- and may ruin heal b. life aud their uD-
dying souls. These men will enter your dwell
| hugs during the holidays, with sore CO. f.ct
gOing on betwt en- their sense of right aud heir
appeti e, unit. d to a regard for tnshiOn. 1t no
| Intoxicating cup is held our 70 them, they are
| c.'mparalively safe. But one glass may ruin
| them.
fashionable young man, partially reformed
from drinking habit, Was once off red glass
Of vine by a ,houghless sister. aud, in yield
| ing, he rekind.ed thirst which carried hiu
back into open drunkenness. The hand thai
| shou d have sustained him, laid him low
| Brcau>e 1t is fashionable TO produce wines
| and en,icing alcoholic beverages upon such oc-
| ca>ions Will You who are parents, imneril not
only somrb dy son but your0wn2 Remem
ber The darling you once nestled 10 your own
ar,us, may be the vic'm of the very glass you
nffcr to others. But il you will discourage
| these fashionable drinking usageS by the SUM
mary banishment of all alcoholic beverages
fr1m your holiday entertainments. you will go
| tar toward saving your own children from dis
sipation.
A gentleman, while walking the streets of one
OF our pnpulous cities. saw a carriage rapidly
approa hing lrrrle glrl who vas slowly cros,-
ing the street.-The horses were just upon her
forgetting self he rushed iuto The street, and
caught the child in his arms. bore her to The
sidewalk and a. her bonnet fell aside and she
looked up with her pale lace to sec ber deliS-
erer. the good man looked down into the fac
of his own daughter In attempting to save
another 8 ch,id. he had saved his own. Bani h
the wine cup from the social table. aud you
may unwltiiogy pre.e erve the son of your bu-
som from destruction.
| A father was once called to the bedside of an
only son, who was dying tron the eff cts OF
strong drink. He could hardly recagnze the
face of his own son Son." said be. you
have fallen low indeed by the evil life you have
followed. Wh.re did you learn the habit ot
intemperancs, which has reduced you TO thi-
cooditlnn?' Father" the Young man re-
piled with faltering voice, Il learned it a.
your own house, Not that you tempted me t.
be drunkard, but you Taught me TO like in
t"xica'ing drinks, aud you showed me, by sour
exampe. that I c,uld safely Use them lac
qujrtd the ioup or such things ut yonr o,on tnbie
bu l hare not ben allie to k,tp ,cifhn this.
LoundS If mOderotion Mhich you hare pr,servtd
and die It ricf,na To iateniperdnce, first begun
an my father S house!
The case OF this young is not rare one. In-
Vulnerable are the homes and hearts ruined by
the fashionable freside u>aRes and examples oi
mahle loving. tender, prayerful yet, who, un-
Intentionally have fastened many an ardent
young soul to destruction.