Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1873-10-03
4hiscellanu.
For the Bellows Falls Times.
Wine Drinking.

AhS DElllNlhS.
That number of people is not small
who can discourse eloquently upon the
sin and misery caused By rum-drinking
but were you to tell them that the key
note to much of this wretchedness is the
wine cup, they would look at you aghast
and deny it stoutly. And why? Be
cause g a little wine for the stomach's
sake, is among their own pet indulgence
es, and the bare idea of its being con-
sidered otherwise than perfectly harm
less, is quite shocking to them. Now /
do not intend to say that all that pitia-
BILE class of people who make the rum
bottle their god, are led into this pit Of
wretchedness by looking upon the wine
when it is red, and yielding to its fascin-
ations. No; there are many roads to
that living death Of soul and body, but
this is one, and a wide one, in which
many travel. Such words as these fall
disagreeably upon the ears of those, who
delight to see the SPARKLING, ruby wine
brought to its accustomed place upon
their richly supplied tables, and who
would consider their friends ilI-treated,
if not offered this refreshment. Would
that could state this to be custom of
ancient days, or of another country than
our own but alas scarcely town or
village of our enlightened, refined New
England, but what furnish examples of
this wine cup idolatry. A gay party of
young men call for the wine glass to add
to the merriment of the hour, aud in
consequence, are called I" a little fast, )"
not by any means incorporate, or dissi-
pated The young lady, also, too often
accepts with smiling, shameless face, the
proffered glass of liquid cheer, and no
one says that thereby she pollutes her
woman's life or woman's heart. The re-
spected man of business, and mayhap
prominent church member, passes it not
by as an evil to be Stunned, but gives it
his powerful sanction. The young man
takes his first cup, in order that he may
be considered manly. He takes it, rath-
er, because he has not sufficient manli-
ness to proudly refuse it. And to what
does this all lead? It leads, oft-times. as
/ first stated, to life of habitual intem-
perance. The first moderate draught
soon ceases to satisfy, and an appetite is
awakened which Graves deadlier poison.
The seeds of vice, at first only lightly
scattered, have sunk deep into the
hearts soil, and if not speedily eradicat-
ed, the harvest of sin will ripen for the
hands of the grim sprite who gathers it
with glee, while the good angel, who
watched over the cradle of the innocent
child, weeps to behold this wreck of
manhood. Many a desolate home and
broken heart in our land, where intem-
perance has forever banished the sunlight
and Joy, bear bitter testimony to the
fact that the wine cup was the first guide
board in the slippery way. Fathers and
mothers are left to regret in bitterness,
that they had rot banished the liquid
tempter from cellar and table, before the
ehild's eager lips had learned the fatter-
ing taste Mayhap in future years the
promised hope of their lives becomes, in
stead, the deep disgrace-the fruit of the
seed their own hands unremittingly
planted. o. parents of New England
make not your homes the tempted shrine