The Hickman courier., 1873-02-01
Temperance Department.
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE:
A. D. KINdnAs, C. L. RANDLE, AND
JOS. II. RoULHAC.


sponsibility that rests upon US, person
ally, for our own off spring, and an
overfowiDg heart for the young around
us, permit Us to direct a few thoughts
for your especial consideration.
Many of you have sons around you.
tender in years, susceptible of slight
impressions, who are the light of your
fresides aDd tia hope of your decIioing
years. What Of them? What is their
future? Did you ever think what
would be their destiny, should the in
sideous foe OF strong drink ever fasten
his unyielding grasp upon them? Do
you now consider the danger that sur
rounds them Cd every slider Are you
doing your duty, your ,oA,le duty. to
them? That li,tle boy, which daily
gives evidence of an increasing and
expanding intellect, who hears, and re-
members too, the words. that fall from
parental lips, may some day become an
iuebriate, with physical organization
ruined, mind clOuded, reason delhron
ed. No one likes to believe that there
can be such scene presented to their
view get otherBOys as good as yours
have passed -.t6aughaIhis tTansi'ion
Pause and reflect for moment, and in
your immediate knowledge, can you
not call to mind some young man as
good and pure as your son, whose
parents were as fond, faithful and duti-
full as you, who went to drunkard's
grave. Girls too, as sweet aud tender
as yours, have eked out q miserable
existence with a besotted husband,
suffering for the necessaries of life,
dreadiug the approach of his footsteps,
fearing the safety of herself or chill
dreu when under the influence of the
accursed cup. and finally following his
remains to their last resting place,
where be was borne at the public ex-
pense.
Fathers and mothers Are you now
raising your warning voice against this
monster? Do you guide and instruct
your children 10 avert this evil? Do
you by precept and example teach
them the danger there is of touching,
tasting or handling the poisonous
draught? If not, entreat you iu
behalf of that son or daughter to be
gin the work at once, and let him who
thinks he standeth take heed lest he
fall. There is no example child feels
so safe in following, as in that of father
or mother. If you have been in the hab
it of mixing the merning toddy and
giving the sugar at the bottom to the
child, at once discard the practice, for
in it lays the germ of intoxication
Avoid the appearance of evil" is the
command of Holy Writ, and history
furnishes indubitable evidence, that the
disregard of that command has been
fraught with the most dangerous con
sequences in the use of alcoholic drinks.
1t is equally as dangerous for your
child to indulge his appetite in drink
ing a little. as it is to lie a little, or
swear a little. and if the latter be
wrong, and the habit once acquired
not easily broken. is it not equally
true of the former? You cannot be
too cautions .SnRs1-aDxious in the
duties you owe 20 your children and
society; and if each and every parent
would fully discharge that obligation,
the next generation would not be affiicr-
ed with the curse OF drunkenness
The question is left with you. aud up
on your solution rests the responsible
~, for we feel that in our innermosi
hearts We have warned you faithfully
whether it be needed or not.
EXAMPLE No We know father
not over Que hundred and ffty mile,
from here, who is a good farmer, a
moral, upright and honest man with
ample means, who laughs and SCOTS at
Temperance organizations, and yet his
son scarce sixteen years Of age, when
away from home takes his moderate
dram, and quotes his fathers language
as authority for SO doing. What will
be his end?