Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-12-03
Address
TO the members OF George E. Bracket
Lodge, I. o. q. IT,, Jaokson, Maine.

TO. ADDRESS
to the members OF George E. Braekeu
Lodge, l. o. q. IT,, Jaokson, Maine.
AT the last session Of the Waldo county
lodge Of Good Templars, Bro Joseph Ellis.
while making some remarks for the good of
the Order, made this assertiou,---"I was
born temperate, brought up temperate, and
have always lived temperate ~ | have
thought Of this number of times since.
Now, about how was born, have moth.
ing to say, for the very good reason that
know nothing about it If | was present, l
do not remember anything concerning il.
But how was brought up, and how have
lived, | will tell you, and you can draw your
own differences. ~
When | was a small boy, my mother
taught me the fundamental principles Of
temperance, by reading stories calculated to
interest the young mind, drawing principles
worthy Of emulation by the young, picturiug
in its true colors the awful gulf which awaits
those who fall by the powers Of strong
drink. Sometimes the lesson would consist
OF the history of an only son of dotiag
parents; morally good, with warm, loving
|
yielding to temptation by taking the FIRST
glass, step by step almost unconsciously
sinks to the lowest depths Of degradation !;
thus bringing those parents to premature
grave. Then, again, she would talk to me,
telling me Of something she had seen or
known. Now, this was something real
This was nothing pictured BY the pen of a
high imaginative poet. nor was il picture
painted in high, gilded colors by the brush
Of an artist. 1t was real my mother had
aeen and known the circumstances, and
knew it was so, and in many other ways did
she labor for my good.
Now, brothers and sisters, you will say at
once that was brought up temperate. But
turn over the leaf of the life book, aud you
will see there is another side to the picture.
My father was what was called temper
ate man, and temperance man. He did
not get drunk, and had little or no sympathy
with the inebriate, and recommended TEN.
perance to all yet he "took little" when
be thought he needed it. Perhaps pint
would suffice for ten months Of the year, but
10 the haying season he "must have some
thing, OF course :" no had always been accus-
toned to, aud now habit was strong.
Now, dearly loved my father and to be
a man like him, in my young ideas, was
almost as great az to be king; aud my
father took an occasional glass, and did not
! get drunk, and why not II
Many times when alone did | review the
teachings Of my mother and the silent inAu-
ence of my father, and as often was brought
to acknowledge to myself that my mother
was right for il the occasional glass did not
lead to drunkenness ia the end, it was in
reality Of no use /; it did no good, and was
but needless and foolish expenditure Of
money and there was mere chance that
it might lead to--what might it not lead to
in the end
And when l was convinced which was the
right path, did determine at once to walk
in it2 l did not. And why2 liked il ;
yes, young as was, had strong passion
for strong drink, an appetite which, when |
look upon it, causes me to shudder Al
times | would determine when a man Ia
have it every day Of course would not get
drunk, for that would be simple and foolish
But was careful that no one should know
of my relish for strong drink. Sometimes
when father would come In, heated and tired
from his work, at noon, he would 90 to the
cupboard for his glass. Iwould be standing
near, and occasionally he would leave lit.
tie in the bottom of the cup, which he would
give to me, and, patting me on tho head
smile pleasantly. OF course it was for the
sugar in the bottom, but had he known the
eagerness which | concealed when took the
drop rendered by his hand, would he again
feed and encourage the already strong appe.
tite, think you ali, no Could he have
realized the danger in which l stood. and
that by his influence he was leading me on
he would have withheld the deadly potion
Thus had on the one hand the patient
untiripg teaching of my gentle mother, and
on the other hand the careless, Indifferent
influences Of my father; and many times
would 60 away to some quiet spot aud rea
son on the question, arguing to myself frs
the one side and then the other. Taking
for subject the "socal glasp,' l woulC
bring what could in favor Of it, enumer
ating those | knew who INDUCED in an oeca.
sional glass, not drinking to excess woulC
compare their social standing in society with
those who did not drink. Some we're in high
social standing, rich and influential, and VIII,
we're they not just as good as any who did
not drink at ALI
After bringing all these arguments I,
bear in favor of this side. would take In,
other, and, after all, would be obliged t,
acknowledge that mother was right io
even If q man did not drink to excess, anC
it did no harm to some, it could do no on
any good, and was foolish aud expensiv,
habit, and the influence of one moderat,
drinker may be the means of making dOzel
druskards.
And again, the moderate drinker is no
safe he is standing on slippery footing. N,
man can boast of being moderate druker
as the moderate drinker Of to-day may be
drunkard the next month, or year. Wher,
is the drunkard who was not moderate
drinker at the irst
And after acknowledging this to myself
was willing to adopt the right? AS
said before, was not, because had tast
for drink. But the unyieldiug efforts of my
mother, in her teachings, and the lesson
taught by her, were never forgotten, but lef
lasting effect Sometimes would star
from slumber TO listen aud what did
hear2 II was the voice Of my mother il
,, low, earnest prayer. AT FIRST the word
were inarticulate, but as the sound became
familiar to my ear, could hear my owl
, name. She was praying to Almighty Cos
TO keep me from the temptation Of strODI
drink. But how did my mother know tina
l had passion for III 1 never breathed
word to any one. Was it the quick percep
Q ton Of mother lover
After long reasoning | came to the con
: clusiOn that rum would do me no good SHOULD
0 | drink II, and If should fall, what woul,
0 my mother do? At last determined tina
0 what would come would never imbibe tn
first glass, and to-day ! can stand boiOr