The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1877-10-04
LILY MAsON's REWARD.

The incidents am gong to Teiate
transpired some years ago in an ad-
Joining State, when the order of Good
Templars was much younger than it is
now. In the village of Pineyille there
were comparatively large number of
young people of both sexes, aud the
place had the reputation of being a
trifie ''fast." Certainly, those were gay
assemblages where the young people
met together, and it sometimes happen
ed that unseemly disturbances marred
the enjoyment of an otherwise pleasant
occasion.
1t is unnecessary to more than allude
to the cause of these disturbances. The
Young men, without a single exception,
were in the habit of drinking ardent
spirits. SO prevalent WAS the CUSTOM
that it was considered no disgrace for a
Young man to be seen reeling home
ward from the dram shop, and mothers
would see their daughters depart from
home under the escort of half-lntoxicat-
ed young men, without fear for that
daughters future. The giant intemper-
ance had laid bis stupefying hand on
all the community, women as we'll as
men, and they seemed unconscious of
the moral leprosy that had eaten into
their souls.
1t was into this community-into a
society such as this-that Emma Vane
came to teach a young ladies' school.
This Emma Vane was an orphan, who,
in spite of difficulties had acquired a
respectable education, and had devoted
her young, enthusiastic life to the men
tai and moral improvement of those by
whom she was surrounded. Throwing
her whole soul into her work, and be-
ing largely endowed by nature with a
talent for teaching, she soon won an
enviable distinction among the meln>
bers of that honorable profession.
Therefore, she came to Pineville, re-
solved to do her whole duty, looking
to God for her reward. It requires
greater faith than most of us possess,
if we become not discouraged when we
labor with diligence and fail to see the
fruits. -..
To the young school mistress. the in
temperate habits of the young men of
Pineville was source of poignant sor-
row, and in her soul she longed to do
them good, if possible, to help them
escape from the tolls Of the destroyer
But how was she to accomplish her
end-how work reformation where
public opinion tacitly declared none
was needed? Nevertheless, though the
signs were unpropitious. she deternlin>
ed to do her best, and leave the result
with Him who alone ''giveth the in
crease" -- .r...1 .-F, -f{
With woman's ready conception of
the character of the opposite sex, she
decided it was her wisest course to en-
list her own sex in the furtherance of
her plans; for she was not unacquaint-
ed with the mysterious but powerful in
fuence of love-that influence that ever
has and ever will draw young hearts to.
gether, and is the most potent for veal
or woe of all the emotions that tremble
in the hearts of the sons and daughters
of Adam. e.5 80 f III hqs .1ls' q
Among her pupils were several grown
up young ladies-in fact, most of her
scholars were women in stature, at
least and Ito these she appealed for
aid. .l .,.s.., p lgls.faY mi 8ht d,
"Girls,' said she, one day during
intermission, ST have talk for You all;
I have plan in my head, and I want
your assistance in carrying it ont
: Then she went on to speak of the.
evils of intemperance--of how it clouds
and weakens the intellect, eorrnpts the
morals and. impairs the physical con-
stitutions of its followers She went
further than this, and portrayed in ele-
CANT terms the evils entailing on a fu-
ture generation by the sins Of the pres
ent. h6.l sdsi1rlsy aat u
SIT is with you, girls, to say whether
your offsprings shall be healthy and
vigorous in body and mind, or physi-
cally weak and mentally imbecile. II
the parents be 80 addicted to intemper>
ance that the natural vigor Of their
bodies is impaired, the children will
inherit the same infrmity-will go
even beyond this, and will inherit o
perverted taste, so much SO, that they
may be truly said to be born drunk
ards. r
"Ishave plan, girls, by which 1
thipk these evils may be averted, at
least, deem it worthy of trial. A
new temperance organization has lately
come into existence, known as the Or
der Of Good Templars. I know some
Of its members, and, fortunately, am
personally acquainted with a deputy of
the grand lodge. If the young men
will not Join us now we viii organize o
lodge, ourselves. Here is the pledge
a Good Templar is required to take, and
here is the amount of money reuuired
to procure q charter. A few dollars
moro would be required to purchase the
necessary regalia, and ! suppose we