Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-01-25


"And that's the man who Just lifted
Whisky Bill into his wagon?"
Yes, sir that's the man, and he is
brave enough to do anything, from pull
ing down a rebel flag to leading drunk
en- comrade out of saloon"
For the Bulletin.
WOman's Work.
There never has been time when the
cause OF temperance was more wide
spread, or took deeper hold on the minds
of the people than the present Glad
tidings come to us from every quarter
that the people are having revival sea
son, and much good is being done in the
cause. There is wonderful power in
public opinion, when once aroused for
good. 1t is the lever that lifts the
masses out of degradation into the sun
shine of prosperity. Temperance is the
hand-maiden of Christianity, and is spo-
ken of in the Bible in connection with
righteousness. Paul reasoned of tenn
perance and righteousness and judg-
ment to come. A new year has dawned
upon us. The old year, with its long
list of joys and sorrows, and its many
sad mistakes, has been buried from our
sight And now we are permitted to
stand on the threshold of this new year,
we know not how far we may travel on
this new space of time; let us, then, in
qlire what we have done in the past.
and what we intend to do in the future
Longfellow, in one of his most beautiful
poems, says that
Life is real, life is earnest,
And this world is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust rcturneSt,
Was not spoken of the soul.
1t is because this life is so earnest, so
real, that we should put forth our best
energies to ennoble our lives and do
what we find to do with our might. If
we have disposition to work for 9TH
ers' good, there is wide field before us
just now in the temperance cause. Do
ing good is the royal road oflife Many
women are on this road now. and it is
free for all. Are there any waiting to
see who will come to fill up the ranks in
independence, or what Madam Grundy
will say of those already enlisted in the
work? Well, if what others do is your
guide, you have less independence than
is good for you. Fling aside this idea if
you are christian woman. Ask God
to help you and give you strength to
work for Him this year. There are
women not far off who have three or four
children to keep from starving, who have
nothing but what they earn with their
own hands. Go out and find these poor
sisters of toll and want, and help them
with your ample means. If you should
watch awhile. you might see something
like man staggering into that misera-
BILE house and shut himself in. Hark!
Did you hear child cry? Yes, that
poor, drunken father has laid his hand
on his own innocent child, and beaten it
with many stripes. Hunger and cold
has been its portion long time, now
comes the cruel blows. Yet some say
intelligent people, too, that there is so
much said on the subject, that it is tire
some. Oh, that there were more Debo-
rahs in the land, with warm hearts and
willing hands, that would be leaders in
this glorious work of doing and putting
T, down this terrible slayer of the souls
and bodies of men! | am glad that
there are few in this place who have
taken decided stand, who were brave
enough to say and do what they thought
was right They should be held up as
beacon lights for other reformers to see
and take courage They did noble
deed and are entitled to the city's high
est thanks, whether they have them or
not l would say to them, Let not
your heart be troubled, neither let it be
afraid" for those who are for you are
more than those who are against you.
Take courage, then, and persevere, and
you will be strengthened to still do great
er things in this cause Much good has
been done, many have had their eyes
opened to see the evil they were doing
and many of these vile places have been
broken up Go on, then, fear not cold
words or looks Be kindly, useful, but
be firm. There are too many who make
profession of walking in the straight
and narrow path that leads to heaven,
that are walking just outside that mar
row path, and are joining hands with
those in the camp of the enemies of our
beautiful religion, where they catch
their language and manners, and forget
almost the songs of Zion that they once
sang with so much pleasure. They join
with the enemy in saying: These
women are not minding their own bust
ness; see what mischief they have done;
more harm than good, a great deal. y
They appoint themselves judges of what
is right 1t would be well if they sat in
Judgment on themselves There is Il
woe pronounced against women who are
at ease in Zion; those who forget God $
suffering poor, and live their own lives,
caring not for others.
Women's labor in the cause of tenn
perance has been abundantly blessed.
Hundreds of men, young and old, have
been reclaimed from vice, and are to-day
rejoicing in their deliverance. The
drunkards home is becoming the home
of peace and comfort, the children no
longer cry for bread or fear the cruel
treatment of the past. ] believe that
women alone would go on with this work
and do wonders if the men gave it up,
but there is no danger Of that. / know