Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-04-02

} but to encourage the wives and
; mothers, the sisters and daughters,
} of those who have fallen by the way
side. We have such a great respon-
sibility resting upon us! Having a
husband son, and brother, 1 know
whereof 1 speak. l have taught my
little twelve-year-old son that his
mother is his best earthly friend
that his life should bo as pure ana
innocent as when helpless babe
clasped him to my heart and asked
our Heavenly Father-that all per-
meating Spirit of Love-to deal
with ne as l should deal with the in
nocent waif he had left in my charge.
Boys, do you find any real enjoy
ment in the wine-cup? Does it bring
you happiness, or even conten,ment {?
Have you ever really drorned your
SORROWS in the flowing bowl? Can
any OF you say you lore the taste Of
,chishy, rum Or brandyP Doyou not
agree with me that it is an unnatural,
an acquired taste? Is there any
young man among my audience who
has gone into the presence o: q pa
tient, loving mother, in state of
intoxication? Did you mark the
spasm of pain which convulsed her
saddened face, as she saw in your
blood-shot eyes, your trembling
hands. your maudling speech, the
death-knell of all her sweetest
hopes? Did you remember the
many, many, sleepless nights she
had watched beside your little bed,
when all the household were wrapped
in slumber? How her heart thrilled
with an underlined fear, at every
symptom of illness, or how, when
you were stricken with disease, like
one of old, she refused to be com.
forted." how with tear-stained face
and pallid lips, she prayed that God
would spare her child? Who was
erer SO ready to kiss away your
tears and soothe the little pains and
sorrows, as the mother whose heart
! perhaps you have broken, and whose
sad face to-day may be lying under
the daisies. Could all the coarse
jests of your drunken companions,
the bacchanaliau song, the cards or
the dice, recompense you for the
loss of that dear mother? Did
you not feel when you gazed upon
her pale, cold face the last time,
that if she could only be given
back to you, you would devote your
whole life to her happiness ? Then,
dear boys, does not your heart tell
you that Hearen would not be Heaven
to that loving mother, if her boy
still walks the downward road which
leads to utter ruin? Then grid on
your armor, boys. and fight the good
fight, for manhood's redemption.
Trample under foot the Demon Of
Intemperance; seek the society of
the pure and true i'll heart; let your
highest and holiest aspirations be to
make yourself worthy OF the mother
love, the remembrance Of which
comes back to you, like the perfume
of some sweet-hower, waited oven
the great desert of your wasted hfe,
and God will bless your efforts and
crown them with success.
Husbands, looking back through
the dim vista of the past, do you re-
member how you wooed and won the
fair young girl, whose confidence in
your love caused her to torsako father
and mother, sister and brother, and
cling to you, alone? Did it seem pos
sible then that the time would erer
come when the sparkling glass, the
flowing bowl, would win you from her
side? Do you remember the thrill of
of loving pride which coursed through
your veins, when first your lips ut
tered that sweet word, rife, and the
promises you made ere that word
could be spoken? Loving parents
conided to your care the welfare of
beloved daughter; Il trusting wo-
man risked all her future happiness
in your keeping. Largely has it de-
pended upon you whether her path
way has been strewn with loses or
with tLorns. Have you been faith