Daily Kennebec journal., 1880-03-03
Hlisffllanfolls.
"wILL I Be LIKE TOT PlPA.'
A TEMPERANCE STORY

II occasions less regret to see man
quafing his poisonous drink in the gilded
saloon, than 1t does to hear him speak and
see him act after he has staggered within
the sacred precincts Of his home. 1t Is
here that he greets his wife and little ones.
here that he Is most noble or most brutal
here that the good or evil germs OF his
influence are planted. and it is in this soil
that they take deepest root, and i've TO
bless or To curse, according to the fruit
borne in after generations.
II the man il unkind. his wife and chill
dren suffer. and that suffering il perpct-
mated throughout all their lives. If he is
kind, and still the generous-hearted hus-
band and father, they become familiar
with his condition and learn to tolerate
and excnse it. Then the boy. esteeming
IL less an evil than it IL, may follow in the
footsteps Of his pareDt-follow more rap
idly than If each day was filed with a
drunkard's blows and curses. In either
case. the influence Of such man Is de-
grading; and it il degradation that
knows no limitation. II may cease when
he reforms il il more likely to reach into
the future and prove source oi new mis-
cry.
II Is only the speech Of little child
that calls forth these words. and yet. when
repeated % the reporter, il sounded very
much like an argument against intemper-
ance. Nay, it was more than an argu-
ment, il was a junction of the present with
the future rc.--connection forced and imper
ative. The story is quickly told:
A gentleman Of this city. who for years
has been more or less under the influence
Of liquor. and whose red nose aud bloated
figure stamped him a. an inebriate, had
gone home 10 his wife and children in his
usual condition. He was not unkind in
act or in words.
u was his delight 10 play at games with
his little ones, rs he was able, and to en-
terrain them with wonderful stories. On
this OCCASION the family were all together
in the sitting room. and the usual games
having been played, little Freddie, lad
about six years of age. had climbed upon
his fathers knee, and was asking him all
sorts OF boyish questions. He talked as a
child will-of what he would do when he
was "big man. asked if he would be
like papa then; and finally after long
and serious look into his fathers face.
with every shade of childish curiosity in
''''" ys'"h''' I'A w hi'i' tiiH ~ "
ing querie
"Papa. when | grow up to be II man,
will my nose be red like yours, and my
face all sweled ?" All, why should that
swollen face grow rcddcr than twas wont
to bel Why should his arms 50 quickly
draw that boy to his breast? And why
should tears How and voice trcmble as he
replied in words aud tone atmadc moth
er's heart glad
mo. Freddie please God. you won't
be like me when you get TO be man
and neither will your father. my boy, for
from this hour he will lead sober life. "
"Be like him. He had not thought of
that before. and the bare possibility stag
gcred him. All the love in his fathers
heart cried out against such a fate That
boy! His pride going about with bloat-
ed face and poisoned breath No, no, he
was not prepared for that Never before
had he seen his own looks so clearly:
they were reflected in the boy's-thc boy
grows 10 manhood; and honor. affection
and reason came to the rescue. The child
had preached a sermon no orator could de-
liver. and innocence and ignorance had
accomplished what learning and logic had
aimed at in vain. Those WOrtS went
home. cedar Rapids RepabiicdH.