The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1881-06-01
Leaves from Nv Diary.-NO. 4.

Leaves from Ny Diary EO.4.
May 18th, 1881. In pursuance of the suggestion
made by the Captain at our last conclaye on the
veranda, he and the Doctor were deputized as
committee 10 try, in the words of the former. to
taper of y George. They had found our friend
at home, sick and sorrowfpl, but feverishly erav-
ing FOR little Of the stimulus of which, during
week or more, he had taken so much.
The Doetor.-The poor fellow was suffering
aeutely, both in mind and body HIS nerves were
quite unstrung, and he wandered aimlessly about
the room, occasionally sitting down and hurriedly
rising again-he could not keep still 4 single mo
ment, and he was 50 weak that be could not walk
straight. his eyes had an anxious look; his voice
trembled his condition was serious-on the verge
of delirium. His estimable wife was nursing 4
sick infant, while two fine children were playing
about the floor. Speaking to me aside, she said
that George was rather unwell, (poor thing, she
wished TO hide his FAULTS and hoped that we
would persuade him from going into the city,
which he had talked of doing all the morning.
There were traces of tears in her eyes she spoke
l knew he had scarcely seen his home for a week
past.l
The CapfgiH.-I assure you 1 felt like swabbing
my eyes myself in that home of poor Georges. 1t
WAS not SO much the evident poverty itself that
grieved me, but the thought of the unfortunate
excess of our friend, the effect of which has de-
spoiled his home of all that should make it cheer
full and happy.
Tie ParSoH.-A mans home should be the sacred
spot where affections centre, and where domestic
Joy and parity are found Family life is of
divine origin, and necessity of mans nature. It
IS that to which every young man and every young
woman aspires. They seek congenial companion-
ship, and home where they may take shelter
from the rude storTnsiof life and live and bask in
the smiles of each other, and of the children God
may give them toEbe their comfort and their care.
Without home man Is imperfect, and cannot be
happy. And home is a nursery where right prin-
ciples receive early development. Il is the heart
of the social world. Men are what their homes
are children are what their homes make them.
The prosperity, the stability and the permanence
Of a nation depend IN a very great measure upon
the purity and integrity Of Its homes. Patriotism
and love Of home are like SiGmese twins and can
not be separated.
Tie Loctor-What breaks the heart of the
drunkard's wife 1t is not that he is poor, but
that be is a drunkard. Instead of that bloated
face, now distorted with passion, now robbed of
every CLEAN of intelligence, if the wife could
look on an affectionste countenance, which had
for years been the interpreter of well principled
mind and faithful heart, what an overwhelming
load would be lifted from her. 1t Is a husband
whose touch is poliuting, whose lnhrnlleS are the
witnesses of his guilt, who has blighted all her
hopes who has proved false to the vow which
made her his it is such husband who makes
home 8 hell.
ne CaBtdia-George is quite as well aware of
all the evil consequences that must come of his
excuses if he continues them, as anyone possibly
can be- and be viii tell you 50 II eloquent words.
He solemnly declared TO me that be Is determined
this time TO quit drink forever, and as he
Is strong enough to carry 1t lie viii take the
pledge Meantime he needed something to taper
OF w1th-something to set him On his legs again,
and 50 l got bottle of brandy good stuff. too,
none of the doctoredn grog that we hear of }
which put in charge of his WIFE with orders to
give him half. wine glass full every hour for
four hours, and after that once every four hours,
with occasionally little beef tea mat VIII
taper him nicely.
ne Doetor.-I called this afternoon and found
him nearly recovered under the Captains
medicine which he had ceased taking, and instead
of which be had taken the pledge. / hope soon
to see him again IN our circle on the veranda.
The PaIsoH.-I am heartily glad to hear that he
has taken that stand. But fear that, after what
has occurred his sensitive nature will prevent his
mixing much in society, unless we follow him
With a quiet. unobtrusiye sympathy.
The Decf0r.-He does indeed require all the so
cial announcement and active sympathy we can
afford Ii is not so easy to break of the habit of
using strong drink as some people suppose In
fact it is not easy matter, IN many cases, for
even moderate drinker to give up the use of
stimulants Many Of this class think otherwise, |
but a single trial soon cOnvinces them 20 the |
contrary They then discover, to their astonish |
ment that II costs a tremendous struggle, lasting
i. NAV be for three or four months, before they |
can conquer the appetite which the moderate /
USE of strong drink had secretly but surely |
created. If it be difficult for the moderate |
drfnker 10 become an abstainer. how much more |
difficult must il be for the incorporate man : |
What a conflict Is his What an agony, to conquer
the fend within him What slespless nights; what
hours of anguish what ceaseless hghtlngs; and |
all this TO 90 on, IN some instances for months be
fore the passion for strong drink can be brought
into subsection And even then, what carefulness,
what ceaseless vigilance ever afterwards single
taste Of strong drink will, IN a moment rekIndle
into sudden and quenchless blaze the suppressed
but not extinguished fame. Il Is an easy thing to
become a drunkard-fGcilis desceiisas 4rsyRi. 1t
Is not so EASY TO ascend that steep and slippery
path To accomplish 1t, demands an iron will. a
firuness and decision Of character which few PEI
sons possess. 1t Is therefore, OF the utmost I'M
is our duty before GOd-that we seize
every opportunity of word OF deed to encourage |
our struggling brother. In this connection re !
member a verse of Charles Mackays, on Small |
Beginnings, which reads thus:
:. 4 nameIess nan, amid a crowd that thronged the
Let f fs 1ol Of Hope and Love un=tudie from the
whisper on the tumult thrown,-a trnusitOry
1t rase brother from the dast it saved soul from
o es sGai foant word Of love, thought At random
Ye we're but little at the first. bat mighty at the last "
hRRnLsTUR.