Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-11-16
Appeal TO Females.

The cause of temperance, which has al
ready wrought such wonders, and has still a
giants work to perform, claims our most
earnest cooperation. Surely, they whose
duties and felicities are involved in the do
nestle and maternal relations should be pc.
culiarly and painfully watchful against
every approach of sin which desecrates
homes hallowed sanctuary.
We do not address those who have given
their hand to the destroyer-who, in the
strong language of inspiration, shave made
a covenant with the grave, and with hell are
at agreement" We are sensible that scarcely
any agent save the voice of him who raisetil
the dead, is available to break their bond.
age but they who, with regard to this in
sidious poison, literally obey the precept
"touch not, handle not" and suppose them
selves absolved from all other efforts-are
they therefore absolved?
My sisters, if we assent to the PROPOSE
tion that not to prevent sin, when in our
power to do so, is as blamable as to have
aided In its preparation, are we justified in
supineness, while such multitudes are going
down to the grave with this leprosy in theiI
skirts and In their souls Do we to the
teaching of example add the whole weight
of that influence which the courtesy of an
enliehtene1 age, and the condesce SIGN of he
religion of Jesus have in these latter DAYS
accorded us2 If we are conscious of remiss
ness, let the words of the poet admonish
us
"Lol our not doing Is setdown
Among our darkest deeds"
Let the word of inspiration counsel us To
avoid the language with which the errine
sons of Jacob exclaimed, ave are guilty
concerning our brother"
Intemperance by the Preside, at the house
hold board, in the nursery--have we nothing
to do? We, whose affections have taken
root by that firesde-whose province it is
to make that household board subservieni
to health and heavenly gratitude-to whom
that nursery is the garner of the fondes,
hopes for time and for eternity-sbal We
perceive, amid those sacred haunts, the foot
steps of the enemy, and slumber?
Wife who by solemn vow before men
and angels has entered into union which
death alone can sever, has it been your fate
to see the vice Of intemperauce casting a
deathless hue over the heart in which, next
to heaven, was your confidence and day by
day, and hour after hour, as you watched
its fearful ravage, have you been vigilant
not to upbraid, not to argue reproachfully
oup W iCIlcoo 1Oul ONu SO1TOWs, W Ttnutl
home desirable, to re-awaken those affections
which are the guardians of purity ant
peace Z Above all, were your application,
uncasing to him who "turneth the hear
OF man as the rivers of waters are turned"
Ii so, though the harvest of your labors may
have perished-though the disruption Of
your hope nothing earthly can supply-stil
you will have escaped that deeper torture
of ref citing that you are "verily guilty con
corning" him who was once your more
than brother, your next to God"
Mother Whose duties are laid deeper
than any vow of the lips, even in the i'm
mutable strength of love that cauno
swerve, have you counseled your offspring il
this matter" rising up early and late TAX
ing rest ?" Among those habits which
modify character, did you inculcste the con
troll of the animal appetites the superior
| ity OF happiness derived from intellect and
virtue to the A.eting pleasure of sense
the nobleness of subjugating the flesh to the
spirit Did you oppose with your frown
"with the force of your authority, the frs
alteration from these principl.sP Die
you fully set before them the infrmity O
them, the necessity that they should seel
help from God2 AT dawn, and at MONDAY
aud in the hush of night, was there lift
ing up of your heart that they might b.
temperate in all things? Yet, should it b,
your lot to behold one whom you had nur
tured blot the inheritance of his ancestor
and sink into the drunkard's grave, God for
bid that you stand before his tribunal an,
say, Z" am verify guilty concerning" whom
Not the brother, whose habits you may no
have been able to inhuence-not the husban,
whom it was was not your province to con
trol-but the child, whom you have brough
into life, and loved more than lfe-th
child for the first panciled lines upon who's
soul you are accountable, because it was en-
trusted to you as soft as unsullied wax, tina
you might stamp it with the seal of heaven