, 1882-06-09
Temperance.
\ DIALOGUE BETWEEN Mrs Dun AND
Mn BAKER

Mr. BAKER
! For he ARGUS
Mrs Dun Your conversation on this
OcCasiun seems 10 me to he unreasonable
and to have no foundation in facts as
! they stand.
Mr. Baker. Well, Mrs Dun, your in
| PRODUCTION seems somewhat cool for Il
lady of yonr standing; please tell me
! where my remarks have been unreason-
able.
Mrs, Dun. You, sir, said that Il young
gentlemun in this land might frequent
the saloon and drink in moderation, even
On the Sabbath day, without rendering
himself unfit for husband or civil olli.
Ger, or impairing his estate.
b Yes ma'am, | said all that and
might have said more in that direction
| wait for response.
ID You shall not wait long, Mr.. Baker
are You acquainted with MIR. Piper who
married my daughter two years ago?
B-Yes, l knew him well.
d Did you know him before he was
married.
b Yes, / was familiar with him fol
about five years prior to that time.
ID Was Mr.. Piper esteemed temperat,
ami respectable during the time OF you
acquaintance?
~ lnuocu, madam, he went with tn,
best company and was much respected.
| ID But he would drink sometimes?
b Not oIten;- he was considered /;
temperate man.
D-Was he a member Of any Church
b think not; he may have beer
when boy.
ID Where did Mr.. Piper spend his
| Sundays?
b AT home or visiting, or in the sa
loon with his friends; but L never saw
him drink, or wasting his time or money
so much can l say for Mr.. Piper.
D-But Mr.. Piper seems to have made
free with Gods time. The Sabbath is
not for frolic and revelry, but for relig
lous purposes. The money also belong
TO God and must be spent in His service
suffer me to ask you, Mr.. Baker, have
you been acquainted with Mr.. Piper since
ne was married?
B-No, madam; about that time ]
moved away some 25 miles, and have seer
| Llll buu tNO vi lllCC SlilCC-
DAAllow me, Mr.. Baker, to explain
why / took such an interest in your con
versation, and why / allowed myself il
so much severity.
B BY all means speak and 1 will heal
you gladly.
D-Two years ago had a daughter
lovely and beloved by her parents anc
neighbors She was a popular and sue
cessful school teacher, an agreeable com
panion, and amiable generally. Mr.. Pi
per was young man Of genteel appear,
ance and conduct. He attended church
regularly for two months before his mar.
riage. He wooed my daughter and wor
her love. In the meantime did what /
could to convince her that Mr.. Piper low
ed the saloon more than he did OF the
Church or her either, That he attended
the church because he believed that there
was the place to get good wife; and
| that he attended the saloon because there
he would meet clever fellows, play cards
spends his time and help to spent some
Dody's money all for lots of fun and tc
be useless. There was more than one
trait in Mr.. Piper's character that rem
| dered him unfit for husband or to be al
the head of family. But my daughter
thought differently; she thought as you
do, so they married. Well, we gave
them a pleasant wedding and made
them happy as we could. We called Mr..
Piper our son and gave him portion of
our goods. On the first Sabbath after
the marriage Mr.. Piper accompanied his
wife to Church. But on the second Sab
bath Mr.. Piper had severe attack OF
SUNDAY headache which often keep peo-
pie away from church and sometimes
proves fatal. About ten, A. NJ, Mr.. Piper
was mp and about, but very feeble. Az
ter a light breakfast he went to saloon
few steps off, where he got some drops
that made him feel better. So he re-
mained all day, and his wife went to
church alone for all him, then and ever
after. And now two years later Mr.. Pi-
per is a miserable bloat, drunken sot
with snakes in his boots and spooks in
his eyes; and as perfectly ruined as rum
can ruin man. This is assassination
with cruelty that is hard to match.
B-I confess, Mrs. Dun, that 20 have
the argument l am converted man,
acknowledge my error. Give me the
pledge, | will sign it and devote my life
to the interest of temperance cause.
D-Mr Baker, am much pleased with
your candor and frankness "An honest
man is the noblest work of God" May
the Lord bless you and make you useful.