Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-11-15
drinking Properly"

When the womans crusade movement
was first organized in New York lady of
mean station in society came into our ranks.
In her richly-appointed home, wine, cider,
or beer had always had a place, considered
necessary by the head of the house as a
HELM to his dinner" Now that her eyes
were opened to the intrinsic wrong OF the
custom and its practical influence on their
only son, a youth of about twenty years, she
resolved, God helping, to Danish the evil
thing forever. She pleaded and prayed, and
| at last the desire of her heart seemed given
| to her their table was free from any stimu-
liant for months, and she began to have
great hope that danger was averted from
her sons career.
But one day in the early spring, as they
were seated at luDch the husband suddenly
ascertained that his health demanded
draught of the fine bottled cider which yet
| fingered in the cellar, and directed the SER
want to bring it.
"Don't," pleaded the wife; ooh don't"
If her son had not been present at the table
she would have been perhaps less urgent /;
but she trembled for him.
"Nonsensel responded the husband, as
if he had OWNED her thoughts cider is
| harmless beverage"
"Oh don't" fairly groaned the wife; but
it was useless the bottle was uncorked and
the amber liquid poured.
Pass your glass, Will, and try this
cider" he said to his son. =" The quality is
prime. Don't look at mother; she's fool
ishly afraid"
But sentiment of calamity seemed to
possess the mothers heart, that fell like lead
within her. She sat silent during the re-
mainder of the repast, no one perhaps MOTTO
ing that her own portion remained untasted.
| Will and his sisters were engaged that
evening to a birthday reception on Fifth
avenue, and, with many charges for him to
be home in season, they separated after
lunch. AT five O'Clock his returning foot
steps were heard in the hall, but there was
something about them that did not sound
quite steady, and the mother fastened to
meet him. Her worst fears were verified !;
viii was drunk.
AS she afterwards learned, that glass Of
cider at the noon hour had awakened the
thirst which had been slumbering within
him for months, and he had spent the after
noon in going from one to another of his
old haunts, where his former companions
had welcomed him and all the old associa-
tions had been revived.
The mother could do nothing with the
boy; he was beyond control. He insisted
on equipping himself for the party but with
so much confusion and riot in his apart
ment that when his father arrived the whole
house was in an uproar of fright. He, too,
was helpless to restrain. Coaxing and
threatening were alike vain to calm the
excited youth. AS last resort, the angry
and impatient father called in the police,
aud at the hour when he should have been
on his way to the party with his sisters he
was marched off to the police-station and
shut up for the night in a felon's cell.
The next morning | was called from my
breakfast to the paror to see the unfortunate
young mans mother. With tears of shame
and sorrow she related the above facts, and
begged me to go with her to the station.
house to meet her son.
"Of course" said she, "no complaint
will be made against him, and he will be
discharged but fear unless | am there he
will not get home. And he must go home"
she added with deep earnestness; "but
don't know what will be the end Of this
1t was the first and only time that was
ever in police court. Oh the sadness
and gloom of the place. AT that early hour
of the day few persons were about. One
after another of the unfortunate night pris-
oners were brought before the Judge and
summarily disposed of, and at last came
this weeping mothers son, fair, boyish-look-
ing, dressed with exquisite taste, yet bear
ing the marks on his person of his late de-
bauch. He was led to the rail by the Off
Ger. and we sat breathless to hear what
passed.
Has any one appeared against him :"
| Ono one, your honor"
| "What is his offenceP"
Drunkenness and disturbance"
| swell, young man, you had better take
care next time and see that you don't drink
too much. You ought to be ashamed of
yourself, sir. Learn to stop at the proper
time, and not put yourself and your friends
to such disgrace again." And with these
| impressive words the magistrate, who him
self was sometimes guilty of similar lapse
of propriety, waved the prisoner from the
bar. A half-smile fitted over the youthful
face as he turned away. He saw his mother,
but would not recognize her. She followed
him quietly, and l left them at the door,
and watched them as they walked up the
street with prayer and pity for them both.
1t needed some persuasion on the part OF
the mother to induce VIII to go to his home.
"No, mother, | never want to be seen
there again. Father'll be furious, and what
shall say to him lie had no business to
| benu iue lueIo lhsI ulShI II uefci ioi give
him."
Z" He couldn't do anything else, viii ; no
one could hold you. How could you have
got so drunk ?"
"The cider started me, mother, and
couldn't help it. Twas fathers own fault
"The mother groaned in spirit She knew
that was the truth, though she couldn't say
it. With kindly persuasion she, however, at
length induced him to go home with her.
The father met them in the hall. He
was Just going out to business. He gazed
at the poor boy, and then, with mingling
of reproach and contempt in his face and
his voice, he said
"Will, why don't you learn to drink like
a gentleman ?"
Alas alas the boy could not learn the
lesson. One of two things he must do
either not drink at all, or drink as much as
he wanted, which would always be to excess.
How shall we teach boy to " drink prop
erly," :" to drink like gentleman 7" please
tell us. Where is the boundary line between
the proper and improper use OF stimulants
Who shall define it
We verify believe the Scripture defines it
where, in the words of the wise man, we are
warned Leave off-before it is meddled
with" He spoke of another form of intern
perance; is it not quite as applicable in this
case 2--Aduocate.