The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-05-16
w. G. T. U.
conducted by Members of the Portland Union
"For GOD, and Home, and Natipe Land"
Build today, then, strong and sure,
with I, firm aud at1at,Ja hacas

Build today, then, strong and sure,
With firm and ample base;
And ascending and secure
Shall tomorrow find its place.
The Builders.
Don't waste time ON me; it's too late to
| save me. Look after them boys" Such were
| the words of poor wreck of humanity who
had almost lived cut his three score years and
ten in the indulgence of his appetite for strong
drink when friendly hand was stretched out
for his rescue. Far be it from any Of us to
say that the Fathers iovc and grace can not
reach even such an one.
"For the love OF God is broader
Than the measure of mans mind;
And the heart of the Eternal
Is most wonderfully kind"
But there Is warning In these words that
we dare not disregard; lesson that we must
not put aside, II those who are TO occupy po-
sitons OF responsibility and trust in this land
twenty years hence are to TACT we'll their
part" we must look after the boys OF today. II
the next generation is to be delivered from
the terrible curse of intemperanee 1t 10 to be
brought about mainly by rightly instructing
the children of this. And when can time
more favorable than youth be found for such
instruction. The little boat upon the upper
waters Of the Niagara child's hand may
turn from its course, but let that boat once get
down the rapids, efforts more than human
are required to save 1t from destruction. One
blow reaches the heart of the tender sapling,
but let added years give added strength, and
the tender sapling become the giant oak, then
many blows are required to produce the same
result. And no one will deny that this Is en-
phatieally woman's work. For upon whom
more than upon the mothers Of the land de-
.siva sss ryrvr'ur- srrsinrrg ana direction OF tho
little ones. in the formative period Of their
lives, while their hearts are tender. their
minds receptive, and their actions not bound
by the iron chains Of habit.
This is a trite subject. We read 1t In news
paper aud magazine; We hear it FROM the pull
pit; II is echoed in song, but it is often by
review Of a subject even so trite, that we are
made strong for action. And tell me, II you
are able, where action better pays? Not much
experience and observation are required to
prove that to fortiiy the young against intern
perance, is a thousand times wiser and safer
and easier, than to attemptto reclaim those OF
mature years who have fallen victims to its
terrible power. DIR. Cuyler says: 1.-THE years
of my life thus far have given to the work of
reformation. The balance Of those years, God
helping me, will give to prevention"
The Woman's Christian Temperance Union
recognize the importance OF this matter, and
five Of their departments of work have special
bearing upon it. The work for mothers, the
principal outgrowth of which is the mothers
meeting, where those OF class for the most
part all unused to good and moral influences
are gathered, advice, instruction and help
given them in the training Of their children.
The department of juvenile work by which
children are formed into bands Of Hope amp
kindred societies, induced to sign the pledge,
and interested in every way possible. The
Sunday school work by means Of which much
has been done to introduce temperance lessons
in Sunday schools. The department of scientific
temperance instruction, by which the boys and
giBls are taught the effect of intoxicants on the
brain and physical system. Aud the depart
ment of temperance literature where special
attention is given to providing reading for the
young In all these departments the seed is
sown with an unsDaring hand, scattered broad
cast in the land, and the reward viii be given
in the rich frniIage of the years to come, in the
abundant harvest of precious sheaves hereafter.
Truly little child Is the fortress of the fu-
ture. standing away out on the frontier OF time.
Let as furnish the fortress with provisions,
weapons, ammunition, and eager hearts shall
hold the fort when we grow weary"