Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-08-18
Temperance.
OUR CHILDREN ARE FOLLOW
ING Us.

Will our readers look at some sol
emn facts in their bearing on tota
abstinence? Our children come int
the world unable to distinguish be
tween good and evil, especially as t.
their daily life. We have to tell then
what sto eat, drink and avoid" Ii
some cases there is perplexity, there
are physical peculiarities that make
Zone mans food another mans poi
son." 1t is not so, however, in The
use of Intoxicating drink. Here al
is plain. There are but two paths
before us. They must either drink
OF, abstain. The children have nc
means apart from us, of knowing
which path to take /; they both appear
equally safe and proper; the more sc
as they see wise and good men walk
ing in both paths. They must make
a choice, and having faith in our wis
dom, and our love, they practically
turn to us and ask, which path shall
/ take? We must answer, and answer
in way that the children cannot
misunderstood. With our lips we
may recommend the path of absti-
nence, but our true answer will be
our own conduct. Actions speak
louder than words. Drinking a sim
gle glass of wine in the presence. of
children will influence them far more
than your teaching, however forcible
or eloquent it may be. And the wis
er and holier you are, the more i'm
portant it is that the voice of your
lives should point in the right direc-
ton. Everybody now knows that
abstinence is the path of safety, and
drinking is the path of danger. That
the one is the broad, winding slippery
path by which every drunkard has
reached the region of despair. That
multitudes have cursed the day they
ever entered it, and with earnest en-
treaty have besought their children to
avoid it. That the other is plain and
safe, leading to health, intelligence,
virtue and religion. That multitudes
of those that are treading it, thank
God they ever entered it, and ear.
nestly urge those they love to tread
it also. 9f1
The children in their innocence and
weakness are following US ''througt
with unequal STEP" and are crying
to us, "Take the safest path for we
are following YOU" ''Can you guar
antee that their heads will be as
steady, and their feet as firm as
yours? And if not, then it may come
to pass that though loving the chill
dren tenderly and striving most ear
nestly in other ways to promote theil
welfare, your example may be the
stumbling-block over which they fall
into present and eternal ruin. W.
are responsible to God for our exam
Pile, and in the great day we mus
meet the results of even our uncon
scious influence. ] am personally
prepared to meet the results of m,
total abstinence, but l dare not NEE
the results of my drinking, howeve
moderately. Dare you? In the de
cision to which you came to-day tax
in the whole case. If you think 20
may crafty habit, appetite and Gus
tom; you may produce momentar
flow of animal spirits and even fame
that you derive little physical ad
vantage. Having said this, 1 think
have said all that can possibly be sal
in favor of drinking; and 1 thin
you will see that you have only sell
ish reasons for continuing to prat
tice it, your own comfort, your ow
pleasure, your own health. If, O
the contrary, you resolve to abstain
you will see that your reasons will
noble, generous and Christian. Yc
avoid the appearance of evil" yo
will pursue course of self denia
your example will be one that all ca
safely initiate. When you leave
home, or company, you will have 1
misgiving as to the influence you ha'
exerted. No man to whom drink
a temptation will be able to NAL
your one glass al. excuse for his tv
glasses. No victim who is endeavo
ing to escape from his besetment W
be thrown back by your example al
whatever may be the future of t
young people around you, they W
never be able to charge you with ha
ing led them astray." DR.. Lynn
Beecher has well said, 1T is L
enough to erect a flag ahead to ma
the spot where the drunkard dies.
must be planted at the entrance, pl
claiming in waving capitals This
the ,oay to deathl' If we cannot st
men at the beginning we cannot Sc
arate between that and the end.
that lets strong drink alone is sa
and only he. Scotch Paper.
s04 ABUSE NOTHING. at :
Two principles, everything for u
everything to be used wisely and X
ingly, are the principles TO be appl
to all questions in morals, to lite