The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-10-10
TEMPERANCE READING.
WINE ON THE TABLE.

-"But for the Wine on Your Table l
Should Never Have Been Here!"
| was guest once at a beautiful
home in one of the Eastern States
Nothing that wealth and taste could
provide was wanting to beautify and
adorn it The father was a man of
business, an immersed in its cares;
the mother was refined and cultured
lady, who moved in the first circles of
society. They had two children, one a
young girl of some fifteen years of &c,
and the other young man of more
than eighteen years, who was attcn ling
the college in the town, and whom his
fond parents designed for the profess
sion OF the law
The home was hospitable one, and
its hospitality had been conducted
on the old-fashioned lines of what was
called polite society No enterta n
mems were more elegant, no table
more daintily supplied, and none had
costlier wines than were to be found in
this home OF a foremost business man.
The latter We're used to no excess in the
private life OF the family, and were dis
pensed with refined hospitality to the
family guests. Father and mother,
daughter and son, drank of them with
their guests, and, so far as could be
seen, drank Of them spariuglv and pru-
IDENTITY. Once or twice the Young man
had been noticed to fill his glass more
than once, but neither father nor
mother dreamed that excess would ever
mark his conduct. lie was brought up
to use wine rs gentleman, and would
never SO far forget himself as to allow
it to master his seli-control. SO thought
father and mother, if ever the matter
became 4 subject OF thought.
But who can answer Tor the cOnse-
qucnceS when once the subtle spirit of
drink and the warm blood OF youth are
mingled. The facts unseen by all were
that the wine-cup had already fatal
charms for the youth. Often. when no
eye saw him, did he quafr the extra
glass or take the half-emptv bottle to
his chamber. And often, when father
and mother thought him with his stu
dent companions busy Mt work, was he
to be found with companions, not at
work but playing the exciting game
and drinking the still more exciting
drlught.
| had r.sen early, and was reading
in the pleasant little library, when an
anxious, hurried step was heard in the
dining-room and through the half-open
door | caught the quick tones of
woman 5 voice, saying:
''Where's Tom? His bed was not
touched last night Where can he be?"
1t was Mrs. a. voice To it replied
the slower, more careless words of the
husbands:
DO not be anxious, dear; Toms all
right; he has likely gone home with
one of his friends. He will turn up
presently
We sat down to breakfast, but the
whole atmosphere was disquieted. |
could notice the listening ear and the
glancing eye OF that stately mother as
each step sounded near, or form
passed the window. But no Tom came.
Breakfast had Just ended when the
servant brought in a noie and handed
it to Mr.. A. He quickly opened it,
turned as quickly pale, and then, with q
hurried, anxious look at his wife. left
the room followed by the frightened
mother.
A half hour later I learned it all.
Tom had been arrested the NIGHT before
and taken to the lookup, and the note
was from the kindly keeper, who wished
to spare the respected family the dis
grace of a public trial shall never
forget the face of that mother Pride,
SHAME and love chased each other over
it in varying light and shade, but love
conquered and lighted it up with a sad,
plying, merciful glow. 1t was settled
that she should 90 to the lookup and
that | should accompany her
We alighted at the forbidding door,
we entered the still more forbidding
paSsage-way, and were conducted to
Tom cell. With a cry of unuttcrable
love and mingled bitterness the mother
flung her arms about tie neck of the
boy whom she had nurtured so deli
catel y, aud wept hot tears of shame and
pity.
ooh Tom, my son, my son. how
could you disgrace me sop she uttered
between her sobs. The answer came,
slowly, bitterly, almost deliantv, cut
ting into the conscience of that mother
with the sharp, remorseless edge of
retribution.,
Mother, oh my mother, why did you
teach me to drink? But for the wine
on your own table, curse it | should
never have been here II crept into
my blood, fastened upon my will and
chained me fast. What / did Lost night
1 know not. | was mad drunk. Oh.
if you had kept it from me years ago"
That mothers face is before me now.
Pale as death, agonized beyond posi-
biiity of description, every line of re-
proach for the hayward boy turned into
deepening furrow of self-reproach.
She spoke but once: Forgive me, my
boy-l see it all now, and may God for
give me-"
Tom was taken home. The disgrace
was not suffered to become an open