The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-01-01
TEMPERANCE DEPARTMENT.
EDITED By THE WOMEN IS CHRISTIAN TEN.
PERANCE UNION.
OUR MOTTO: 'sFoR GOD AND HOME AND
NATIVE LAND"
NEW YEARS BoQUETs.

NEW YEARS BOQUETS.
In one of her pleasant talks about the
Young Woman's Temperance Work, Miss
Willard gives the following little sketch
Quite circle of young gentlemen met
one New Years morning at the residence
of one of their young lady friends in re-
Spouse to somewhat mysterious note of
invitation. On their arrival they found
awaiting them an exquisite button-hole
boquet of white flowers for each one who
would wear it and keep its purity unsullied
This he could accomplish only by keeping
his own lips untouched by the wine-c,ip,
and his breath untainted by the spoiler.
This would also prove card of invitation
to an elegant entertainment in the parlor
of their hostess in the evening.
Cheerily were the dainty bouquets ad-
justed, and gaily were they borne away, to
prove talisman to many temptation,
either through the silent remembrance or
the open avowel of the presence Of the
colors of the W. G. T. e. If the day had
its trials of faithfulness, it had its tri-
umphs also, for the tiny pledge was brought
back by steady feet that had not always
brought the owners back steadily on other
New Year days and the rewarding smile
was claimed by clear eyes that had not al
ways before showed the calm depths Of
total abstinence.
1t was a merry gathering Of wit and gal
lantry in the parlor that evening, redolent
of happy memories unshaded by regrets
for unseemly jests or maudlin speeches, or
by promonitions Of dismayed mothers and
sisters still awaiting their homecoming.
| We hope this lovely example may pre-
vail, and that the white @gis of the Y. w.
C. T. U. may spread its influence far ard
wide until the ruby wine shall hide its
blushing confusion in the darkness Of Its
own foul pedigree and never more find a
welcome place in ''the best society"
Dear young ladies, this little incident is
but one illustration among many Of the
strength of your influence over young men:
We know that young ladies do not always
realize that they have this power. and
when they do, it is not always their study
/ to use it for the highest and best purposes
We believe that young lady by her steady
consistent Christian example may exert an
untold power. There is an unconscious
respect and almost worship which young
men, no matter how wicked they may be
themselves, pay to consistent Christian
lady be she old or young. A gentleman
once said to a lady who boarded at the
same house with him, that her life was q
constant proof of the truth of the Chris.
tian religion. Men who would like to be
infidels often find the consistent Christian
| life of mother, wife, sister, daughter OF
sweetheart the one persistent proof Of the
reality of religion which they can neither
| gainsay nor resist, though she may never
utter another argument.
Often the simple request Of a lady will
keep young man from doing wrong. We
have known this to be the case very fire.
quently. Young men have been kept from
breaking the sabbath. from drinking, from
chewing or smoking, just because q lady
whom they esteemed and respected had
made such request of them. A tract
given with point to it), an invitation to
go to church, an expressed wish that your
friend would read the Bible daily, will
often be regarded when more powerful
appeals from other sources win fall UNI
needed upon his heart. Do not hesitate
to use this infiuencb for the right, and
you will often be astonsshed as well as de-
lighted with the results.