The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-10-02
TEMPERANCE READING.
WINE ON THE TABLE
a sons Disgrace and a Mothers Remors
-" But for the Wine on Your Table

-"But for the Wine on Your Table 1
Should Never Have Been Here.'
was a guest once at beautiful
home IA 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. AMI 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 age,
and the other a young man of more
than eighteen years, who was attending
the college in the town, and whom his
fond parents designed for the profes-
sion of the law.
The home was hospitable one, and
It's 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
eostlier wines than were to be found in
this home of foremost business man.
The latter were 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 sparingly 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. He was brought up
to use wine as gentleman, and would
never so far forget himself as to allow
it to master his self-control. So thought
father and mother. if ever the matter
became subject of thought
But who can answer for the conse-
quences 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 quaff the extra
glass or take the half-empty bottle to
his chamber And often, when father
and mother thought him with bis stu
dent companions busy at work, was he
to be found with companions, not at
work, but playing the exciting game
and drinking the still more exciting
draught
L had risen 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's voice, saying: eaaaaf.
where's Tom? His bed was not
touched last night Where can he beP''
1t was Mrs. A. s 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 ND
presently a,s.r ls. as 20. -
We sat down to breakfast, but the
whole atmosphere was disquieted.
could notice the listening ear and the
CHANGING 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 note and handed
it to Mr.. A. He quickly opened it,
turned as quickly pale, and then, with a
hurried, anxious look at his wife, left
the room followed by the frightened
mother. s. @'if 5t
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 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 sad,
plying, merciful glow. 1t was settled
that she should 60 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
Toms cell. With cry of unutterable
love and mingled bitterness the mother
flung her arms about tie neck of the
boy whom she had nurtured so deli
cately, and 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 defiantly, cut
ting into the conscience of that mother
with the sharp, remorSeless edge of
retribution, $50 ta -.f--i
''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. 1t crept into
my blood, fastened upon my will and
chained me fast What did last night
I 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-
bility of description, every line of re-
proach for the hayward boy turned into
a deepening furrow of self-reproach.
She spoke but cnee: Forgive me, my
boy-I sec it all now, and may God for
give me" ftrl 'a e''4 Il ~ $3.50
Tom was taken home. The disgrace
was not suffered to become an open
one. That night q lengthy and solemn
conference took place between the
proud mother and the wealthy father.
And the next day no vestige of strong
drink was to be found in the princely |
home. The evil spirit was cast out, |
but, alas! not before it had we'll nigh |
the only son of those who |
had so thoughtlessly harbored il. l |
have visited that home since Wealth |
and refinement mark all its appoint
ments, as OF old, hospitality reigns as
royalty, but the lesson of Christening is
to be read in the absence of all that |
can intoxicate, and in the tender care
and constant prayer that the Heavenly |
Parent may repair the error well nigh |
irrevocably wrought by the loving
earthly parents. Yes, dear reader, !
keep it out of the house. Have no de-
ceitful ally within, working hand in
band with the brazen confederate with
but. Keep it out of your kitchen, away
from your table, make the family circle
secure Iie it e''-t'i'i @'' ~
1t may be that some member of your
family will fall a victim to the terrible
power of the drink appetite, but what
. pitiable and almost uncomfortable
thought it would be to haunt you for
EVER, if conscience accused you of MAX
mo- If eaSy for the first stem tn he ia ken