The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1885-10-17
TEMPERANCE READING.
wlnI on TIC tABLt.

waa q giiesi onoo NJ beautiful
homs In 0ne NJ the iaaiefn States
Nothing that wealth aud taste could
provide was wanting W beauiliy and
aiofn H. The father waa man oi
business. anil immersed IN NJ ctrcs
The mother vas o refined and cultured
lady. who moved In the first circles u
aoclety They had two children. one
young girl oi some fifteen years ~ are,
aud the other a Young man of more
than eighteen years who wa attending
the college In the town, aud whom his
fond parrnts designed tot the proics.
sion of the law
Tho home was \ hospitahlo one, and
| lis hospitality had been conducted |
ON the old dfashioned lines of what was
called polite society. No entertain
mcnls were moro elegant, no table
more dalntily supplied, and nono had
costlicr wines than wcrc 10 bo 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.
penscd with refined hospitality 10 the
family guests Father aud mother
daughter aud sou, drank Of them with
their guests, and, 30 far M could be
seen. drank Of them sparingly and pru-
IDENTIFY Once or twice the young man
had been noticed 10 I'LL his glass moro
than once. but neither father nor
mother dreamed that excess would ever
mark his conduct lie was brought up
TO uso wine ~ n gentleman, and would
never 50 far forget himself rs to allow
II 10 master his self-control. So thought
father and mother, II ever the matter
became subject Of thought
But who can answer Tor the eonse-
quences when once the subtle spirit OF
drink and tho warm blood OF youth are
mingled. The facts unseen by NIL were
that the wine-cup had already fatal
charms for the youth. Often, when no
eye saw him, did he quaif the extra
glass or take tho halfcmpty bottle to
his chamber. And often, when father
and mother thought him with his stu
, dent companions busy at work, was ho
| 10 be found with companions, not At
, work. but playing the exciting game
, and drinking tho still more exciting
, draught
had risen early, and was reading
) In the pleasant littlo library. when an
$ anxious. hurried step was heard In tho
' dining-room. and through the half-open
: door caught the quick tones Of q
, woman's voice, saying
i "Where's Tomp His bod was moi
!. touched last night Where can he beP
= twas Mrs. As voice. TO Il replied
= tho slower, morc careless words Of th,
q husband;
|. "Do not be anxious, dear; Toms nj
+ right; he has likely gone home will
Il one Of his friends. He will turn NJ
Il presently"
a We sat down 10 breakfast, but III,
10 whole atmosphere was disquieted.
70 could notice the listening ear and III
n glancing eyc Of that stately mother a
y each step sounded near, or q forr
'" passed the window. But no Tom came
breakfast had just ended when III
servant brought IN note and hande
II Il TO Mr.. A. IIe quickly opened \
,: turned as quickly pale, aud then, with
ID hurried, anxious look at his wife, lel
ID tho room followed by the frlgh,cne
~ mother.
10 A half hour later learned II al
y, Tom had been arrested the night befor
" and taken 10 the lookup. and the nol
m was from tho kindly keeper, who wishe
IN 10 spare the respected family the di
ey grace Of public trial. shall ney'
N forget the face Of that mother Prld
he shame aud love chased each other ovs
81 Il In varying light and shade, but los
rs conquered and lighted II up with sa'
Id plying. mercliul glow. II was settle
an that she should 20 10 tho lookup an
ng that should accompany her.
o. We alightcd at tho forbidding doc
cu We entered the still moro forbiddin
e.' passage way. and we're conducted
~ Toms coll. With a cry Of unuiterab
"A "A love and mingled bitterness the moth
flung her arms about Tho neck Of u
.e boy whom she had nurtured so dc
'ee caiely, and wept hot tears Of shame AZ
Of pity.
ur- ,''Oh Tom. my son. my son. ho
en-, could you disgrace me sop she utter
cw between her sobs. The answer cam
ar. slowly, bitterly. almost dehantly, c,
tod ting into the conscience OF that moth
GET with the sharp. remorseless edge
ga reirlbution.,
CD Mother. oh my mother. why did y,
teach me 10 drink But for the wi
on your own table. curse II shou
,,. never have been here. II cropt in
800 my blood. fastened upon my will a
chained me fast What did lest mig
,,,. I know not. ! was mad drunk Z
A., II you had kept IL from me years ago
That mothers face Is before me no
pE Pale a. death. agonized beyond pos
hn blity of description. every line Of
Arb proach for the wayward boy turned II
red. n deepening furrow Of self-reproa,
helf She spoke but once: "forgivs me.
,os boy--I see II Nil now, and may God
for. give me-"
var. Tom was taken home. The disgrl
the was not suffered ~ become an u
'cco ono. That night lengthy and solel
eral conference took placo between
will proud mother and the wealthy faith
the And the next day no vestige of stro
drink was 10 be found In the prime
nes home. The evil spirit was cast Q
rew but. alas not before Il had well N
lass possessed tho only son Of those v
'ss 'ss, had 80 thoughilessly harbored IL.
49,, have visited that home since. Wes
,h,. and reinemen, mark all its appo
81. mcnts, q OF old. hospitality reign
,hsy royally, but the lesson II ehastenin
10 be read In the absence of all
can in,oxicase. and In the tender 9
aud constant prayer that the Hease
4 Parent may repair the error well n
four Irreyocably wrought by The 10,
usr. earthly parents. Yes. dear rrs'
are. keep Il out Of the house. Have no
ate. ceitful ally within. working hand
a, hand with the brsxen confederate v
bou, out Keep II out Of your kitchen. a
that from your table. make tho family Of
} be- secure.
he 90 II mar be that some member cf
d 60. family will fall victim 10 the teri
per. poser of The drink appetite. bus
ctive ! pltiahle and almost uncudur
thought ID would be 10 haunt yon
ever. II conscience accused you Of Y
ing Il easy for The hrst step 70 b. "a
-ine n the lightning must sssike your n
ffl4H4 | I--st fs.x s.Ifvf. naka Hrarnfr the