The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-06-03
A Face IN the Glass.

The evil memories of weakness shall
come, memories of a voice whose sweet
/ tenderness will guide you back to Love
and Home
/ was speaking On the subject Of
/ drinking to a gentleman who had once
been a great drunkard, but was now a
whole sOuled Prohibitionist, and during
the conversation, laughingly thrilled
! him about the old story of snakes"
, disturbing the peace of men, who are
! fond of their bottle. es, said he, they
, are always at the bottom Of the cup :
I horrible, deadly serpents that twist and
writhe in the Red Sea OF wine, just as
! reptiles of the wood, by some cunning
method of theirs, charm birds, so they
have a still greater power over US; they
fascinate Us, and as if by magic spell
WOO US on till we enter the gate of de-
destruction, yet they never frighten me
away twas the image of dear one dead,
that drew me from the downward way.
And then he told me a sad tale, still for
the lesson it bears Il tell it to thee"
II do not remember my father" he
began, "for he died when | was nothing
more than small boy, but my mother
was beautiful woman whom every body
loved. | loved her, too, though used to
give her a sight of trouble. She was an
invalid from some muscular injury, and
had to be wheeled about in chair.
was wild one sure, and not the sert Of
son | should have been, but she was so
good and patient with me. 1t nearly
broke her heat when | took to hard
drink, yet she would not scold, but with
soft womanly persuasion sought to in
duce me to give up the evil practice, |
did try to leave off, but 1t was not so
easy task.
"When | was in my twenty second
year, an uncle, living in distant State,
gave me position, as clerk in his store,
and there being no business to keep me
at home, left my mother in the care of
faithful domestic, and went to accept
the situation.
Chow will forget that parting, and
her last words were, Remember, son, you
are all | have in this world do, for my
sake, try to quit your bad habits. | am
very well now, still we can't tell what
may transpire during your absence, but
could die happy, knowing my boy was
not a drunkard' The kiss she gave me,
and the fervent God bless you,' seem
ed the warmer for being the last. Those
fondly spoken words, which sprang spoh-
taneously from her loving mother-heart,
fingered in my mind through the whole
length of that journey. Shame to say,
| did not heed them long, however; four
weeks stay in the gay city found me still
deeper in the snares of the tempter.'
But one night | was carousing with a
lively crowd of incorporate fellows in
the largest whisky saloon of the place,
when something happened which shall
burn in my memory forever. Just as |
was in the act of raising a glass to my
lips a voice whispered, don't, DON'T
and | looked into its sparkling depths,
and instead of the writhing serpents, |
saw the sweet, placid, moonlight face of
my mother, but OH how changed and
worn Somehow the dumb, reproachful
gaze of the tender, dark eyes, caused me
to reflect, and dashing the cup to the
floor, l rushed into the street, leaving
my rollicking companions in sheer
amazement of my strange conduct.
When l reached my room, there was
telegram awaiting me. 1t read thus:
Your mother is dead Only a FEW
short words, but in them wha. world
of bitterness lay! Well, | have never
swallowed a drop of wine since then,
twas the face in the glass that saved
me from the dreadful curse" What
blessing if the millions of drunkards i'm
tated my friends example. The vile
leeches could be banished, if they would
see, with their minds eye some loved
one, whose purity of heart would be an
armor against the enemy and those
whose lives had been nearly in reach OF
this fell DESTROYER might rise triumphant
above the heroes of earth, like him, who
an strong integrity Of soul uplifted,
Calmly stood, aud saw the waves of stormy folly,
Breaking at my feet
NJ. HELEN MAGRUDES
pAp1 ETpCpN MVSS