The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-02-05


awhile my children were ret very
young l saw unmistakable evidence
that the thirst for drink was bora IN
them. From their birtff l tried to
guard against every avenue Of danger
hoping to save them by preventing
their learning the taste OF the poison.
But their fathers own hand mixed for
them the deadly draught He was in
toxicated at the time or he never would
have done it. Ihad left the diuing-roem
for few moments and came back lust
in season to see the younger of mY two
little boys smacking his lips over the
sugar in the bottom of the tumblere.
Like mad woman seized the bottle
for of course it was near-and hurled
it through the open window. Then I
half dragged my boys to my own roorn,,
telling them they had taken poison,
and I treated them as heroically as
though it had been arsenic or stryeh-
nine. As passed out of the door my
husband laughed a drunken laugh. say
ing:
i" Seems to me you've changed your
mind since you taught me to drink
w DdDN WIS 1diQ lie
my arms, prayed-for / had learned
to pray then-that he might be spared
from the curse. As held him to my
breast l thought of the poor slave
mother who gave laudanum 10 her
child and let it sleep to death in her
arms that it might not know the bond
age of slavery, and understood. For
is not the victim of alcohol slave!
What bondage so cruel, what letters Sc
CALLING? Far better that body should
be loaded with chains and scourged
with the lash than that soul should
be fettered and Scared with sin. o
God prayed, remove the curse if it
he possible. but if not, oh, take him to
Thyself!' God heard my prayers. Only
a day my baby stayed, and then my
arms were empty"
Tears were streaming down the pale
face, but a glow of solemn gladness
rested there.
"Oh, friendsr' she continued, "nt
my three children, the one who never
knew his mothers love has been my
greatest comfort; l know he is safe
with God.
''My older boys tried with all my
power to keep from strong drink. I
taught them of the ruin which would
surely follow its use. They had their,
fathers example to shun. They
seemed to understand and want to do
right, but the fire was in their natures
it could not be kept down. Willie,
my first born, went 10 dlunkard's
orPava hafOpo 40 xaroc ftuo,1 tt-f two
''My husband, in one of his seasons
of despair and remorse, took his own
life.
''And Frank, my Frank-can tell
youP A brighter, fairer, SUMMER
tempered boy never gladdened
mothers heart He fell as did his
father-G aOontGf1 placed The aUile cap to
has lips. Under the influence of wine
he committed crime, and to-day he is
behind the prison bars at Sing Sing,
a victim of s0ine, WINE.
"And can sit idly by and hear you
say that wine is good and harmlessP
You can see my whitened hair and
haggard face. Would that for one mo-
ment you could see the agony of soul
that has made me what | am and learn
lesson. All! he spake truly who said:
Wine is mocker, strong drink is
raging and whosoever is deceived
thereby is not wise "
There were few dry eyes when the
lady ceased speaking. But one of the
teachers drew from her reticule a copy
of the Murphy pledge and passed it
around. 1t was an opportme move
ment, a stroke while the iron was hot
The bit of paper was warmly well
coined, and at the head of :. long list
was the name of the girl-artist who was
so positive that wine was harmless
Jennie Hoa0ard BrOwn, IN Christian al
Work.