The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1886-12-31
NOIHER's wHIsEEY BOTTLE.

muse loi hlcuiSai iPOSen, s@iU Atis.
Indy, "but don't believe in drinking
liquor, not /; I've no patience with
drunkard.'
Now Mrs Indy was church member
in regular standing, and certainly she
thought it perfectly right to keep little
brandy in the house for the purpose named,
or she would not have done So She had
always been brought up TO think
that it was all right TO have cider
down in the cellar-sometimes sweet cider.
mostly hard cider. then cider vinegar.
| She could not see that her two boys were
| in danger from any of these causes, aud
she was quite offended when a friend inti-
mated as much.
! One inter night there was series Of
extra meetings az the village church. Dea-
con Indy and his wife were there every
meeting, and no one seemed to enjoy the
divine blessings more than this worthy
couple. They tried TO get Nathan and Judd
interested but. as the mother expressed it,
GAS soon as they got the least particle
awakened they took notion to stay at
home of an evening, and of course would
grow careless as ever.
She didn't know what those evenings at
home meant. No wonder they grew care
less as ever, As soon as Deacon Lindly's
| cutter and span of grays disappeared over
the hill, slight in the window would
signal the boys from the neighboring farm
houses, who would congregate in the dea-
cons kitchen for good time.
There were never more than three or
four of them at the most, and they behaved
very well, considering.
There was sure to be a pan of apples on
the table, and plenty of hickory nuts and
wainuts in the kitchen chamber, which
ought 10 have satisfied the appetites of
those boys Then for their intellectual
comfort there were games, books, maga-
zines, to say nothing of newspapers. In
fact, there was plenty in that house 10
amuse them besides whskey bottle and
cider barrel. But it was fun to make
whisky sling, and they knew too well how
it tasted.
Mrs. Indy was wont to say, There
was nothing good for cold as hot
whisky sling 1t had been her remedy
ever since Nathan could remember If
mother used it they could, and if was
strange what sudden colds they had dur
ing those evening meetings. As they we're
cid enough to know when they needed
medicines, they helped themselves, and
a
cold Sometimes a little cider from the
cellar served them. To b. sure it was
turning to vinegar, but it had a very pleas
ant Jingle. When hot sling was decided
upon the least possible measure was used
just enough to favor the sweetened drink.
but oh, how it strengthened their appetites
for the poison stuff.
Those boys were very thoughtful. They
invariably washed and set away the cups,
bow Is and spoons to save mother trouble.
New you will think that these boys
proved true to the old saying about dea-
cons sons; but at whose door shall we lay
the blame9
One day year later, Nathan took tie
team ami started for the postoffice 10 get
the week S mail. At the village he met
one of his associates, who proposed some
thing to warm fellow up this cold day
Bound as he was, Nat did not refuse lit
tie liquor straight, and the result was
mad race home along the drifted road.
The fiery grays got beyond his control and
dashed leme driverless.
They found Nat in the snow ina stupor
perhaps by liquor. Whatever it was the
frightened mother prepared wkiskey
sling, which seemed 10 have some effect,
for he began to talk, but very incoherently.
Mrs. I.i2dley feared brain fever, and sent
fer the doctor, firmly believing that NAT
would never have come to without that
sling"
The years rolled on, and the once thrifty
farm was sadly neglected. Everything
was going to ruin, Nat and Judd included.
There was no coneealing, no smoothing
ever the fact any lsnger--they We're drunk
ards. Perhaps it was well the deacon had
passed beyond earthly sin and sorrow. but
the mother was left alone. She sadly saw
her boys sink lower and lower in sin, and
she was powerless to save them. Sic
wondered that Providence could allow her
to be SO afflicted. 1t WAS a mystery why
her beys should be drunkards when she
had always been temperate woman. To
be sure she had not always gone to the ex
tremes, but she had never failed TO express
her temperance principles, and had tried
to instill them into the character OF her
boys. She had failed TO help them, and
one day she learned the reason.
The minister was in the sitting room
talking to Nathan. He had yainly tried
to help him.
Nathan, he said, desperately, Il wsn-
der what could have brought you to this
with the best of parents and advantages.
What was it -
| The mother in the kitchen paused to hear
the answer.
"You want to know, do yons Well.
| can tell YOU in few words, but Wish
You wouldn't be trying any more to save
me. I'm past help. must have liquor
as long as | breathe. What. brought me
to this Well, sir, nething more or less
| ~. 4. 49, L.