The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-11-24
TEMPERANCE READING.
SAVING INFLUENCES.

SAVIN0 I'M EUENCES.
The Grave Responsibility DevoIving Upon
Mothers-The Fearful Consequences of
Neglecting the Children in the House,
hold.
What a depth of meaning in the
very words home influences. And yet,
are all parents, mothers especially,
striving the best to make home the
bright, sunny spot they might? Using
those sweet, gentle influences true
women may and can to make their
homes attractive?
We fear not In majority of cases
the world and it's absorbing pleasures;
receiving and returning calls; attend
ing parties or preparing for them
these, and other apparently innocent
ways of passing time among the
wealthy, engross the whole mind,
while their homes, elegant though
they may be, are so rarely made bright
and genial by the sweet motherly
presence, that they create to the young
a repellant atmosphere. The baby and
little ones are left in the nursery to be
amused by the nurse, while those 81 lit
tie older sometimes wander aimlessly
about between nursery and parlor, Ii
brary and their own rooms, seeking
for some amusemento or companiOnship
besides their own. The sons who are
thus left independently to come and go
as they please soon learn TO seek the
club and other places of resort, to pass
a social evening.
Can we wonder that from this first
step in the wrong direction, away
from home in the evening, others
quickly follow? A glass of wine for
good-fellowship, or game Of cards to
pass time are INDUCED in. Then come
late hours and a craving for stimu-
lants; desire ito try ones luck" at
winning a little something at cards,
faro, etc; and the steps downwards,
after this, are oftentimes startlingiy
rapid.
But among all the evils which assail
the young seeking pleasure away from
home, intemperance is the greatest,
and leads, through a weakened and
debauched mind, to almost any step of
degradation, in rich and poor alike.
To stem this evil we should steadily
and persistently work until the great
foe 10 mankind is laid low, or its
power for evil lessencd. And where
can this be more ctTectually done than
around the hearth-stOne Of home? All!
that mothers would all realize that it
is the sweet, gentle, hOme-influcnces
which may save their sons from per-
dition.
Even though the temptations OF the
world may, in aftcr-years, draw your
loved ones into its sinful vortex, a word.
a mere look of interest and pity from q
stranger, will sometimes wildly re-
call the past-mother, home and love,
and they are saved. Let not your sons
then go forth without any of these
sweet, hallowed associations. But
now, in their babyhood, their early
youth, do all you can to instill right
principles into their plastic minds.
And let not these principles be en-
forced as maXims for their worldly
good, or in stern, harsh teachings
line upon line, and precept upon pre-
cept; for instead of thus winning the
obedience of your children you may
disgust or weary them by oft-repeated
too tritc sayings-repel and drive them
from you and from their homes to find
pleasure elsewhere.
No, indeed! rather let your teach
ings be gentle and lovingly impaired.
Make home bright and CHEEKY, set be-
fore them good example yourself and
then hold forth to them high stand
ard to aim at, that it may ennoble
their lives and make Of them true men
and worthy citizens; best of all, pure
minded, earnest Christians Then NAV
we hope to see a better class of men
among us; men better fitted for our
public offices and places of trust.
Then, too, greater thrust will be
given to the drinking saloons and
RdLibIlIS utillS, VI IlCllS, Tvs jIltJ are
sometimes more strongly named. And
surely some Of these dens of iniquity
may well be compared to Tophet-a
place Tor lost souls.
And so we would again beg mothers
to make home bright and attractive to
their children. Don't leave the little
ones too much to their nurses or gov
ernesses; be with them as much as
possible yourselves while young and
capable of forming strong impressions
of home and mother-love. 1t may re-
quire selfdenial on your part in Civ
ing up some social pleasures, but in
after-years you will be more than re.
paid by the sweet companionship O
your sons and daughters; who, accord
ing to Scripture, will rise up and cal
you blessed. j X. mfeLd, IN Ma.
EiOnaJ Temperance AdUocate.
rAIICE ANTI EEEEHT