The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1894-04-27

| - 80 ~" many coutriDutionS W
their treasury they thus eject him leaving
him to the tender mercies Of the police or
to be ridiculed and jeered at and possibly
provoked to crime, What brought him
theree What is his history? Was that
bundle of rags with flushed face, blood
shot eyes and staggering steps ever any
thing different from what it now appears ?
Is II nothing to us as we pass by2 All !!
1t would be something to us If it were
our father, brother or son. We then
would give the scene more than passing
thought. But what brought him there |?
His present condition may have been
brought about by many things and it may
be impossible for us to know his history,
but let us in imagination draw picture
of his life which under the existing con-
dition of things makes his downfall pos
sible..
Back In the years past and gone we
see mother kissing her boy goodbye as
he leaves the old home. perfect pic
ture of young manhood he is with high
forehead, clear eye and face without q
shadow upon it. His eyes meet ours and
we see in them the reflection of pure
heart. He is the pride of fathers heart
and the apple of mothers eye. The pois-
oned cup has never touched his lips and
vice has left no mark upoi him. A posi-
ton has been secured for him in the city
where his talents can have greater exer-
else and with high hopes for the future
he goes and enters upon his work. The
city is new world to him. Everything
goes with rush and roar. How diff
ferent from the quiet Of his country
home. He joins in the general activity
and writes home glowing letters of city
| life and father and mother back on the
hillside read and re-read his letter telling
of his success and build castles in the air.
He makes many acquaintance and they
invite him to participate in their pleas.
ures. He accepts their invitation and one
evening finds him seated at the banquet
table enjoying with others the fragrant
perfume of flowers and the delightful
things about him. He sees the rose but
not the thorn. How different from things
at home He finds himself making the
comparison. Possibly he feels out OF
place but he watches others and initiates
their ways. Wine is on the table and
soon the glasses are filed. Perhaps he is
inclined to refuse and picture of father
and mother comes up before his mental
vision. He remembers all that has been
told him about the danger of the wine
cup, but he does not wish to appear odd
and his face tlushes as he feels that every
eye is upon him. He lifts the glass to
his lips and says within himself ejust
this once these friends would think it
strange if l refused" Would that some
one might strike the glass from his hand.
But no. The glass is emptied and the
work of destruction begun. He'll is filed
with joy at seeing another start down
ward. The liquor fires his brain and it
is easy to accept when the glasses are
filled again. The next day his conscience
troubles him some as he thinks it over
and he resolves never to touch wine AGAR
He makes all sorts of good resolutions
and quiets his conscience by saying that
never again will he yield to the. sempter
But soon he is brought face to face with
it again and the tempter whispers in his
ear, once more Some of his friends are
present who saw him take his first drink,
he finds it difficult to refuse and so takes
another step downward and FORCES an
other link in the strong chain Of appetite.
Step by step he goes down and soon he
longs for the exhilerating effect produced
by liquor. Wine will not satisfy and SO
he patronizes the saloon and from here
the grade is steep. His Incorporate
habits become known to his employers
and he loses his position. He is ashamed
to go home and confess his fault and at.
tempt to regain his lost manhood. He is
ny ITO lolLuCt tut
doors which were once opened to him
are now shut. He finds employ ment but
again loses his situation through intern
perate habits. Obliged to decend in the
social scale he soon loses his self respect
and in process of time graduates out in
the gutter in front of the low groggery
down by the wharves. Once man but
now a wreck.
Have over-drawn the picture
No
For under the existing condition of
things it is possible and it may be your
boy or it may be mine.
"Seest thou not what they do in the
cities of Judah and in the streets of Je-
rusalem Is it nothing to you all We that
pass by p 1t ought to be something to
us and wine upon the table should be
banished forever, for where young man
finds it easy to refuse an invitation to en-
ter the saloon, he finds it hard to refuse
the wine at the table, or when behind it
is fair hand and fascinating eyes. There
is direct connection between the ban
quet table and the saloon. for when wine
ceases to satisfy them the saloon furnish
es the article wanted. A stronger stimu-
liant is found there than some tables offer.
The saloon does not make all the drunk
ards, it is true that they put on the finish
ing touches. yet in many instances the ap
petite Is formed outside its dUtrs aud the
practice of furnishing wine and other
liquors to guests should be condemned by
AAFR'c