The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1897-02-18

| er fingered from instrument or trilled
from human lips, is most difficult. But
one OF the easiest songs to learn is
the song of the drunkards. Anybody
| eau learn it. In little while you
can touch the highest note of conviv-
iality or the lowest note of besotted-
ness. Begin moderately. sip here and
a sip there. Begin with claret, go on
| with ale and wind up with Cognac.
First take the stimulant at a wedding,
| then take 1t at meals, then take 1t be-
tween meals, then all the time keep
your pulse under its stealthy touch.
| In six months the dullest scholar in
this appollyonic music may become an
expert. First it will be sounded in
hlccough. After awhile it will be
heard in silly ha! ha! Further on it
will become wild whoop. Then 1t
will enable you to run up and down
the five lines of the musical scale in
fernal. Then you will have mastered
1.-THE song of the drunkards.
You see this sermon is not SO much
for cure as for prevention. Stop be-
fore you start, if you will forgive the
soleeism. The clock of St. Paul's
cathe dral struck Is one midnight, and
SO saved the life of q sentinel. The
soldier was arrested and tried for fall
ing asleep at his post one midnight,
but he declared that he was awake
at midnight, and in proof that he was
awake he said that he had heard the
unusual occurrence Of the clock strik-
ing IL instead of II. He was laughed to
scorn and sentenced to. death, but three
or four persons, hearing of the case,
| came up in time to swear that they,
| too, heard the clock strike l3 that
same midnight, and SO the mans life
was spared. My hearer, if you go on
and thoroughly learn the drunkards'
| song, perhaps in the deep midnight Of
your soul there may sound something
that will yet effect your moral and
eternal rescue. But it Is risky "per.
haps." 1t is exceptional. Go ahead
on that wrong road and the clock will
more proba bly, strike the 10 that closes
your day of opportunity, than it win
strike 13, the sound of your deliver
| ance.
A few Sabbaths ago, on the steps Of
| L
in other years confronted me. At the
the first glance l saw that he was in
the fifth and last act of the tragedy Of
intemperance. Splendid even in his
ruin. The same brilliant eye, and the
same courtly manners, and the re-
mains of the same intellectual endow-
ments; but a wreck. l had seen that
craft when it plowed- the waters, all
sails set and running by true
compass; wife and children, and
friends on board, himself command
ing in voyage that he expected
would be glorious. putting into pros.
porous harbors Of earth, and at last
putting into the harbor of Heaven.
But now wreck, towed along by low
appetites, that ever and anon run him
into the breakers-a wreck Of body, a
wreck of mind, wreck of soul.
Where is your wife?" II do not
know" where are your children?''
Il do not know" Where is your
God?" II do not know" That man is
coming to the last verse of that long
cantata, that protracted threnody that
terrific song of the DIR unkards.
But if these words should came-for
you know the largest audience reach
l never see at ALL say if these words
should come, though at the ends of the
earth, to any fallen man, let me say to
him: BE the exception to the general
rule, and turn and live, while l re.
call to you a scene in England,
where some one said to an in.
ebriate as he was going ont of
church where there was great
awakening. why don't you sign the
pledge?" He answered.: Il have signed
it 20 times, and will never sign it
again." why, them" said the gentle
man talking to him, don't you go up
and kneel at that altar, amid those
other patients?" He took the advice
and went and knelt. After awhile lit.
tie girl, in rags and soaked with the
rain, looked in the church door and
some one said, "What are you doin g
here, little girl?" She aid, Please, sir
l heard as my father is here. Why,
that is my father up there, kneeling
now" She went up aud put her arms
around her fathers neck and said
Father, what are you doing here?'
and he said, II am asking God
to forgive me-" Said she, vi
He forgives you will we be happy
again?' "Yes, my dear" ''Will we
have enough to eat again. Yes, my
dear" And will you never strike u.
again?' mo, my child" "Wait here,
she said, till 60 and call mother
And soon the child came with tn,
mother, and the mother. kneeling be
side her husband, said: Save me
too! Save me, tool And the Lore
heard the prayers At that altar
and one of the happiest home
in England is the home owe
which that father and mother nov
lovi ngly preside. So, if in this sermon
have warned others against dissi
pated life, with the fact that so few re
turn after they have once gon
, astray, for the encouragement O
!. those who would like to return
tell you God wants you t
come back, every one of you
! and to come back now, and more ten
derfv and 1ovinolv han anv no+ho