Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1897-03-04
An Appeal for the Children.

A storm is gathering over the ocean;
the waves swell high, their white cap
ped crests dash up against the rocks
and fall in seething foam. The night
grows dark, and see! tiny speck ap-
pears in sight, dinly visible through
the gathering gloom, and soon the
outline Of ship is seen coming on,
swiftly, surely, to where the cruel
rocks stand ready to gnash against it
with their remorseless jaws. The
night settles down more densely dark /;
no help now for the doomed bark
that set gayly forth at dawn, no help.
No help? But what is this that
starts to sudden life from yonder loft
ly crag and streams across the wild
tumultous sea with steady steadfast
glow, pointing the way to safety?
A signal light A shout goes up
hoarse, borne upon the roar of wind
and wave, Thank God, a signal Ii sht.'
There are many storms upon the
ocean Of life to-day; many cruel
rocks; and many, many are the beau
tiful barks that go down, down in
sight Of landl
Are the signal lights all out? Let
US look to it at once, for while we
hesitate. waiting for some one else to
move, precious lives may make ship
wreck. Don't wait for some one else
''better fitted for the work" Had
Paul waited for some one else "better
fitted" to preach the gospel where
would the Gentiles have been? Had
Grant dallied around waiting for some
one "better fitted" to lead the Ameri-
can armies, where would the country
have been. Had Abraham Lincoln
waited for some one ''better fitted
to tree four million slaves, where
would the colored man be?
There are more than four million
innocent boys and girls in our count
ry to-day. Let us keep them free
from slavery before which that of
the South, gigantic evil though it was,
-pales into insignidgcance. And let
us not wait for some one better fit
ted to do it. 1t is for the children
that we plead. Those little ones in
whose tiny grasp lies the future veal
| or woe of this great ma tion. Shall we
stand idly on the shore and see the
precious barks, freightned with the
nations hope, go down in darkness'
I have heard that a Roman Catholic
priest once said, "Give us the train
ling Of the child until he is seven
years of age. then do what you will,
you cannot take him from u.s." He
had discovered a great truth. What
we learn in childhood we never for
get. Ask the teacher, the educator
If this is not true? Take your owr
experience. Have you forgotten the
Mother Goose melodies lisped ir
childhood? though many a beautiful
poem learned in later years has pass
ed from our remembrance. Let III
teach the children the great truths o.
Temperance in all things" Let u.
take these beautiful fields and SOW
| the good seed that shall bring forth
ahundred bold. There are many way.
to do this; in the home, the school
room, the church, the Sunday school
and through the Loyal Temperance,
Legion, with its simple teaching, itl
pledge against the triple evil, intoxi
eating liquor, tobacco, and profanity
| Christian women of Henry county
let us do what we can to save by in
struction, by warning, by example, tt
save the boys and girls from the crue
treacherous rocks OF intemperancs
and immortality.
| Lost!--on the streets of this city
last week and the week before, ant
for many weeks past, "a little child
Gone are the artless winning ways
that made sunshine In the home
| Gone are the loving saresses, and the
truthful innocent heart. Gone and
gone forever, for the child can never
be found, but In his place is left a lit
tie monster who swears, Lies, drinks