The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1907-09-05
"REMINISCENCES.
lcontinued from First Page.

ioii INC ioeo toSSshSij ih g 49, .~~f~'
to be burned,yto get them of the
ground in order to till the land. Soon
after moving into the neighborhood
father was asked to thus assist
neigh which he gladly did. 1t was
also the custom there, as in almost
all places in that day, for men to take
dram of whisky as often, at least,
as they took their regular meals.
Another uwriting of those times
says, "Thel abstainer was put upon
the defensive, and sometimes fatty
accused of gross discourtesy and often
found his pastor opposed to his views,
either openly or covertly; almost all
the colleges had liquors at their com.
N. ncement and other banquets, and
to propose wedding feast without
wine would have seemed most unsea-
sonable." Deplorable as the situation
still is, 1t Is vastly better than 1t was
then, when statesmen were often lit
tie better than common drunkards,
and great lawyers were frequently
public spectacles.
At such a place as at log rolling
it was thought to be indispensable by
a great many so, at this one, after
working hard until all began to feel
the need of short rest, they sat down
when the whiskey was passed freely
around; but when it was offered to
father he gently but firmly declined
drinking, which caused sneering
glances and remarks from the com.
pany, which we're we'll understood by
him. Some of his best acquaintances
told him he would have to give up
fanatical notions as that 1t he ex-
pected to remain among them and
and expected them to help him clear
up his farm, as they believed 1t would
be impossible in that neighborhood to
get men to help without conforming
to the custom. Although one of the
mildest men ever knew, yet his prin-
ciples had been established upon
rational and sober inquiry and were
not to be shaken by the eavils, or
SCOTS, of the skeptical, or threats OF
evil inclined,
So he was at that time, as all through
life, as firm as the rock of Gibraltar
to his convictions of right and duty {;
and he told them he knew 1t would be
almost impossible for him to clear up
his farm without their assistance by
exchanging work with him, but he
would have to get along the best he
could without their aid If they re-
quired this of him, for he had con-
scientious scruples about putting the
bottle to his neighbours lips that he
never expected to yield, and that he
could not disregard the words OF God,
saying, "Woe unto him that putteth
the bottle to his neighbours lips" So,
as may readily be conceived, 1t was
with some misgiving that he asked
them to help him at his first log roll
ing, as some of them seemed Offended
at the stand he had taken. But to
his pleasant surprise they all turned
out to a man to help him, and what
was still better they all showed the
respect they had for him by seeming
not to notice but what his treatment
of them was according to custom.
Those who felt that they could not
work without their dram brought
their bottle with them, hidden in their
bosoms, but would slip behind a tree
/ to take drink so as not to be seen
by him. Solomon says, when a
mans ways please the Lord, he max
eth even his enemies to be at peace
with him." AS this was among his
first dealings with his neighbors In
that community 1t might be called
the index to his character ever after
ward as a private citizen. For the
same strict Christian integrity was
the rule of his whole life. he always
lived above the reproach of even his
enemies IF he had any, which doubt
He was always the champion Of truth
and Justice in both public and private
affairs. Brave and courageous TO 60
at any and every call of duty, and to
assail with sound reasoning every
wicked and dishonorable thing. unset
fshly studying the welfare of others
as we'll as his own, and was rejoiced
to know that he was able to exert
some little influence tor good, or In
any way conduce their happiness OF
prosperltyIin this life as we'll as the
life to come. And ! doubt not, eter'
nifty alone, can reveal the good inhu
ence he had overlmany of those tip
piers.
/ do notlwish to make the impress
ion that fathers nearest Christian
neighbors we're tipplers, for they