The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-08
Flashlights On The
Temperance Question
The Thanksgiving Golden Clasp.


Every summer night her fragile form
seated in a rocking chair on her portco. facing
the street Long fer the girls of the house
hold had retired and the lights in neighboring
dwellings had been extinguished the little "o-
man would patiently keep her vigil she mao
made it rule never TO retire ohtl an tne
children were in. The children now were
byond the age Of nesting in mother s lap lhe
boys were battling with the world, Her chief
fear was the gilded saloon and its attendant
downward distraction.
one night grown son staggered in the
porch and mothers heart staggered Prayers
and pleadings did no permanent good Not every
night the scene repeated, but II was ire
uuent Mothers love did not grow cold nor
did her faith depart, She was a widow she
had for years been possessed OF great re-
sponsibility. She had done her best She SUI
fered and was strong. But the son went from
bad to worse and seemed never to draw
sober breath Finally she had to PROVIDE lor
his support from her scanty means, but the
mother love remained true and she still kept
her weary vigil refusing sleep until he came
in. When the chill Of fall would drive her
/ indoors from the portico, she would seat her
self al AN upper window and look and listen
for his coming. The street may have had him
all day and way into the night put ne was
mothers boy and it was joy when mother
knew he in bed at home and under her
loving care.
/ I. was on Thanksgiving that he came in
early bearing a bouquet of pretty autumn
flowers. which he presented mother, accom-
panied by loving embrace and a sweet kiss
1 There was no scent OF liquor on MS BREATH.
Mothers heart bounded with JOY and the
pearly tears of Thanksgiving streamed down her
cheeks. Mother. into the parlor. want
to talk with you," He led the way. seated him.
! self on a couch, drew her beside him. threw
his around her neck and she her arms
| around his neck and for some moments both
! sohbed in their Thanksgiving Golden Clasp!
He told her he had often tried to break away
from bad associates; that II had always dis
tressed him to cause mother so much pain, Abut
that he had found the saving power at last,
result of her love and prayers The w.
c. I. U. and the Salvation Army had led him
into the smiles of the King. They got out the
old family Bible. laid the ponderous old volume
down the floor sat themselves down beside
it. turned It's leaves and read Its promises, and
when the midnight chimes ushered in the
homecoming day. mother and son were on their
knees. with around each other thanking
the Father of all mercies and God of all grace
for the restoration and praying for the keeping
power,
He faced about and made splendid Chris
tian character and is active worker for the
, destructive pessimists did shake their wise
heads and say "he won't hold out" instead OF
lending him a helping hand, n the emery,
displayed in lamentation over the hayward was
diverted to helpful ministraton in behalf OF
the erring, the result would be wonderful,
glorious. And there would he many more
Thanksgiving Golden Clasps.
And--"est We forget'-it Is we'll to re-
member duty to discourage the socia
drinking customs in all honorable ways and
our responsibility for any quiescent attitude
regarding legaized temptation to the you'll
and flower of land.