Year: 1869

hence; while the good that may accomplish By
placing valuable book in the hands Of my fellow
men viii be source of rejoicing through eternity
The books I call mine, if not otherwise destroyed
must at last be burnt at the general oonAagratior
of all things; but soul saved through my instru.
mentality by whatever means, will be star in the
crown of my rejoicing forever and ever. Thus, by
the circulation of good books, may share in the
reward of him who writes them, when he that
soweth, and he that reapeth, shall rejoice together
and Jesus shall have the glory of all


american Messenger


DRUNKEN MANS ARGUMENTS.


"Don't you believe in the doctrine of predesti-
nation2"


eyes, belive it as the Apostle Paul states it "


"Wen then, you can go this far you viii admit
that God knows just what will happen, and that
therefore, there is no uncertainty about it?"


eyes, can go that far."


'Then, what is the use Of your talking to me
about drinking rum, since it is certain that shall
drink every dram that God knows that I will
drink p


The speaker was we'll formed and fine looking
man, who had on the clothes Of mechanic. The
above specimen of his metaphysics must suffice.
He was one of the best mechanics in the country,
and, whilst sober, had laid up property: 1n an
evil hour he had yielded to the temptations of an
old habit of drinking rum. He descended from
one stage of degradation to another with great
rapidity and his best friends despaired Of his ref
ormation.


One day met him in the Office Of lawyer
Although in the forenoon, he squits tipsy. He
was such bright man, so superior In many res.
poets, that was panied to see him going to ruin.
My feelings were indicated in my countenance,
and perhaps anticipating an admonition, he said,
II see you want to speak to me about my habits.


admitted it.


sI thought so," said he; land now, as want
you to confne yourself to things neso, let me tell
you some things which you are disposed to say,
which you need not say, for 1 know them already
a great deal better than you can tell me!


"You were just thinking what terrible shame
it is for man whose mechanical skill is sought
after at a,high price, and who could make himself
ina short time, should sacrifice all
this to his drunken appetite, and reduce himself
to pauperism."


said he had hit the nail on the head.


"Ithought so, said be. "Now you need not
say anything on this point, for am already con-
vinced know what fool I am this respect


'Then you were thinking Of my trembling
nerves." he continued, land were amazed that
dare pour this distilled damnstion' down into my
stomach, when I am on the verge Of delirium tre-
mems all the time. Confess now, if you were not
thinking Of this ?"


Twas not disposed to deny it.


"Just so," said he, 'Now, sir, I know about
this matter better than you do. I have felt all
that Mr.. Cough or DR.. Jewett has described l
have seen the devils which haunt the victim, and
know that he who has this disease, for the time,
is in perditiou. You can't tell me anything on
that point; so when you speak, omit this!"


could not suppress smile at the mans ingen-
uity aud frankness.


"But," said he, there is another view ofmy case
which you are disposed to urge You want to re-
mind me how, ten years ago, I courted my wife
land no man had better wife than mine), and how
she refused to marry me until she was assured that
had left off drinking. loved her then, and love
her now. promised to treat her rs man should
treat wife. You want to remind me that have,
BY my drunkenness, converted my home into a place
of torment, and that have actually laid violent
hands on my wife |"


"And here are my children. You want to remind
me of the dangers and sorrows I am exposing them
to but you sir, cannot tell me anything pertaining
to nv family. know all about it. curse myself
as wretch and fool. I have no mercy in my self
condemnings Yes, sir, know all about this by
an experience which may the Lord deliver you
from. So you need say nothing to me on this
point.


could not but admit that he had drawn the
case with bolder hand than I would have dared
to attempt


'But there is one chief argument which you
meant to try on me. You wanted to draw motive
for reformation from the future retribution which
God will visit on the drunkard 1t is terrible
motive, and believe it to be true one. believe
there is hell nay, know there is, for l have
sometimes felt its fires, and have seen its torments
sometimes am overwhelmed with agony at the
bare anticipation Of meeting God in judgment. l
admit that am hurrying very fast in tha. direc-
ton, and present appearances indicate that shall
be turned into hell as drunkard.'


This was not said de6antly or jestingly, but with
gravity and feeling


"And so you need say nothing to me about this
point. know it already, but if you have anything
new to urge, shall be glad to hear it.


And thus he anticipated, and most forcibly stat
e1. some of the general arguments which person
would be likely to use in endeavoring to recall him
to life of temperance. could not refrain from
laughing to see how he had taken the wind out of
my sails. :.


But thoroughly warmed with his subject, my
neighbor stated his case still further


'Sir, you know nothing about the appetite for
rum. MY father taught me to drink it from my
childhood. inherited drunkenness from him, and
vas drunkard before was Of age. For the love
,f my wife I made mighty effort to conquer my
appetite, and thought hao succeeded lime and
showed ME my mistake


'The appetite was not removed. In due time 1t
woke like raging demon, and filled ne with un
,.terable torments. I would think Of my property
and of my reputation; then of my health, and the
horrors of delirium tremens; then of my wife and
children, and home, and then ofthe hell into which
he drunkard will be cast I would rush into bust
ness with furious energy, and try to overcome the
,npetite and yet in the face of all these motives,
would 20 straight to the tavern and drink myself
Trunk My remorse and shame were added to
,ther motives to keep me from repeating the deed
49,. I'll those seemed Ike the rones and Hithea ON