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Appeal Of A Wife And Mother

Appeal Of A Wife And Mother image
Parent Issue
Day
4
Month
May
Year
1846
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Twenty-seven ycars ago I was not what I am now. My eyc was then bright; my cheek vas the picture of licalth: and my lioart was light and blithesome. I was then a strafiger to care. I had then never experienced one pang of disappointmcnt arising from hope dcfcrred. - The world was to me full of promise : and my imagination looked forward to many future years of calm and tranquil happiness. Twenty-seven years ! How often does memory carry me back to that green sunny spot in my existanco. Twenty-seven I years ago ! There s a meaning in this word which brings to my mind a full recollection of that sweet and delightful period. Well dol remember the delicacy with which I was rearcd; the unwearied pains taken by my indulgent father, to give me an education answerable to my birth and prospects. And well do I remember my numerous suitors - my happy bridal evo - my splendid dress - and my brilliant wedding - when I gave my hand and my heart to him who is now my husbond. I was thon a dolightod, happy wfe. - My husband was one of the most promising and intelligent young men in the village. He was to me so kind and attentive - so full of afleclion and tenderness. l lovcd him then ; I love him still, aiiii 1 trust l shall love him until I die. - Our prospects then, were the most encournging. Well do I remember the beautilul mansion which my father gave mo, and thesplondid furniture wilh which itlwas stored. The costly sideboard, with the glittering vases and glasses which covered it, and the elegant decanters sparkling so hrilliantly with the choicest wines eontained in them. Oh ! that wine, that wine ! how like the serpent it stole into the Eden of our bliss, and stamped a curso upon me and mine, unutterable and indescribable. Jiut I was then young and thoughtless, I pon red ou} tho wino for my young compnnions as they called upon me. I laughingly urged those who were températe, to drink only one glass. Like a fool, I was sporting with tho very templation, the most fatal to thepoaceand happinessof families. - Experience, bitler, sad experieñee, has taught me this; and the agony of heart and the tears oí' anjjuish I have shed for ihis, my youthful folly, can only be seen at the judgment. One year after my mnrriago, I gave birth to my first boni, a fair and béáutiful boy. Oh! how many hours of happiness, )ure and unalloyed, have I spent in sporting with and nureing that young immortal. IIow fondly my hcart was attached to thnt child; and yet how little did 1 then feel for his true interest; how little grutitudcíüd I feel to my Maker, for his goodness towards me; nnd how little did 1 íeel my obligation to teach my son, iu his early and tender years, his duty to God ! I was tlicn blinded with my sins; 1 had experienced and enjoyed to many mercies to feel gratcful for them; and it was only when miáíbrtune carne and laid its iron hands upon me, that í was led by ihe infinito gnice and merey of God to think of my obligations and duties. Well, time rolled on. Another and another, and another, were added to my family, and niño years afler my nitirriage, I was the molher of five children, all of them boys. My husband had, by his attention to business, secured a handsomc fortune; nnd our worldly prospects were most encou raging. He was to me still kindly aftectionate - all that a husband should be. I was still a happy wife, andagratified, delighted molher; nocloud seemed resting over me. But why need 1 dweil upon this fair side of the picturo any longer 1 - My tale is a tule of woe, of blighted and crushed hopes and expeclations - and my appcal is the most painful eíTort of a wiie's and molher's licart. Yet hear me - hear me through, ye rum-sellinggentry. Ye ac Ihey who makc sport of the happiness and peace of the domestic circle; ye are they who, for the sake of gain, are ready lo destroy boih body and soul; ye are they who are scattering flowers ovefhell, and smoothing thepathway of many a wretched wanderor towards it with your stimuhiting drinks. Do I talk to hard ? Oh ! read a ( littlo further, and see the havock one of ! your number has produced in my family; and then say, if you can, that I have do i reason for mv severitv.I well remembor one bitter cold night in December, that 1 sat up long after my usual hour, waiting for rny husband to return from bis business. This was thu first time he over staid out so late as to alarm me. Tliere I sat in iny chair, all alone, onxiously awaiting the sound of every footPtep upou the pavemcnt. One, two, three o 'el ocle wos sounded by the faithful monitor bofore me. Still hft came not; tired and cold, í laid myselí' down upon my pillow, not tosleép; but to wet it with my tears. My heart was opprcssed with n cortain fceling that all vhs not right with my husband. About four o'clock, 1 heurd sevoral hurrying steps upon the pavement, and strange-loud voices as if cnguged in angry debate. The crowd stopped at my door, and I heard my husband's voice demanding admission. I descended to the door and opened it. He looked at me sternly for a moment, but observing my palé countenance, still wet with tears, he clmnged color, si ammered out an apology for keeping me up 80 late, and ascended to our chamber. Jú;fore rctiring to bed, however, he went to the side-board to drink a glass oí' wine. - The decanters were empty; he opened the side-board and looked fo'r tho jugcontaining the brandv. This was empty nlso. This surprised me ; I knew 'they had both been filled a Cew days before. - My eyes were now opened, and tho astounding lact that my husband had become a drunkard, and had just returned from a drunken, revol. Lurtt upon rae. -I covercd iny face with my hands, and burying thern deep in tho pillow, I tried to shut oul tho frightful idea. Oh í God! what an hour of agony - of deep, unutterable agony was that ! the husband of my bosom - thc beloved of my heart - llie father of my children; prostituting his intellect, and debasing his character by ntemperance. Could it bo ? He aróse tho next niorning long fier his usual hour. líreakfast had been dclayed for him; and thc oldest children whispered together as he entercd the room, as though they wereshocked at his altered appearanco. Before he sat down I to the table, ono oí' the boys was sent to a cortain rum selling professor in our ncighborhood after some brandy. 1 knew he had always drank a glass before breakfast, but it nevor had attracted tny attention particularly before. I now detcrmined to remonstrate with him, gently, but firmly, and induce him by a kind moral influence, to abandon so pornicious a habit. As soon as tho break fast table was cleared, 1 entered the parlor and desired him to follow me. Ho entered with a cheerfulncss which gladdened me, and closing the door, seated himself bcsido me upon the sofa. 1 took his hand genlly botween mine, nnd looking him ap in the iace, wilh as mucli tenderness as I could assumc, I began to speak of our fitst acquuintaince - of our early love - of our marrige, and the bright prospects which wore ihen opened before us. 1 spoke of our present standing and iniluenco in society - of the high respect with which we wero treatcd by all; and then l brought the question home to his heart, whether he was not fearful that all these fine prospects mighl be ruined, if he continued lo indulge his appetito for ardent spirits. He listened to me attentively, and smilingly answered, when I had finished, "that a glass of wine or brandy could do him no hurt. He was not feared of becoming a slavc to the habit; he could break oiTwhen it hurt him, for he umlcrstood his own interest too well ever to becmo a toper." This was eighteen ycars' ago. No TemperanceSocielies had then been furmed; and public opinión was not so much en 1 gh tened as it is now. ] knew it was fashionable to keep all kinds of ardent spirits in the house - to treat every caller; and our standing in society was.sucli that our house was often throngcd wilh visitors. I knew we shoukl be derided if we banishcd liquorsfrom the house; and yet, so ilioroughly was 1 convinc'ed that my husband was a ruined man, unless it was done, thal I deiennined to tnake the attempt. I proposed it to him; he looked at me wilh surprise. "No ! No!" he exclaimed, "that shall ncver be; ourless wealthy neighbors ailbrd it, and so must we; I cannot, and will not consent to that. One glass of wine cannot do any one any possible hurt. 1 shall drink one whenever ï want to." "I agree with you, my dear husband, that one glass of wine can do no hurt. - It is not of one glass 1 complain. I have noticed, of late, that you drink many in the courso of a day. The habit has grown upon you, wilh fearful rnpidity, and I fear - a tear starled - I do fear the consequences." 4 'Poh ! Poh! nonsense," he replied good naturedly, "it is all imagination." "Imagination or not, my deur husband, it has allected me as much as though t was a painful reality. It was but yesterday, I saw our two eldest boys around the side-board, looking wistfully at the wine; and, will you believe it, our little Will got hold of some, and had to go to bed before four o'clock, sotipsy he could not stand." "The side-board must then be lockcd," coldly rejoined my husband; "it will not do to be so iinfashionable as tó turn our liquor out of doors. Our parson keeps it - and so do our deacons - and so do our professors of religión; andsurely ifsuch men as these think there is no harni in it, we may safcly allow it to remain." What could I say ? Alas ! it was too truc that our parson kept it; and often have 1, when 1 visited his house, acceptcd of a glass of wine orsoine other stimulatingclrinks. Our parson also, used to drink it before his breakfast, and before he went into his pulpit on the Sabbath. - One of our deacons also kepl it for sale; and several members of the church had their diunkard mar ufactorius in fullrntion. Alas, I did not then dare questiou the piety óï lliese nien; and ufter my husband had quotcd such liigh authority, I felt cqnst raí ried lo be silcnt. Well, a few more weeks rolled away, before my husbuud again staid out aftei his usual hour. Wlien lio carne honic this time, bc was consklerably into.icatcd. lie pushed me roughly asido, as he entered tbc lióuse, urimindful óf my fas! ! falling tears. My nigllts aiul davs be carne now cmbitterod with a coftuín fearful look ing for sorrow. -My check becaiiK! palé, and minoeyes red with weepng. For about five years aftor ibis, my husband frequently carne home ititoxicaled. ín vain I reasoned and remonslrated. - I treated hirri witli all the tenderness of wlrich I was capable - (lid all tliat I could to anticípale his wants and made his firesidecheerful and arecable, yet, Cor it all, í was frequently repaid with barsh and Ijrutal abuses. When sober, kindly offectionatc, and he wouW' make every promise in the world to amtend. Hó seemed deeply conscioiis of the injury ho had done me. Siill the enemy was aflowed a fortress on our tide-boarcl, runl siill my huaband thotiyht there could .bo no harm in occasionally d.illying with him. Alas ! the habit wns fixed - deepiy, incurably íixed. He had become a slave to his passion. He could no Io0ger resist the temptation. The net was thrown - the victini had been cauglit; and all the pruyers, anti agonizing supplicatiousof a wife: and all the 'eiis of fiveshnmed and wrotched childmi, could not set the enptive freo. Well, hvo moro years passed awny, of aVcp and ndescribable wretchodness.- Evcry thing went wrong. Mv childreu, who at iirst wero shocked at their fathcr's disgrace, now, in turn, begari to ridicule him. His business was neglectfd. and the first intimation that ] roceived of the bad state of hja aflalrs, was an execution levied by ono of our rum-selling professors upon his store. I immediately gave a mortgage on mv houso to release my husband's ell'eets 'in traile. He promi.sed amondment - I bclievod liim, and placed in liis hands all the property which mv deceased father had settled upon me. Til is howevcr, was soon sacrificed, like the rest; and sixteen ycars nf;er my morriago, 1 found myselfa wretehed outcast upon the world, with no j)lace that I could culi my own, in which to Juy my head. Well do I remember a bitter cold morning, in Januarv, 1822, my hu.sband had been absent all night, and I was seated before a cheerfu] firo, in our large south enst parlor. I was thinking over the daysthat were past; and my imaginalion was busy amidst the joyous scènes of my youth. I had forgolten that my oye had lost its lustre, thal my check was colorless, and that I had experieneed so many years of sorrow. 1 was thinking of my iather aiul mot her, now dead and gone - and how tcnderly thcy íovej ino - of the companions of my youtlj; and my happy bridal hour. Al (his moment l w;ts nroused by a loud and violent knocking at the door. A group of men entcred, amongsi vyhorh 1 looked in vain for my husband. Tlioy had come, they said, on an unpleasant business. My husband was a banknipt, and they had como to attach his property. "It was levied by a rum selling professor of religión." 1 gave up my splendid mansion, nnd uil its costly furniture, without a muimur. 1 followed my husband to a rude built and low thatched cottngc down to the edge of the shore. Even hore 1 could have been happy. Uut, other wot-s and other somma .still awaited me. 1 was her'e destined to sce two of my boys breóme the victima of iiitempcrance and to follow the olher three to their Jong und silcnt abode. Would thal 1 had bttried them in iufancy. I well remember a cold stormy nnd dreury eve, in the winter of 1824. Two of my boys had been ofTthalday fishing; the two elde.st had accompanifed their father to the town; and 1 sat at home, over the nearly expiriug embers, endeavoring to prepare something lor my youngest son, who was stretchcd upon the low bed besideme, nearly gone with thé senrlet fever. My tears feil as fust ns his low moaning voico reached my ear; I rose to assist him, but 1 noticed a mortal [Sal en esa had come over his face. 1 staggered towards the bed. One gasp lor bréath, and then it was all over with him for exet. Uow Jong 1 lay insensilile, 1 know not; but when I revivcd, t found myself in an'other apartment. The candle buut feebly in its soeket. The firc wns ontirely extinguished, ond beside itic, in the habiiiments of the grave, stretch ed upon a plank' across two chaire, Jay my son - so lately full of health and animation - now a cold and silent corpse. I afose and eniered the other room; neither my husband or my boys had returned. The storm howled wildly wit'nout - the rain beat violently against the window, and there 1 was, alone in thnt dreary cottage, at the late hour of midnight, with the corpse of mv darling boy. Some neighbors had nccidcnllv ontered whilst ï was insensible, and laid him out for his long resting place. A few armsfull of wood they had also kindly loft me and somè provisions. An hour elapsed ere 1 heard any sound without, save tho slorm. Vojcos yfprë then l)eard approaching the cottago, aiul ín a few momenta my husband and two eldest sonsstood before me dripping with rain, & shall I write it, all of them beastly inloxicaled. leannot; oh! 1 cannot describo the tenors of that fatal night ; thó harsh nbuso of my husband ; tho heartless contempt and neglcct of my boys, vvhom I had Idved with all a motherfs fondness. Where is your nursling Sam V demanded my husband, casting an eye towards ihe bed. 1 handcd him Ihe lamp, and poinled to the other room. Ho took it, and staggered towaids the door. Upon opening it, tho pae inanimate corpse of his son met his ovo. - Wiih an cxclamatif)U of terror he.vmkupon tne Hoor. i lic boys nastenecl to help him. Tlxy stooil a moment to contémplalo t'io etnacioted conntouance of their brother, nnd then buffet forth ulo a wild and cln'Iilish sub of grief. Intoxic.iled thougli llioy wcre, their liearts had not yet closod óvor every generous JVeling. Jnt ihe rabrhirtg Brotight ric'vy lorrors Oh! 1)0 can 1 wrile it! and yct my licurt liaa becoiDO so burlhencd willi grief, thatl fc el 1 must give venl (o my lale ol' woe. Tho boa't in wliich my two sons went a fisliing, wns found U]isot a few rods below tlie house, tfficl botfi of thom worc drowiK! 1 fusfiido it, witli t hoi r fisfiJ ihg (ackling in tlier hamls. Wlint a scímig for a mother J Dcjriived in onc shoH night of llireo_clii!dr(;ii ; .-irnl ihese tlireö tho doarosl to her soul. My pfcbr hoart, which l)a] Jiithorto borne tip uiitlu r all tin acoiiiniilating ills wilh which l was TiHicicd, now gave way. No tcar, no solí esrnped rtie ; but a Jow brooding mclanclioly meilied upon my tnind. Dav.s and wüfks jiassod avvav. Í was iti'-rti-iblealike to har.sliin-.s hmI lo pity. Jiven the iron heartPcl, rum-selling ('hristian, who carne to sce me, appeiired touchod wilh my situation ; and was hennl to declare, that if he was not cominonded to look after bia family, he would ñflVjarwH nny more rum to my husband. I said belbre, duyt and weeks pns.sed away, aid still 1 heedad iiot thf sceesvvhich worc transpirihg nround me. - VVhën I woko lo reiurninpconsciousnêss, I füood iiivm'I;' in nnothor cl welling, much more eumlbriable, and inv hasband eeated beside mo, anxiouslv rcganiing me. He had been so shucked at the doaih of our children, all of' which had nrisen frorn lus beostly thirst Cor rum, that lu sworo he would nevcr tak e a glass ngain. During thesix weeks of my sickness, Ite bad i'cligiously kept liis word. Sevortil of his Tonner frieftds had hêafd of his röforólf and liad corno fon anl lö nssist him. They procured him a Mtnation in a large establishment in the village ; and we had removed fVom tlie thatched cottage down by tho rivei side, to a small and neat dweiling, nearly opposite my formcr residence. I wel] remember thesmile which played over my husband's í'uio fon tures as I awoko l'rom that living death. It was likelhc smile whieh 1 had vf'.cn seen in our young days of innocenco aid hope. Oh ! what a cheorful Bensation it sont to my heart, It ntoned at oncé ibr the errora and abuso ofyears, and I arose from my bed with a liglitness of step to which I was a strangor, My husband flunghis arms around me - ' 1 will drink no more rum, my déar MarYi' he öbServedj ' 1 will treat you botter than I ever did bcfore. I have been a harsh and unfeeling monster to you ; yet now I intend to reform.' 'Amen,' I responded with my wjjle heaiL. 1 was standing, tho fiiát morning after my reCövéry, looking out of the frflTit uimlnw, regardinc tho splendid mansión before me, into which I had once entored with all the gaiety of a happy bride ; and out of which l had been driveri by u dëadlier curse than that which sent our lirst parenis from Paradise. Our rum selling professor was standing in the door. My heart ached at the sight of him. , 1 knew him lo bo the man, who, under ihe plea of friendship for ü.y Küsbifnid1, had allnrcii him to liis storo, and had boon the ch iel" causo in consummating bis ruin. I krie'w ihat my liusband had speiift whole nights rit his store, surrounded wilh a ntñnbér of worihlcss ossociatea. 1 knew that my twooldest boys had beon brought undcr ibis man's iniluence ; and I then turned oside from ihe sight of him, jained and ailected even unto tears. Now my eyes wore open to that man's roal charactcr. I could no longer discover in him any trait oi Christian gentleness or love. And yet ho would bit at tho communion table. Ho made a loud profession of hisx.eal in the cause óf Christ. Mo would exhort the longëst and loudost in meetings, and with his hands stil) covered with tho poison which was sending death and desolation nround him, hu would lift them up in holy u-p.ver lo GpdJ What consummate hypocrisy ! Six moriths rolléd rapidly dway, during which time my husband still coutinued kiiitJlv ati'cctionatc and températe. - My two sous luid ))rocured excellent situations on board of one of our merchant shins ; and wore nlrcody many thousand miles oiF at sea, on a long and disiant voyage. My mfnd had become sobered with many wtigyéárs acquüintanób wiih grief, and although 1 fouid considerable comfort from the con.ciousnoss that I had always done my duty to my luisband and farnilyj still ihère were hours in which i c.[)erienc('d i!ecp and uncontrollableagony of hoart. 1 had my fëors of the slrcngth óf my hushand's inind to resist temptalion. like the wavo torced, wea ried and troubled mariner, I had vènturea my all upon thestrength óf an altuost foundered bark ; and if lliis failed me, 1 knew that my earlhly carcer would be short and sad ; yet 1 sludiously concealed all my fears from my htiband. I met him wiih a smile whenever hó caniclióme, and lasked all my poworS to render liis fl reside lmppy. lío trëcftëdirié wit li tlie uimost affect ron, tá il' to alone tor his nmny. cruel neglocls ; and his smilo was as winning, and tho roné of his voico as gpntle, as when tliey ajipenrod in ilio day of our enrly Jovn. Jhit, oh ! nnother cloud - donse, dnrk nud drcadliil, caino over our penceful fireside. Well do 1 remomber tlio night. Oh, vos! it is stamped wiih a feil r ful Torce upon my inemory forevör. It was ii cold and windy Saturday niglit, in November, 18"5. Tho .shntters wero closvó and a göod firc was burning tipoi) ihe hearlli ; nnd 1 was seaied bcsido it, wilb my work in bami, :nvaitingtbo return of inv husbuid. He liad gone Jo our rumsellitig Chrislian's store, ipainst my ad vice, to buy a few groccries lor iViniily use. Ten o'clock hud ponddi ore lictiirned. Mv juick ey.e délected au nnsteadiness in bifl lep as he cntered, and ft is tillóla appearancc betrnyed llie oilcct of lii.s deadly enuinv. 1 passèd a tÍeepiesa niglit - mv was literully wel wiih tcar.-s - aiul in llie agony oí' my hcarl, i n.hcd lliat I had liever been boni. My lr,i!iat)dY, '.-out was feaiTiilly rap! ■}. W'iiliin a few w t eks lio was sci-n lying at inidday in the slrcets, ttbsolutey hclpicss, ihi sport of unfeeUtTg boys. ilu íoüt nis siluQtíon and vyáa ngain dé scrled Iiy all of his friends. In vaiu 1 Bed with hirn. So powei Tul bilti ij 8 thir.( lor liquOf f: anurscd, líuit [bc iue to atli'ii'pt lo speak Lu liim. Wfla .siiílicient to draw upoii me iIju irio.v'. Ijjitfer ini)icca!iin ; ünï) y(, I bcgged and entfeáli d, nd wept ; yol uioré, iipon rn_ kri'-rs. 1 wjiforingty befioiigfil him to rerioüncé a hábil wln.íi uuuld forever ruin boli) his soul nnd Univ. 1 -r.il. also uion the rum-seMïog profosüors and upon Bevëral other persona, Iwo ol vyhom wc-io Ibe s.-lcct n of ihc villógê, atid cnt'fëttted ihem not to solï hitn liquor. ] pleaj wjih theni, whli all elpqueneo tliai a ivretched and negíected wife could coinrftand. I luid ihem of inv earlytory - of my once peaceful (reside - of the (U'.idly blight which had come ovor it - of the marty wretchcd honrs I hatl puSiC-J - óf the man y slesplei nightá aoüiroublcd uays I had o,x netteneed - ol'the many, mnny lears 1 had shed - óf the cold ncjjloct nnd Imrsh trenlmotti of a once kind, tind still lencïcrly holovod husband. And what think jou, gentío reader, wero (he feo) ing nnswors I reccivcd to my appeal ! Thè apawer oí the woalthy rum-soljing C.h rist ion uns, ' have dfamily to proyiuejjort and must tahc care of (hem ;' and (hen, when 1 mentioned his nbility to support his family without selling rum to my husband, his ahswer was, Ij ' ïdon't sefl hitn rum, èi'hers loitt.' Th is was the hènrtlesspjea of all 1 cnlled upön. Some of them, must say, wero, howover, so consciencious, thál they saiil ihey tvould nut mII to hiin Vfren ho was drunk ; bui il'he camo to their stort1 perfecfly 6ober, and called for lirpior, ho should have it. Many limes did I cali upon thosc individuáis, and nttemptto state nïy talo of voft, nm: describe my foclings. The world, in ifs )iido and loftiness, fcels bilt little fór tlic yuilbrings of n drunkard's wife. She is compcllfd to bcar in silence oïid negloct all the illa wbich oí man, ni.xldoncd by au unnatutal thir.si for stiniulaling drink, enn inílict. i wcll retnombor une night s hen rhjt husband came hpmp port! tvci]y ntokicatod tKan u'sual. [Ie hád been fighting w th soVn'e one of hisoonipaiiions, nnd had been badly bruiaed. My tours feil Past as I bound upti severo winindcm his licad. A {iv of them feil upon his hand. llo lookod tnfl bjp iü the wee, and sternly corhhVaifdéd nï( i i stop mv tcars. Í bent úpon niy kneos before in'm, to sn pplicato bis ineivy and forjgiVenéss. Oh that blow, that blow. It feil with a loar ful forcé upon my deféncelósa hcad. Nearly foür years have since pnsscd, and I iim now the tenant of a poor Rbúfcb. Mv huabdnd is utifl nlivo, thoy say, a wretchod w'underer ón tho fuco of ihe ourth ; attd my ttvo boys havo bccome the most iibantloned sailors in the JKt v. 1 nm a wifé and roother ; aml havo siill ;il! of n wife 's nnd motherVsolicitudë i'orlho ol)jpcts, once so (.V-u-, nnd still so tendcrIv (oved. Hut ah ! whv do I woep .' Xbëro aré many wreichèd widows and mnny mice rabie wives, in ibis póoV hotrtc witli imi, who bave beftn pffrtl hefe by thn iiilemperanee of-iheir hüsbnndé"; t h ■ ■ i . . aro many hoarts böre broden witli anguish, and rondorrd defiolate witli tor row ; nndoftcnin tho stil) hour of ivgb havo I heard a deep nnd convulsivo sigh, and then the montion of a traiñe deoí to tho hen rt of sotne of my wretchod conipan;o!ic. Christian fatiicrs nnd motbers, have you fdllowd me throngh tbc pages of my short bal painfül hislory ? Whttl think you of the Buffetïng? öï u drunkarifH wife? OW could you feel, but for one moment, the pang of keen nnd pierqing onguisb wliich foliows them liight and day. Could you look, but once, into their onre worn and desolate hearts, you would road there a deadlier picture of tho evil eflecta of intemperaiice tban my pn aó draw. Y.ÓU wonld nut, you could Dot, hesitate lo lend evcry in fluonco you possess, in favor of the toinperunce cause. Tho very happlnes and jience of your (iomosiic fifesido demninK' tof you. 11 ow do you know but that these precioús young i in mort als, now qportiïig upon your knée, inay y-flt boI come the wrQlched nul deluded viclims . of this in.saliato monster 1 i'our intluenco, nnd your exampla, wil 1, in a greJt measure, decide tjifa qyestioD,. Vuu mu-f abide by thé ligljt uhich your own lire may kindie.lllkt I I . I I I I I i I Yoúng iren and inaidens; Yqu are now n 1I10 hoy dny of youthOil sp.orta and gay inlulgoncios ; listen' fur n idonicíit tü one wlio was onco the gnypst nnd happiést l' yon al!. I conjure yon, fór tlic sakc ofnil you hóld sacred 11 ilii.s lifo, and all ihot is valuable n etornily. to bahísh frum youVpresence, bó'nbefunh and foícvtT, tlio intqxicQtJng glass. - Voiir lioarls are now Jigbt, and uriaflected by tbe bligliíing, wiiboring curso of nlemperanc'é : .so was mine Your prosjjccls Cor future yonrs of hnppiness, aro now rédólént wiili pro su wire mino. The niorning of your life is now bright and tínélouded : so was mine. All that is gay in youtbfiíl hopo - all thnt is Ijriiit in youllilul muginihgs. Tbo worid witb ' Iissunny smilos, and laugbiOg a now beforo you. And yèt bolievornc, all these prospcr.ts, so brigbi and bo beuütifui, cnnnot savo_i)U iVom ;i darfi arul troiibled dcstiny liko miné. Tbe world is a cold nnd hollow heartni onr, ,-ifter all. You wili ufton moet in it tbor,o wbo, under tlie ploa of friendly niirlli, will set befo re you tho sparklíng inebriating glass. ]f yon would seal ymir clnu ter í'or ihis world, aini yourdwtihy ('") oternity - - duinn. 15clicc nm, your Mirnmcr's sup will ffóáo&ñ at noon in darkñesa aud desolátíon J.)ran)-s(.'llcrs j llave you luíarlét lieadoríi, whoevor you an-, aml whnt. yo-i may Ifej niy bfessiiig bo Ujfóñ you. Wflliep as tlii1 :ii)c;l is, in tho md.,t of bodtfy i if i i and Onder rircumstancus so full of unguisli, 1 lio[)C it will Gnd iis wnv tu your beart, audexert'a salutary upou your futuro character. l-'arewcll.