HOME EXAMPLE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1677, 1 October 1887, Page 2

HOME EXAMPLE.

A friend gave me lately tha experience of a skilful professional man m about the following words : — " My early practice," aaid the doctor, " was Buccsssfol, and I s >on attained an enviable position. I nmried a. lovely wife ; two children were born to ue, and my domestic happiness was complete. Bat I wae Invited often to social parties wtiere wine was freely olr« oalated, and I Boon became a slave to Its power. Before I waa aware of It I was a drunkard. My roble wife never forsook me, never taunted me with a bitter word, never cc- sad to pray fur my reformation. We became wretchedly poor, ao that my family were pinched for daily bread* One beautiful Pabbath my wife went to church, and left me lying on a couch,, sleeping off my previous night's debauch. I was aroused by hearing admetbing fall heavily on tho floor. I opened my eyes and s&w my 11' tie boy of six year a old tumbling upon the carpet His elder brother Ball to him — "Now get up and fall again. That's the way papa does ; let's play we're drunk ! " I watched the child as he impersonated my beastly movements In • way that would have done credit to any actor ] I aroße and left the house, groaning la agony and remorse. I walked off miles into the country, thinking over my abominable o : n ad the example I was setting before roy children. I solemnly resolved that with Gods- help I would quit my copa, and I did. No lecture I ever heard from Mr Gough moved my soul like the spectacle of my own sweet boya ' playing drunk as papa does.' I never pass a day without thanking my God for giving mo a praying trife, and bestowing grace sufficient to conquer my detestable Bin of the bottle. Madam !if you have a 3on, keeja him, If yon can, from ever touching a glass of wine." It Is hoped that this may be a timely warning to more than one father who Is by no means a toper, and yet is putting a wine* glass right before hia own children. It Is the ready excuse of many a young lad for taking a glass of champagne—"" We always have it at home." The decanter at home kindles the appetite which soon seeks the drinking saloon The thoughtless or reckless parent gives the fatal puah, which sends the boy to destruction. Long labor m the temperance reform h»s convinced me that the most effectual place to promote it is at home. There Is the spot where the mischief too often Is done, There is the spot to enact a prohibitory law. Let it be written upon the wall of every house, " Where there's a boy, there should never be a bottle." — Theodore L. Ouyler.