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¶ 1 Leave a comment on paragraph 1 0 28 pages.] THE SPOILED CHILD.

¶ 2 Leave a comment on paragraph 2 0 Look at the third son. He maried into a very worthy family, and his wife is a worthy woman. He prospered in business and became wealthy. Yet passionate, and furious, and drunken, his family knew no peace. The abuse in person and character which he inflicted upon his wife, will not all be known till the judgment. There are deeds of darkness of which but few have any knowledge; and earth now conceals them till eternity shall call them forth to light. But his wife was compelled to flee from her home, and then in his fury he did the deed which has consigned him to a prison. What a train of misery is here; and all to be traced to the conduct of one drunkard—and that drunkard a father!

¶ 3 Leave a comment on paragraph 3 0 A third remark arises: how do the venders of ardent spirit jeopard not only their men temporal and eternal interests, but those of their children and children’s children. Multitudes who are now living, like multitudes who are dead, can trace their ruin to the pernicious conduct on parents. Thousands of examples could be produced, in which the unmingled ruin which the venders of ardent spirit have brought upon others, has returned upon themselves or upon their families. Were a thorough investigation made, there is little doubt but a larger proportion of the descend- ants of those who have spent their days in vending ardent spirit have been dissipated and worthless, than of those of any other occupation. In the family of M. every son who came to manhood was intemperate and vicious. If any one doubt the hazard of the traffic in this respect, let him look around in his own town, and among his own acquaintance. And why should it not be thus? For gain the vender mingles the cup which ruins others, and why should not others for gain mingle the same cup for his children? The simple fact is, God has pronounced a solemn curse upon the man who puts the cup to his neighbors lips; and if the traffic itself is accursed, the gains made from it must be accursed, and the iniquities of the father shall pursue the child even to the third and fourth generation.      

¶ 4 Leave a comment on paragraph 4 1 Let then every man reflect as he pours out strong drink for his neighbor, and pockets the money as a reward, there is a curse entailed upon his conduct, and that curse will be felt even after his name is forgotten, or remembered only to be execrated.  

¶ 5 Leave a comment on paragraph 5 0 No. 28.