Insidious Habit

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 28, 1903

A YOUNG man had carelessly formed the habit of taking a glass of liquor every morning before breakfast. An older friend advised him to quit before the habit should grow too strong.

“O, there’s no danger; it’s a mere notion; I can quit any time,” replied the drinker.

“Suppose you try to-morrow morning,” suggested the friend.

“Very well; to please you I’ll do so, but I assure you there is no cause for alarm.” A week later the young man met his friend again.

“You are not looking well,” observed the latter. “Have you been ill?”

“Hardly,” replied the other one; “but I am trying to escape a dreadful danger; and I fear I shall be ill before I shall have conquered. My eyes were opened to an imminent peril when I gave you that promise a week ago. I thank you for your timely suggestion.”

“How did it affect you?” inquired the friend.

“The first trial utterly deprived me of appetite for food. I could eat no breakfast, and was nervous and trembling all day. I was alarmed when I realized how insidiously the habit had fastened on me, and resolved to turn square about and never touch another drop. The squaring off has pulled me down severely, but I am gaining, and I mean to keep the upper hand after this. Strong drink shall never catch me in his net again.”—Baltimore Advocate.