Say No

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

DARE to say “No” when you’re tempted to drink, Pause for a moment, my brave boy, and think, Think of the wrecks upon life’s ocean tossed For answering “Yes” without counting the cost.

Think of the mother who bore you in pain, Think of the tears that will fall like rain; Think of the heart, and how cruel the blow, Think of her love, and at once answer “No;”

Think of the hopes that are drowned in the bowl, Think of the danger to body and soul, Think of sad lives once as pure as the snow; Look at them now, and at once answer “No!”

Think of manhood with rum-tainted breath, Think of its end and the terrible death, Think of home that now shadowed with woe, Might have been heaven, had the answer been “No!”

Think of the lone graves, both unwept and unknown, Hiding fond hopes that were fair as your own; Think of proud forms, now forever laid low, That might still be here had they learned to say “No!”

Think of the demon that lurks in the bowl, Driving to ruin both body and soul, Think of all this as life’s journey you go, And when you’re assailed by the tempter, say “No!”

— Selected.