Health and Temperance by C. L. Hill

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 3, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 21.

Health and Temperance.

By C. L. Hill

Tempt Not the Weak.

“JAMES DUNTON, arrested for drunkenness and disorderly conduct. Fined five dollars. In default of payment, sent to jail for thirty days.”

This item in the morning paper met my eye, and I read it again, for the name seemed familiar. Could it be possible that this was my old school-mate? And my mind turned back to the time when James stood among the brightest of his class. True, he was a little wild, and soon after leaving school he commenced drinking, and would occasionally become intoxicated. Then he joined a temperance organization, and seemed so deeply in earnest that I had really thought him safe from all further temptation.

Such was the condition of things when I moved to a distant city in the far West. I had been absent for ten years, and was now on a visit to the old home. I had heard nothing of James Dunton during my absence, and supposed him still working in the temperance ranks.

Could it be possible that this was the same man? On inquiry, I found it to be true. James Dunton had become a victim of intemperance, after abstaining for three years. He had not simply gone back to his old way, but had fallen far lower, until the chances of his ever reforming seemed almost hopeless. I called on him, and learned the story of his fall:—

“I had tasted no kind of liquor for more than three years, and had conquered the old habit so far that it had little or no temptation for me. One evening I attended a party celebrating the birthday of a lady friend. Wine and other liquors were used quite freely. I had twice refused to drink, when the hostess approached and offered me a glass of wine. I begged her to excuse me from accepting it, but she answered somewhat petulantly:—

“I should think you might drink once with me in honor of this occasion.”

“As I said something about the principle involved, and the possibility of a single glass leading to further indulgence, she retorted rather sneeringly:—

“Oh! I beg your pardon. I had supposed that Mr. Dunton was man enough to drink a harmless glass of wine without fear of becoming a drunkard.”

“This stab at my pride, in the presence of others who had no scruples about taking an occasional glass, had its effect, and with some light remark in reference to the excuse I had been making, I took the wine and quickly drank it. This led to another, and then another, for I wished to show the lady that I had sufficient manhood to drink several glasses of wine if I chose. The result was, I was carried home beastly drunk. After that night all the old cravings came back tenfold. I tried to fight against it, but it seemed of no use. My courage all forsook me, and I became reckless. In my false attempt to sustain my manhood I had lost all. I feel now that my fate is fixed and there is no help for it. The sooner the end comes the better for all concerned.”

I tried to encourage him to hope for better things, but he would not listen.

As I went away I thought of the wonderful influence of woman, and how sad that it should ever be put to such bad use—that it should be used to lead men downward, when it might do so much toward lifting them up. The loss of manhood through life, and of soul through eternity, are the weighty matters to be trifled away.—C. L. Hill.