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TWENTY-FOUR REASONS

FOR

ABSTAINING FROM INTOXICATING LIQUOR.

1. Because Ale, Porter, Beer, Cider, Gin, Rum, Brandy, and Wine, contains a portion of spirit which is calculated to derange the human system: proved by the testimony of thousands of medical men. See Ipswich Temperance Tracts, No. 30 and 79. 2. Because none of these drinks, as an habitual beverage, are ever useful, but always injurious, to persons in health.

3. Because these habits originate in false notions of the harmlessness, or even utility, of alcoholic beverages, of which it is necessary that the public mind should be disabused.

4. Because drunkenness is a besetting sin, and leads to idleness, quarrelling, swearing, fighting, stealing, adultery, murder, and almost every other sin, and finally to ETERNAL MISERY. 5. Because drinking produces poverty, domestic misery, insolvency, bankruptcy, destruction of property, loss of reason, disease, and premature death.

6. Because a great deal of valuable land, time, labour, and capital, are worse than wasted upon making, vending, and using these intoxicating drinks.

7. Because fifty-five millions of money is annually expended upon these in the United Kingdom, which ought to be laid out in food, and the manufactures of the country, and promoting the spiritual welfare of the human family at home and abroad.

8. Because five millions of quarters of good grain are annually destroyed to make these poisonous liquors, and partly on the LORD'S DAY!!! See Tract No. 7.

Because intemperance obstructs the progress of civilization, education, the Religion of JESUS, and every useful reform. 10. Because abstinence is sure and safe, but drinking moderately is difficult and dangerous, and has led to all the drunkenness in the country.

11. Because I find that I cannot effectually warn the drunkard, unless I am an entire abstainer.

12.

Because I like to join those who are exerting themselves to promote the temporal and spiritual reformation, and happiness of the nation.

13. Because it is important to set a safe example of perfect sobriety to our children, friends, and associates.

14. Because it is our Christian duty to deny ourselves even of lawful things to promote the happiness of others.

15. Because, while millions repent of drinking, not one repents of abstaining.

16. Because, while no blessing is pronounced upon drinking, God's approval is frequently recorded in favour of abstinence. (see Jer. xxxv. Luke i. 15. Rom. xiv. 21. Prov. xx. 1.)

17. Because I think it wrong to touch, taste, or handle, or keep in my house, the article which is filling the land with misery, lamentation, and woe.

18. Because nothing but total abstinence as a human instrument will cure the drunkard, or prove a certain preventive to the moderate drinker from becoming such.

19. Because I find myself, by abstaining, healthier, wealthier, and happier; and am better fitted to perform my duty both to GOD and man.

20.

Because total abstinence removes one stumbling-block to the reception of the Gospel of CHRIST in the heart, by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT.

21. Because through the Divine blessing on the means employed by Temperance Societies, thousands have been reclaimed from habits of intemperance.

22. Because our juvenile population will be secured from many and powerful temptations, by being trained to entire abstinence from alcohol and instructed in the reasons for such a course.

23. Because as every man's practice necessarily tends to per petuate or destroy the drinking customs, it is the duty of every CHRISTIAN PHILANTHROPIST to give the influence of his example to the beneficial cause of total abstinence.

24. Because it will enable me, through grace, to devote more of my property to promote the temporal and spiritual welfare of my fellow-sinners, and the glory of GOD.

N. B.-"Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John iii. 3.

"If any man be in Christ he is a new creature, old things are passed away, behold all things are become new." 2 Cor. v. 17. "If ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him ?" Luke xi. 13.

"Jesus saith, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me." John xiv. 6.

J. M. Burton and Co., Stereotypers and Printers, Ipswich.

A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

BY A MECHANIC.

THE following remarks, addressed to my fellow-workmen, were suggested to me by an occurrence in my own family on New Year's Day, which led to very beneficial consequences both to me and mine. The last evening of 1850 we were all sitting together around the fire, just after tea, and the young ones talking of New Year's Day, wanting me to give them something if, the next morning, they wished us first "a happy new year;" this was soon promised; but what was the something to be? what would it cost? “Oh, it will not cost much; not more than a pint or two of beer would, papa." "Well, what is it?" "Why, on Sunday, Teacher read to us a story of an Indian child, out of a little magazine, and all the class were so pleased with it; and he said it cost but one halfpenny a month; that he got one every month for his children, and if we liked he would get one for us at the same price, then we could read it at home on Sunday evenings, with our father and mother. Now, we shall want you to give us a halfpenny a month to buy one." Of course I willingly promised, and of course, I was duly first saluted the next morning, and had to keep my promise. Little, however, did my darlings imagine what New Year's thoughts they would put into papa's head. Little did they think of being their father's teacher, or of the consequences that depended upon their pretty wish.

I am a mechanic, in good and constant employ, and am reckoned a tolerably steady man; that is, I keep regular to work, and never lost a day yet from being intoxicated, so that my master could depend on my being at my post, which could not be said for too many of my fellow-workmen. Still I thought it no harm on Saturday night, after giving my wife enough, as I thought, to join the rest with a pipe and glass for an hour or two at some public-house, where a shilling or two was soon spent, and very often I stopped much too long, could hardly walk home, and when I did get there, I was enough to wear out the patience of my wife, who was already worn out with the Saturday-night work for a little family. I have often wondered she did not reproach me bitterly, but she never did. When I owned my folly the next morning, she often used mildly to tell me of the bad example it was for my children, as, sometimes, some of them would wake up, and wonder what was the matter with their father.

It was the children's remark that the magazine would not "cost more than a pint or two of beer," which set me thinking. I am ashamed to say, it never occurred to me before how many a thing might be procured for my family, by the money I threw away, without thinking of it, for a pint or two of beer. It kept me awake a good deal that night. Why, a shilling a-week, thought I, is £2. 12s. a-year, nearly half the rent of my

house-and most weeks I spend several shillings a-week. At least, I could save all that I did not take with my meals or work; all the rest was only indulging myself, while my family had no share at all. Well, to be short, I quite resolved with myself that I would give up the publichouse entirely, let who liked laugh or jeer, and that I would not enjoy myself apart from my family; and with this determination in my mind I at length fell asleep.

Next morning, my children, who had heard me get up, called out "A happy new year, papa. We wish you a happy new year. Now we are to have the magazines." "Yes, my dears," said I, "that you shall; a happy new year to you, too;" and I thought and hoped they would have a happier new year, for I would spend my Saturday evenings with them, instead of wasting in the public-house the money I ought to spend on them. I had very soon to try the strength of my determination. At work every one was wishing another "a happy new year," and most were proposing to begin it happily, as they thought, by a party at the public-house I had not recollected this, as New Year's Day was Wednesday, and I thought I could slip off unnoticed on Saturday; but now all had agreed to join, and I should be the only one who would look unneighbourly and mean if I did not go with the rest. I avoided answering at first. I thought of home-what would my wife say? She, kind soul, would bid me do what I liked, only not stop late, or take too much; but I knew she would wish me at home. I thought of my resolution, but hoped if I went this once, which was not a regular thing, I might still keep off on Saturday; but then, again, I was quite certain that it would always be hard to do differently from the rest-the words of my children, "It would not cost more than a pint or two of beer," would stick in my mind; yes, I thought 1 may take for them and myself several of the penny and twopenny magazines during the whole year, for what I should spend to-night,—and, worst of all, I know that if I break my resolution once, I may easily be persuaded to break it once more; that thought happily made up my mind. I said plainly and at once, I would not join. Your numerous readers, who, like myself, work with companies, will understand in a moment the kind of replies I got from several of my fellow-workmen. "I was becoming a teetotaller; ,, "I should soon be a saint;""John would be preaching and praying soon;" such remarks, not to mention more revolting ones, 1 heard in abundance, when they, to their suprise, found I was quite firm in my resolution not to go. Much harder, however, was it to resist the good-tempered entreaties of others who were always friendly with me, and who reminded the rest that I had always been "a good fellow." I quietly told them that I would tell them my reasons another time. I said little all that morning, but turned over in my mind what I would do. A plan soon occurred to me. I determined to go to the children's Teacher, whom

I knew by sight, get the right name of the magazine the children wanted, and of as many others as would make up a certain sum for the whole year; then to go to the bookseller's to get the first number of each, which would of course be out that day, and pay the money for the whole year down, for each of them. I saw the Teacher going home to dinner; he was exceedingly pleased, for I told him the whole; and by his advice I got two different halfpenny magazines for my two children, who were old enough to read them easily, besides John Cassell's Working Man's Friend, a penny magazine belonging to the Religious denomination at whose Sunday school my children attended, the Family Friend, and the Appeal. All these I easily obtained at the bookseller's as I went back to work, and carried with me wrapped up in paper to the workshop, and laid them with my over-coat and hat. As it happened, and, indeed, as I half-wished, the unusual shape and look of the parcel led one of my friends to ask me what it might be ? I told him he should see if he liked to look in after tea as he was going to "The White Horse." My concealing the matter excited a little curiosity, and it seemed generally supposed that it had something to do with my not going to the frolic that evening. However, I said nothing, and we all left at five o'clock, with no further words about it. I forgot to say I had told my wife at noon-time of what the others were going to do, and she, supposing I was going, as a matter of course, only cautioned me "not to let myself down among them, for they would lead me on to what I would repent of." I said nothing to her then. So when tea was over I got up, and she thought I was going out, and looked as much as to say again, "Take care." However, I went to my coat, took out the parcel, sat down again, and bid them all come round the fire. Every eye was fixed on the parcel,-some little time was occupied in setting the younger ones to open it without cutting the string; the biggest boy at last shewed them how to slip it over the end of the parcel, and out peeped the coloured cover of the magazines. "Oh, the magazine! the magazine! papa has got the magazine already!" shouted three or four little voices; but how great was the pleasure when it was found that the oldest two had one each, besides several others for the common good, you, if you are a parent, as from some of your own pieces I suppose you are, can well understand. When the pictures had all been looked at, I took one of the magazines, and looking out a tale in which I thought all would be interested, I began to read it to them; my wife meanwhile amusing the youngest of all with some of the pictures on her knee. Oh! I did feel the sweetness of preferring my family to the public-house, and spending my money on what all enjoyed, rather than selfishly gratifying a depraved taste, and injuring body and mind too. Well, while we were thus engaged, in came three of my friends of the better sort, whom I mentioned before, who were going on to "The White Horse." The children soon ran up

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