The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1849-01-31
From the Cheraw Gazette.

Bile 10 the "SnnS nt temperance, Nv TIC
Young ladies of the Masonic Institute. Day
ton. Alabama. Its gifted nulhorcss is ma
live. we believe, of this town. Her numc-'
rous relations and friends cannot fail to be
gra,ified by per,lsaI of the address.
ADDRESS OF MISS r. C. PEGuES.
Gentlemen, Sons Of Temperance:
When man was first created and placed
in paradise, happiness and peace relgned
suprcmelv, for then sin and sorrow had moi
entered the rosy bowers where dwclt our
first parents. When,he trcacherous serpent
en,iced woman to taste the forbidden fru t,
and by her influence man also transgrcsscd.
presence. even after the world began to he
peoplcd, and ignorance, and crime hal
thrown their sable curtains Der the face "i
earth, STILL man was spared one transgr's
sion, for the crystal fount furnished his only
beverage. But, when man had learned,
that by pressing the grape he would obtain
a inice pleasant to the taste--,hcn was The
intoxicating draught first slipped, and then
tho. was the drunkard's fate no lpngcr I'm
known. Without stopping to trace the ct-
fects Of intenap' rance upon the human lam.
i'y through The long lapse ofPast ages IT wall
he sufficient for our purpose tn view 1t IN The
18th century and in Columbia our native
land. A broad expanse of country, stretch
ed from the hcaving pillows of the Atlantic
to the deep blue Pacific. DER whose surface
is spread our cities towns and villages. quiet
~ sIumbering in delightful peace. the bcau-
tful prairics, gently asltated by the passing
zephyrs, the forest trees, covered with their
green mantleS, the rivers, whose ImPctn"uS
waters rush with mighty bound into the
bosom the ocean and the smoothly gil
ding brooks and rils. all remind us oi fairy
land. From the narrow confines ol The
arctic ocean. To the frozen boundaries oi the
Antarctic, may her Star Spangled banner
he seen proudly floating to the breeze, as It
tells in stranger lands, America Is the land
Of the free, aud the home Of the brave. Ent
LET us alieM on her soil. Yonder is one OF
the Sons Of earth. who seems overwhelmed
with some mighty burden, as cl"hed in the
yiIcst attire, and victim OF some h"rrId
disease, he seems as if:dcaih stands dim be-
hind him, like the darkened half of the moon
behind its growing light. Ask l,m the cause
Of his Inis. ~. and his answer will be--intem-
perance.
Proceed farther. Near a gentle f'w'ng
rivulei, whose banks are covered with The
most Iuxuriant foliage; where spring nccr
hides her Ioyliest face; where natures sweet
songsters always dwell. and place fit for
angels Iiaunts, is situated small cottage.
Happiness seems here to have taken her
abode, but nearer approach shows that tho
drunkenness of the father of this lovely lam
lis, has rendered them miserable, 'the big
tear, is in the wife's eve, and from within Is
echoed sound that is mnurnlu! and low,
like the song OF the tomb
But Wonder is beautiful town, where the
setting sun as il casts its last faint rays on
earth. warns US of the approach Of night;
the streets aie almost empty, their silence
onlv interrupted by the last strokes of the
blacksmith al his anvil or the romps "t The
HIGHT hearted schoolgirl, and here fancy
whispers, you will find happiness. The
nidnight's DER the silent earth, let us peep Oh
this beautiful village, and we will find that
this is the theatre where the dealer and buy
or of grog, are the principal actors.
Here, then, Sons OF Temperance, direct
your efforts; teach man the way to happiness
throsyh the a,oning blood nftIie lamb; show
him The merits of temperance as promised
in the book Of divine inspirations; point HIM
no, to that broad road and wide gate that
leadeth to destruction, but rather carry his
bcwlIdercd mind to that narrow way that
lcadeth to eternal life, aud tell him to be
one among the happy few that will enter
thercin-he mist be temperate.
But let us visit yon mansion. 1t is a
death scene, and that Of an aged man. His
hair is svered o'cr with the frost Of many
winter. his visage is wr'nked, and on his
eyes, NAV be seen glimmerinss Of that deep
remorse, which tells us, he has not led The
life he should. His departing spirit is loath
to quit his body, but as it finally leaves lis
earthly tabsrnacIe he .exclaims. Oh had ]
served my heavenly father as faithfully as
have the lncbrlate'S God. thus should not
have died. Then he is borne to the Church.
yard. and as they lower him into the grave.
not lear is she'd o'cr his bier, and the old
sexton raises his voice. and sings alone re-
auicp for tie fallen. the departed sire. TO
prevent such scenes as this. the Sons of
Temperance should be the object of your
benevolent operations, Death. the king OF
terrors is present everywhere. and time as 1t
rolls into eternity, wts-ut consideration.
encircIes the Young. and the aged the talent
cd. the wealthy, and the brauliful with lis
cold embrace. Then, oh! by vaur united
cndcavors, gel fathers. brothers, and all, to
Join your society. then TO many the grim
monster DEATH as it calls them to realms
unknown. will have less terrors, and The 81
lent valley of death, will he approached with
more composure, Aided by your endeav.
nrs and rhis sacred volume. they will learn