Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1850-08-30
FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
A

Thomas-Why dear bless mel Is this
you. friend Young1 1t has been some
weeks since | met you: How do you do 7
you are some what a stranger: How have
you been2
Young-WeI ,neighbor, Pm pretty well
well in Body, and have been since / saw
you.
TaOm4s--You say pretty well in
body" I suppose you leave me to infer,
that you are not SO well in spirfta
~YoUng-You. have inferred correctly.
NonGs-Pray what can be the matter?
Are any of your family sick, or dead -
Or perhaps you have met with a very
heavy pecuniary lossf
YOung-O no, nothing like that: But
the aggitation Of a certain subject, aud a
dangerous procedure in our county, has
greatly depressed me.
TomGs-Ah indeed; to what do you
~referl l have not heard a word of il. Is
there a prospect Of an instruction
Yotng-Well, not exactly that: But l
mean the agitation of the subject of Tenn
lperance. This would not not be SO bad,
but they rave united themselves together.
in an association, denominated the Order
t Of the Sons of Temperance. And what
, truly alarms me is, that they meet secret
ly, aud no body knows what they do;-
what plans are being formed: really there
is no telling what serious disaster will
grow oat Of such a procedure. I'm told
e they have secrets. which they don't tel
d their W wives. This ] think a very
S fearful state Of things.
THomGs-o; Hal ha Ia! Well; and i.
e that all? And is It possible that you are
e so much troubled, concerning the exis
tence Of the institution to which you re
fer? ! suppose you contemplate th'
|, Sons Of Temperance, who meetsin secret
as a sleeping volcano, which Will ere long
: burst forth. and IFS burning load dash fu
Tiously over our county, sweeping all in
y to the bosom of destruciiorA
IL YoHng-But stop, nefgh6or, it is n
laughing matter; | feel serious about il
What a strange thing 100, that our preach
er should be a mem6er Of the Order.
II Romas-You say, onEseem TO think a
n least, that the Sons are forming plan
Of which are dangerous I should ike t
lie know, what kind of a notion has occupie
u, your mind relative to their design p
t. What do you suppose they-intend to do
is Young-Now to be candid with yoI
I'll tell you; l have thought. and it
m whispered about, that they are leagusd tc
7. gether for abolition purposes /; that the
ne are seeking. stealihily, all over our couE
ty, to abolish slavery. Now, is this any
thing TO laugh at2
~ Thomas-Really, Really. Why neigl
Its boz, thought you were a man Of MOI
~ sense more discrimination. And as yo
h have been candid enough TO tell me yol
notion, l viii be candid enough to tell yor
e. that ain surprised b find you a man
ed SO little intelligence
p Young-You are rough what do yc
means Look here, are you a Son Of Ter
GU perance, neighbour
nd Nomas-I am: and declare It boldly.
" YoUng-Look here, am | mistaken in m
6 /; ~neighbor, in whom l had SO much CON
he Idence1 Perhaps / had better be movir
cy, of, as you are one of that clan.
Thomas-No, don't be off vet, stop : do
Dur be alarmed. | am the same man now,
heretofore only, I trust, a little better.
Icl- wantto talk to you a little more about Il
;e Sons
18th YouHg-Well I'll wait a while / on
thought had better be getting Of, as
did not know what might take place.
all don't understand you fellows. But tell n
quickly what you've got to say for you
Of sell.
= Momas-I mean TO say, that the So
is Of Temperance are Gbohtionists and
end Young-Therel There Now al
j in that too bad. o. my soul and boo
what are we coming to? Dear dea
liant dear! Why neighbor Thomas. 1 thinl
la great deal of you, what makes you do S
lght TAomGs-When you interrupted me
ork intended TO say; and we are aohole sou
abolitionists. But lest you should sea
loon per away before l explain, I'll proce,
aou- You have but n idea in your head /
Sons are not abolitionists according
" your understanding Of that term. We