Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1850-09-06

knees he was taught the first principles !
of morality; she too has been worn by
age, she is 10 longer erect, but bending
towards the tomb; her eyes have lost
their lustre, she with faltering step. ac-
companies the companion Of her bright
er days, and the sharer Of her sorrows,
to meet their much beloved but unfortunate
son. The father with deeply agitated
mind, and the mother with strong unutter-
able emotions, embrace their offspring the
sob of agcl, anl deeply afflicted hearts
breaks the melancholy silence, and the whole
presents scene ENOUGH to melt the heart Of
a stone. But the disobelient, irreverent.
ungrateful son, returns not that kind EN-
brace; ne gives 10 lcok of affection, those
parental tears move hot his heart he exhib-
It's with reference to persons and things, q
reckless indifference save to the dealer In Ii
quid woes, and his companions In drunken
ness. He is no longer obedient to the laws
of the family government, and even often
refuses compliance with simple parental re-
quest; be has lost all respect for his parents !;
in a word, his whole course Is the very per
sonihcation of disobediencc, irrcverence and
ingratitude
This is no fancy sketch, but no doubt of
frequent occurrence; and ii is an underiable
fact, that the liquor dealer stands connected
with the whole scene, enough to melt an adj
amant, by the most heartlcss and fearful ties
/ He is an essential and dreadfully important
actor in this tragedy. He is It's inhumm or
I iginator. @. what miserable outrages have
been committed on parents by drunken chill
dren. We have seea the aged and decrepid
mother, driven with curses and dreadful
threatning from her home, amid the gloom
and darkness of night and was compelled
to seek shelter and protection under neigh,
boring roof. Not long since, in one of the
northern streets, mother was enleavourine
1 to arrest the arm of her son. in the act ol
committing suicide, while realizing the un.
happy effects of continued drunkenness
when the child of her bosom turned with a
strong hand AMI cut her throat Very ma
ny have been the insults given, and iniurie.
inflicted by dissipated children on their pa
rents. We might call up instances, and
swell this chapter, bat we deem it unnecessary
That these things have occurred, and tha
they still occur, is fact beyond contradic
ton. 4 drunken child will dishonor hi.
parent and it is through the influence and
instrumentality of the rumseller, that the,
become drunkards The accursed dram shop
and most demoralizing liquor dealing tavern
are the places where the youth of our lanC
learn to gamble Notwithstanding the ad
vice and instruction of their parents to tht
. Thar tl,or- to,,,.lk 20, LII.
that their parents are too rigid, and that thel
do not wish their children to enjoy them
selves, and thus disobcdience and disrespcc
is cherished in them, by the wicked ant
presumptuous traficer. It's there the you'll
of fifteen is taught to put on the airs 0
manhood. A cigar is placed in his mouth
glass of brandy in one hand and pack 0
cards in the other. And now he struts a
bout, with conscious magnanimity and great
ness. He has graduated at the Univcrsit,
of Bacchus, where he was under the super
vision and instruction of the Professor q
, human woes, and horrible death, and he ey
f hibits his diploma to every passer-by. Tn
Professor considers him an apt scholar, an
proficient student and feels fully satisfied
| that he Will be a man of the most accursed
miserable and degraded distinction Hei
assured that if he will still apply himsel
that he will have the pleasure of dishonol
ing his parents, and the exquisite delight
bringing their gray hairs down to the gray
with sorrow: and ultimately to have the di
/ tinguished honor of dying in the delightfr
= and sublime gutter; buried by the county
and unlamented and unregretted. Sue
: boys brought up at the feet Of such horribl
: accomplished Professors, think their father
e remarkably dull; by no means out of the
o horn book, and their mothers scarcely kno
e their letters. And they intend to homo
Y obey and love them, by disgracing, disobe,
n ing and hating them
5 Liquor dealer, you are engaged in bu
: ineas by which children have been made
: curse father and mother Yes, you ha'
$ caused many a father TO weep the bitter tea
n of anguish, and laid the broken hearted m
e ther in the gloomy tomb. O! at the day
: final retribution, how many parents wi
charge you, that it was through your i
is Huence that their children were induced
IF violate the fifth commandment, and attn
V ute to you their damnation Cease 30
a soulfuining traffic.
v (Io be coatinued.
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