Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1850-11-01

leading into the long dining room, methought
| heard a familiar voice. turned, and my
gaze rested on the same broad intellectual
brow-the same chisseled features, but o
how changed was that once bright eye He
was seated at the card table, and as the game
passed on, one moment his eye flashed fire,
and the blue veins swelled in knots upon his
brow, and then as luck favored him, wild,
baechanalian laugh burst from his lips. I
closed the door to shut out the heart-rending
scene from my view, but it did not still the
clash Of the decanters and the oft drained
goblets, and it was long after the midnight
hour ere those jewellers sank to rest.
Again that voice fell upon my ear, but it
was cry of agony. A few moments, and
stood by the bedside of the once bright
innocent youth, but oh now, gambler, a
victim of intemperanee Cholera, that dread
full pestilence which is raging through our
land, destroying happy humans, and hurting
thousands to an untimely death by its fever
ish, communicating breath, had fastened its
relentless grasp upon him, and aided by in
temperance, nothing could arrest its career
In voice of bitter anguish he called for
his mother@for his sister, but oh there was
no kind mother near to wipe the damps Of
death that gathered in bruded drops upon
his brow The words of prayer trembled
upon his lips, but it ended in wall of an
guish, such as rends the hearts only of those
who feel themselves eternally lost, and thus
the spirit Of the gambler was ushered in tht
presence Of an all-seeing God.
l But whose work was this? Was it not !
! female, who first placed the cards in hi
hands, and taught him to play, "just 70
amusement % But ali, soon he began t.
love it. The drunkard little thought whel
he first commenced slipping his wine that b
would ever fill drunkard's grave, but h
soon began to love II, and could not do with
out it, and now we see him reeling upon tn
borders of the grave. And thus with til
gambler, he commences playing eucre 70
} amusement, then he plays for little gin, ii
: finally he rushes headlong in the broad roa
Of dissipation and vice, with the seal of th
j gambler upon his wrinkled brow, and SUM
/ en-, bloOd-shot eyes. When will our Ian
become like unto Emanuel s land, and peaC
and harmony shall reign? When Womd
awakes to herduty, and to the grand end f
which she was created. Man may 60 abroa
upon the battle field and conquer natioI
by his bloody sword, but woman can sit
her little social circle, and conquer Il
: world. And how? let the mother gath
!. her children around her knee, and imbl
! their hearts with pure and noble principles
! from their very infancy, let her watch ca,
: thought that germinates and springs up
: their minds, and not suffer one impu
: thought to tarnish the clear, transparent 81
: face Of their hearts. Let them grow up u
= = der halo Of peace and purity, drawn fro
the sweet smiles, cheering words, kind lool
> and christian adnonition of the MOTHER
: Then dissipation and crime will disappe
- from our bright, beautiful land, and t
n mild sweet influence of virtue and christia
], ity will reign. Woman, weave the cords
= love and affection around those that are dc
: ! to you, and draw them from this PREVAIL
? vice Of the age. Mother, gather your ef
of dren around your knee, and pour into tn
i tender, thirsting souls the pure precepts
=, +o holy truth. Sister. take your brother
- - the hand, and lead him in the straight p,
Il Il of reetitude and honor, and by your sw
:" : cheering voice Of affection. draw him
:, - way from the contaminating vices of I
- world. And wife, throw the halloN
70 - influences Of religion and holy truth, |
bo rays Of sunshine, around the pathway Of u
NJ NJ husband. and LET vour. smile of love q,
% 20 shine in upon his heart. Let your home
- - one of peace and intellectual happiness, q
no - let it be sanctuary where the approvi
smiles ofa Saviour's love, delight to ling
! Then our land will become like unto EN-
ba uePs land. Then the dark veil will be r
Iv I away that now shrouds our proud indep
i dence, in the mists of dissipation, of INN
= talty and crime.