Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-02-21
ADAMS FALL.

Those of our readers who have heard Bro.
P. s. White tell the following amusing an
ecdote, by way of illustrating the Influence
of a bad example in the formation Of Nhabits
ruinous in their effects, will, we are sure, be
glad of an opportunity to see it in print /;
while those who have never heard it will
read it perhaps with the more relish:
Adam, and Mary. his wife, who lived in
one of the old States, were very good mem
bers Of the church, good sort Of folks any
way, quite industrious and thriving in the
world, and Mary thought a great deal of the
Minister, and the Minister thought a good
deal of a glass of good toddy.
Whenever the Minister called to make
Mary a visit. which was pretty often, she con-
trived to have.him a glass o toddy made, and
the Minister never refused the toddy. After
awhile, Adam got to following the example
of the minister to such an extent, that he
became a drunkard-drank up everything
he had and all he could get. Mary and he
became very poor in consequence ofhis fol
lowing the ministers example so closely; but
the good minister continued his visits, and
poor Mary continued still to get him the glass
of toddys. One day he called in and told Ma
ry that he was going away for a week
should return on Friday-and handed her a
book containing the catechism, and told her
when he returned he should expect her to be
able to answer some ofthe questions. Mary
Essays, yes, sir, and laid away the book care
fully. Bat Mary, like a good many othel
church members, thought no more of hel
book until the very Friday the good minister
was to return. What shall | 90, says she;
the minister is to behere to-day, and Ihavn'i
looked in the book he gave me How car
L answer the questions? l can tell you. says
Adam. Give me a quarter and let me &c
over to Smiths and get son good rum, and
! you can answer his questions with a glass oil
! toddy. Mary took the advice-gave Adam
, the quarter and a jug, and off be started
AFTER getting his bottle filled, and OF bis
{ way back, Adam concluded to taste the rum
One taste followed another, until he stun.
bled over a pile Of rocks and broke the iuI
: and lost all the run. But Adam managed
!, to stagger home.
e As soon as he got in the house, Mary in
quired anxiously for the bottle of rum
Where is the bottle and rum, Adam? Poo
Adam managed to stammer out thathe haC
stumbled over a pile of rocks and broke th
bottle and lost the rum Mary was in a FIX
Adam drunk-the minister coming-th
}: rum gone-and the questions unlearned.-
e But here comes the minister! It wouldn'
Do for the man of God to see Adam drunk
n SO she, for the want of a better place to hide
sent him under the bed. By the time b
was fairly under, in came the minister. Al
ter sitting a few moments, he asks Mary
she thought she could answer the questions
III try, sir, says Mary. Well, tell me, Ma
U ry, chow did Adam fallf" Mary turne'
her head first one way and then another
finally she stammered out, he fell orer a Pti
ofrocks! 1t was now the ministers turl
. to lock blank but he ventured another quef
tion-"where did he hide himself after I'd
t. fall? :" Mary looked at the minister the
at the bed, but finally she out with t-"un
Is der the bed. sI!"-there, Adam, you ma,
lie come out, he knows all about it! The goo.
minister retired-not even waiting for hi
glass of toddY!