Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-01-17
Cbuirf Iitfraturf.
THE TEMPERANCE TRACT.
BY T. s. ARTHUR.

He had dozen, and, in the ardor Of his ,
feelings, be calculated that at least twelve i
men would be reformed through their
agency. Having an idle afternoon to
devote to the cause, he started out with
his dozen tracts IN his pocket, his mind
in some degree of elation in prospect of
the good that was TO be done.
In walking along. the first man who
came n his way was tavern-keeper.
"Here is good subject" said Wilton
to himself, as the tavern-keeper drew
near "Let me see what have that will
suit him. All this is it. ''An Appeal
TO the People on the Liquor Traffic
And, selecting tract with this title, he
presented it TO the tavern-keeper as they
met, saying, as he did So
! "Accept this, if you please"
i Taken by surprise, the man received
the tract, and the distributor, bowling,
moved on.
IA dead shot for him !" thought he
but the thought was scarcely formed ere
f he felt hand laid roughly upon his
shoulder Turning quickly. he confron-
r ted the tavern-keeper, whose face was
} red with anger.
: whats this:" he demanded, imper-
I atively.
"It's tract" replied the young man,
looking confused,
e See here, my friend" and as the
! tavern n-keeper spoke he withdrew his
E hand from his shoulder "My first i'm
r pulse was to pitch you over that fence.
, On second thought, however. will
let you go unpunished for your imperti-
nence, but, with this piece Of good ad-
vice-"If you wish to keep out Of ;rou-
5le mind your own business"
Then crumpling the tract in his hand,
and tossing it from him coutemptuously,
he turned away. leaving the young tenn
perance reformer with his enthusiasm in
the cause down 10 zero. While this state
of mind was predominant, the balance
u of the tracts on hand we're thrown over
fence, and meeting gust of wind, were
scattered apart, and driven in various di-
70 rections. The distributor returned home
"a feeling mortified and discouraged. On
\, reflection, he was vexed at himself, both
u for the bungling manner in which he had
= proceeded, and for his having been SC
le easily thrown off by rebuff.
u 'The tracts, at least, needn't have beer
le wasted said he, 'that was folly of who /
ne ought to be heartily ashamed"
About an hour after this occurrence,
~ man came walking along the road, nea
where this little adventure took place
~ A piece Of paper caught his eye, and
se stopping, he picked it up Moving on
'dl as he opened it, he commenced reading
and was soon deeply interested, for h
ID, walked slower and slower, and sometime
ca stopped altogether. This man was ais,
I'M tavern-keeper. After reading the trac
le- through, he placed it in his pocket, ant
Oh continued on his way.
I'm Stop and think, John said wife. il
re- an appealing voice to her husband, as tn
: latter was about leaving the house..
PIE Don't talk to me in that way = reptile
MI the husband, impatiently. You cold'r
at act worse, if were a common drunk
ard
But the danger, John. Stop and thin
of that! There is lion in your way
L am out of all patience with you, A
ll- ice, said the man. "A high respect yo
Irst have for your husbands good sense an
good principles As if couldn't enjc
a glass now and then, without being
his danger of becoming a miserable sot'
-he With this, the man turned of, and toe
Ind his way to the tavern, while his vii
to went, weeping, into the house. As
ne walked along, tie words she had uttere
and Stop and think '-rung in his ears, an
ess he tried to push them from his thought
hat IN order that he might not think. All
ow- once, fresh blast Of wind blew from
nes field that adioined the road piece of p
ere per, and as it fell at his feet, his e,
d Is caught the words
he 'SToP AND THINK
- The coincidence of language startl
him for a moment. He took up the pie
=, of paper and commenced reading ar
,rar - as he read, he walked slower and slow
h.t ~ One of Wilton's temperance tracts h
- fallen into his hands. 1t was close q
- peal to the moderate drinker, and
: ~ 81 forth his danger in the fullest manner.
At last, the man stood still. Then he
AZ: down by the road side, still reading
e ~ ~ There is danger he at length m
,n;fo INJURED, folding up the tracts as he spo
Rising he stood irresolute as to whetI
= az he should return home, or keep on
nere e| way to the tavern. Had any one thr
ne !. the tract in his hand, he would have
~. = iected it; but, coming to him as 1t did
~ A. found his mind prepared TO hearken to
' appeals. But the love Of drink had b
ion of !ol'iieu' anu' q sne PlosPos - u"'
resent, It's acCus'o'.ieu Sl"tln0d'ioh e"' oh' oe
follow to cry out for indulgence. A comba
the mind of the nan was the result
. man this continued, until appetite gained
''''' victory so far, that he concluded, for