Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-01-17
A FATAL GLASS.

Every days reflection upon the subject
strengthens our feelings of animosity to the
habit of drinking liquor. Hourly new and
startling cases com up before us, to warn
and admonish those who think they are safe
enough until they find themselves in the
maelstrom of intemperanee. We have heard
a most instructive and most impressive ae-
count from an eminent physician Of this city,
which we relate for the instructions Of others.
And we most earnestly plead with those
who feel SO sure of their W strength, to
read and pause over ito reflect deep and
well after they have read it.
The story runs thus: Some years ago,
the physician and a friend were conversing
together in front of the Eagle, when a mas
ter-mechanic and a man of the most amiable
and excellent character, asuperior workman,
full of business, with an interesting family
respected by everybody, and bidding fair to
be an ornament to the city, came up to them,
and laughingly commenced the following
conversation.
WELL said he, Il have just done what
l never did before in my life.'
'Ah! what was thatF
: Why, MI. - has owed me a bill
for a long time. and dunned him for thu
pay till | was tired. But a minute ago,
! caught him out here, and asked him for tn
J money. Well, said he, I'll pay it to yo1
if you'll step in here and get a drink wit
me.
No, said II never drink-never dram
in my life. Well, do as you please if yor
won't drink with me, / won't pay your BIZ
that's all. But l told him l could nc
i do that. However, finding that he woul
not pay the bill, and rather than lose m
money l went in and got a drink An
a he laughed at the strange occurrence as
concluded.
I As soon as he told the story, the physi
4 ian's companion, an old discreet and shreN
u man, turned to him, and in a most impress
of i've tone said =
n Sir, that is the dearest drink that ev
n crossed your lips, and the worst bill you e
er collected
10 And terribly did time verify that adm
in milton. In less than a t~welyemonth,
g was a confirmed, disgraceful sot, a vagabol
in society, a curse to those who loved him,
loathing and a shame wherever he went
:" And that man within the past year, died
nor horrible death, at the infrmary in this eli
ber produced solely by intoxication.
al What a spectacle does such a case P
sent. The poor man in the innocence
If his heart, laughed-aye laughed as he clos
oro his story of his first drink. Could he hs
turned the eye of a seer for a moment, VI
the then future, and heard the hellish to-
with which the fends made the respon
how would he have ~shuddered and Shru
i'm back with horror. Could he have lool
tLa upon the CHASTITY face of his Fate, could
have seen but for a breathing space of til
Won the awful gulph over whose brink he
even then plunged, would he have laug
IN. and been at peace, think you? Alas!
uav But he laughed, for he did not fear
vet and yet as the skeleton fingers slowly clu
md ed him in the moment of confidence
b;cb seeming strength, so it is clutching tn,
The and in some bitter day, perhaps they will
the member this story, and in saek-cloth
and ashes, and hot tears, lament they did
+ lis pause. Reader-do you drink strong DIR
des- n'e'"s0'" O'N