Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-08-22

.
But, alas! he saw his error too late The
gentle, loving creature, who had come to his
SIDE ten years before, was not much longer to
remain with him. A few brief summers came
and went, and then her frail body was laid
amid the elods Of the valley.
Alas how many like Ms. Balm. have thus
passed away, who, if truly loved and cared for.
would have been the light of now darkened
hearts, and the blessings and JOY Of now moth
eriess children and bereaved husbands
From tss .aa, Temp. Nag, for .4uc. 1851.
THE FEARFUL FUNERAL.
BV REV. NICHOLAS MURRAY, D. D.
II was on the morning Of a cold, chilly
day IN the month of April, that was thus
interrupted IN my studies by one Of nv
children Pa, there is a queer looking man
IN the parlor who wants to see you.' On
entering the room my eye lit upon man
who was queer looking indeed, because his
dress, laee, and whole appearance proclaim
ca MN Y "a a dfunkars. He rose on my enter
ing the room. and with sAat constrained and
awkward politeness, amounting to ohserp;-
business, which the half intoxicated sasa =.
sume, he thus addressed me (: -
i come, SIR, to ask you to attend fune-
raj this afternoon -
Who saidI. is dead p '- s
A friend of mine, he replied, by the
name is. and as be has no particular
friends here, ] thought / would come and
ask you.
Where did he live 7 / again asked.
Why. said he, he lived no place in par
tIcular, except at the grocery Of Mr.. H
This Mr.. H was the keeper Of a groe-
gerry of the very lowest character where
blacks and whites freely mingled in their
|feyels. and which had often been presented
as nuisance. s.sz 49,
again asked, of what disease did he
die p =
Why. said be. dropping his eeuntenance.
and lowering his voice almost to a whisper.
I hardly know but, between you and /, he
was pretty hard drinker'
After few moro inquiries to which re-
ceiyed answers in keeping with those given
above. ] dismissed him, promising to attend
the funeral at FIVE o'clock.
At the hour appointed went to the
house Of death. There were ten or twelve
men present, and. withtwo exceptions. thev
were all drunkards. | went up to the coarse
pine coffin, and gazed upon corpse not
pale and haggard, but bloated, and almost
as black as the ravens wing. There were
two brothers present, both inebriates. and
as unfeeling as if the body Of beast Law
dead before them. From the undertaken 1
gained the following narrative as to the de-
ceased:
Hc was the son Of respectable, but IRE.
ligious parents, who, instead Of spending the
Sabbath ia the house Of God, either speut II
in idleness, or in doing their own work
When desecrated, the Sabbath is usually a
day Of fearful temptation. Sabbath sins make
deep impressions on the soul. Whilst vet
young he became a Sabbath vagrant-ioined
profane companions acquired the habit Of
drinking and 50 rapidly grew the love Of
drink mto ruling passion that at mature
years he was confirmed drunkard. His
parents died, and the portion of uropertv
that fell to his lot was squandered. sAnd
for years, said my informant, he has beer
drunk every day
But how ! asked, did he get the mon
ley tQ pay for the liquor 7
He has been employed he replied, .by
Ar. H. to shoot squirrels in the woods,
and to catch water rats in the marshes and
for the skins of these be has been paid in
whiskey. Nobody would s9s tila i8rve
and he usually slept in garreE ovaF tle
groggery. Yesterday he was taken sick,
very sick, in the grocery; Mr.. H, ID,
stead Of giving him bed, turned him out
ofthe house. He wasthen in dying state
and. at short distance from the house, fell
in the street. He was taken into Negro
hut and laid on the floor, where he died in
less than an hour. The negroes were yerJ
Ignorant and superstitious, and were afraid
to have the corpse in their house. It vas car
ried to barn. This poor but pious family
hearing the circumstances, took the corpse e
their house, and have made these prepare
tons for its burial !
read portion Of the Scriptures, and fol
q few moments diseoursed to them on ths
effects Of sin-I dwelt on the hardeningant
fearful effects of intemperanee. But ther,
was no feeling. | prayed with them bu
there was 20 reverence. They all gazei
with a vacant stare. as if their. ainds had e
vaPoratedI and as if the fiery liquid had bur
ned out their consciences. They were oh
viously past feeling. The coffin was close,
and placed IN the hearse. We proceede,
{ with slcE and solemn pace to the house al
pointed for all the living and feeling {
SHAME came over me as passed along th
street to be followed by half a dozen pa