Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-04-25
A TEMPERANCE MEETING OF
FORMER DAYS.
BY pIlILANTHRoPIsT.

There Is in the central part of the State
of New Jersey, pretty little town, which ]
shall for the sake of some excellent friends,
call, on the present occasion, Springtown.
Far removed from the hustle and turmoil
of metropolitan influences, this beautiful vii
lage might enjoy an uninterrupted quietude,
we've it not for the effects and influence of
that Omnipresent demon, THAT peace destroy
er, and soul-and-body destroyer, too, that
prince of curses-rum. Alas no place is
so remote Or so obscure, that King Alcohol
will not find it out, and entail upon it the
deadly woes of dark, accursed intemperance
This otherwise enchanting little place con-
tains two hundred and fifty inhabitants, a.
mony whom are two physicians, one clergy
man, and one Justice of the Peace.
1t also contains one distillery, two tayerns,
and three stores in all six drUnkard man
atdctories
The distiller makes all the rum be can,
and sells all he makes-except what he drinks
himself which by the by, is no small guam
tity. This man inherited his business from
his father, who was very thrifty person.
But it seems to be pretty generally under.
stood that "strong tea.'' killed his mother
The storekeepers sell all they can and
keep some choice qualities, to catch cautious
customers. Come, Mr.. Shyfellow,' SAID
one of these village merchants to an individ
ual, one day, come sir, what can | sell youl
honor to-day ? Nothing, Mr.. Catchpen
ny.-nothing to-day. Times are too hare
to make purchases But Catchponny un
derstood the game, and when he had 90
Shyfellow in conversation upon the Texai
and California questions, and the other in
; teresiag topics Of the day, he stopped. as
suddenly some new idea had struck him, ant
said, o ! Mr.. Shyfellow, | had almost for
COTTON to ask your opinion of an article O
choice liquor, which | purchased last weel
in Philadelphia at the same time produ
cling deeanter of sparkling brandy.
Mr.. S. tasted the brandy, and pronounce
it first rate And, indeed, he deemed
r SO excellent that in less than twenty minute
: he had tasted it for the third time. An
, now he began to feel as if times were nc
h quite so bad as he had really supposed them
: So, accordingly, he began to make som
e small purchases. But drinking deeply mad
: him purchase largely, and so the poor hal
Y drunken man made an almost ruinous bill
: at enormous profits to the store-keepers ft
d Catchpenny was not such fool as to let
= customer get his brandy for nothing, eve
J. though he might profess to give it away.
II Thus were affairs managed at the store
: while the Publicans strove for the ascendal
IS cy in obtaining the public meetings, and
# making the most of them when obtained :
h When these failed, then their neighbo
d were the victims, and were caressed and a
e commodated, as long as means were at han,
Ie or property to pledge. When all was gon
3, produce and farms were drank up, as Il
r. phrase was, then the poor drunken wretche
uI were kicked out of doors, But the rul
le sellers contended that nothing was lost, tht
i. said the property had only changed owner
n. besides these men could have comfortah
= homes IN the poor house'
~ Such was the state of things in the villa
I'd of Springtown, when Caleb Sobermind,
good common sense villager, and broth
Id to one of the storekeepers, but himself
chairmaker, having heard upon several {
IS casions, from occasional travellers throu
the town, of the Temperance Reformatic
tie determined upon having temperance me
ing in his native village, for which he hat
nut great love.
! The preliminary arrangements were 50