Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-03-21

sudden, am moi quite prepared for this:
will you give me three days TO make up
my mindi'
Yes replied bis son, three days,
or three weeks ifyou wish, whenever
you are ready; 1 will be, and not before.
Three days will do said the old
man, as he took his seat, but mind
shall hold you to your PROMISE
'All right. said John.
The meeting then broke up. every one
reloiced at the turn the matter had taken.
The greater part believed the contract
would end in shutting up the distillery,
and thereby save the young man. Some
doubted, and all were anxious TO see the
issue.
! The first.second, and third day passed, |
John, in the meantime, keeping pretty
straight or as he expressed it. tapering
off The evening Of the third day came.
Well, father, shall be ready TO- NOR
row morning to fulfil my part OF the con-
. tract. will you be ready"
The old man seemed troubled. There
. was evidently struggle going on in his
, mind; be desired lis sons salvation,
D but how 10 relinquish his nefarious busi-
!. ness he knew not.
! john he at last said, will nothing
S else do but this l will do any thing you
require, except sign that hateful pledge, for
:, l shall be laughed at. do not like to be
d driven into this measure. Come now, OF
: your simple promise to abstain for one year,
$ 1 will give you deed to the Manor prop
y erty.
o Well, now, that is good one,' replied
It John, laughing, why | wonder who you
Is would give it to anyhow. if not to me No,
e no, father, the pledge is the thing. let US
]. sign the pledge, feel that it alone will keep
II me from ruin. l know not why but, faith
e er have had strange feelings for several
e days, and l have plesentiment that evil
s. would befall US both, if we neglect to sign
:; this pledge
ID Well, said the old man, sorrowfully
is i i'll must, must but think of it unit
y morning and if your mind remains unehan
ID ed, | wiH sign the pledge, and there's my
II hand upon it,
in But, father, why not nolU, it will b.
better, know, l feel it will be better
IS No, not tonight; enc night can max
:, no difference, and you surely can take m,
a word until morning.
il. Who shall account for those strange fore
a. shadoBings of evil, which sometimes stea
o, upon us, and weigh down our spirits with
to mountain weight of consciousness of unseen
IN yet impending danger!
d. John left his fathers presence, sad an
lv afflicted, fearful forebodings of the morrov
h filled his mind.
be Early in the morning, and as soon a
$ breakfast was over, John produced tn
k pledge, together with pen and ink. Th
father looked sullen and dissatisfied.
ne Come, father, your name first, you ar
en- the elder, besides that was the bargain.
ed Take it away, out of my sight with i
IN. you are only conspiring with those curse
Ies temperance fanatics to make laughing-stoc
pt Of me. In less than three months, you an
d. they will break your boasted pledge, and
ch will be the mock of all, as an old fool, WI
nd gave up Aourishing and profitable bushes
SIX, to please set of crazy fools, and designin
old knaves.
he Bursting into tears, the young man NEE
ly replied, Father, sign it.
ot, By Heaven will not, shouted the o
not distiller ) do as you please with it, but ne
he, er mention it to ME again
e's The son dried his tears, and looking /
nd angry father in the face, calmly said,
u KNEW IT, then turned and left his presenc
uld The old man arose and went to the sic
re- board and poured out and drank sever
NV glasses OF liquor in quick succession, and
k he turned to the window, he saw John slo
I'd ly leaving the house on horseback
rty, Look, old man. look earnestly, it is thy ID
look at thy living son. Thou shalt see h
ned again, but better thou didst lose thy sig
him first. These words seemed to be whisper
in his ear ; be turned, but he was alone.
'hn. The day passed on john, angered at
hile father conduct, rode to small village
$ to few miles distant from his home, and soul
me to drown hisanguish in the maddening bo
alch Late in the afternoon, he started on his
turn, scarcely able to retain his seat in
mo- saddle. He proceeded in safety until be
: TO rived within sight of his fathers dwelli
wed when his horse taking fright at someth
ohm, in the road, suddenly sprang upon one 81
throwing him from his seat, his right foot
E to naming in the stiTrrp The frightened
imal dashed onward, dragging him on
pay ground, and stopped not until he reac
sme the door of the rich mans house.
The father had seen his son dragging
: re. on the ground and wild were his calls u
him. Heaven to save his son.
told 'Mereiful God, cried out the old n
'ould spare him Pn sign Che pledge I'll
show anything-take me if thou wilt, but 81
how oh . save my child, my only one
from Too LATE TOO LATE The man
nile body was taken up--it was lifeless.
ere y The old man was childless. and I