Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-03-14

you have got 10 Gle,
And if you are not prepared, you know
" Old Nick will make you " jump Jim Crctc."
/ will leave the liquor sellers,
And shake hands with those genteeI fellolrs,
Who drink but for " the StOnlach's sake"
And give them Just a little shake.
! mean those free and independent thinkers,
Who call themselves but moderate drinkers
Now, in the first place, let me say,
What is moderate drinking, pray?
Well let us see, there's Mr.. A.
Who says, a single drink per day;
But Mr.. B. says one won't do,
So he. of course, per day takes ttco.
Well then comes good old parson c.,
Who takes no less per day than three
He rises early, comes down stairs,
His bitters takes, then goes to prayers.
A glass of toddy then at dinner,
And of course he is no sinner,
Just a little after tea
To take another, making three.
Now let us ask old brother D.,
A very moderate man is he,
But still, not satisfied with three,
Says that his health requires four;
So he per day takes one drink more.
His habit is to rise at eight,
To bathe his face and comb his pate,
Put on his pantaloons and coat,
Then take a drink to clear his throat
Then 60 to prayers, then breakfast eat,
And soon again the dose repeat;
Then lounging like a lazy hog,
Til twelve, he takes a drink of grog,
And lastly, when he goes to dine,
He drinks about a quart Of wine.
And he's a moderate drinker, too
1 tell you, friends, it will not do;
This drinking for the stomach's sake,
You will be sure too much to take;
For instance, there's young Mr.. f.,
And Mr. F. and Mr.. G.,
Three very clever nice young men,
But who are also, now and then,
Found just a little after night,
A little gentlemanly tight
And they are moderate drinkers, too,
say again, it will not do;
This drink for the stomach's sake
You will be sure too much to take,
And then twill make you see the snake
You'd better quit it. one and all
Cut loose from old king Alcohol
Before he makes you take a fall.
l tell you now my friend and stranger,
That you are every one in danger,
Who the liquid fire. drink,
Of going down to ruins brink!
And if you don't believe it, think
Yes, pause, reflect and think, crave,
Of those who've filed the drunkard's grave
Were they not sober once, like you
Well-bred and educated too?
And do you think they ever thought,
That they'd become a drunken sol?
No, no such thing, you may depend.
No more than you, my honest friend.
Then, what are you, sirs, more than they
Have you more moral courage, pray
But laying all this out of question,
And say you ne'er should have ~congestionsl
Delirium tremens, blues and horrors,
Or any other of the sorrows
Caused by drinking rum and gin,
Are you not committing sin,
Unconcerned aloof to stand
And see this free and favored land
Downward going, downward sinking,
In consequence of liquor drinking,
And net a single effort make
To save your countrymen awake!
For Gods sake, wake ye freemen up,
And dash away the fatal cup!
With Sons of Temperance cast your lots,
And rid the world of drunken sots.
Yes, come, enlist within our ranks,
For which you'll gain the ladies' thanks.
Come pledge your honors, fortunes, all,
And help Ito roll the Temperance ball.
From north 10 south, from east to west,
Roll, roll it on, nor let it rest,
Till all the earth, from pole to pole
- Is sober made; and every soul
Shall raise a shout in one loud cry,
Down with the monster, let him die.