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


-
THE WATER CURE. Eoins
About six years ago, there was living
within half mile Of our residence, an easy
good-natured sorto man, Familiarity known
in the neighborhood, as old joe Jee had
once been in afiaent circumstances, but be-
early contracted habit of drinking d little
of the critter, and he had indulged that hab-i
it so freely for few years previous to the
period of which we write, that all his right
title and interest in beautiful farm Of two
hundred acres, except small cabin with
half an acre of land attached, had been trans
ferred to distillery. located about one mile
distant from his hut, at the base Of the swell
Of land, upon tie top of which his hut was
situated J
Joe used to make morning and evening"
pilgrimage to this abode Of his afection-Aths
distillery. 1t was to him the Mecca towards
which he cast his longing glance with the
rising and setting sun, and no Druid ever
worshipped with more profound idolakry So
perior beings whom he supposed inhabited
his sacred groves, than did Joe the real spir-
its which he knew resided in the distillery.
Near Joe's house ran a beautiful, trans
parent stream, upon whose banks we have
often played in childhood's joyous hours,
and wondered as we plueked the wild hoEs
ers that grew upon its banks, if there could
be in the world another stream so beautiful
The road which Joe usually travelled on his
visit TO the still, (where some men employed
in it used sometimes to compel him to drink
more than he wanted, lay along the course
I of this pleasant stream whose merry tone
and artless prattle, as it leaped fSoAi rock to
: rock, filed the surrounding woodlands with
melody, and invited him at every step to
pause and quench his thirst from its sparkling
, bosom, instead of quafhng the turbid waters
4 of the still. But Joe needed not the in
: yitation he had no desire to check one
pearly drop in It's sparkling course to the
E bosom Of the majestic Hudson But Joe
: knew not what was in store fer him. How
t could he, who never drank water when be
f could get whiskey, and who had suffered
t the pure beverage of heaven to flow past his
: dwelling for years, untasted, and who had
] daily dcspised the disinterested inyitatiors
E of Willow Brook to freely assuage his rum
: created thirst from its crystal fountains, how
T could he suppose that little stream was yet
{, to become master whose power he would.
n gladly own ? But such proved to Sc the
t fact.
r One night, after be had visited the dis
tillery and been compelled to drink mora
# than he wished (for though Joe drank much
n and often, he had never before got So drunk
e that he could not find his way home). be
started for his domicile, but this time be was
d swamped.' The night was dark, tie road
j was crooked, and joe was drunk, and with
4 these three difficulties to contend, he lost
4. his road and wandered (unconsciousIy, of
ID course, into the brook. Soon, however, he
St brought up against ledge Of rocks. over
IN which our merry little stream bounded in
le joyous glee, and at once mischievously un-
ID dertook to make a cold water man of him By
pouring its whole volume upon his head.
e A neighbor, who was providentially pass
ne ing at this, to Joe, critical, and as it after
ee wards proved, lucky moment, heard half
al strangled voice beseechinsly utter: o.
ut John-let me-go-got- -enough--stop-
ID John-drinked too omuch-Jim-let me 90
Ia home The neighbor suspecting foul play,
ed went to the spot, and there stood Joe hall
he enveloped in the sheet Of falling water, ev-
en- identity fancying himself in the distillery,
ais and mistaking the water that was pouring
ed upon him, for whiskey which Jim and Johr
lie were compelling him to drink, and he strug
IN Cling and grasping for breath, was begging
he then to let him go-'he didn't want any
Oh more
to guess you have got enough this time,
ne said his neighbor, as he drew him from the
he place whsre he had taken his first lesson il
on Hydropathy and kindly assisted him home
We Before reaching there however, the effect
lat of his shower bath had completely soberec
* him, and for once he felt ashamed. HI
ee- begged his neighbor notto tell his adventur,
for six months. He promised him he woul,
not and he kept his promise. Joe neve
entered the distillery again. and for 81,
m months he did not approach nearer to it thai
ell the waterfall where he first learned th
III efficacy of cold water for the cure of drunk
md enness. All the alteration he once felt 70
for the distillery was now transferred to WiIlo,
the Brook. Whenever the whiskey demon r.
to ged within, be few for succor to its pelluci
up waters which he would quaff in copiou
for draughts and bathe his feverish body in Il
and crystal founts until the rum fend was drown
die ed inits tide.
E to He continued this course until all desil
With for strong drinks had completely yanishe,
his and he restored to himself and bis family
r1tv. 'water-cleansed' water-cured drunksrd.