Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-08-08
@ From the Mississippi Star.
DEAL GENTLY WITH THE ERRING
A TALE WITH A MORAL.

Perhaps the strongest enticement which
besets the path of youth in this country, is
the cup of enchantment' which meets them
at every turn, and is surrounded with all the
attractions that art can devise orwealth COM
mand. More potent for evil than the cup
which the fabled Gree extended to her guests,
it is yet welcomed into many social circle,
and becomes the fount of inspiration for
many brilliant assembly.
More dangerous in its fascinations than
the charm Of the serpent, ii casts spell up
on the young man which Is difficult 10 break
and still more difficult to eradicate. Before
its syren glance the strongest resolutions are
as gossamer, and the deluded victim soon
finds his strength is weakness.
! Toad this class in returning to sobriety is
the primary object of the Order of the Sons
of Temperance, and the success which has
attended the efforts of the Sons" attests
the wisdom of their system.
1 True it is, and sad as it is true, that num-
bers who have been thought reclaimed, have
again fallen victims to the degrading vice of
drunkenness: and sadder still, We have too
many of us looked upon these unfortunates
as foredoomed, and as unworthy Of another
] effort to save them. Reproachful words and
IMPLYING looks have effected little in genu-
!. inc reformation. How much may be accom-
4 plished by the opposite course is illustrated
by the brief narrative Of facts which follows
i was seated in my Office one quiet au.
tumnal day in the year 1843, in one of the
lovhest villages of Western New York, hall
doing over volume of Coke upon Lyttlc.
; ton" when Iewas suddenly aroused by the
entrance of stranger, holding, what appear
B ed to be halfflled letter, in his hand Ht
e announced himsefas Deputy Grand Wor
q thv Patriarch of the Sons of Temperance
r and stated the object of his visit to be t.
< institute /" Division in our village. Tn,
h paper he held was an application for char
r ter, to which he had secured nearly name
enough for an organization. He spoke Q
y the difficulty he had experienced in combat
!. ting the strong prejudiees against secret as
i sociations which prevailed in the community
v and earnestly solicited my name to make u
= the requisite number. This request polite
: ly but firmly declined had partaken large
nIly of the prejudices to which hereferred, an
Q IuC WUOl6 l6HOE Vi lily Hdu Dcc
le such as to strengthen and develope sue
n impressions.
m Deeming further argument with me ust
81 less, he left the office with the remark tn;
he feared the hope of completing the organ
IN zation must be abandoned
IL The sound of his retreating footsteps ha
ly scarcely died away, when my young frien'
Il Henry HartweIl, came in, evidently laborin
st under much excitement. What's the ma
ter Harry said l, no bad news hope!'
: Yes there is said he, L have just 4ear
= ed that you refused to sign the appIicationf
"a charter, and the Deputy is discourage
ID and about leaving US.
he We'll, what is there so dreadful abo
er that said l, I think we viii survive even
7e- the Sons of Temperance are not establishc
herer
Ig- Do not talk so,' interrupted Harry, 'yC
up who know my history so well oRght
speak differently. You have hitherto be-
to a good friend to me, come now to ask y,
to confer the greatest act of friendship up
me in your power to bestow. wish y
,ry to give us your name and thus make enoul
to form Division here
Are you in earnest, Harry7' | repli
for with some feeling.
Yes, and well may be. have brok
fin my mothers heart BY dissipation ! hurr