Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-11-03
CHAPTER XIX.
LaaIoa . pa.an.-A l,n.e a..aliaaran1.

CHAPTER XIX. -,.
layton pa,ty--A t1,e a,itoJiograrhY.
A social party, was gathered at the house of
Erastus Layton; his friends were around him
and all vert merry as marriage bell' Ellen
ORara, or Crazy Nelly, was there, but she
was not merry MS the gay, young spirits that
We're around the hosptabe board ; she was
silent and melancholy. The wine cup was
banished from the house and the songs of iov
and general rejoicing gushed from the lips of
the friends and guests. The court-trial was
the etheme Of many, and eager listeners gather
cd around Layton and urged him to tell his ad-
ventures with the miscr's man. lie began:
Drunkenness has been my besetting sin j; it
has followed me for years and has more than
once come near consgnng meto its dreadful
doom. II has robbed me Of my property, it
has bound ne in CALLING chains; it has set
Glsease and death bowling after me; it has
blunted the tender feelings that my Creator
implanted in my bosom td bring me to bliss
and glory; it had pinioned me firmly with its
riveted chains and left me struggling for life
and liberty; but now, thank God, the hempen
cords arc severed and the prison bound captive
is free!
The day on which ! disappeared from the
City, ! was met on the streets by Allan Wing
field, and he invited me to his Tavern to drink.
obeyed, and we went together to that haunt
OF SIN. lie gave me liquor and drank until
il inflamed me and rendered me insensiblo of
what was passing in the Tavern. The mser's
man took me to n dark room and remained with
me for some hours. | remember roinp with
him to the street door the cold wind bIowed
IN my face and it felt refreshing and grateful
the streets, the lamps, the houses, the earth
seemed waving and swinging, and | held firmly
to his arm to keep from falling
lie led me on, but knew not where was
going, neither did care we still went on wal
king, walking. / saw dark forest before us
waving and nodding; high hills and gloomy
looking rayines. grew weary as he led me
over the craggy cliffs, but no complaint drop
ped from my lips We halted in dark gorge
ofthe mountains and sat down on stone to
rest the wind sighed melancholy around us
ana the moon, that was now soaring high in
9fol leyeRs sent IN s er haens @ dRMn through the
man was sitting before me- laughing at the
foolish manner in which | was gazing at the
moon and the stars. was bewildered at the
novelty Of the scene and was lost, wondering
what being | was My conductor arose and
laid a hand on my shoulder, shaking me rudely,
rs if to arouse me from my stupor, and then
told nrc the dreadful mission-it was to mur-
der me for the legacy had received 1t came
upon me like n flash; drunk as | had been, it
was all comprchended, and tingling chill
Grept over my frame and quivercd through
every vein and fibre. My knees trernbled, my
frame sunk to the gronnd and my tongue plead
for mercy. prayed for life, and told my con-
ductor that had not the legacy-that Emma
had IL, but was not believed, and my pock-
cts were searched and few pennies was the
pitiful reward. These were taken and my tor
mentor went about the dreadful deed OF mur-
der ] tried to pray for the peace Of my SOUL
but could not. saw the vial Of death in
the hands of the miscrs man and was told il
contained a fatal poison, prussic Acid, and
that il must be poured down my throat oh
Che intense burning agony of that moment
Death seems trlng, when atar off, but when
ii comes nigh TO YOU and stares YOU in tht
face and YOU feel the icy touch, the treezin!
breath and hear the restless waters Of Eternit,
chaunting their uncnding song, then it is deaf
is terrible and overwhelming
'Aly conductor told me it was the orders o
OF the miser that this dreadful deed should b
done, and then like lightning flash came tn
truth of his cupidity upon me; his true chal
acter in its black deiormty stood unveiled bl
fore me, and on my knees, before God and e.
pectiug to die within the half hour, | curse
my knsman-from the depths OF my soul
cursed him, and with tears in my eyes pr@ye
for the peace ofmy soul and penitently aslc
forgiveness for the sins had committed whe
under the influence of the Water Of Deaf
and gave utterance to many bitter regrets tn
I had ever been enthralled in the bewitchir
enare. The misers man listened until W
done, and then asked me ifitwas the angua!
of nv inmost soul or only the mockery Of II
lips and called upon Heaven and Angels
witness my integrity | was asked, il life W
given me would there be hope ofmy refor
ING and forslking the compauioaship OF
bowl I prayed Heavens aid and impor
for liberty TO prove il. The deadly draua
was pressed to my lips--I felt the cold 81;
sticking there and was bil TO swear alegiaI
10 my sacred vow. ! stretched my tremhl
hand skyward, and before Heaven swore it
credly, u binding oath of dreadful penalties,
peated word for word after the miscr's man.
was finished and | WAS helped 20 stand on
feet, and / saw the fatal draught that had b.
compounded for me poured from the vial
the grass az our feet, and the pale moonbcs
sparkled and danced in its deadly drops
The oath had taken bound me to seer
MS to what knowledge was about 10 be gi
me, and heard the dreadful secret of CT
Nelly fall from the lips Of Rudolph Leycre,
misers man ] was not loath to Join ha
with her to send vengeance upon the wr
who had rained destruction upon us both.
Il was conveyed TO the desolate cabin of
zy Nelly and took up my abode with the
that nestle there, and was fed from day to
by her benevolent hands, blessing them al
same time for snatching me from hungry W
Of the bowling sea of drunkenness. | re
that the obligation was forced upon me '
pale death was staring me in the face
friends, you shall see how sacredly that
cation shall be kept
The obligation was kept sacredly; fo
led life of sobriety, and prosperity te,
her gifts in his path bright Honor grace
future life ; he was happy again, ard his
~ sang with him the songs Of blissful rap
the Cornucopa Of plenty scattered the rich
Of the earth around him, and when he 81