Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-07-21
In THREE PARTs--BY LoRl

what il leads to-what conspiracies dark and
dire you arc plotting?
You have not answered my question.
Suppose ! should say, | hope Horace
cleveland does?
And why should you say so !?
Because the sober natured sentiments of
a man Of twenty-eight or thirty would likely
possess much more weight and consistency
than those Of a butterfly girl Of seventeen.
Eighteen, tho twenty fifth of juno, if you
please.
And this is the first Of September. bur
do let me know why that question origina-
ted 7
You will not bctray me?
Do usually serve friends so
But positively?
Positively.
Well | have a desire to ascertain the fact,
and think ] can do so successfully.
How SO 2
Mr.. Cleaveland has been urging him for
some time to join the Sons Of Temperance,
and he told me last evening he looked upon
il as a settled thing, though Mr.. Clark had
not promised positively.
And what then, Ida?
Ishall see if | can counteract the impress
sion no has made upon him and prevent it.
For what.
To ascertain whose influence is strongest
HO has labored upon him these six weeks
and has about won him over ; see if [ don't
get him back.
But that will be a very great perversion
of power, Ida.
might have known you would advance
weighty questions or reflections in connec-
ton with my plan.
And you shall not be mistaken. Do you
object to total abstinence in gentlemen ?
Certainly not.
Do you not look upon ~intemperance as
the deepest, %foulcst, most extensive evil that
ever fell upon happy homes and happy
hearts q?
I certainly do.
And are you not aware Of the fact thai
Mr.. Clark already loves too fondIy his so
cial glass?
] have heard so.
Then what upon earth could put an ide'
go full Of inconsistency and improperly il
your head?
How you do talk, Helen, as if a ligh
ish whim was really to determine hi
It's for good or for evil through life.
But you said you would ascertain throug
such means the extent of your power owe
him.
So did.
And how am | to understand you BIT
that YOU intended to prevent his followin
the very course you approve ofin your hear
if you can a.?
But | may also undeceive him in tim,
and even urge him to join, if it should
necessary. | will keep back a set of GOO
influences to countcract my present eJ
ones.
Suppose he form in that time, Ida, habi
Of intemperance which he cannot overcom
l have much more confidence in Il
strength of his character.
But we are liable to be deceived in o.
opinions, and | should certainly expect not
ing better from any man who would be Il
f;om the path of integrity through the erro
eous views of women or the idle whims
giddy girls.
You design no compliment for our S
generally, or me specially, | believe.
| have no compliment for any who Won
dare play with immortal d~estinies as with
shuttlecock or grace-hoop.
You are always so serious, Helen, wh
others only intend a little fun.
Let innocence be connected with it, a
it will be the more lasting. Itmay seem
you, dear Ida, to be a very little thing, |
it is by such little things we draw deep, |
ting opprobrium upon the name of WON
After all the fuss made about it, Hell
I do not think we possess influence enou
TO do either much harm or great amount
good.
But we may act safely, and whether it
small or great, exercise it always upon
side of true morality and virtue. The
raj tono Of society rests very materially "
young women, for many after marriage
the concentration of that interest which
before of a general character, retire in a q
measure from association with those n
likely to be influenced through the fexi
ty of youth for good or evil.
And we are not expected to preserv
consistent character, Helen. But we !
disappoint expectation, and prove to
world that we are neither automatons ain
no higher than to initiate Mrs. So-and
who may array herself in diamonds, and
many ways make herself ridiculous
butterfly moths f%ittering about the cand
fashio! without ever regaling ourselves
afre flight in the glorious sunshine of
penn ht truth.
6at a,delegate you would make tc
Woman's Rights Convention, dear He
/ would support your nomination with
add SOIL.
Twill not be sileneed by ridicule,
aadSfyou think | desire any privilege
our sex save those clearly guaranteed by
ven itself, you grossly mistake me. | "
have her contemplate her own respons
ties s2act them out properly, without
inO I,evond her sphere and were