Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-01-02

I nm at your command, fair coz, either
to advance your interests or avenge an insult
what is the matter tell me ALL
As he spake he seated himself at her side
and took her hand in his, looking anxiously
into her face. Il
Listen to me- said Ella, 'and [ will tell
you all. You know that Edwin Danton is
ayoung man Of fortune, of fine education,
agreeable manners and superior taleuts.-
You also know that he has for some time
been paying me the most marked attention.
l nave endeavored SO to regulate ny conduct
towards him as not to give him reason to pre-.
sumo that be had won my heart ; but | con-
tess to you, my dear cousin, that | love him
with a love that amounts almost to idolatry,
and yet | have this morning rejected him.
He made a formal proposal, but reason mas
tered love, and I told him NO nn
l know the cause, dear Ella-R DRINKS?
Precisely said she. I confessed to him
that he retained a high place in my affections,
that | had struggled with my heart, and
that it was reason which prompted me to.
give him the answer l did. | tod him there
was one right of woman I would never sur
render, and that was the right to a sober hus-
band. He replied that he did not get drunk,
that ne only took a social glass now and
then with a friend. l told him that this
might be true, but that the habit would grow,
upon him, and that shuddered at the Ro1sbt
OF ever having a drunken husband. lie
promised me that if I would be his Ele
would drink 10 more. | told him 70 ifin
the Sons of Temperance, to make public bis
resolve, to strengthen himself by association
and lessen temptation by giving all 70 IN
dorstand his position, and I would then coz
semitic link my destiny with his. His prride-
false pride-false dignity-rose and he CON-
planned that | had not sufficient confidence
in his honor. [ acknowledged that / had
not confidence enough in the word If any
man accustomed to a social glass; upaided
by association and exposed to temptations
strong and numerous, to make him MT part
ner for life, the repository of my happiness
and the gem of my affections. | arguad long
but vainly +; and he at last left me- some
what angry. without giving the required
promise. My heart sickened as be went,
and feel a sorrow now that l cannot ex-
press. My love is strong 1urmyrsTvn i.
stronger /; and | have seen the suferin9s OF
one woman in particular from a drunken
husband, that have made me shudder when
reflected that her fate might one day be
mine. am resolved never to marry him
unless he complies with my conditions, which
are not unreasonable, but on the contrary
are dictated only by prudence and a solici
tude for his welfare as we'll as my own.
had rather go through life with a lonely and
blighted heart, pining for some object on
which to bestow my love, or grieving over
the unworthiness of that object, than to link
myself by the nearest and most sacred O
human ties to one for whom my love might
turn to loathing, and who might bring upon
me the doom of a d~runkard's wife-thai
most revolving doom with which an agent O
the lower world has cursed this fair earth Of
ours
Henry Hubert listened with a sympathet
ic and admiring heart, and then said /:
Would to God, my cousin, that all Of
your sex were like you in this particular
How soon would the demon of drunkenness
and all the horrors that follow in its train,
be banished from earth back to that dark
abode from whence they came! 1t is strange
to me that women are not more careful in
their choice Of husbands for it is upon them
that the effects of intemperance fall with
their most crushing weight. Bnt how am
to assist YOU what will you have me to do ?
You are familiar with Danton,' said Ella
and want you to try to prevail upon hin
to join your Division. [ love him too vel
to give him up without a struggle. Let my
future lot in life be cast where it may. ]
want no upbraidings Of conscience when
review the past
L will do all [ can, fair co., said Henry.
'and if | fail it shall not be for the want O
effort. With your prayers and your assis
lance Heaven will help to change his hear
for your sake
But We will pursue the conversation be
tween the cousins 20 further. They parted
at last, resolved to unite their efforts to say,
one whom both loved,
(TO BE CONTINUED