Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-01-09

"YdOuSki or the SiLUer Nine ;" "Ihe
Night Attack or the Heroine Of FAIR
dale ;" Science and Superstition ;;""Ada
Johnson !" de- dc.
CHAPTER II.
The young heart is buoyant and confident. |
Its strength is untried, and generally overa- |
ted. 1t sees clearly, and fancies it can in
duce others to see with it. It lays its plans
and doubts not of their success. 1t stands
forth with pride that overlooks Obstacles
that looks to the end more than to the means
1t has never experienced the death of hope,
and it contemplates no such catastrophe.-
All is hope and strength-all is fair and
bright. 1t looks not to the falling leaves Of
autumn but to the bursting buds of spring.
Alas! how often it meets with sad disap-
pointments. How often aspiring hopes are
crushed and the proud spirit lowered in the
dust How oft the yearning heart is thrown
back in bitterness upon itself, and its sweet
fountains, that sent forth only love and graf
itude, turned to gall and wormwood! O
the awakening from the dream Of life to its
stern reality
In all the panoply Of youthful hope and
confidence, Henry Hubert went forth to plead
with Danton, to present the case in such an
aspect as he could not doubt would insure
him success. In the guiltless simplicity of
his heart be thought he had but to compare
the blessings of Temperance with the mise
ries of lntemperanoe, to plead the cause Of
right and to win it.
II optoro5 noO+o,,'c IF o,,J fo,,,,I l,:,o
sitting in rather an unpleasant mood by his
writing table. He held his pen in his hand,
but the paper before him was unstained.
Good morning, Danton-how fare you 2
was Henry's salutation.
Good morning, take chair, was the rath-
er moody return OF Danton.
You look unwell,' said Henry, are you
sick 2"
Yes, sick at heart-half mad-half in
inclined to leave Rand do something des-
perate, and rather disposed to fall out with
everything and every body. You know all
your cousin has informed you Of my ad-
venture with her yester morning.
Come, Danton, don't be silIy-do as she
wants you to, and take one Of the prettiest
and sweetest creatures in the world as your
wife,
Il love Ella said Danton; but 1 hope
have more selfrespect and more indepen-
deHce than to be forced into measure by
any such means. Ella is ultra, and would
exact too much. She says she is guided by
reason-I am guided by self-respect.'
'Danton,' said Henry solemnly, { it is by
reason that both Ella and myself wish yor
to be guided, and that will not compromise
your selfrespect. You have seen enough
of Intemperance to know its horrors, and you
also know the delusive charms bv which
men are drawn into its vortex. Total alb
stinence is the only ark Of safety from the
, deluge Of drunkenness. Tell me what ob
jections you have to the Sons
t 20, | have no particular objections t.
them, replied Danton with an air Of care
lessness; but I do not wish to deprive my
self of the privilege of taking social glas
with a friend when so disposed
And had you not better deny yourse1
that privilege than incur the danger of be
: coming intemperate?' g asked Hubert.
DO you suppose will ever become
| QfunkarQ! asked DantOn.
r is there not danger Of it g replied Hen
y ry. Have not men Of as much irmness a
you filled drunkard's grave. Ispeak plain
: ly, but | speak as friend. Go even to on
e village graveyard and read there the fearft
e record Of deaths from intemperance. The le
e gal lore and commanding eloquence fsom
of the brightest ornaments of our countr
: there lie buried in oblivion, cut off in the 1us
). of youth or the pride of manhood. Their
0 too, lies one whose medical skill was unsu
passed, and who might have left to posterit
e a name covered with renown. Some Of th
noblest sons of genius and of talent there i
If mouldering in ignominious graves. The 5,
j. cial wine glass was the first step in their d
scent. They were gradually overcome
the monster Of intemperance who, with i
sidious smiles, lured them to ruin. He
t. not the safest who, con6ding in his ov
d strength, defes temptation; but prude
h man will avoid the snare, and at the san
oe time seek to fortify himself against the {
= tack
d, Il tell you, Hubert, it is useless to arg
with me, said Danton in an irritated tone
le | have pondered the whole matter, and .
st resolved not to join the Sons of Temperan,
he Ny passions and appetites shall be my slav
all and | will not enslave myself for the purpo
of enslaving them. And then, how would
Is feel to be pointed at by my companions
.|lkkeman. who was forced into measure
+ S|.e of getting wife? for this is WI
s. said and believed, no matter WI
motives night influence me- | can dri
y'I my N1dy without making a brute of n
I =, !. sell I'd viii prove it to you and to
This speech sank with leaden wei
It's upon Henry's heart and the more so a
ted was evident DantoR was now laboring
lth