Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-08-11

Cdl16. udNl14 OEEu cCnSf hO caNs = =
our Aunt, and staid with me until the poc. 10
or dressed the cut on WHY'S head and Ia
Thomas was fast asleep. He then left, after te
cling me he would certainly return in the "a
morning before my husband was astir. And %
sure enough he did, bringing with him a 10
nice warm breakfast, such as we had not p
been used to for many a long day. Poor n
Thomas was really mortified, as was often
the case when he awoke to a knowledge Of
the part he had acted, and oh Miss Bell :
il would have done you good to hear MI. !
Ross talk to him as he did. After prevail :
ing upon him to drink a cup Of good warm !
coffee and to eat one of the nice white but :
tered rolls he brought, he sat down beside
his bed and my poor husband looked SO nj ;
tbv. and bloated. and foul, by contrast with
the nice. clean. well clothed gentleman, that
7 could not help wondering if all this differ
once was really attributable to ardent spirits.
Rpt Mr.. Ross did not seem to note 1t, as he
talkea with him so kindly, oh, so andy
and the bare recollection called the hhg4'
tear drops to the poor woman's eyes he
asked him to 90 back to the time when they
were Hghthearted youths together. 10 reau
his ambitious but virtuous dreams OF a glofl-
Gus manhood which then peryaded ms oe-
a-To review his exalted ideas OF mans
onsnroLAa.n rnIpugh thstSPyzHHuc
nayoIence-his sublime estimate OF a God
- H. obI;oations be was under to that
"o spI4t which he then thought no time
could weaken or remove-his exalted opin-
ion of woman and the purity Of her charac-
ter-the zest with which he contemplated
!, the innocent sports Of childhood-his glow
[ ING appreciation of natural loneliness and the
/, reverence which held his wrapt spirit in awe
as the foam crested waves Of old ocean burst
2 in loud echo back to the sublime anthem
which pealed from the storm-cloud that
i o'erswept his head-and to tell him what
e fell influence had SO f%earfuily undermined
O the foundation all, and brought the glorious
d structure he had purposed to erect, in such
e a confused mass of ruins about his head
D Ardent spirit, he replied TREMENDOUSLY;
4 would to God ! could never obtain another
o. drop.
i would be glad, my friend, if this were
~ the case, returned Mr.. Ross, but since it il
,e not, let me beseech you to act the noblel
~ character of overcoming temptation yourself
ID of throwing off all these base shackles it ha
e. riveted upon you, and again take the posi-
IS ton in society of an honorable and an UP
= right man.
ID 1t is too late, Mr.. Ross, be answered sadly
too late.
h. But I know to the contrary, Thomas, h
on replied; it will certainly be very difficult
,ss first, but it is your only chance to rescu
,as Yourself from a ~drunkard's grave, your re-
%utation from the blight of intemperance, an
to secure for your wife and children that p
tie sition in society they have lost through yo'
m but which as a reformed honest man yc
,oy have still the right to demand. If the evi
the of intemperance rested upon your own hes
lev alone, sad as that fate would be, it won
,oy fall widely shorSof the actual truth. 3
look zzsaa At Faaf ss Hsaeee455 5 5hf7t tie World wi
the you. R~emembeg your children and the sti
got ma which even your death will not reno
uld from their name, for they will learn the dee
the burning curse Of the drunkard's chi
And then remember in contrast to this ola
tan picture, you can create a bright and hap
,uld home, can enderyourselfa and family respe
airy, able and useful, can clothe and educate yo
ave children, can mingle with men without
blush upon your brow and say if you "
loor not struggle, fercely struggle for such gr,
ne and glorious ends?
be / cannot begin to repeat all he said, &c
and tinued Miss R., but at last Thomas pro
ised to try, and even thought he might 81
can ceed but for the ridicule ofhis companio
cIes and the force ofhabit, which he feared wol
cate lead him, spite of himself, to Atson's grt
zen cry. Mr.. Ross told him he had the
rted before received a letter from a friend
dis Eldon, requesting him to engage a good c
of penter for two months, to whom he wol
ack, pay the very best wages, and advised
ton husband to undertake the job; which he
With greed to do. Well, nam, Thomas got
in and with my assistance, washed and sha,
sor- and put on bis best clothes, and they w
tive certainly bad enough in all conscience;
med he looked so sick and weak and trembled
was that | know he could not help thinking b
ness much his morning drink would strength
han and revive him, though he uttered no W,
.on's to that effect. Mr.. Ross kept him with |
ted. all day, employed him about his lot {
even sought by his cheering and encourag
mar manner to remove the impression that
.uilt, was too deeply degraded to mingle ag
her upon an equality with his fellow man. ]
: to very night he joined the Sons. Mr.. R
pris- took him early the next morning up to
cra- don, which is about twelve miles from b.
Euri Mr.. Lane. the hbeag eppfGgrking the sIm ever V x;sIia g
y atnas watched over and strengthened his mi,
ness elevated and deepened his moral princinI
'eet- until he is quite a difage6s nsrsRom~T
coy ne was when you saw him last. he con
nfe nome every week, never falling TO br;
ms us a fresh supply of food and clotb;ne
= Anu just step IN here, Miss Bell, and II
~ q Aaorq4' opening a closet door as she s
'uid SO. lie had just sent up this barrel
ne nour "nen you came. and this nice box
YES sugar. ana see here is coffee. and rice, a
even to,pepper and spices, which we ba
me / NOT had for W4NM& I-r- *