Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-09-15
a Gbrilliag Original NduHrIlFttr
CHAPTER Ill


Charge-T'he Wild Aaiden-TAe Fathers
curse.
Allan Wingfeld looked with careless indif-
fereace upon the shattered wreck his meaness
had cahsed, and only regretted his conduct be-
cause it rendered him more unpopular atnoro
his neighbors. This was his only regret and
the only thing that would have induced him, had
1t been in his power, to recall the past. Wal.
ter was deeply hurt at the dishonorable actions
of his brother, and he ventured to speak to
him upon the subject and entreat him to do
better; but his kind words were repaid bv .
harsh blow in the face by the hand ofhis elder
brother, who went to muttering horrid oaths
upon him for his interference, as he called it,
ain behalf of the cruzy fool" All this grieved
the tender hearted Walter painfully, but he
saw 1t was useless 20 aim at reformation of
his wicked brother and he turned silently awav
and went to his aged father and berred him
TO do something TO rescue his brother Allan
from the coming evil that was chasing him to
destroy. The good old man wept on the ac-
count of his son. ard favorable opportunity
presenting itself he spoke to Allan upon the
inevitable doom Of destruction that awaited
him unless he mended his ways. With tears FL
ling up the wrinkles in the old mans cheeks. he
said to his eldest born:
ALLAN, my son, will you, will you still persist
In your evil course and bring these gray hairs
ofyour father with sorrow to tle grave p
Allan looked harshIy on his father and with
the mallgnancy of demon he cursed his faith
or Cursed his gray and age-bleached locks!
Alan's mother tried her influence with her
son, tried to recall the day when he was help
less infant dependent upon his parents for life.
but Mt this he laughed and cursed the wicked
wretch cursed his own mother
About this time Allan added another vice
TO his already aggravated catalogue of sins he
became Incorporate. He formed an acouain-
tance with some profligate and dissipated young
men in the city Of A-z, and soon was
reckoned the most intemperate and dsspated
In the gang. This was painful source of forief
added to the good old mans s already overbur
dened mind, and he wept and prayed for his
wicked son.
One evening he was sitting in his cotta6e
quietly smoking his pipe, his children were a.
Smy t6at 4 SsSH we're VIII Rm asffEchg them
in the path ofhoness, he laid aside his pipe and
requested Emma to bring him the old family
Bible-it was brought and the candle snutfed
and the old mans spectacles wiped and adjus-
led and he commenced reading lessons of wis
dom from the chart that is given US to lead us
safely to the port of Eternal Life. He read anc
instructed his family and closed the Holy Book
md then all knelt around the sacred Altar, tC
offer up to Heaven the oblation of thanks an(
TO pray for Divine aid in the stern battle o
life. The voice of good old Ambrose SOUNDED
rich and musical in Moss Rose Cottage, AM
when he thought of his son, who was absen
from them engaged in drunken revels and wick
cdness, he prayed for him, he prayed for re
turn of the wandering prodigal son-all praye
fervently for this, and while the agonzed fatt
er presented his dreadful case to the Divin
ear of Heavens Court, he interceeded in hi
behalf and implored aid TO arrest him in hi
wicked course. When he prayed for this tn
old mans voice grew choked and his deep sol
were heard in the cottage. All what agOn
was in the old mans soul as he plead for h
erring child
While the old father prayed in the house Il
curses and Bacehanaan shouts of the wck'
Allan was heard in the yard. Yes; while Il
plHintive voice of sublime prayer was heard
the cottage, the loud and discordant curses
the drunken son was startling the silence
the Sabbath night with the heinous burden
sin. While the old man prayed, Allan st'
Vered against the cottage door and forced
open and rushed into the midst of the worsh
ers-he heard his father pray for him this
ragged hm-he was mad with the debasing
fuence Of Rum-he was melted to fury. &
his father should dare to pray for him, and
cursed the Old patriarch on his knees and
him rise; but still the old man prayed.
ragged Mt this and possessed by Demon
drunk with fiery Rum, he raised heavy 81
that he carried and struck the white heaC
his father! The old man fell to the floor
IL dead aud a loud cry was raised in the
tage from the terrified family. The inju
father was not killed, as the family first fear
for he soon arose to his feet and stagge
across tire room to where Allan was stand
careless Of what was going on-staggerins
to where he stood with the red blood wei
out Of wound in his head aud staining
lis carmine dye the white locks of the old l
he caught his wicked son in his arms anC
claimed
aOh my son, my son what hast thou don
And smelling the foul stencil of the in
ate's breath, when Allan's hot breathings
on his fathers face, old Ambrose thrust
from him and cried
"Oh! Rum, thou nvincible Devil, thou
the Demon that holds in trust the soul 0
eldest born, and prompted him to attempt
murder of the father that reared him !"
AlIan's conscience smote him for mo
and he crept away from the scene and we
bed. The next day he was morose and S
and went and joined his wicked comrade
bury the thought Of the last nights sin
clamor of the dissipated throng he had be
associated with.
Soon after the occurrence of the circums
Just narrated, the wife Of old Ambrose W;
on the bed of affliction and she became
Bcious that her course was finished on
and that soon she was to enter on the re
Of future state. She called her hu
her children and neighbors to her bed-s
gave to each an impressive exhortation
ness Of heart. She took the wicked har
had struck father and a brother.
guilty hand, between her cold and ire
palms and bid him reform the errors of
She bid him look upon her--his moth'
gave him existence, and see her dying,
Allan, you too must die" said sh
zoo must come down into the dark valley