Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-11-17
FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
The Destructive consequences Of Dissipation
and LUXURY.

mro. Hi aaRRgea f6Eff4HiRsgs j ia t A ffJRgias t6 ST sgamRmafiFk ;
IN some Of the most agreeable e%nvirons of
the city. The sky was clear, the air cool,
and the purling streams and gentle zephyrs
rustling in the trees, lulled the wind into an
agreeable gloom. Albert, enchanted with
the natural beauties which surrounded him
could not help exclaming e: "What a lovely
EVENING" He pressed his fathers hand and
looking up to him, said, You know not.
papa, what thoughts rise in my heart !! He
was silent for a moment, and, then. lookin0
towards heaven, his eyes moistened with
tears thank Cod said he, for the han
Ply moments he now permits me to enioy.-
Had my wish, every one should taste the
beauties of this evening as | do. Were
king OF a large country, / would make my
subjects perfectly happy Mr.. Drake en-
braced his son aud told him that the beney-
client wish he had just uttered came from a
heart as generous as it was humane. But
would not your thoughts change with your
fortune Are you certain, that in an exal-
ted station you would preserve the senti-
ments which now animate you in that mid.
die state in which it has pleased heaven to
place you
Albert was a little surprised that bis faith
er should ask such a question; for he had
no idea that riches could bring with them
cruelty and wickedness. Mr.. Drake told him
that was not always the case The world
has produced fortunate persons, who have
remembered their past distresses, and have
always retained the most charitable ideas for
the unfortunate but we too often see. what
IS a disgrace to the human heart, that 2
change OF fortune alters the most tender and
sympathetic affections. While we ourselves
labor under misfortunes, we look upon It as
4 duty incumbent on every man to assist rs
Should the hand of God relieve us. We then
thlnk that all his intentions in the nrpsarva
tlon or the world are answered, and too of
ten cease to remember those unfortnnato
wretches who remain in the gulph from which
we have been rescued. You nav see an IN.
stance ofthisinthe man who frequently come.
to. beg charity ofme, whom | relieve with
reluctance and cannot but censure myself e.,
so doing.
Albert tod his fatherthat he had freopAnt.
y observed how coolly he put money into his
hands, without speaking to him in that ten
der language which he generally used TO 9TH
er poor people. He therefore begged his
father would tell him what could be his 200
son for it.
l will tell you, my dear said Mr.. Drake.
what has been his conduct, and then leave
you to Judge how far l do right. Mr.. Ma
on.wa a linen draper, and though the prof
Its of his business were but moderate. vet .
poor person never asked his charity in vain.
This he viewed as his most pleasing extrava-
gance, and he considered himself happy in
the enjoyment oft, though he could, not bur-
sue this indulgence 10 the extent ofhis wish
es. Business one day calling him on ,chapoe
he heard a number Of capital merchants tai
king together of vast cargoes and the i'm
mense profits to be expected from them
All said he, how happy these people are
Were rich, heaven knows l should not
make money my idol, for the poor should
plentifully partake of my abundance This
man went home with a bosom full of am
bilious thoughts but his circumstances were
too narrow to embrace his vast projects. a.