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

drunken husband, How could | bear to see
your manly face distorted, your erect mlen
bowed and staggering along the streets
How could l bear to hear your cursings and
rawlings, when the fend of Alcohol held you
under bis dominion, and robbed you of all
J~~~l- a. Oh v1atA 4frApt
Let the heart that would proudly W you
its lord, pine and break in its longings for
your salvation!
What objections can you have to joining
the Sons Did you ever know them to do
any harm? You answer, No. Did YOU
ever know them to do any good? Yes, yes !;
much good has been effected by them
Thousands have been reclaimed from drunk
cnnesS, and tens Of thousands have been
preserved from its abyss. They have re-
joiced the soul of the desolate wife and made
glad the hearts Of aged parents. The bles-
sings of the good follow them, and Heaven
Is on their side. All that is good must pros
per. and the evil must perish with its doors.
You promise to renounce the wine-cup if
will be your wife. l do not doubt your
sincerity; but, Edwin, the heart is weak
when not fortified. Why not renounce it
o Is it because it would rejoice my
heart Are you not installing stubbornness
and perverseness for self respect? | only
ask you to fortify your heart against the as
saults of those you deem your friends
those who would persuade you to take a So
eial glass | only ask you to guard your
self against that unnatural and depraved ap-
petite which will sacrifice wealth, virtue and
honor for its gratification-which bursts in
sunder every tender tie and rushes madly
to ruin in its all-consuming thirst for ardent
spirits. Make public your resolve-pledge
your honor to drink no more, and then eve
~ solicitation to violate your pledge will be
an insult, an impeachment of your honor
which will be hurled from you with disdain,
and you will stand upon the rock of safety.
Put not too much confidence in your own
powers. Trust not that peridious whisper
OF self pride which tells you you are strong
enough to resist all temptation and to cope,
~single-handed, with the great adversary of
man. Remember those who have gone be-
toro you. Have not many of our most emf
nont statesmen-mcn renowned for their
strong intellects, their deep learning and ex-
allied talents-gone down to their graves,
the victims of the vice of intemperance p
Are they not warnings to you? Should not
their examples teach you to distrust your
suficiency and to seek aid to strengthen
you'll
The world is full of poisons, but there is
none other to compare with that of alcohol
none other attacks the mind, the nobler part
Of our existence. Other poisons kill the
body, but the mind rises in all its majesty
over the ruins, its throne undisturbed, its
Hceptre unharmed, and looks proudly for
ward to its Immortality and freedom but
ardent spirits dethrone the mind, strike the
Eceptre from the hand of reason, and make
man the most disgusting of all creatures, a
raving maniac, fit for the execution of the
darkest deeds of he'll. The mother that bore
him rs not safe from the fury of his rage
he becomes a savage, without the restrain
ing influence of either love or fear.
In conclusion, | again beg you not to mis-
take my motive. All that l have written
has been dictated by love but think not
that my 6rmness will give way, or that !
will recede from my position. On one con-
dition, and one only, can you ever hope to
win the hand, as you have won the heart Of
ELLA VANCE.
Danton read this letter amid a conflict of
emotions. Tears welled into his eyes, and
his better angel struggled with his evil ma
ture-with that stubborn pride which he
called se~lErespcct. What the result of his
reflections might have been, is uncertain; but
the devil never let's slip an opportunity or
yields a prize without q conflict and lust
as Danton had finished reading, one of his
boon companions entered his Office with a
bottle of champagne and a dozen CIGARS
Tho next day Ella received the following
from him
DEAREST ELLA Il have studied vel
your letter, and lave not mistaken your mo
tives. | doubt not their purity for what
else could flow from a heart so pure and gen.
tie as thine? To know that you love me is
bliss, and to return that love is ecstacy.-
But, Ella, are you not unreasonable :? do
you not betray that want of confidence in nv
honor which is essential to our mutual han.
piness as man and wife? If | must tell YOU
the whole truth, | acknowledge | have nc
particular objections to the Sons of Temper.
ance. l believe they have done, and are
doing, much good among a certain class
but it is only useful to govern those who
cannot govern themselves. Besides, the
society is in its infancy, and prejudice i.
Arrayed against it. l am seeking success.
and distinction in my profession, and polio,
leads me to court the favor of the popula,
viii. He that would sail prosperousiy mus
flow with the tide and not buffet its waves
have promised to drink no more after ou
marriage, and you doubt my fulfll.nent O
that promise. You may say | am influence,
by unworthy motives, and am therefore nc
worthy TO be trusted but you need not fea
my hrmncss no temptation could induce m
to break my word to you.
! hope you will review the whole matter
SEQ as ) see, and urge me no further to
step l do not desire to take.
Most truly yours,