Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-07-21

A ring at the street door interrupted the Y
conversation which had thus engaged the
since their tea hour, and the two
gentleman 0 whom they had just been speak S
ing, entered and were greeted with the ia t
miliarity Of long and intimate acquaintance I
They had called to see if the young ladies 4
would attend a lecture from a distinguished
advocate Of Temperance who had arrived in
the city but few hours before night. The
invitation was accepted, and after a mo-
ment's absence the fair girls returned to the
parlOr equipped fortheir walk, when Hor-
ace Cleaveland remarked that he hoped this
lecture would entirely decide his young
friend to throw his influence upon the side of
total abstinence.
And DO you think Mr.. Clark bids fair to
be a d~runkard, that you are so interested in
his joining the Sons, Mr.. cleveland !? asked
Ida Iaughingly.
hope there is no ground for such a sup
position, Miss Lisle, but his being one of
US will not only remove him more efectual-
ly out Of the way Of temptation, but place
him in a position where be may more sue
c~essfully than in any other, stem the direful
current Of intemperance.
Is that all ? 1t strikes me as very strange
that a man must surrender his own freedom
lin order to be more influential with others,
and think one far worthier of respect who
has frmness enough to stand Of himself,
without calling in other aids for his support.
And yet association, you must admit,
strengthens us all through life. The church
have those peculiarly their own social life
surrounds us by a different class.
But these are general, and do not pre-
sumo to descend topoints such as debating
to a strong minded man that not a drop Of
wine shall pass his lips. The very proscrip-
ton is libel upon the strength and dignity
of his character, she replied as she passed
out the door with her hand resting upon FL
dred Clark's arm.
What upon earth could have actuated
Miss Isle in making those remarks +? Hor-
ace Cleaveland asked Of bis companion, He
len Murray, as her cousin passed on out d
hearing.
Ida is yery light-hearted, she returned, and
has not yet fully learned to weigh always the
sentiments she advances, but she really means
no harm.
c And yet, in this very instance, she may
= effect a great deal. Eldred is too fond nov
Of a social glass, though a very e~xcellen
u young man, and l had hoped the entreatie
Of his sister and myself COMBINED had pro
duced some effect upon him but such sym
Is pathy as hers will undo all we have done.
1t Ida is generally as ardent an advocate c
y temperance as You are.
| know it, and that makes her sentiment
of tonight the more g%laringly inconsistent
at | cannot imagine what her motive could hav
O. been.
Helen smiled to herself at the recoIlectio
of the light %fanciful idea she had advance
"a in their previous conversation, but only X
in marked-she may likely presenta very di
ferent view of the subject the next time the
hit meet.
lis But it may be too late-un7ess, he adde
after a momentary pause, could prove
gh him that she is not really sincere, that
er marked inconsistency exists between the Sc
tied convictions of her sober hours and Il
sentiments she has expressed.
,ut Perhaps you oyerrate her influence, M
NO Cleaveland.
TT, think not ; for it acquires fresh poten
from the fact Of its being employed in a w
ne, already agreeable to him-but | think,
be can defeat her yet.
,od May l be acoDfdent in your plan ?
vii If you will not betray me.
Helen smiled again at the remembran
,its Of her former promise to the sam questic
ne? but assured him she would not.
the If could prevail upon him to feign hi
self intoxicated in her society, the ind
our nant Punishment he would meet from |
yth- presence would show him the want Of h
led mony between her true and ayowed SCI
ments.
of And do you think you will succeed?
l am almost sure of it. Eldred has
sex strong vein of humour threading his chan
ter, and I can convince him from her rema
uld that she has really no right to exercise an
h a forgiying spirit in connection with the c
sequences which will follow her views.
hen There were many comments made u
the lecture and temperance associations
and general, upon their return, during the wi
n to Of which Ida Isle warmly denounced Ii
but as directly interfering with mans free
las and at warfare with the highest priyile
nan. Heaven had bestowed upon him. 1t was
len, surd, ridiculous, she reasoned, to ask
ugh one bound by the stronger influences Of
1t of 1gion, to allow human institutions to fe
him in one point only, when he p~rofesse
be be guided entirely by the will Of God in
the cry particular. And it was better, far
mo- ter, he should learn decision and s~elf-cor
with of himself. than to depend upon the sup
e, in afforded through association, and much /
was in accordance with his dignity as an iml
great tai being endowed with inmeasurea6le
most possibilities, for the proper use of which
ibili- account would one day be demanded of
self alone. Eldred Clark, as was nat
We a fell in with her views entirely they harl
may lied so exactly with his own and when
) the bid the girls good night and had gained
ming street, he asked, t~riumphantly Of his