Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-10-26

In the wide, wide world, far from the love- n
light of mothers eye, with no friend to o
look to but the God and Father of the SPAR '
rows. t
The Demon of Woodstock trembled on 7
his throne before the burning words of the /
stranger. Jonas Regan, who was there. tried s
to arouse his cohorts to put him down. q
Such a storm Of whitening sarcasm as fell
upon Jonas then! He was made to appear
the viIest of all creatures-peal after peal fell
from the speakers lips upon the curse of
Woodstock, and then he arose and skulked
meanly away. hiss of involuntary scorn
swept aftor him-a dismal hiss, as if it would
wither and blast him forever, even as he had
blasted his victims. He launched his thun
ders against the man who traded on the
4sous OF his fellow,nen with an unsparing
hand; and then, and not till then, did
| Woodstock write over against the name of
Jonas Ragan-Iet him be accursed!
The conclusion of the strangers address
was the grand triumph. He waved above
his head the Temperance Pledge and shouted
victory! Victory!! VICTORY Il! over the
Rum scourge. He appealed to bis hearers
with all the pathos Of inspiration to aid
struggling humanity in casting off the fetters
Of its inglorious slavery. He appealed to
christians Of every name toad the moral en-
terprise. He invoked Heavens aid to bless
the efforts Of that hour, that it might carry
a blessing to homes and hearts where the de
stroyer had withered and blasted the hopes
Of earth and heaven. He appealed to tho
drunkard by his love of home 10 forsake his
cups and be a husband, father citizen,
man again. Tears fel! from the flashing
eyes of the stranger as he prayed and en-
treated drunken Woodstock to sign the
lie descended from the pulpit and
held up the pledge as the Ark of Safety for
the poor 6runkard OH the tempest torn sea
Of life. Who would sign exclaimed the
stranger, and prayer for success of the new
Reform went up to Heaven from the stran-
gers lips, such as Woodstock had never
heard.
A dense crowd gathered around the CON-
munion table in old church at the end of the
lane eagerly signing the pledge that had that
night been seen as an emblem of triumph
Scores signed and took their seats, and sobs
from thankful hearts were heard here and
there IN the old church. Will no one else
sign the pledge tonight said the stranger
and | looked in my husbands face-he wa.
weeping and hope sprang up in the heart
And Emma, who plucked rosebud from
the bush BY the garden wall and Nelly WIZ
got sprig Of her jessamine by the door
and Mary who went down the slope to tn,
old walnut tree where the baby was buried
--'.a lsaslt on thaso5- and cnvered her fac
with her hands, they all that night and iha
hour wept with their poor old ruined fathe
and begged him to sign the pledge, be
man again and 90 back to the old cottag
by the mill where the baby was buried.
seemed my heart would break The eye
Of all were now turned upon us-the inc
brate's family. At last my husband aros
and walked mp ito the communion table wher
the stranger stood and asked him to rea
the pledge. 1t was read, and with his tren
bling hands my husband held it and gaze
upon it. and tears from his eyes fell upon
and reyerently saying, may God and Aea
: en- be my help and sustain me, he took IL
J, pen and wrote JAMES MoRDANT.'
The stranger cast one glance at the nan
G my husband had written, and with God |
praised, the great soul and noble BODY
+ the benefactor bowed at the feet Of n
9 husband and wept and prayed for streng
: to sustain the vow, and sprang to his fe
e and clasped the old man around the ne
e and cried like ahappy child MY Fathe
le My FATHER !!
10 1t was enough. 1t was my own darli
E. Jimmy-the outcast from fathers roof
e, Woodstock wept tears Of JOY and the me,
er ing adjourned. The old church at the e
q, Of the lane had not been the theatre
such happy scene in many day.
IS A change was manifest. Prosperity
is gain smiled upon Us: my husband becar
ce once more honored and respected. Ben,
rs olent men aided US in obtaining the old c
tage again. We entered its cherished wa
On Happiness seemed to dwell there as in d;
81 long past-our flowers bloomed the same
nd when we left them-the old hearthstor
le- face was familiar as some dear friend
les other white gate was hung at the end of
he little path-and permission was granted
nd remove the dust Of poor little Jimmy, '
lat died in the hut by the Alley, to the sid
little Willie's grave beneath the old wal
'ut tree, where the myrtle bush grew the day
nd left our dear little cottage. Peace, ha
led ness and hope sprang up in freshness
hat life where desolation had spent its withel
vas BREATH
lrk What became of Clancy, your co
vas va. CIancy?' said an attentive listener.
'olc Clancy breaches the Gospel of Chris
OF the poor at Glendale Mission said the q
ms woman.
And the Demon Of Woodstock-are
the days numbered?
1--WE The Maine LdU waves in triumph
ity. Woodstock voters of the village
rch tain it ever-the hydra curse is driven
the with the red language of popular indi
the tion or scared in its den with the hot
fell of fne and Imprisonment
cen And Jonas Ragan |!
: of 'Ah! Jonas became maIefactor, al
elu- have heard say, that on the Continen
art was buried in the four crossroads by the
rev 81 le.'
full
80 The London Times says: In fifty ,
- ~ RI,