Spirit of the age., 1853-05-04
roR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
The Great danger of taking one dram.

The Great danger of taking one dram.
While intemperance and its evil effects is |
yet visible, and while there is something for
every true Son to do in the great work OF
Temperance reform, permit me to offer to
your readers a truth that may be beneficial,
if duly appreciated
Friend S. while attending to some official
business in one of the Districts of our Pal
metto State, happened to seek and obtain
lodging for the night at the residence of a
Baptist preacher, whom he
found not only Of an entertaining disposi-
ton, but strictly pious, attending to the du-
ties of family worship with that strictness
and devotion that should characterize all of
like calling and profession. Bat in the NOR
ming before breakfast, great was the friends
CONSERVATION and surprise on being presen-
ted with n bottle Of whiskey, and as he was
not professor Of Temperance, joined our
venerable preacher in a social and friendly
glass of old JdlI.f .face, and after breakfast our
friend left him.
Some time had elapsed, Court came on and
our preacher had been summoned to serve
his State in the character Of a juror. Friend
S., not being a strict observer OF temperance
rules and regulations while attending the
same court, happened at a late hour to enter
the same room at the tavern that was occu-
pied by our venerable preacher, and as 1t
was contrary to the rules of the Hotel to
drink any kind of intoxicating drinks within
the hotel, all who carried any to their rooms
were Of necessity compelled to keep it con-
cealed. Friend S. had his bottle under his
coat until he reached his room, and while en-
deavoring to put it in place so it could not
be seen, our preacher recognized him, and
reproved him for keeping such late hours on
the first night of Court. S. recognized his
old friend and preacher, and at the same time
I thought it too much like Satan reproving
sin" t. he reprimanded for drinking by one
who loved it as we'll as he did He had not
forgot the dram after prayer on the morning
he left the preachers house, and brought
forth his bottle and very tremendously and
cordially insisted on our preachers joining
him in social glass, reminding him of the
drams they had taken together, and other
circumstances that occurred during his stay
with him on the night Of his first visit. Oul
preacher first very modestly declined, as he
ought to have done after reproving friend 5.
but after some persuasion concluded he would
take one dram with him, and so he did.
After a continued conversation upon differ
ent topics amongst the rest rather abusing
the fanatic temperance people of the commu
nifty, our preacher proposed to retire, as /
was then u o'clock, and be had to serve al
juror the next day but friend S. could no
hear to it without wetting the other eye
which was finally acceded to by our divine
A stranger in the same room nOticin;
their drinking ana conversation introduces
himself to them, and insisted, if it would b
no intrusion, that he should join them in
drink, and as it was common whiskey the,
were drinking, he had bottle Of real goo
cogniac, which he produced from its conceal
mont and handed round and round. Drin
after conversation, and conversation afte
: drink succeeded, until at last one Of the fra
. tcrnity moved aside the curtain from the wiz
, dow-and behold daybreak, with all it
natural beauty, appearing in the East. o
seeing this, our preacher was horror stricken
and made an effort to rise from his seat, bu
alas it was no 90 he could not rise
'ras drunk, and fully drunk! Says he
C Boys, help me to bed, and be certain
wake me just in time to meet the Judge o
the bench. AS for breakfast, | shall wan
: none"-and the curtain dropped. The preacf
Q or was conducted to bed there to prepare hin
: self, by sleep, to meet his Honor.
+ Reader, look at the evil of taking that on
Q dram after prayer before breakfast! Her
; is the preacher, theprofessing servant of GoC
now unable to serve his country A mini
a ter set upon the walls of Zion, but alas |
. found the bottle in his Watching, and fell
victim to its contents. Read, profit and
'f wise. A SON.