davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-02-16
nMaking the most Of it,"

Owing to the uncertainty Of the mails we
did not receive cur usual number of exchan-
ges last week, and after hastily glancing over
them, scissors in hand, searching for items
for our Miscellaneous Department, we saw
when we had gone through with our pile that
we were "found wanting" Determined to
"make the most of it, we then commenced
a series Of cross reading of a large weekly
print, and cleaned the following interesting
items:
We learn from an English paper that
English butter on Boston bread-was intro
duced in the House to-day to repeal-the
Arctic exploring expedition in its search for
old maids and bachelors.
The latest Paris fashion is in powdering
the hair with-Pork at wholesale-about six
inches long with an immense toad in its
mouth-which was completely frozen over
and the canals were all tight.
An old hogshead ofrum-was introduced
in the House last Monday with 2 recommen-
dation that it b. laid on the table.
Anotorious character-found-in which
was concealed a pack ofcards, a Jug of liquor,
bowie kniyes-and the ears of a donkey.
It A young man bent upon-Marriage-
took fifteen bottles Of these invaluable bitters
and has never had-good sense.
# A respectable family in the upper par
of townwas most brutally-alarmed at clever
O'Clock last night by a-domcstic jar-th,
farce concluded by a burlesque upon til,
Poker dance.
4 Now is the time to buy Grape shawls-
in a few minutes the pain stricken sufere
will feel and experience the delightful sensa
tons of-the Dead Sea Expedition.
It Lost-a good character-letters mus
be addressed, post paid, to-~the Liquor SCI
Ter.
!; t During one Of the coolest nights of las
week a poor drunken man was picked up an
carried to-thc hog market.
{ A fop in a state of decay was seen Q
our streets yesterday inquiring for--the W
! holsters.
4 The fourteenth annual report ola WEI
3 tern stump speech-swept through the coul
, ty, tearing the limbs from the trees, ~levelin
dwellings, barns and out-houses, nearly xii
t ing a-deaf old lady-"sitting on the style.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-02-16
Pen and Scissors.

If you would be considered a person of
truth, don't swear to everything you say
its vulgar, wicked and disgusting.
4 If you have favors to bestow, turn to the
poor in the lanes and alleys and there seek
an ohject-the rich will not thank you for
them.
The silent eye beaming with affection,
shining thro' a tear, is more potent in reach
ing the heart than a babbling tongue-and
the ladies know it.
A committee appointed by the N. c.
State Medical Society have issued a circular
to the Physicians of the State, in which the
Importance of organization into county Soci-
cites is urged with marked ability, If the
I" Regulars" can give a "kill or cure" dose
to rid Our drug cursed world of quackery and
and empuriasm, flooding the globe with the
physical pollution of pills, expectorants,
bitters and ]plastcrs, we'll see that it's obitu-
airy is Published, and its funeral preached
from a whole page Of an Almanac for . gra-
~tuitous distribution"
A chap in Providence, r. l., was fined
81, a few days since, for stealing a newspa-
per from the door of a subscriber. The next
case on docket is for the feloniously taking a
paper and then refusing to pay-fo or it.
t Our first false step is like the young pop
by it grows in vigor, natures, and casts
off its thousand seeds floating in the wind to
meet us in the path of old and dreary life to
vex and torment us.
PRESENT TO Mrs. STowE.-A bronze stat
ue of a female slave, executed in Paris by an
English artist named Cu~mherworth, who re-
sided several years in the West India Islands
is about to be presented to Mrs. Harriet B.
StoWe.-Erchange.
OF course, this benevolent lady will refuse
the proposed gift of the admirers of her late
work with indignant scorn she "would not
have a slave to till her ground"-nor SWEEP
. her study either. How stupid her friendl
must be to think Of such a present!
: 4 Reader, take this copy Of the CAGE
r and show it to your friends, ask them to sub
scribe and send us the cash and names mex
d week. Will you try.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-02-16
MAKE CLEAN The OUTSIDE.

This seems to be the rule of life with some;
the talisman whereby they live and act. They
spend hours and hours together in arraying
their dress and ornaments to adorn their poor
clay while their hearts are as black as a
thunder cloud with sin andignorance. What
consummate foolsl Who cares for a splen-
did coat or a gaudy dress, when a corrupt
heart is thro bling beneath its folds? No
man or woman Of ordinary sense. What are
all the fashions, ~splendors and extravagan-
cies, in comparison with tender affections,
truth, kindness, religion and virtue? The
former may gain the applause Of fops, Of
popinjays and fools, but the latter will sur
yive the tomb and give the soul a passport to
eternal bliss beyond the skies. We would
not have you neglect the body, but we would
have you bestow more care upon the inner
man, and qualify it for usefulness to your
fellow men, and comfort to yourself.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-02-16
Another Original Story.

We commence to-day, and shall conclude
in our next, an admirable, truthtu1home Sto-
ry, illustrative Of the domestic discord, scpar-
alton and disgrace, which is the legitimate
result Of the evil Of Intemperanco. The wri-
ter assures US it is a faithful Narrative, as
related by the unfortunate victim himself
The names and places are, Of course, varied,
as a matter of such painful personal histo-
ry should not be so related as to too certain
ly identify the actors in the dark drama OF
life. It is replete with moral instruction
and wise admonition, and viii, we trust, be
instrumental in causing many to pause ii
their downward career and fee to that "Cir
Gle of Honor, where each is a shield to The
other, and all to the world an example"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-02-16
The lot of an Editor.

An Editor is expected to please every BODY,
the women and children included. With
a basket full of exchanges before him, he
unfolding them and looking out
for paragraphs for his miscellaneous columns.
A small paragraph arrests his attention-he
scissors it-sends it to the compositor-it is
inserted, and he is, to all intents and purpo-
ses, efectually done for. A pile of cemmu-
nications, written expressly for his paper,
is on the table-he examines them and finds
them mere blanks, fifty percent, ay, an hun
dred percent worse than blank paper-their
publication is respectfully declined"-the
Author and all his friends, be they many or
few, arc mad about it, and next week brincs
him the unwelcome news to stop at least a
dozen papers. He sometimes hits upon a
piece that pleases his own heart, and he is
sure it can but please his readers-he in
serts it with an Editorial puff, and it is all
over with the poor, perplexed Editor. If he
was a Tailor or a shoemaker he would be for
given, but who has it in his heart to forgive
an Editor Twenty good old friends send
him as many unpaid letters requesting him
to do fifty odd jobs about town, such as en-
gaging their flour, their pork, what's salt
worth, and won't you pick out a nice winter
dress for our baby that yen praised SO when
you stopped for dinner at oar house? Please
send it by next mail and. as postage is
cheaper by preparing, perhaps you had bet
ter pay the postage yourself. This amt
half as the Queen of Shaba signifed!-
The Editor must print to please everybody,
and everybody sets up like a critic. The un-
married lady says g why don't the stupid
Editor insert more marriages? Like the Ed
itor could make folks marry when they didn't
scant to! Another says " Why don't the
Editor give US more poetry, funny paragraphs,
and BON motS !" Another cries: " away with
such strf-give US stale, solid reading."-
The politician straddles his nose with his
goggles, and runs over the paper searchingf for
an eulogium on his ~fayorite candidate, and
an anathema against his opponent, and, not
finding it, swears the paper is only fit to kin
. die a fire in the stove. Every one thinks the
! paper is printed expressly for him, because
$ he is a subscriber and notwithstanding all
this grumbling, would you believe us, reader
there arc hundreds who feel no twinges il
their ccnsciences at keeping the Editor GU
I Of his hard earned dues? X
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-02-16
RAIL ROAD TO THE COAL MINES.

We learn from the Fayetteville Observer,
that the subscription to a Railroad from that
place to the Coal Mines in Chatham, now
amounts to nearly 100000 kthe sum re-
quired to secure the charter and authorize the
organization of the company There is no
doubt, we learn. that the town, in its corpo-
rate capacity, will subscribe another $780,
600. And we may expect handsome addit-
ions from the points at which the books are
soon to be opened. We consider the road as
secured.
P. S.-The whole 500 600 has been sub
scribed, and q meeting of the Stockholders
called to organize the Company. Hurrah !!
! That's the way to do tlings.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-02-16
Just Published.

And now ready for sale and distribution,
the Address delivered before the last session
of the Grand Division of North Carolina, by
Rev. PETER DoUB, G. Chap.
Also, the fourth edition of the Address of
Prof. C. F. DEEMS, G. W. A. delivered in
this City before the G. D., in 1S47.
Both these works have been published at
the instance of the Grand Division Of this
State, and being prepared with a view to
meet the wants and interests of our own peo-
pie, are just the thing for home circulation.
They are offered at the rate of SO per hun
dred-and every Division should order al
least a few for gratuitous circulation. 81
viii get 10 copies, with the postage prepaid
thereon. A limited number was printed
those desiring copies of these valuable AID
dresses. would do well, therefore, to make
carly application.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-02-16
FOR SPITE.

Since the Order Of the Sons Of Temperance
has gained popularity in our midst we occa-
s%ionally meet with a man, who thinks it is
doing a wonderful spite to the Sons to drink
liquor in their presence. "There's a Son !"
says one, 4" give me the jug!' and he throws
back his head, and star gazes it " for more'n
a minit!" Next morning he has a cracking
headache to spite the Sons! Well, this re-
minds us of an old Ass we once heard Of, that
begged a brother Donkey to kick off his head
for him, to keep the pesky flies from biting
his tobaccoIeafed ears! Now don't it? Z
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-02-16
KNOWLEDGE.

Secure some new idea every hour you
live, if possible; no matter how t%rifling itmay
appear to you, grasp it and store it away in
the great s%torehouse Of memory. The great
Ocean Of knowledge is but countless drops,
and if you would be great, like the LEARNED
blacksmith" you must gather up an idea
here and there, and store it away for future
use" Despise not the day Of small things
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-02-16
or iginal 5tnrq
Written for The Spirit fhe Agc-Raleigh.
The Strangers Narrative.
BY MARVIDALE.
INTRODUCTION.

During the last summer it was the happy
lot of the writer to travel among the noun
tains of Western North Carolina, a section of
country destined tofb one of the most pros
porous, as it is now one of the most beauti-
full, in the world. But it is not my purpose,
at present, to discant upon it's beauties, its
prospects and its resources, but simply to
tell a tale as twas told to me-" having first
described how and from whom l heard it.
Riding along one day through the "gold
region" / fell in company with a man with
whom | soon commenced a conversation
He was stoutly built, his features rough,
though regular, andhis whole countenance
wore an open, frank expression. lie was de-
Gently dressed, and rode a good horse. Aclose
scrutiny, however, revealed marks ofcare and
suffering-the scars of the past rather than
the wounds of the p~resent-in his counte-
nance. A very light sprinkle of gray min
gled with the dark coarse hair that revealed
itself beneath the rim of his hat, and his
bronzed face showed marks Of hardships and
exposure. There was nothing very prepos-
sessing about him, and yetthere was nothing
repulsive. | tried to read his p~hysiognomy,
but it puzzled me. There was just enough
of mystery about it to beget interest, curl
osity.
lie informed me that he was going some
distance on my road, and l expressed my
qualification at having his company. Our con.
version soon grewmore free and unrestrained
Gnd he told me his history as wereclined be.
meath q cluster of naples that o~vershadowed
a cold, clear gushing spring, while our hor-
sos grazed around us. That history l now
give to the world, that his errors may be
avoided and his virtues initiated by others
] shall disguise names, however, for the par
ties are nearly all still living. Many viii
doubtless recognize the pcrsonages Of the sto
ry, and bear witness to the truthfulness ofit
relation inallits essential particulars though
do not deny that | have lent it some of thu
embellishments Of fancy. | shall put the sto
ry into the mouth Of the narrator.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-02-16
The Twenty-seoond Of February.

This is the day designated by the State
Temperance Convention held in this City in
December last, to hold County Conventions,
for the purpose Of " setting the ball in notion
preparatory to the grand campaign for deyis.
ing and carrying out measures for Riding
our State Of the Liquor Traffic. We have
not urged its observance upon the friends of
the cause, for several reasons-the chief one
being the inclement and unpropitious season
of the year. We also think the time prcma-
ture. five expect to accomplish the object
contemplated by this movement, we must
consult the convenience and leicure of the
people, the masses of whom we desire to get
to meet with US in our conventions with
whom we can confer, reason and explain,
concerning the measures proposed. This, 1t
is not reasonable to suppose, can be done IN
the midsto Of severe winter. Again, it is too
much anterior to the time when we expect to
effect the end designed, and the great object
may be lost sight Of thereby. The year 1884
is the period when the great battle is to be
fought-the present year the one to prepare
and drill our forces for the engagement and
we shall have our hands full if We but dis
charge our duty in this respect. Let every
friend of Reform, then, bestir himself to its
full discharge-let us agitate, agitate the
matter-talk oft whenever we meet our ac-
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. it ateyery social neigh
borhood gathering-scatter light and infor-
nation wherever we go, and when the time
for active exertion arrives, the necessity Of ar
gument and explanation will have been done
away with, and the people will be ready t
| join us heartily in the cry-"Down with thu
Liquors Traffic y In the ensuing Summer
and Autumn let US invite the masses to NEE
us-let US talk over and weigh the question
in all its bearings-prepare ourselves wit
such an array Of facts and figures as will cal
~ conviction to every thinking mind an
put to rout the miserable sophistry and sub
terfuges resortcd to by the upholders and dc
tenders of the system, to mislead and deceiv
! the unwary and unsuspecting of our people
This is all that is needed to produce an entir
: revolution in public sentiment on this subie,
The people generally desire 70 do right, an
! unless they are duped by designing men f.
I sinister purposes, they aojU do right. Let
: be our duty to guard the avenue to publ
intelligence, and whenever an attempt
made to pass d~emagogism off for patriotism
be it our province to stamp the base counte
felt and hold it up to the scorn and contem.
Of a v~irtuous, enlightened, patriotic peopl
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-02-16

ng We saw, a few days ago, a woman
who had fallen By intoxication in our streets;
a disgusting, loathsome spectacle, indeed
BY her side stood a black bottle, containing
a portion. Of the vile stuff that had caused
her thus to degrade and disgrace her sex
Aroused from her drunken stupor by some
passer-by, with considerable difficulty she
arose and staggered off, leaving her bottle
behind. While gazing upon this humiliating
scene, we observed a lady trip from the side
walk to the street andtip over the bottle with
the end of her boot, SO that the miserable poi
son might be spilled out; and afterwards, a
lively school Miss came along and turning it
upside down, poured what remained upon
the ground. A young man soon after demol
ished the bottle upon a contiguous stone
and then all was lost. And yet, some patriots
statesman and j@urists would perhaps contenc
that this was destroying the rights and liber
ties of this wretched female. A law tina
would deprive such persons of the f%acilitie
for procuring the degrading beverage, woul,
be tyranicala and anti republican-a sin agains
constitutional rights ]
co.! Patriotism-hoW many crimes arc committe
in thy name"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-02-16
IT UNIVERSITY

We learn that Hon. A. o. P. NICHOLSON.
ofTennessee, viii deliver the annual Address
before the WI Literary Societies of our Uni
versity, at the approaching Commencement.
DIR. j. II. Dickson, of New Hanover. will
deliver the Address before the Alumni Assoc
citation.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-02-16

A wife becomes the trucst-tenderest friend,
The balm Of comfort, and the source of joy!
Thro' every various turn OF life the same"
SAVAGE.
While the world deserted me and [ deser-
ted mysef, one pure heart still chung to me.
False to myself, my wife was still true to me.
She wrote me letters almost every week-let-
tiers breathing the spirit of woman's warm
affection, mingled with entreaties and the soft
pleadings of love. And | answered MANY of
her letters, breathing back q reciprocation of
tender feeling which, | call God to witness !
was true and heartfelt. In the deepest depths
of my degradation, in all my dishonor and
disgrace, there was still one pure spot in nv
heart, one place uncontaminated by the pol
luton that surrounded it, and there my own
Ellen was enshrined. There is something
mysterious in that capacity of the heart,
which, though seemingly one mass of corrup-
ton, can vet retain some ofthat purity which
allies it to Heaven. After a time myinsani-
ty assumed a milder type, and | was capable
Of some degree of reflection. I made her
promises Of reformation, and | resolved to
keep my promises but alas my depraved
appetite goaded me on, mastered me, and
forced me to drink. Not only so, but when [
reflected upon the position from which had
fallen and the low depths into which | had
sunk, the fortunes of he'll took hold on me-
shame, confusion and remorse overwhelmed
me, and | sought in the wine cup a Temporal
ry suspension of the narrowing feelings that
decorated my soul, plunging into temporary
madness to escape that which would have
permanent. Ifelt unworthy of my noble wife
Il felt that my touch would be pollution tc
her, and that to reduce her to an association
with me would be an objectionable sin, anC
| shrank from it with horror, as a crime O
such enOrmity rs to forever damn me. ITel
letters tortured me. and | wished that, in
stead of blessings, she would heap curses OF
me. | felt that | deserved herscorn, contemp
and reproach and yet | trembled at thI
thought of her forsaking me.
/ knew that she was soon to become a moth
er, for her letters had told me so, and sh
! had conjured me by my unborn babe to ament
; my ways, to grapple with the world and re
: : trieve my character, promising all her syn
! pathy, her assistance and her love. She ha,
T told me she would 90 with me in spite of he
-, father, and share my fortune, be it what
! might, if | would only renounce strong drink
But the demon of Alcohol had a hold upo
: me, my own shame helped him to hold me-
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-02-16

k5 Two more numbers Of the Age will
complete that thrilling Story, "The Creole
Wife," which has doubtless excited the ad-
miration of all who have perused it. We
shall then begin an Original Story, founded
upon incidents connected with the early his
tory of North Carolina, which will, we hes
itate not to say, deeply interest every reader.
Let all who desire to get this North Carolina
Revolutionary Story complete, be sure to send
and subscribe to the Age at once, before its
publication is commenced. We intend to
spare no efforts to continue and increase the
interest and usefulness Of our columns and
we hope the public will sustain US by their
subscriptions in the heavy outlays Of money
we make for that purpose.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-02-16
"Thcre's no trust,
No faith, no honesty in men,"
GuavCurap-
SHAKESPEARE.

SHAkSPEARE.
I had several times written tony guardian
and receivAl letters from him. lie informed
me that my money would be ready at any
time | desired it. ! wrote to him, finally,
that | would be in Rlleigh ut q certain time.
Leaving my wife at her fathers / proceeded
- the city, but was astounded to learn that
my guardian had fed. When | camel to look
for my negroes | discovered that they had
been sent South some months previous, The
truth flashed upon me-lny guardian had alb
seconded with all my effects except a very small
portion, not exceeding five hundred dollars
In value. l %enquired conc rning his s~ureties
to tho guardian bond, and found that one of
them had also absconded and that the other
was insolysnt,
There | was almost pcnniless, Enraged
ut the villainy of my guardian, smarting un-
der the reflection that ] was wholly dcpcn-
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-02-16
CHAPTER III.

Slowly folding, how she fingered
Ger the words his hands had traced,
Though the flashing drops had fallen,
And the faint lines half efTaced."
Mas NEAR
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-02-16
CHAPTER II.

" Riches. like insects. while concealed they lie,
Wait but for wings, and in their seasons 1y.'
popr
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-02-16

"a wife becomes the trucst-tenderest friend,
The balm Of comfort, and the source of joy!
Thro' every various turn of life the same"
SAVAGE
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-02-16

CONCLUDED NEXT WEEK.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-02-16
CHAPTER /

4" Love is not to be reasoned down, or lost
In high ambition, or n thirst of greatness a:
IT'S second life, it grows into the soul,
Warns every vein, and beats in every pulls
The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-10-19

time | could but wonder where she had
+"picked up her notions."
lmay ss well continue my sisters his
tory to its close.
She remained at The Hawes m any years
the comfort and consolation Of her father
She closed his eyes at last after having
Witnessed, with such JOY as angels fee
when sinners repent and turn to God, his
change from darkness into the marvellous
light of the Gospel-that Gospel which she
SO highly priced. and which, with persua.
sive accents and trembling earnestness
and filial affection and prevailing prayer,
she besought him to embrace.
After this. when strangers ,rod the floors
Of our ancient dwelling, Lucy found q
humber home in another village with Aunt
Rebecca, soothing her path downward to
the tomb, and saw in her. at length, q
glimmering hope that her labor in the Lord
was not in vain. Then. when this duty
no longer detained her, dear Lucy was
my companion, my comforter in sorrow,
the sharer of my joys. AT last her work
on earth was done, and she too was taken
home