Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-06-15
Origfn al Y-uptra.
ron THE Spirit OF the AGE.

iFy OF MOnr0eS. Those who visited that place
IN the summers Of '33 and "a, well remem-
Der The s~ylphaike form the laughing eye and !
dimpled cheek of Florence, their eldest daugh- !,
ter. She had been wooed and sought by !;
many, but she needed notthcir warmly breath :
ed vows and. every one predicted that the coy :
maiden hadiforsworn all thought of matrimo- /;
ny, until her hand was sought and her heart
won by the handsome and accomplished Ed
gar H-,wh had Just returned from school,
beloved by his friends and admired by all.
That was n lovely evening on the l4th Of
April 1886, that witnessed the nuptials Of
the happy pair. Tho gentle moon had risen
and shed her mellowed light over all nature
lying in beauteous slumber. The ample
halls Of Cedar-dalc, the residence of the
Monroes, was that evening filled with the
gay throng, and many were the blessings
sh0wered upon the youthful pair now entered
on tho eventful sea of married life.
Never did a newly married couple enter
upon tho duties of man and wife under cir
ness and Happiness, than did Florence and
Edgar for. they had wealth, talents and
influence they were beloved and respec-
ted by every ono. Their happiness was
greatly augmented whom, in after years, they
were blessed with a group Of lovely children.
As the fond parents gaZed upon their little
ones, while enjoying their youthful sports,
they both felt as if their cup of happiness
was full TO the brim.
But such happiness was destined to be of
short duration, for the husband and father
had, by reckless and wild companions, been
induced to add to his happiness, las they told
him) by indulging in the wine cup; of which
he drank moderately, at first, but his love for
it gradually increased, until he could no lon
ger resist tho temptation. A merciful Prov
idence, however, arrested his downward pro-
gress, by the death Of n lovely daughter. Who
could have rofrained from tears to have stood
by the dying bed side Of " Little Rose" as
she was talking ofthat Heaven whose portals
she was just about to enter. Suddenly she
ceased speaking, and turning to her father
who was kneeling by the bed side, looked
him stendfIstly in the face and with her little
white hand clasping his own she said =
/" Father, come to me ~ and her gentle spir-
it passed. from this to a brighter world.
The fathers 6ehrt was well nigh broken,
and as he gazed upon the l%ifeless but beauti.
full form Of his darling Rose, he resolved that
no would never again touch the fatal cup
And for a time he kept his resolution. There
was an entire reformation in his life and con
duet, and the stricken mother was consoleC
by Ii e'hap2y change which had taken plac,
in him whom Of late she had so anxiousl,
watched, and for whom she had so ferventl,
PRAYED, lest he should fill the drunkard'
grave. But now she was relieved of thos
painful anxieties Il lgar was now the sam
afectionate and attentive husband he was il
former days. In the course Of a few months
however, he was again lured by cruel an
heartless companions to quaf the sparklin
wine and he said that should be his las
drink But was that resolution likely to b
kept? Not-he IA Gain and again, III
I'll he could not throw off its powerful infl
ence.
The &evoted Florence was 10th to believe
for, rs long as he could, he concealed it no
her whom he still so tenderly loved, notwdt
standing his almost wrecked and ruined \
ture. But his flushed features and falterir
stop soon revealodth the sad fact, thather Edg
was a., whatshall wesay?-yet she kne
it was true She could not tell where he pr
cured the ~ruinious beverage, for she kne
there was none in the house, and yet she II
ticed that he did not leave home every tir
he drank and she could not solve the M
terv. while one dav when he came home ir
fit of intoxication, little Walter, after looki
s~orrowfully at him for some minutes, entries
cd his mother to expostulate with his fathe
and she, with all the affection of a devot
wife, implored him to abandon his dreadi
habits but he exclaimed" All you can s
VIII 40 no ROOu -bul liz JlIG iltIlScLl liz
her. She watched him, as he went to q
tired part of the premises, and after
thought he had screened himself from obs
walton, sho saw him take a bottle and apl
it to his lips, and drink of the poison
draught, and then stagger of.
Poor Florence, we'll may we suppose Il
her sorrowing heart was nearly crushed
This powerful . b q yea Sfh 3q tH M5fepBB ai int Who Fl r.
supported her amid all her trials, to q
her strength to bear up under that severe
Fiction. She implored Him to have moi
upon her poor inebriated husband, and
make him sensible Of his danger. She II
arose, went to her desk, took q slip of pa
and wrote him q short and affecting no
which she carried and placed by the side
his bottle. The letter read thus
ITO him who once Tin tho sight of Gt
promised to lovean INT cherish me to whom
young and conf ling heart was given, for
king all others for his sake To the fat
ofmy children, / address these few lines
But now | have commenced, what shall
say What can | say more than has BIZ
said? Oh my poor hetrt, be still /! Oh!
loved woman, thou must submit and W
Gods time. Yes Lord hut my chillr
those pledges Of Our affection, when | tn
of them, my heart almost bursts. | sI
soon be gone, and rs far as / am concern
my destiny in this world is fixed but wha
20 he their fate I? My deGr little girls, h
-wlL+Aa world frown and look down NJ
YOU, for who ever cared for or respected
drunkard's daughter Ny boys, oh
little Edgar, you bear your fathers nam
that name which, next to Gods, should
most sacred to you. lie should DO your gu
and example. But, is he now what he wo
wish YOU to become ? And Walters c
are upon his father. Two weeks ago he
quested his mother, with tears in his ewes
oxpostulatc with his father. | did so, /:
what was the reply ? " Well say mono
IL does no good for you to say anything.
said no moro at that time, but hasit had
good effect (? Last winter, one evening w
! knew you were stupeied with spirits, "
ter came in and sat down he looked at
for some time he seemed lost in though
he said" you are bringing us to the do,
l wish l was dead" My son. sailI, g
son, what are you saying 2" Poor little
low ho did not know that he was thinkin!
loud. He loves you | know; and vet Their
hope for you to retain your children's af
ton. But If you-no | wilt not 'upbr