Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-11-02

appointed. | readily found the store, and
entered. The first sight disclosed four men
playing cards at a table. The next glance
discovered man stretched out along a whis-
key hogshead. The landlord was sitting bv,
bnt instantly hoped up and ran behind the
counter to wait upon me supposing was
customer. Says !, is John McL--d here
They all looked at me on hearing the ques
ton, as if had teen the old one, or sheriff.
What is that to you,' he sulIenly replied.
| want to see him. While was peaking |
took another sweep of the room with nv eve.
and saw something like man asleep in the
corner. Is that John! None of your bu,
siness, answered the surIy barskeeper. fit +
is that unhappy man, you will find it some of
my business. So went to him, recognized /
him, though in this shocking beastly plight
and began to try to wake him. This was
no easy job; and while | was about it, the
rumseller ard his guests demonstrated, tell
ing me to go away, threatening chastisement,
and showing violence. | had in my hand
loaded whip, and am not inferior, in point Of
wlry, muscular power; and though man
of peace, | confess, that in the whole of the
time | have been in the ministry, | never
felt so strong disposition as at that moment,
to give four or FIVE men thrashing. Thev
were intimidated, and [ succeeded at length |
in getting John upon his legs, and totting
him off homewards. My presence, and the
exercise sobered him, so that when he reached
his hovel, he was in his right mind.
forgot to mention that when first went
into the house, the child upon the ground
started up affrighted, running to her mother
crying, Is he going to carry US to Jail, moth
or, where father wasF And that poor moth
er sobbed upon my hand as if her heart
would break. Well, l conversed with them
an hour, talked of old times, the old village
and school days. He was softened, his heart
was touched. Then urged the pledge; his
wife put in her profoundly earnest, almost
frantic plea. She felt this to be indeed the
hour Of destiny. Do you think [ can keep
it!' said at length the miserable man, once
SO promising now SO fallen. Is it possible
for me to be saved! 1t is, said |, with con-
6dence and hope, you can keep it. know
you can. In the name of humanity and re
ligion, try it, dear John, anG God will help
you. Atlast he consented. We knelt down
on the earth-there was no chair no table
in the house, took out the pledge, which
| always carry in my pocket, placed it on
the stool where Mary had been sitting, and
handed him my pencil. He wrote bis name,
thank God Notwithstanding his condition,
it was beautifully written, as I afterwards
stE6EFfd fsE aa, Wss Wss ,agn1 40 ,Y ,sYGellaRt Epglish
my overburdened heart in PRAYER, and
prayed with all my struggling soul, and his
despairing wife joined me in the solemn in
vocation, that the Father of mercies would
receive the returning prodigal to his arms,
and that lie might never 90 astray again. II
was now quite time for me to go, and resume
my Journey but could not leave the town
before called upon the class leader, left him
some money for the family, and enjoined or
him to look after them and throw around
John the shield of all good influences to pre-
vent his suffering relapse. Whatever fur
ther charges he should incur on their account
| promised to pay as soon as Informed 0
them.
Another decade rolled by, during which
no tidlngs came to me at the East from thi
interesting couple. At length | was callet
again TO visit those western regions, and t
pass near the residence of this unfortunat
brother. On reaching the town. my disap
pomtment was extreme to learn, that he haf
removed to distant county. | anticipate,
misfortune; but as the place designated wa
not far from nv intended route. resolved +
90 on and see him. When | entered th
town of -, where Johu was said to live
made inquiry for his dwelling, and wa
told, it was the second house on the left han
side of the road. Being now so near ha;
tened onward eagerly, and presently mic
frame building painted white appeared.
could not help putting up an g jaculator
prayer, that my dear friend might be so haI
py as to occupy any house ha!f as respects
BILE as this. Expectation now became pail
fully intense What in mercy was sent
see! A scene like that, or worse, whiC
ten years before left such awful traces on Il
) memory, never to be obliterated? | cou
| not tell At sudden turn in the road,
l thought discerned another white house
l the distance among the trees. Yes, it is S
, with green blinds, and as | wen: near,
!, gravelled walks were seen, handsome p
a ing and ornamental trees and shrubbery.-
e Surely there is some mistake in the dirC
i ton; this can not be Johns house vet il
Y the second on the left.
e Fastening my beast to hook. went
d the door and knocked. A girl just on t
e verge of womanhood, opened it. Does
e McL--d live here 2 l asked with tren
| ling. He does, SIR Is he, or his wife
e home.' Mother is within, sir but fail
c is in the field. Please to walk in, sir"
e eye glanced through the open parlor dc
Ie A fine carpet covered the floor. There W
handsome chairs and other furniture; bu
t; saw no more for Mrs. McL--d by this Ii
ct was informed of a gentleman's arrival, a
S, lost no time in making her appearance
y Good Cod was all I remember to HI
p, heard from her, as she rushed forward
70 seeing me, and clasped me by the neck
She almost tainted, and shed flood of te
he and my own condition was not much m
ne composed. Recovering little. she inform
ed me, that her husband was at home, but
II upon the farm. Too impatient to wai
We hurried away to see him. he met me
ay he was coming home. As soon as he kr
re who it was, he ran forward, and grasped
lot in his arms. saying as he strained me TO
m, BOSOM Thank God Thank God you
"; my saviour under heaven. This is all
zee work. looking around. 20, am reio
re, that you are here to see it.