Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-10-19
Cbuire IitRraturr.
A Touching History.
PoR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.

ardent Spirits DuJ we may justly say Ol
the destructive consequences of lntemper-
ance as a distinguished Divine did of war
that "no depth of coloring can approach
reality" Positive facts constantly occur
rinc under our own observation, are utterly
incapable Of being fully described. The fol-
lowing facts were related in part by the un-
fortunate drunkard himself, and transpired
in part before the eyes Of the writer.
II. W, was the son Of a highly res
pectable and worthy citizen Of Tennessee.
The indications he gave of native talent in
early boyhood induced his parents to edu-
. cate him. All care was taken to impress
his youthful mind with the beauty, excel
lence and Importance of virtue and moral
ity. Industrious and talented, he was pre-
pared to begin his collegiate course at the
agc of fourteen. His father, in compliance
with the advice of friends, concluded to
send him to one of the Northern Universe
ties. When the hour for his departure ar
rived, his hopeful father took him by the
hand and giving full expression to his love
and hisfond hopes, charged him to be faith
ful-to be studious, and above ALTO pre-
serve his moral character untarnished ; and
the devoted mother, with tears in her eyes,
as she impaired the farewell kiss to his lips,
besought him by the warm affection of her
heart, to shun the fearful quicksands that
beset the course of the inexperienced stu
dent After promising to. abide by their
counses he left the home of his youth
Soon after he arrived at College his capti-
waiting manners and pleasant conversation
won for him many devoted friends. For
several months Misconduct was truly exem-
plary; but on certain evening when his
own spirits were wrought by some pleasant
occurrences to the highest pitch, he unfor.
tunatcly fell in with company of wild and
dissipated fellow students. While thought
lessly participating in the rude and improp-
er conduct, he was sud denly presented with
glass of wine. He had learned the bane-
full effects of intemperance from the lips of
his anxious parents, and had often witness
sed them himself So he positively pro-
tested against indulging But long and
urgent persuasion overcame his resolution,
and he drank the contents of the glass;
Thus begun, the potions were repeated time
and again, until he with the rest, was just
sufficiently intoxicated to be fearless aud
reckless. At this juucture the proposition
was made to remove the College bell, and
bury it. All readily consented, and the
bell was taken down aud buried. Ere a.
mother sun had set, the young man found
that he was expelled. He feared to ap
proach an angry father, and kind frienC
went before to effect a reconciliation. Or
learning that all was right, and that hi
father would receive him kindly, he wen
to his old home Entering the old parlor
he beheld his detected father reclining on
sofa. He addressed him with a tremulou
voice aud was beginning to pray his pardon
when the old man without uttering wore
seized a chair and gave him blow, unde
which he fell senseless to the floor. He wa
carried in this condition to the house of
relation, and after much suffering recover
ed. His father having informed him tha
he should no longer regard him as his son
his mother had died during hisabsence, ant
all ties to home being severed, he resolve,
to spend his days in the State of Ohio
After travelling n great deal, undergoing
many prvations and trials, he engaged il
an humble but honest calling in Cincinnati
Ii. The idea Of being an outcast from hi
paternal roof preyed ceaselessly on his heart
His prospects, once so bright and aattering
were forever blasted, and he left in the mids
Of trouble, poverty and strangers to stee
his course as he might or could His sa
feelings drove him to the wine cup for rC
lief lie drank till his health was destroy
ed, aud his very life nearly extinct. Th
gentleman with whom he was working hal
pened likewise to be a drunkard. Viii
in a state of iutoxication, his abuse to h
family was intolerable Once having br
tally beaten his wife, he lay down to res
assuring them that the same would be r
pelted when he awoke During his sumbe
the hand Of the partner Of his bosom fin
ING further forbearance impossible, plunge
tn deadly dagger to his heart. The u
fortunate young man continued to board
the family and continued to quaff the poi
onous contents of the bottle. His who
moral nature became corrupted and h
mental organization deranged. In this s;
plight he was uuconsciously welded to Il
widow Of the murdered drunkard. Ne
or was there, AMI never can there be a mo
unsuitable anl deplorable marriage. VIII
he was unintoxicltcd he was haudsor
man. His countenance beamed with
telligence, and when his mind could be o
stracted from his miserable fortune, his CO
versation was entertaining and instruct,
his language being chaste and eloquent, a
his thoughts deep aud original When
ber he loved to discourse on literary m
ters aad seemed devoted to literature. I
associates in his youth had been of the m
gsutlemluly and refined manners, and her
the society which he loved when hims
was the elevated and refnel. On the CT
trary, his wife was exceedingly uncomC
In her appearance rude and uncouth
her manners weak and untutored as
her mind aud her acquaintauces and '
itors all belonged to the lower, uneducat
and unpolished class. When he had bC
forced TO abandon the cup, his mind
came once more clear aud active. WI
he found his fatal error he almost sank
less on his couch. He sprung to his
and paced his humble chamber round, WI
fiery storms Of trouble and despair were
ginq in his bosom. Alas the die was C
II was too late to think. There was