Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-09-21
Spirit Of tBe 5gt, 8altigg, 0ortg Carolina.

Merton of Miss Talbot. :.
Yes, he signed last Monday night; as also
did Mr.. and Mrs. Carlton, Kate and myself
4 am pleased I ohear this of Charley. Ills
presence with Miss Carlton surprised me as
| had been informed that the engagement
had been broken off. How Delville ever SO
far forgot himself as ever to become an inc
briate, has ever appeared a mystery to me.
Some people, Mr.. Merton, arc SO fortunate /
as to pass through life without having their !
virtue once tested consequently, they are :
considered patterns of purity and sobriety. j
As I know YOU to be a friend to Delyille, |
will inform you how he fell. 1t appears that !
Charles father, a few days efore his death, :
begged of his son never to indulge IN wine
drinking. lie dong strictly obeyed his pa
rents wish. 1 have often heard the gay and
thoughtless ridicule him for his abstemious-
ness, but he always laughed ut their playful
s%allies. On Kate's last birthday, l was Jest
ing her on the number other admirers. Del
vile was named among the rest. | knew
that he was her fa%vorite, and to tease her,
said 'All who come here tonight will drink
your health, with the exception of Delyllle.
OF course you have not the power to make
him taste the fine old Madeira that your papa
has kept so long, to celebrate this happy oc-
casion.' She laughed at my railery, and
said that she would give me a proof OF her
power. All wasjoy and gladness. DelViile
Ismilingly came forward to offer the usual
~civilities. Kate, glancing towards me, pre-
, scented him a glass of wine. lie refused.
She entreated, and he took the ~profered cup.
| noticed a deadly pallor overspread Rates
G cheek as he drank, and conscience at once
r checked me for the part | had so thoughtlessly
i taken in the affair but soon the excitement
-around me erased the disagreeable impress
d sion. The next day we met Delville at the
house of a fashionable friend. Wine was, OF
u course, offered us, and Charles, without hes
d ~itation, drained the glass. A week after
Kate and he were engaged to be married.
From that time | observed a great change IN
a him. In the morning he always appeared
st languid and i'll at case, but in the evening
r his whole nature seemed to have changed;
he was lively, almost boisterous in his man
So ner. l trembled for Hates happiness, for
he the truth forced itself upon my mind that IT
or she married him she would be a drunkards
IT wife. mentioned my fears to her, but she
laughed atthe idea ofCharles Delville becom-
ed ing an inebriate. Atlength her parents began
IN ITO notice the strangeness OF his actions her
v !; father watched his hnunts and found, to his
Tor he f thnn IF finn ihaS i ae e6nhFm6d mtd Big Gal Gei
bauchee. Without saying anything to Kate,
it'll IIr. Carlton expostulated with Delville and
,he plainly told him that unless he gave up his
ng vile associates, he forfeited all right to the
tl AIllu III III udu1uleF. DGlVlll6, at LLlaU Gl0o
ng being excited, refused to comply with the old
id gentleman's request, the consequence of which
L? was a command from Mr.. Carlton that he
an should no longer consider himself Hates af-
famed. Kate entreated her father to grant
md one interview; but no, he was inexorable.-
as In the meantime, Delville continued his dis
ted sipated habits. Kate blamed herself for his
a fall, and we'll she might; for had she not temp
18th ted him Her example and influence had
to- made him what he was, and she determined
der if possible, to reclaim him. For this purpose
she again appealed to her father. The old
gentleman at last relented Delville was sum.
ohn moned. Kate's affectionate entreaties pre-.
you vailed he signed the pledge, and they are to
be married next week.
tAfHs ri have AZ EmQfftbeedl ed by nt the .sullpaabbilitY Of my
,lai- what little influence | possess shall in future
him be in favor Of total abstinence. My fashiona
olo- bic friends may ieer at me as they choose; !
t. feel thatI have the moral courage to brave
you their ridicule. Some of our friends pretend
the to be surprised at what they term Hates i'm
lgh- prudent choice but for my part | am of ths
bout opinion that the man who, after having faller
I'll from his high estate, returns again to his for
lOre mer exalted position, deserves our warmes
praise and admiration.
ent, n X
led, you cannot mention one individual in
af- stance where a confirmed inebriate has beer
Del reclaimed by the power of the pledge sal
Our an incredulous individual to a young lad,
Vile who was speaking to a select few in favor q
feel total abstinence.
eiRg -1could name many, SIR replied the youn.
,e of lady, gently: but let one instance SUFFICE
Vile A few moments since | heard you speak il
yged glowing terms of a person who was once
;tor, confirmed inebriate, but who, by the comb.
late ned influence of woman and the pledge,
your now an honorable and useful member of sc
tive. ciety, That person, sir, is no other than Char
ads ; les Delville.'
pied You surprise me-! exclaimed the gentli
ank, man. What, the gentlemanly, intellectu;
N to Charles .Delville n drunkard? My God !
ends when such noble spirits yield to the seductiy
holic cup, it's time to take a bold stand for the e.
termination of the monster. How long is
bowl, since his reformation p
About seven years. answered the youn
hlady. Miss Carlton, then his afianced, b.
now his wife, and my sister Emily, signe
nOwer the pledge at the same time.
'What IS that you are saying about sist
intop Emily? queried a voice Of pleasing meIod
,ono- 'Ah, sister, is thatyou? I was telling
i the Lamont about your signing the tcmperan,
Ror,s pledge
con. Well, sir, has she made a convert of you
Almost, Miss Merton said Mr.. Lamor
role smilingly, although l am not a drinking ma
D be- yOoA h1No llcquehGly tuouSnG VI joining u
,bits. Sons What say you, Miss Julia, shall
ey'- enron my nameupoh tue immortal list!
t. in 70 So VT htnont' Saro the loVely entn
,noto SiaSt, and become a wOrshiper of the whit
lilies robed goddess. By taking decided staI
CON against the inroads of the alcoholic demo
what we shall yet convince many who now Ri
Guile our efforts for the regeneration of ma
- - kind
lease
4 you heAH correspondent OF the Fayettevl
Observer, writing from Albemarle, Stan
alked county, says:[ am sure you will be pain
fitted TO learn that the Hon. y. u. Toomer was
bject taeked on Monday morning last at Troy WI
paralysis, and had consequently to retu