Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-07-05
Original gtorr.
Written for he Spirit cf@e Age Raleigh.
HORACE VEST; OR
The Effects Of " One, and the first Glass" :"

- ~ ~ "A ~ II W II - A " ~
The Effects Of " One, and the first Glass. "
[CoSoLUDED.l
We will not weary our readers with a
description Of the pleasant time which they
spent suffice it to say that, through the
influence of the strong potations which he
took, West 90 use his own worls) "pass-
ed glorious time, and repeatedly declar-
ell that he had never spent SO pleasant an
evening in his life, uni that Munson was
the finest fellow he had ever met with"
aud when he left for home, which was af-
ter night, the effects ofthe punch, toddy and
wine. that he had drank were plainly visi-
bic in tic manner in which nc walked the
streets.
He reached his dwelling and entered by
means Of his night-key. All within was
still and silent as death he made his way
as best he coull to his chamber, and found
that his wife was sitting up waiting his re-
turn home; she raised her head as he entered
the room and he saw that she had been weep
ing uul when she became fully aware of
the state he was in she at once buried her
face in her lap and burst into tears. He
passed. by her uttering some drunken ex-
clamation in regard 10 her beingup 50 late,
anil without undressing himself laid down
upon the bed, and was soon snoring in
drunken slumhcr.
When our hero awokc in the morning
the sun had been up some hours, and was
shining brightly in his chamber window.
lie arose aud dressed himself and went
down to his breakfast He found his wife
in the breakfast room at work, and his food
at the fire awaiting his coming, and was
ashamed Of his conduct the previous night
and felt that she knew all about it, and he
hung down his head unable to look her in
the face She asked him kindly but in a
tremulous voice how he felt, and then be-
gan to get his food on the table for him /;
he replied that he felt very bad and that
his head ached as if it would split. He
then sat down to the table and after he
had taken a cup Of coffee and slice of
toast he arose and said that he felt little
better though not we'll enough to 60 work (;
he then laid down upon his bed where he
remained the balance Of the day.
lie went to work on the next day, though
still suffering from the effects of the supper
at Munson's. During the day Jones allud-
cd 70 the subject aud asked him if he would
not allow that.he was mistaken in the opin-
ions he had formed of his friend Munson
previous to his visit at his house.
West replied that be would, for Munson
had treated him like gentleman, aud he'd
inviIed him 10 visit his house limiting,
that it he wanted anything in his line at
any time to be not backward in asking for
it as his credit was good there for any a.
mount; an invitation which West was not
long in accepting. From that time he was
a visitor ut the house Of Munson as well as
the others in which the city of B a
bounded, spending his hard earned none!
aud leaving his family to suffer for th
necesSaries Of life. His wife and chill,
were neglected for the company of drunk
ards and vagabonds, and often was it th
case for him TO return home late at night
aud finding his wife sitting up awaiting hi
return, scnld her for so doing All thi
she bore patiently, never ceasng in her du
ty to him as wife. His child, young as sh
was, noticed the change in her father, a
he did not now take her in his arms, an
caruss and kiss her as he used to do, sh
therefore clung closer to her mothers bC
som, AMI found there that love which wa
denied her by her father
West also soon began to decrease in hi
attentions to the interests of his employers
an often spent whole days at the tavern
when he should have been at work; tn
consequence was, he w2s soon discharge
aud was unable to obtain employment G
account Of his intemperate habits, .whiC
were plainly visible on him. iscreditor
amongst ham Munson, with whom his ere
it had been so good, now became pressiI
in their demands against him, and he u
being able to satisfy them, they seized u
on what little he had, and sold it for the
own benefit His wife and child We
turned out of home, and where so ma
happy hours had been spent, and soug
refuge with her father. West was ava
of this, but did not seek them there, az
hal not tae courage to show himself to t
plrents Of his wife after his treatment
iler, and too much independence, as heca
ed it, when sober enough to think righ
Of the matter, to eat the bread which th
earned.
We will now bring our story to peri
about one year after the events just IN
toned, during which time West had bC
going on as he was when we left him, a
even worse, resorting to any and evt
means short of stealing to crafty his thi
for liquor. He would put away wood a
coal, run errands and do any thing
which he could earn a trihe Of money
spend for drink of liquor. His wife
been staying with her parents during
time, and it, together with the conduct
her husband, had not failed to leave u
her brow traces Of care and trouble.
had not despaired of ever seeing her
band reformed, but prayed frequently
earnestly to her Heavenly Father
such might be the case. Some of her friC
had attempted to persuade her to apply
o divorce from him; but she firmly re
ed to do so, saying that she would trui
God, that her husband might see the el
Of his way and reform, and that
might yet live happily together. Her {
had grown considerably during that
and was, at the period Of which we W
pretty little prattler, and frequently
qured Of her mother in regard to " pa
One dark and stormy night AND
the hour Of IL, man, ragged, unsh
and dirty might have been seen stan
10 frout Of one Of those low aud