Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-12-06
VOL. vi.

business, and he feels not the thrust that
would pour out the very life's blood OF q
faithful sire, in sorrowing at the grave SIDE
Of his ruined son.
Time rolls away with ceaseless flight and
finds still the unholy sale going on. Mar
earet comes home from school, in girlish
pride with the honors of her class, to cheer
the aged brow Of her father. Surely she
can cheer him, if he is not too deeply sunk
in moral ruin, to find one attraction, at
least, in virtue and beauty. In all the love
illness of young womanhood and the polish
/ Of education, she moved before him in queen
ly beauty. His soul finds here a something
upon which to lean for comfort, though
deadened to an unsel6sh philanthropy and
indifferent 70 sil good, 'yslt Ao'ssoves, nay
doats upon his lovely daughter. Not only
he, but others see and appreciate her
J charms. Many suitors press forward, anx-
, ious to win the beautcous prize. The faith
er for once uudergoes deep solicitude for
the welfare Of his child, and narrowly watch
Z es the advances of certain of her attendants
: and with affectionate care warns her against
: the very NAV to whom he is moat similar
: in character, and the very man who will
g be ruined through his instrumentality.
}, But enough. Margaret is wooed, won
Ii and welded by the most promising young
LAWYER of B, whose character is unlm-
70 peachable. Joy reigns supreme in the heart
le Of the hopeful, confding bride, and sheds
lie it's peaceful halo across the furrowed brow
N of her aged father. But what disappoint'
&c ments meet us in life, and what changes
is are wrought in the destinies and character
in of men The sweets of happy home Eea
ne away, the young bridegroom grows careles
%, about his brides society, and the natura
o. and almost the only alternative is the dram
nd shop. l need not dwell on a course Q
ell which we see so many prototypes in dali
nd life. He drank, was ruined and died, blas
III ing in his fall not only his own character
ar but dragging down to an untimely grav
est her whom he had sworn to love and prc
at tect. The shock was too great for tende
elf hearted woman. "a brother in drunkard
grave, a husband whose character is blaste
sh, and whose eternal ruin is secured the
ere were too heavy reflections for her to bea
will and she sinks fading away, day by da
ind nothing is left the troubled father but tt
nee merest shadow of what was once all beaut
wi loveliness and joy warning him too lat
ash though earnestly, the father hears from
ess dying lips of his heart broken daughter ::
to All, dear, dear, father, you did it a
rial r1g0li4itsap.i. R~n'i'A" cpd a-'''ahana 4
nus His brain reels under the pressure of ]
to grief and remorse tears his soul In det
re- est anguish he gives vent to his sorrow,
ply pents him too late of his faults. No wi
ded no son, no daug to whom to tell
,ed- griefs, to whom to confess his wrongs, fri
the whom to receive words of comfort
in feels the greatness of his sin. They all
in untimely graves, the victims of ia
um- step in life-the victims of a poisonc
UNI draught, and, Oh, Heaven he has adm
laf- istered the draught. By his conduct tt
have been sent to the unforeseen portals
the doubtful future. His brain reels,
IN raves, and dies helpless, hopeless ma
!, al ac, another victim sacrificed at the shrine
hful intemperance.
dai- CEDAR GROVE, KY, Aug. 8, 1854.