Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-12-13
2gsE.,

blooming children-the little boys that lo-
to climb upon your knee, twining their arm.
about your neck and pour out a wealth &c
unselfsh love on your bosom. How ham,
and how full of unsullied Joy they are now
Remember they with the sons Of your neiob-
h50rs are soon, very soon to 90 out into the
world, when you perohance may be sleeping
under the green sod Of the vale, to be bcse,
with its allurements and to struggle with its
temptations. What is to be their fatel Win
they all 90 through the world unscathed bv
the rum fend that Turks in the highways and
byways of life and seeks his prey in homes
most pleasant places? Remember that while
you are sitting in the Legislative Halls there
are thousands going down to the infamy of
the inebriate's grave, whose childhood was
as pure, whose homo influences were as Salu-
tary, whose teachings were as ennobling and
whose bright star of promise glittered as
grandly in mnnhood's opening sky as those
that Tighten the cares Of yonr home and cheer
your family circle; remember too that they
had parents loving them as you love yours,
whose hopes were as lofty as yours, who saw
them step from the Threshold l. Of home giving
promise Of usefulness and honor, and who
saw them start the downwardToad, stagger-
ing from the groggery to the grave, and whose
hopeful hearts were wrnng with anguish as
they saw thelbright star Of promise they had
worshipped, fade out in a rayless night, and
saw the strong staff they had hoped to lean
upon broken and lost to them forever. Pause
upon these thoughts, and ask yourself where
shall your children be found. Ask your own
interior spirit on which side of this great
question you shall be found. Let not selfish
ness lead you into a fatal error-say not there
is no danger of your son. Place not your
confidence in his strength to resist; for the
~stoutest have fallen victims before the scythe
of the destroyer. Go back over the years YOU
$ have travelled. Cast up an account Of those
. you have seen moved down. You have seen
! old age go down tottering on a staff 10 a
J drunkard's grave or to the tomb Of the bro
; ken hearted, sent there by the transgression
of those most loved. You have seen paupers
e sent out to beg a crust Of bread from an I'M
n sympathizing world while the rumseller roll
y ed in luxury and you have seen strong
manhood stricken down from the exalted sta
y ton taken in society and fall as some stricken
star from the list of lights that blaze in efful-
gence in the distant blue above.
h Say not there is no danger the Demon Of
Intemperance has built a throne at The cross
a ing of every street and at the Threshold OF
IF every home.e He stands with a drawn sword
to thrust into the vitals Of the trusting. I'm
! der a deceptive guise he stalks into every cir
- Gle how sacred soever he invades every fire.
% side the rich, the poor, the great, thesmall,
the giants of intellect and the pigmies il
mind, priests and peasants, kings and beg
' CARS from all ranks of society he levies hi
e assessment of blood and all grades shrek tn,
u wild chorus Of the death dirge on his c%lottec
: altar. He has condemned Gods green eartl
u for the theatre of his carnage and made eartl
and sea a great Aceldama Of bleaching bones
~ and smoking blood.
~ What shall-what will be done? 4
70.
P. S. We are gratifed to state that sine,
the above article was written, notice has beer
4. given in one branch of the Legislature that
~ Bill would be introduced touching the subiec
of legislation on the traffic. We presume
IN will'be of a character indicated in a resolution
III passed at the last session ofthe Grand Division
leaving The whole matter discretionary wit
nc the voters in the several school districts.