Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-07-05
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY,

good resolutions you -have made Nay
he continued seeing that West was about
making soule objections to this mode of pro-
ceedins, you must consent to be guided by
me, and after you have Joined the Srns,'
we will get you employment, and the mon
ey which will spend in clothing you will
not come out of my pocket, but oct of the
treasury of the Division, which has a fund
appropriated to that purpose So you see
that will not be loser by it, and even if
were to lose by it, would do so willing
ly and cheerfully, as I feel it I. duty [ owe
to God to help fellow creature in distress.
We will not weary the reader by repeat
ing the balance of theeonxersatian between
the in regard to the matter; itisenough
for US to say that West consented to the
arrangements made by his benefactor for
his reformation, and promised to be guided
by him; that he remaiued at his house,
and having become more decent in his per-
sonal appearance, acted and was treated rs
a member of the family, AMI on the next
meeting night of the Division to which Mr..
Washington belonged, went with him there
AMI was finally enrolled as member of
Division, No, Sons of Temp
crance of the State of Nj.
The rext thing to he done was to obtain
work for him; they tried at several places, as
Mr. Washington had promised, but without
meeting with success but at last after re-
peated efforts work was found tor him, and
he went at it, getting good wages and prom
ising Mr.. w. to board with him, until he I
fund himself able to take charge of his fam
lily, when he should be sufficiently we'll fixed
l. III Il Ut
worked steadily for two months, during which
time by his particular request h family had
been kept in ignorance of the change that
mad been wrought in him. He mad avoided
all temptations, never going nearer to a /
drinking establishment than he could possi- /
bly, help, and spending his evenings, when
not attending some kind of meeting, in the
family of his friend and benefactor. One
day he expressed wish to Mr.. Washington
for his family to be told of what had hap
pened, and asked him to go and tell his wife
that he would call to see her on that night at
the house of her parents. Mr.. W promised
to do so, and after enquiring where she was
to be found set out on his errand. lie
reached the place, and requesting private
interview with Mrs. West was admitted into
her presence. His tale was soon told, and
Mrs. West was so much affected by the in
telligence that she could hot find words to
express her gratitude to him for the noble
part he had acted in the reformation of her
husband and telling him that she would
be but too happy to see her husband at the
time specified. After he had retired she re-
paired to her chamber, and locking the door
and poured out her s0uf IN IN thanks Is her
Maker for the change in her husband and
his answer to her many prayers for his re-
formation. When she left her room, she
sought her parents and related to them all
that had happened; their Joy was inexpres-
sihIe, and all they could do was to lift their
hearts in union with their daughters to
God in grateful acknowledgements.
We do not intend to attempt to describe
the iovful meeting between the long separa-
ted husband and wife, and father and child :;
it was touching in the extreme. West again
and again begged to be forgiven for his treat
ment to his wife, and Mrs. West readily for
gave him and expressed her willingness to
90 with him again, and asked him to COM
plete the necessary arrangements for them
to commence house keeping as soon as pos
sible as she did not wish to be burden to
her kind old parents any longer than she
could possibly help.
West agreed with her in regard to that
matter, and as a grateful return to her pa
rents for their kindness to his wife when
|
! n home. offered them Il home in his family
for the rest of their lives, which offer, they
| at the earnest solicitations Oftheir daug hter
accepted, and house was rented i'll the
neivhborhoud Of where Mr.. Washington liveC
and but q few doors from it, and the happy
couple together with the old folks are nov
living pleasantly therein. West is more
steady in his temperance habits than he wal
before his fall, having experienced the fruit
of intpmperance. lie now carries on lusi
ness for himself and continues a good Sol
] of Temperance, having passed through tn
e highest offices in the Order. lie labors har
: all the day long. and at night is always to b
= found, unless called away on business, a
home surrounded by his happy wife and
0 group Of merry children.
n Reader our tale is nearly at an end, an
# with passing glance at our other chara
h ters, and few remarks thereon, we wi
y conclude.
! Jones, the man by whom West was el
y ticed to drink his " first glass" as the read
IL will recollect, together with Munson, tt
IS tavern n-keeper, are both now inmates cf
le State prison, having found their way ther
the one (Jones) for stealing goods to &
n- liquor with, and the other (Munson) for r
N ceiving them as such in payment for it.
= The friend Of West whom we noticed
the nfSC plrG OF GIliS SGOFy IT'S IdVlttS DeeH
IN fellow-apprentice, was reformed through Il
l united efforts of West and Mr.. Washingto
th and is now member of the same Diyisi
ur with them, works steadily in the employ
4 West, and in order to avoid temptation
II much as possible boards in his family.
We have endeavored in the course of Il
= story to show the evils of intemperance, a
ch the good to be derived from temperance
ke have shown, that no matter how much co
90 mand a man may think he has over himst
nix he is treading on slippery ground when
takes his g one and first glass," or an g
lie casional glass" and thinks that he is sa
liS and that he will most assuredly fall. We h;
oo tried to show the bad effects of temptat
TO arising from association with persons v
to are in the habit of drinking and trying
/ persuade others to do so and last but
.es- least we have called your serious attention
that glorious Order so vel and extensiy
70 known as the Sons of Temperance, and pt
~ ted out its principles in reforming the n
III confirmed drunkards and the benefits it
en- fers on society. Members of that Or
and have great and good work to do, and n
ap- should be careless and idle, when by t
and influence exerted as that by MIR. Washing
hoe in the case of Horace West, so many
- might be rescued from drunkard's grave
With what success we have shown all t
things we leave the reader to judge, an
ton. conclusion let US say. beware of that IS
ap' and first glass"