Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-06-21
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY,

flnp the OdIanco OF LDe uay III REGARD 20 the
supper at Munson's on that night. When
the day had drawn nearly 10 close and
night about to set in West started FOR home,
thinking on the way of the party to which
he had been invited He reached his house,
which was situated in very respectable part
of the city, and entered. He was met at the
door BY his smiling and happy wife, who
placed her arm in his and accompanied him
to the tea-tabIe, which had been awaiting
his arrival. They sat down to their evening
meal, and while they are thus engaged we
will CRAFTY our curiosity by looking around
the room and noticing the things therein.
! The room in which they sat was E0ss ~
good size and was nicely furnished with
table, safe, chairs and the usual articles found
10 such places the FIRE burned brightly in |
the CRATE, for it was now in the winter) and
the brightly polished fire apparatus and the
neat and clean appearance of everything "a
round, bespoke the care and neatness with
which Mrs. West presided over her house
hold. But see our friend West has finished
his meal and is rising from the table; he
takes seat by the fire, whilst bis wife at
tends to the'removal of the things from the
table. He sits silently for while, and seems
to be thinking of some important matter, his
countenance looks troubled, and he now and
then glances from the fire into which he
-gazes, to his wife as she moves about the
room attending to the househome duties, and
we notice that when he glances from her to
the fire again, his face looks still more troub-
led as if his thoughts were connected with
her. Perhaps he is thinking of the party at
Munson's Tavern and debating in his mind
as to the propriety Of leaving the wife Of his
bosom alone, in order to associate with men,
such as he would meet at the tavern-his
mind evidently wavers and thus he sits for
some time. His thirst for alcohol conquers
at last, and he rises and looks at his watch
and finding that it is near the time specified
BY his friend, he says to his wife that he be-
lieves he will step out little while and re-
turn in a short time: his wife seems surprs
ed as it is seldom the case that he leaves her
at night, and asks him if he is called out OF
necessity. He looks confused and does not an
swer directly but evades the question by say
ing that he will not be gone long, and kissing
her affectionately, leaves the house.
He turns his steps towards the public
house of Manson, which he soon reaches
and fortunately meeting his friend Jones
(whom we have digniied with the appella
ton of Iona) on the steps of the house en-
tered in company with him. The first care
ofJones after entering the house was to OBJ
ssvU@st iTIesouucet
TO Munson, which he did after much per
suasion, and then to seek out Munson anc
perform the ceremony of introduction, anc
afterwards TO introduce him to those of the
company assembled with whom he was unac
quainted. The whole party then proceeded
to the supper room where a table was spreaC
out and loaded with all the delicacies of tn
season, casked in the most magnificent ant
fashionable styles. They were soon engage'
in discussing the various qualities of tn
viands before them, doing which we wi
leave them for short time, while we retur
to one of the characters of our story, wh
has hitherto occupied but small portion {
our space. We mean the wife of our hero
Mary Vinton was the only daughter {
poor, but honest and respectable parents
Her father was an industrious mechanic; b
trade was that Of shoemaker, and it VIZ
as much as he was able to do to support b
family by the sweat Of his brow. Horat
West first met Mary at the house of one
his friends, who was also intimate with tt
f family Of Mary, where they were attendin
party to which they had been invited. 4
was struck with the beauty of person al
simplicity of manner, and knowing that b
family was humble as we'll as his own,
Immediately determined to seek her acquai
tance, and if he found her qualities Of mil
as good as those Of her person, to select b
: as the one whom he thought suitable to
his partner through life, in other words
q make her his wife, when he became Of ae
!. for he was then in his nineteenth year. if
i should be so fortunate as to win her aft
: tons. Through the agency Of fem'
, friend he gained an introduction to her, a
from the intelligent conversation and agree
,s ble manners, he was more than ever charm
II with her. The acquaintance was kept
y until he met with suitable opportunity
pour into her ear the tale Of love, which tr1
d hearted lovers alone know to tell, and to
W clare to her his intention of making her
I wife, if she were willing, at some futl
time when he felt himself able to do
he which he aid, and was made happy by a
n. vent declaration of her own love for him.
M return. Time passed on, and young w
n became of legal age, and was immediat
or taken into the employ Of his former mas
ne at the most liberal wages. A day or t
We after he attained his majority he wal
Ill upon the parents of his afianced bride
order to obtain their consent to we'd Il
it daughter. They having inquired into
for character of our hero, and finding him to
e. strictly moral and industrious young n
on readily gave their consent he then Wis
ID. the daughter, and had the time for t
he nuptials 6xed at a day short period of
: is lhat day soon arrived, and the two v
sb- united in the holy bonds of wedlock; a
il the honeymoon had passed they CONNER
ION housekeeping in style suited to their
me cumstances in life, West having mana
to save part of his earnings for that
pose, and at the time our story opened
-;u had been married alittle over twelve NOR
M I1"a and their union had been blessed with
~ ~ child. Up to that time they had livet
o o happily as could be, West continuing in
In In trious and strictly temperate. The re
m ELn has seen how he stepped aside from
~ paths Of truth, virtue and temperance,
- will now hasten to show the consequel
ond nd and for that purpose We beg the read
80 accompany US to the tavern at which w
our friends, the moderate drinkers.
CONCLUDED NEXT wEEK.)