Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-12-20
Spirit Of t5s 5ge 3aigg, Norfb CaroIna.-
The Power of Woman.

eo nome In a state OF lntoXlcation. [ knew
my situation, and dreaded that my wife
should discover it. exerted myself to con-
ceal it. | effected to be witty, affectionate.
and social, but it was a total failure. / telt
the power of the fatal poison momentarilv
increasing. ! saw the inquiring eye of nv
wife fixed upon me, with a look ofunutterable
grief. 1t was only with her aid that I was
able to reach my pillow.
The checks which her ignorance had i'm
posed upon me being now removed, all res
traint was soon swept away, and came home
night after night ina state most revolving to
the feelings of a delicate, afectionate female.
In vain my amiable companion wept and ex-
postulated. was too much e~ntangled and
corrupted to break away either from my vices
or my associates. They neither feared God
nor regarded man. | was led captive by
their advices.
l became, / will not say an infdel for /
was too ignorant Of the theory of skepticism
to be one. I became a mocker. Fools
make mock at sin , and such a fool was l.
l knew just enough of the Bible to make it
my jest-book. | saw that this part Of my
conduct was extremely painful to my pious
wife, and tried to restrain myself from tri-
fling with the Bible in her presence but I
loved to raise loud laughter among my bois-
ferrous companions, and the indulgence SER
we'd SO to strengthen the pernicious habit,
that | was often detected in the use Of this
o~fengfse ~lartguaget
It was not till l became a father that her
a touching appeals on this subject reached my
: conscience. Must this child she would say,
with tears, be trained up under these bane-
full influences? Must he be taught by paren-
tai example to despise and ridicule the Scrip
lures with his lisping tongue, before he is
+ able to read It's contents, or realize its heaven
I ly origin? No counteracting influence of
mine can obliterate from his mind the Jest
: with which his father has assailed this or that
sacred passage
Our son had now become an interesting
n little ~prattler, initiating whatever he heard
or saw. / perceived, with a sort of diabo-
/ lical pleasure, that the first efforts Of his in
FAINT tongue were to initiate my profane Ian
= guage language, the recollection of which
6 sends a thrill of grief and horror through my
bosom. In vain did his sorrowirg mother
endeavour to counteract the influence of my
wicked example. | continued to swear, and
- he to initiate my profanity, unconscious of
its turpitude. On a certain occasion | retur-
} ned from one of my gambling excursions, and
/ found my wife and child absent. On in
II quiry, | ascertained that she had gone to her
= customary place of retirement In a grove, at
some distance from the house. l knew she
had gone there for the purpose of DEVOTION
| had been accustomed to see her retire thith-
er at the evening twilight, though / thought
her piety unnecessary, / had no objection to
\ it q as source of enjoyment to her but that
: she should take her child with her, excited
g my surprise. / felt a curiosity to follow
her. did so, and took a position unseen
~ by her, but where / had q full view of her
" attitude and features. She was kneeling be-
side a rock, on which lay her Bible before
her. One hand was placed on its open pages
= !. the other held the hand Of her fair boy, who
was kneeling beside her, his eyes ~intently
fixed on her face. She was pale and care.
=" worn. Her eyes were closed, but the tears
=, were chasing each other down her cheeks, as
~ she poured forth her burdened soul in prayer
"0 first for her husband, that he might be re-
claimed and saved but especially did she
- plead with God that her son, whom she un.
reservedly dedicated to him, might be saved
ie- from those sins Which were taught him bs
his fathers example. Save him, she cried
81 with agony, save him from taking thy grea
ln- and holy name in vain for thou wilt no
Is hold him g~uiltless that taketh thy name il
vain and give his anxious mother wisdom
eu fortitude, and grace, effectually to correc
and break up the habit Of profaneness.-
.nS { Poor motherl Pretty mother 2 said the child
ny rising and wiping off her tears with his sof
. lduu. DOH L OlN, ulOGtl6I ltUuGE Will COIn
! pretty soon.' Wretch that / am said I t
myself. What pangs have rent that gentl
ere bosom! That child has so often seen he
It.: weep on account of my protracted absences
~ that the little fellow now supposes it tn
VIII cause of her present agony and tears.
/ crept silently from my hiding-place, an
returned home with a conscience harrowe
asp up by the keenest selfreproaches. | kne,
We that her feelings were not the fitful ebullition
Ior of passion or excitement. | had long bee
To- convinced that her conduct was regulated b
firm and virtuous principles, and that tn
leu Bible which so lightly esteemed, was tn
10 rule of her life. On her return to the houS
ner she was solemn, but from that day she irml
ant and faithfully corrected our little son for tn
,m' use of profane language, even in my presence
l ne5 and when, perhaps, he had just caught
anu from my lips.
the She succeeded in conquering the habit
= her child and when she had restored hin
ign she had cured me. / resolved to abandc
for ever the use of language which had co
her so much pain. | did abandon it fro
anu that time. / was now effectually reelaime
l"O from two ofmy prominent vices. But my ha
M its of intemperance were daily becOmln
otn- like brass bands. My morning, and moo
CT > and evening dram, my loss of appetite, al
trembling nerves, proved the strong grasp
" had upon my constitution.
was still associated with my wicked COZ
x panions still followed up a system of gam
ling, which was rapidly bringing ruin
81 myself and my family. Ny handsome estat
.utn left me by my father, was nearly wasted.
rev Meantime, my family increased, 1 resort,
MS to the lottery, and every species of gamblin
TO meet its increasing demands but eve
lpoh step plunged me deeper and deeper in gui
debt, and misery.
n My wife was in the habit of sitting up
CIV night till my return, however late it mig
Mins be. She had, no doubt, in this way saw
me from perishing, as | was often too mu
,ou intoxicated to find my way even to the do
without assistance.
ven One cold, wintry night had been out
o late hour, but returned free from intoxi
No. ton. On coming silently to the house, | s.
o;tod my wretched wife through the window,
lew ting over ahandful of embers, with her be
nav and her Bible in her lap, and the big te
ONO gushing from her eyes.
A vivid sense Of my own baseness ca
eter- over me. l paced the yard for some +
and ments in agony. In attempting to entor
reuer house, with a fresh resolution on my tong
I tainted and fell on the floor.
Upon the return of consciousness, l fou
my wife had drawn me to the fire, and '
lucn' preparing me a bed, supposing my swoor
=. be the usual effect of ardent spirits. Isprf
lines to her side, fell on my knees, and before
SSSry' and heaven vowed never to taste another d
IOOk &c opy4hipp 1pkovioaf;nn woe +hor Ali