Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-07-12


dirty article to gain the confidence of his
dtrtter friends, whose only purpose was to
secure his vote thro' of all stratagems, the
dirtiest, the influence of poisonous alcohol
II am proud to say that he does not now
have to use any such, to retain the conf
dence of his Temperance Brethren, and.
the love and christian fellowship of the
people Of God! They know him-they
can trust him-they ask no other pledge of
his sincerity than the cheerful countenance
with which he, every week, dons the beau
tiful tri-eolored badge, fit emblem of their
glorious naotto-LovE, PURITY and FIDEL-
ITY. And thank heaven it is gratifying
to state that he is fully aware of the exalt-
ed position which he holds in the affections
of his friends and that nerved by this
and warned by his former degradation, he
viii never again consent to touch the dam
ming bowl, or quaff its sparkling, bitter
drops Never again to distrust the tran
guilty of his now happy wife, or mar the
innocent mirth and joyous hopes of his
warm-hearted and interesting children!
But whileI am relating the good that has
been done in this quarter-the change that
has been effected on this old familiar road
which | have oft travelled in other days,
would not only discover my partiality for
it, but come very far short of recording all
the good which has been done, were I to
fail to speak of what saw in another part
on another road in my old county. Bles-
sed place, how I love it! and with what
commingled feelings of joy and gratitude
my bosom swelled, when [ beheld what
great work of reformation had been accom-
pllshed. | will not--can not attempt to
express them-vain would be such an at
tempt! In passing down this road much
did L look, but to no purpose, for those
who were accustomed once to frequent it,
on their way to the stores, where they pur-
chased the little necessaries for the family
L met with but very few indeed, and these
all seemed to wear different countenance
from what [ was wont to observe-each
seemed to have in view something of i'm
portance-none were disposed to loiter a
way the evening" continued on my
route, presently reaching place, at which
once were kept two groceries, both at that
time dram dealers-and always command
ed pretty large crowd, who had assem-
bled to enquire the news of the neighbor-
hood, talk about the oysters and CLANS
they had caught, and last but not least,
spend the money for which they sold them,
in treating and drinking emery Christ
mas" as that was about the time of year.
But believe me, instead of this, [ found
K town, as it was called, quite diff
ferent place from what very reasonably
expected to find it. Instead of the two
.vzsse--y-s-ssszs-gs--..a
stores, and instead Of the motley concourse
of human individuals, composed of negroes,
mulatoes and white men, [ saw tripping a
bout, in angel forms, Ewes fair Daughters
who FIVE years ago would never have
thought of leaving the comfortable fireside
| Especially among holy-day times) to pur-
chase ribbons, &C., at K - town; and
doubt very much even had they wished such,
that they could have found them there
A little farther down, l heard something like
the hum of honest industry-I heard the
ringing of anvils and sounds Of hammers
chisels, saws and planes, and beheld, a little
in the distance, various workshops, among
which was large Coach Making Establish
ment. made fine by the number of its Jfn
buggies and other vehicles. All these wer
gotten up and managed by man, who ou
eight years ago. was perhaps an equal to,
not worse off than the one mentioned before
Now to see these improvemen:s-to see ele
giant houses-large stores taking The place
Of and literally reared upon the ruins of run
shops-to hear the ringing of the hard
blacksmith 5 anvil instead of the frantic yells
mad fierce bacchanalians were things of whic
wished to make some enquiries-l wishe
to know the cause of all this CHANGE! b.
| was not long in determining how this ha
been accomplished. To my right, and
little beyond the coach making establishmel
| saw very neat house, two stories hig
of modern architecture, handsomely exec
ted, and bearing on its front this inscription
"Y- DIVISION, S. OF T., No. 40l."
learned that through the influence of t
Coach Maker and few others, after havir
Joined the Sons themselves, this Division W
organized-thas it at that time number
nearly one hundred members. 1t was tn
in very f1ourishing condition-the membt
were all Jealous in the great cause viii
they had espoused. ] was glad to talk W
them about their success, and can say fou
not a single one, who had become the le
ukewarm They seemed fully impress
with the obligations resting upon them.
Having themselves thrown off the thraldC
! Of King Alcohol, they felt it their duty to
all they could to carry out the great obj
: of their Order, and shield their fellow-ctiz
from the baneful Miasma of lntemperan
, The influence of this division has not fai
! to disseminate itself throughout the surro
! ding vicinity-its salutary effects have III
. their appearance many miles distant. Nj
), who had been engaged for years in the IN
e cent traffic. began to see the error of tt
/ way'-no longer could they satisfy their
r. cusing consciences, with the SO often u
+ consolation If we do not others will;
o. if it is to 5e done, we just as we'll as any
2 else;' but were compelled to acknowle
they were wrong and determined to dc
= no more. These are now the staunc
- Sons not only promoting the cause by t
- noble example, but endeavoring BY all
means in their power to induce their fri
! to ioin with them in the holy crusade ags
! Bacchus and all his votaries. Howe
~ - even in that great reform, [ met some,
he "- see the right-approve it too,
so Condemn the wrong, but yet the wrong pur
80 The musical clink Of the glittering 7
threw such enchantment around them,
could not resist its magic charm. They