Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-09-27
roa TIE sPIslT OF THE AGE.
THE REWARD OF DISOBEDIENCE.
nv fNEz IRVING.

-
By TNEz IRVING.
In a darkly curtained room of a miserable
howell, lay the pale and emaciated form OF the
invalid, just lingering upon the shores of time
before taking the final plunge into the bound,
less ocean of eternity. By her side, wrapped
in the undisturbed slumbers of innocence,
lay a little stranger whose experience with
the world was of less than a weeks duration.
Heaven grant that in after life she may be
as much exempt from the miseries, the vain
regrets and sorrows that surround her, as on
this blessed evening.
The mother, too, is enjoying a brief but
tranquil slumber. Let us leave her undis-
turbed in the refreshing dreams Of her child
ish innocence, while we gaze around this
cherries and desolate room. The scarcity
Of articles necessary for comfort assure us
that we are in the abode Of penury and want.
But seated beside the bed of the unfortunate
sufferer is one whose graceful form and tas-
tily adorned parsonage give evidence that she
rs not now in the sphere in which she is &C
customed to move, while a glance into the
heaven Of her deep blue eye-so sweet, so
soft, SO expressive-give evidence of a heart
within that "could feel for others woes"
AS we gaze in wrapt admiration on the
{ sylphlike form before US, a slight r%ustling OF
the clothes on the unhappy sufferers couch,
3 rouses both the object of our admiration and
, ourself from the reverie we were indulging.
: Leaning over the bed, the invalid whispered
: gently" Obi / have had such a refreshing
8 sleep, and such happy dreams-Heayen grant
the portion which is possible may come to
pass ere the sands of this feeting life shall
6 have run out"
Raising herself feebly on her elbow, she
fixed her eyes upon her only friend and conn
forter, and beckQning iher to come nearer,
she continued 20 yod, Fannie Charlton,
am | Indebted for the ~glimpses of pleasure
Re and happiness | now enjoy-it may be in
e vain anticipation, that will never be realized,
yet nevertheless sweet and delightful, in the
hope that they mag be. But, dearest friend,
re / feel that the hour of my dissolution is rap
ne idly drawing nigh. A few short hours, and
IN l shall leave my cherub babe, and you my
dear Fanny, and all the world-its sunshine
st and clouds-and dwell with him who is ever
10 merciful to the repentant erring sons and
vi daughters of men.
cd :" feel" continued she, " that through the
en- merits Of Him who rebuked the Pharisaieal
On self righteousness of those who would, though
OF guilty themselves, stone to death a certain
6 woman, that my sinful trust and confidence
I'll in him on whom / was bestowing that wor-
h ship due to God alone, has been forgiven,
and even to my poor stricken, lacerated, riv-
ot en- heart there comes a quiet calm and com.
posture l had expected to find only in the
r. peaceful slumbers of the grave. But grievous
was my offence and g~rievous has the expia
ton been.
"But l wander-I have much to say, deal
Fanny, and l feel my time is short. My sto
ry is no strange one to you-you have known
and seen it alone whom it was your prid,
to call Brother, hath destroyed my innocence
wrecked my peace for time, and well nigl
E.. okn.o14, -~1 AHon IoaooAoI no 2
neglected, despised, polluted thing. And 0
out how [ have suffered for my sin, you know
ere too well. And it were right and just Cha
yea the guilty should sufer-but, gracious Heay
en-, in my fall, | dragged from their blest es
tier tate my aged doting Parents and sent thei
ms grey hairs Town with sorrow to the grave
as Peace, breaking heart, the struggle will 500
lrst be over"
tlm A distressing fit Of coughing and a fearfi
discharge Of blood from the bleeding lung
mas had we'll nigh ended her story and her lii
ked just here. But Fanny was at hand and /
me, tender musings and assidious attentions ii
me departing spirit fingered yet awhile on til
rms shores of time. A day and nights quietuC
,ork restored her sufficiently to renew and fms
In her sad story.
han But we will not expose the confident
veek confessions Of one whose ofeace had be-
.eble that
She loved not wisely, but too we'll"
ls.- Suffice it, that against the advice and war
srey, ing admonitions Of ever watchful parents, S
row, had given her young heart to Charles Cha
ton-who loved her most fondly; but
Tered loved the wine cup more. Under its passiC
was ate influence he sought and obtained I'll
could priceless jewel-her virgin innocence a
rest purity, under the promise of a speedy con
nlled Grafton Of their nuptials at the hymenial
I'm a tar. But broken promises and falsified p
till a testations succeeded each other in rapid s.
with cession, till he became a hopeless inebri
t my and the companion and associate Of the ga
jab- bier and libertine. His descent on the re
lleas- to ruin was a rapid and fearful one.
three Finding himself avoided and scorned
life, the respectable and ~virtuous of his former
Ipless ~sociates, he left the home of his childhC
| had and mingled among the wicked and obsce
efore, plunging deeper and deeper into the g
e had and infamy that surrounded him. In
bon sober, reflective moments he would weep
70 her ter tears, and his heart urged him by ev
in the emotion of love and duty, to throw off
ladow spell that so ignobly bound him, and ret
to the paths of sobriety and virtue, and
shall her whom he had so heartlessly ruined
.eturn basely betrayed-but the tempter had
on too securely in his snare, and he was una
o and to obey the promptings of a heart whose
her so ter teachings had not yet all been DESTROY
when And ah what of his over-trusting rui
in the victim ? Death had left her to buffet sin
8, how handed and alone with the cold ieers
frail, heartless scorn of an unfeeling world.
GRANGE proud aristocratic family of him who
wrecked her frail bark, regarded her to
RA. as pollution, as being the cause of the inf;
and degradation of their guilty son. Fa
ion OF Charlton alone was her friend, and she n
II one needs be cautious and stealthy in her at
chs of lions, lest her kind Offices be discovered
more forbidden by her supercillious parents.
where Weeks, and months have elapsed s
great Charles Charlton left his home a wand
PLY to and almost a vagabond. No tidings
elen on been received of him since his departur
Ae VINO Oft, oh how oft has Florence Moreland
res on deluded and disgrased victim, prayed
makes sought to hear some tidings of him, hor
and trying to believe that he would yet re
al and by repentant love make atonement
ing at his guilty folly. Aud of this she had
In Au- dreaming while Fannie Charlton kept
ey I'M quiet vigil by her bedside. But alas it
weave all a dream-nO more.
worm She unbosomed herself to her frie1
5Ing on spoke fondly of her cruel betrayer,
allotted prayed a prayer for his forgiveness
lrs out, then placing the tiny thing by her 81,
ne dust the arms of Fanny, she fell back on
pet, he couch, and was-DEAD!
EDS ac- In g few days the papers told of a h
hing to murder, committed in a gay fashionah
quor saloon, ever the gambling table-Ch