Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-01-10
POOR TOM.

lay, and bore its tremulous song to my ear.
| arose and looked through the open case
ment into the latticed porch. The gerani
UNI, the rosebush, the vine, and the honey
suckle spreading out their tender leaves, OBJ
structed the view, but nevertheless left room
Tor a glimpse into a pleasant garden where
the lower were smiling. How PEACEFUL
After all, is not this a happy world?
Toll, Toll!
"A group OF idlers were standing on the
corner OF the street, when presently there
came into view a slow procession. Reader,
will you, Or your father, or your brother, or
your son, ever lead such a procession?
"Poor Tom! p said one of the company
on the sidewalk. The speaker was plump
and ruby, with a heavy gold fob-chain, and
an embroidered cravat daintily tied around
his broad neck.
Poor Tom he was a good, clever fellow
when he wasn't drunk. Ny Sam was out
at the house this morning. and went 10 take
q look at+ihe corpse. He says an old NO.
man was standing at the head of the lounge
when he lifted up the coverlid from Toms
face. She looked f~earfully solemn, and
when Sam laid back the coyerlid, she took
hold of bis hand and said, "Poor Tom is
gone" and then the tears came trickiing
down her face, and she cried as though she
would break her heart. Boys, you know
Tom was mighty good to his servants when
ne was sober, but he was like a very devil
when he was drunk"
A man who was passing by paused on
hearing these words, and said to the speaker,
" Mr.. Jones, [ believe he died from the ef-
fects Of liquor, did he not 2" $50 Pm
told was the reply. "Well, did you sell
him the liquor!g' What if l did? fl
hadn't, somebody else would. And what
business is it of mine, if he chose to 90 and
kill himself with it, I'd like to know ~
. You will learn that better than I can tell
you, at the last day. calmly responded the
interlocutor, ard vent on his way. He
turned the corner and was out of sight and
hearing.
"Now," said the first speaker, Mr.. Jones
Just listen to that fool. But come in, boys,
it's my treat" So in they 60, and the rum
seller pours out the liquid fire for his admi-
ring friends. They turn off their glasses.
Toll, toll!
. eff them bells would stop their noise !"
, said the rumseller; 81 just wanted to say, II
never killed poor Tom did l boys e. mo"
!, said an old topper who took brandy, cit was
Mt you that killed him, Dick, it was your
t liquor; he, he, he! And the crowd would
5 have laughed, but at that time, rumble,
rumble went the wheels of the hearse right
in front of the g~rog-shop. How unfortunate.
: They had put Toms horse in the shafts Of
! the hearse to draw his master to the grave,
But the dumb beast had learned bT long
practice to stop at a post. before the groggery
e door; and when he came to the place, in
spite OF al thtea driHSsaGEsds aexeFftisaRss sheet, TIN
}. stopped stock-stil at his old stand. An
: involuntary shudder ran through the pro.
$ ~cession. The rioters came to the door, and
one or two seeing the difficulty, went to the
drivers assistance, but the rumseller lurked
behind in his den.
h During the brief delay occasioned by th'
Or stubborn animal, and a woman's face, evi
ID IDENTITY red with weeping, was protrudet
y from a window in a carriage next to tn
ie hearse. ais he here !" she asked. 81
y. who here, ma'am?' said a young man STEP
le ping forward. "Why, Mr.. Jones, I mean.
m Yes, ma'am, he is inside. Halo, JONES'
SO he proceeded, turning towards the shop-doc
.; come out here there's a lady wants to Sc
% you" Jones came out reluctantly. "Ws
u it me you wanted ma'am" Are you NJ
to " Jones ?" "That's my name, ma'am."-
Are you Dick Jones?' "Yes, ma'an
ell that's what they mostly call me-"
g VIII D,o1z Topac Ixo hoord IF W.
many a time, but never have seen you b
1w fore to know you, sir. But now | kno
ne you. Yes, l know you now. I'll not 70
get your face. neither; that nose and chi
he and those eyes. l think [ can r~ecollect the
me till the Judgment-day, sir. You'll have
answer for this, Dick Jones; that you vii
em and uttering a fearful scream she wrung b
len hands in agony, and fell back upon t
IN, carriage seat. A burst Of sympathetic or
;nr arose from the followers of the hearse; ev
the hearse-driver wiped his eyes.
ar Jones was much relieved when the p1
cession started on again the rolling of
out carriages and the measured tread Of
and footman passed by, and the street was OF
lelr more silent. "WeIl," said he, in a soil
nf quizing way, al am right sorry for To
or. but his was an case one of
thousand"
But hold, Mr.. Rumseller, what right h;
you to kill one? Gone of a Thousand
E. you ought to have said, sOne Of thi
lrop thousand - form is only some thirty tn
but sand that die from intoxication every y
=, in our happy country.
A bvstander remarked, "pm told
'eest body turned very black before they got /
in the coffin" All, yes, his body is shut
urn in a drunkard's coffin, and is going
drunkard's grave. At the last trump
ing! shall awake to shame and everlasting
tempt. But his soul, where is that n,
dn~b Rumseller, where is it, | say I! where is J
victims soul |? and where is it to be for
king and ever?
Toll, TOLL
I'd "And does Jones still go unhuugY'
hung ? he goes at large; he is legalize
grea1 his traffic; the strong arm Of the law
AofA tects him in it. How long, o Lord,
p and true, dost thou not Judge and av'
this blood! 2"
Rattle, rattle, 60 the clods upon the
i talk fin the mound is shaped; the citizens re
home ; and the rumseller goes on in
ngue, brisk trade. You meet him daily il
streets.
T., In North Carolina, it is frequent, ar
= hor forests nf fat nine for a lover in dis