Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-10-03
THE TEN TATI0N.

THE TEMHTATI0N.
By MAY MEADOWS.
Look not upon the wine when it is red At
last it biteth like serpent and stingeth like an
adder.-Proverbs.
MARY, hestandeth upon fearful brink
said Edeth Warner, as she clasped in love
the hand of her friend.
l cannot calmly see hin pursue the
downward path, without one word from
you to check him in his career
EWhy, Edith, how serious you are,' said
Mary Ellis, with light laugh What
effect would all [ can say have upon him
and besides, l apprehend no danger in his
taking little generous wine
He who raises the wine cup to his lips
once, said Edith, solemnly, is in danger
However cautiously he treads that mazy
path, he will find a singing serpent amid
the flowers. Could you bear to see him
going the way Of the inebriate, and at last
lying IN the drunkard's loathsome grave?
Oh, Mary, think seriously Of these things
before it is too late
IF [ could see the peril you fear, Edith,
confess it would give me great sorrow !;
but, no. said Mary, with animation, he
will never debase his noble intellect in
inebriety. He is too generous to crush the
high hopes Of his friends too ambitious
to trample all his bright prospects in the
dust, too good, she continued, blushing,
to destroy the happiness Of those that love
him.
Are they only the weak, the unambi-
tious, the uuloved,' said Edith, 'who are
laid low by the fell destroyer Alcohol p
All, no; often, oh, how often, the young,
the lovely, the good, fall recklessly into the
fatal snares Look at the foulest blot on
our village. Life to him was once all sun
shine. My father knew him in his youth,
as man OF great promise, esteemed and
beloved; but did his bright hopes save
him from the abyss in which he lies Oh,
Mary, delay not. Throw all your good in
fuence around Harry; for, alas I fear
you do not realize how heedlessly ne is
fastening his own destruction.
will ponder what you say, said Mary,
: thoughtfully, as she arose to accompany
her friend to the door.
r It was respondent evening, and the
{ two friends seated themselves beneath the
i, trees, to enjoy for few moments its beau
' ties. But a few words passed their lips,
for the remarks of Edith had made deep
impression on the heart of Mary; they had
left weight there not easily removed
r and Edith had no wish to disturb the
e thoughtful mood, that might result in her
own Harry's good.
d Well known, familiar voices came waited
n on the still nights air to their ears, in
a earnest conversation, as two young men
J. passed along the street
It Clinton, [ do realize my situation. It
: stands with all it's attendant horrors full
d before me. With what fearful weight it
e presses on my soul. But am powerless,
IF fascinated, spell bound, irrecoverably in
r the wiles of the tempter. Oh, God that
o [ should come to this. Clinton, you, the
h untempted, know not the torture of this
W longing, this burning Unsuitable thirst,
l. which nothing will appease but the accur-
,e sed wine !! God grant you may never know.
n You say, be man, shake off these horrid
at fetters. Clinton, cannot; I have not
d the power. [ am as surely, as fatally drawn,
as by the hateful rattlesnake; yes, to an
+, object twice as hateful, twice as fearful to
l. my soul
ID Harry said Clinton, with deep emo
IN tion, L pity you, God knows how much
er but do not, do not despair. By all your
ID hopes Of time and eternity, do not say you
is cannot release yourself from these hellist
ps chains. For her sake, rouse yourself, fol
in Mary's sake, who loves you better thar
te life'
st For her sake said Harry, bitterly, a!
D. he struck his clenched hands together
lis what might be but for her. IF you
It, Mary, had uttered but one word to aid MT
as in my good resolve-but no it was 20,
h; who placed with your own hands, the fata
he glass to my lips It was your finger tina
st. pointed out the smooth, deceitful way
an you-O, God what am sayingY he ez
Ie claimed, vehemently: Clinton, [ believ
so | am mad ?
ne Mary had heard enough. These dread
I'm full words fell like burning Goals on he
writhing heart, and she fell almost life1es
Of into the arms of her young friend
it Oh the terrible agony of that lon
. sleepless night. She felt an awful retribu
of ton awaited her for her sim That nigh
ue rose before herlike an accusing angel, whe
of she offered the wine cup to Harry S lips
he Mary said he with a smile, as h
= waved it from him, Il shall never agai
Vas quaff that dangerous beverage Help m
= to be firm in my determination
The thoughtless girl wet her lips in tt
Din sparkling foam, and again profered it /
ose him. Could he refuse it then 4? The tenn
the ter stood before him, in the form of her
zed loved. He yielded, he fell. Where w
till that god-like purpose, earnest of glorio,
pom fruition ? Quenched in the foaming ne
hat tar.
o, she would lay down her life to recs
ady that hour but, too late, too late ru1
and like death knell in her ear. DESPAIR f,
the like great shadow on her spirit. Alo
rty. in the darkness, with her conscience al
in her God, she plead for forgiveness al
He strength. With the morning light car
G of soothing words from Edith, Even in t
lpse eleventh hour there is hope,' and a no.
g he faint and feeble, like the glimmer of laI