Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-01-03
JANUARY 8.
gaSits aspmtmeut.
The Social Circle.

ron THE srrarr OF THE AGE.

republication OF the enclosed Poem, after
YOU have given it a perusal. Nor do |
believe you will deem me too enthusiastic,
when ] add the wish, that it may awake
to fresh zeal in the great Temperance cause,
each heart that beats within our loved So
cial Circle, and CLEAN like a gem of truth
aud light, as it is, athwart the vision of ev-
cry man that fills a proud seat in our wide
legislative halls. Who suffers most deeply
from the dire consequences of drunkenness
is a query to which but one response can
be returned-WoMAN, and her helpless
inoffcnsive o~fspringl Madness alone in
duces the supposition that the inebriate,
with moral and physical sensations blunted
through continued draughts from the in
toxicating bowl, possesses within himself
the capability Of realizing, in its full and
startling force, the depravity Of his course,
or the overwhelming ruin in which it is
to result. But the lone wife, upon whose
moral perceptions no such supplying effect
has fallen, plies her busy needle in silence,
and has ample time for the soul-harrowing
reflections which do BOT come up to tor
ment her wretched drunken husband. She
ss net only TO mdLn the dGso4ting storm.
cloud Ehieh has skept with its black and
defiant wing the serene sky Of her g%irlhood,
thereby crushing and willing until they
lie in the loathsome mire, with no trace Of
their former beauty, the flowers of hope his
hand then planted about her life's path
ygR-but she must nerve herself to bear
Still increasing agony, SsNach year more
hopclcssly flows into the deep, dread current
Of time, until his form lies in a drunkard's
graye-his soul reaps a drunkard's reward,
and his children 90 out in the harsh, IN
pitying world, burdened with the curse of
the drunkard's child. Why should she be
idle, then 7 Or in what situation can she
dare fold the mantle of security about her
hearts idols, with the prosumptuous assu-
rance that they are safe !? Bright, blue
eyed, golden. haired boys sport about her
knee, and she gazes upon them with all a
mothers pride, for are they not the bright
est Jewels Of her hearts caskct2 But, alb !
no love can confidently assert theirs shall
be the glorious life of a noble and a virtu-
Gus manhood. Or in the face of high hoav-
en-, how can she dare to gil for herself or
another the sparkling wine cup, and press
JUS UuDDlG-N ItdAlGu It'll W nCI lips WlIu
gentle smile and serene brow-then turn
away 10 kueel in humble supplicatiop that
God will keep them pure and safe from the
a%llurements of q sin-defled and sordid
world! There are fair, gentle girls, whose
~lustrous eyes turn ever to her for their
surest, safest, wisest model how can she
say they shall not be drunkard's wives,
and yet fold her arms idly upon her breast
nor give utterance to an earnest voice which
might help somewhat toward suppressing
the red touentof death that sweeps Ger the
land? God has linked gentle but potent
influences with woman's beauty, and hel
very dependence upon man. Let her lool
TO them well, and exert them Alright, or,
the night Of death cometh, when none cal
work. She should be-she must be-mor
actively busy in this holy work and ava,
out through every precinct Of tho OIL
North State,
as happy a region as on this side of Heaven,
Where plenty and freedom, love and peace smi
before US"
and throughout all the rami6cations of tf
society which makes up her limits, | send
feeble plea to my far off sisters, to neglec
no opportunity to aid and encourage tt
advancement Of this great and glorious r
form. Perhaps you are already as enc
gotic and watchful as the noble cause d
mands. Then God will speed you on yor
way, and reward your declining years wit
every element Of social and moral prospe
ity which the untold affection of yol
natures s%olicits, upon the households of q
those whom your hearts hoH dear.
/ have detained your readers a long tin
from the glorious composition of Mrs. Gag
and can offer no excuse beyond a feeling
interest such as might almost tempt
Angels pen to linger long amid t
thoughts called up by the stirring then
LORA.
An Appeal for the Temperance Cau'
Composed for the Woman's State Temperar
Convention, held at Dayton, Ohio.
BY MRS. FRANCES D. GAGE.
God Of the beautiful! God of the free,
Earnestly, hopefully, turn we to Thee;
Turn we to Thee in this heart stirring no
Seeking for strength in TINY goodness
power,
Asking our strength from the wisdom abe
Praying for light from the Essence of LII
Is not earth beautiful-is not earth bri!
Teeming with MISUNDERSTANDING v
light?
Hath not kind nature q harmony given
Stamping on all things the impress ofHeav
Whence comes the sorrow then-whence
this care?
What makes this wailing-this cry ofdesp
Why all this discofd-what makes the W
MAN is the guilty one-Man makes the
deld is his birthright, for passion or pelf-
Lost to the brotherhood-IOst to himself;
Conquered by appetite-blackened by s
Snothering the God-like that struggles v
in.
Joined heart and rand to the cold, Sc
throng,
Cursing the earth with oppression and WI
Watching and waiting like beasts for
prey,
Dealing out death to the young and the
Blighting the buds of true love in the bl
Scattering Ger all things, misfortune
gloom,
CEnshing the heart of the mother with
Crushing the heart Of the wife with des
Soaring her love and destroying her tru
Laying the hopes Of her heart in the duI
Beggaring her children, and making hel
Weary, and wayworn with sorrow and 8
Binding in letters the body and mind,
That Thou in Thy wisdom made free as
wind.