Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-03-28

me Reeat point. 1t has destroyed SO many ha
intellects-i has broken so many
owing hearts-it has sent so many, suseeptl- tn
Die once only to every manly, high wrought tn
brill, to seek companionship with the lowest in
Ind %vilest, unit! laid at rest in the drunkards
grave, that | tremble to hear any young man, re
planting his feet upon the busy arena OF
life, contend for the perpetustion OF any such
q custom. And least Of all can | excuse
those really temperate misunderstanding
none of those CALLING influences which strong. :,
ly bind another, still encourage him to pur- }
sue the road of death. Those free from its :
power, unfettered by its chains, should con- !;
stitute the army drawn up in stern array !
against its use, that they may thereby ex- /,
tend q more ~effectual helping hand to the :
victims chained to its car :
Il see and feel the force Of all you say
very deeply, dear Annie, and | am sure
sincerely trust my future life may never dis
appoint one of your holy anticipations. But
l can really see no necessity for binding my
self against q social glass which clrcumstan-
ces sometimes fully justify. They doubtless
do we'll for some, these societies and orders
forthe advancement ofthe temperance reform,
but the idea is very CALLING to me of being SO
fettered upon ever little point, as if fearing
to meet each schoolboy temptation that might
beset me in my path through life.'
am sorry to hear You say So returned
the lady sadly, because, in the first place,
you have already given as your excdSe- for
taking three glasses of wine, that you stood
in no why pledged against so harmless a
proof of friendship, whereas if you had stood
thus pledged, that fact would have silenced
at once all your friends entreaties upon the
point
And in the second placeJf Annie p
Our difference seems TO consist not so
much upon the subject of temperance itself,
abstractly considered, but in those claims
growing out of it which we respectively adj
NIT our fellow men to possess upon us. You
are unwilling to make a slight sacrifice, even
though your influence may be. strengthened
thereby, and your power to do good extended
whilst ! contend that in considering the
great question of what IS right-what wrong,
all personal preferences should be laid aside
when interfering with the disposition to
snatch an immortal spirit from the fate a.
warded to such q sin. Aud l feel so keenly
the improperly of the sentiments you ad
vance in connection with this subject, thai
| do not think / should be doing right tx
marry any man entertaining them
But your engagement, Annie. Woul(
you forget the practice of one virtue in you
support of another?'
l understand you, Edward-but life is
progressive school ever, and if a ripper juds
ment condemn to-day what wore a differeu
garb yesterday, its dictates should by a
means be obeyed. | promised you my han
l knowing you to be an upright, moral mar
and believing you deeply impressed with
e sense Of the responsibilities Heavens unnun
r. bered favors had imposed upon you. An
though | find you differing from what l b
lieved you to be only on one point, that OF
involves so deeply the morality and happ
ness of others, perhaps in time may aGe
81 our owns one in which the good and ey
is so apparent, that differing upon that,
could scarcely hope to find in others that co
ID geniality which nay heart would require
n You must love me lightly indeed, Ann;
if thus lightly it can be withdrawn.'
-" Nay, Edward, you force me to say M
III perhaps than woman should say-to tell y
&c can imagine no qualification to my natu1
C. feelings so great as the prospect of passi
ny through life by your side, and if your
n were humble as my own, | would still pre-
,es it to being set apart for the brightest desti
80 that ever fell to the fate of mortal. /
marriage is a holy and enduring bond, a
ce- woe betide the woman who enters it for a
selfish or ignoble end, and the very deptI
we affection | bear you, makes mig realize h
far n blind devotion might lea& me in ii
I'D to the adoption of whatever views you mi
,cb entertain. But / ana not blind now. I
not wish to make an idol even of you,
S can l ask the blessing of God upon any
y; tending however indirectly to the subvers
I'd of my own moral improvement, and it's
ess sequent bearings upon those whom fate 1
est associate with me in this life.'
For full In hour later those two ear
voices rose and fell upon the moonlit
the one bent upon its mission Of love,
the other finally in q full and complete
lcu1 acknowledgement of all those News for wi
am her full heart had so long commended. v
ted that generosity always allied to noble
It'll lures burning in his own breast, he n
ped once thought her actuated by any idle,
nod ish within, against which the pride and
nifty of his stronger character should re
chs and he would nave smiled a quiet smile
Tue mixed indeed with scOrn, but of half wo
Ivy. and incredulity, if any one had insinu
IghtI that the whole scene had been designed
and to ascertain the extent of that power W
bnt she hoped to exercise over his whole fl
life. With a new and stronger link a
to the chain which bound their hearts to,
..eo er, they separated for the night, he to d
'tter of the fresh g~limpses of her soul which
your been revealed to his gaze, she to thank
ven that the shadow which had dimme
that radiance of his spirits wing had vani
q bv giving place to loftier determination
boiler aspirations, more in accordance
the p~romptings Of those purer hours v
: 'oo linger like messengers from Heaven
the pathway of man.
t be- Twelve years had passed away. Z
fam written, easily read but ah who can
from back upon such a lapse of time, unless
have through the dim mist Of fast gathering
go To Annie Langdon and her husband
- had brought as much sunshine as vi
nave gilds the hearthstone of a happy no
lgen- True, one bright little bud, nipped
satia- canker worm, had wilted and died, bu
the they knew it was only to blossom in He
fire. SO the tears were long since dried, ar
little vacant seat called forth no uns,
-, regret in the heart.
~ But on the cold wintry evening VIII
'c''er resume their acquaintance, Edward La
had returned home with a serious expr
upon his countenance which the wife
pro- coming smile and the wonted caresses
prattling babes entirely failed to drive
are a The coal lay in glowing heaps in the
-. the damask curtains had been shak
o1S and dropped in warm luxurious folds
10 ue. floor, save at one large bay-window
ty OF the Sunshine had last fallen in a long
ly see golden light amid the bright flowers
Latory looked as though strewn by an idle hal
q true the carpet. 1t was a comfortable, lux,
ed To cheerful room, full of happy infuenc
loved associations, yet the cloud va
SSs.ne not from his soul, the gloom on his
aulng did not decrease. / have seen such {