Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-05-02
Original Story,
Arthur Brucei
Or the Reward of Perseverance.
by RANDOM ESSAY.

ANNFfNNAN'f~-f
Arthur was now gone. Toms plans
worked to his satisfaction, and he felt a +,
deep and secret delight in what be consid-
ereda great triumph His exultaton was,
However, Of short duration for he soon
found that this act instead Of giving him
greater sway and importance amohg the
students, only contributed to render him
odious and unpopular He found, tqc. /,
that the lggs,y Helen. whose genttk al. =. =
c0ula-hoid 40 sympathy with an unklnd
and ungeuerous disposition, had lowered her
estimate of him from the treatment he had
bestowed up0n the 'drunkard's son.
Thus perpexed and goaded by the shad
ows of his own vicious heart, he resolved
TO drown his troubles in the wine cup, and
seek therein for that enjoyment and com
panionship which he imagined useless any
longer to expect from society. He took
the first draught-not from love Of it
but merely to drown the dark reflections
that rose continually in his mind but fire.
quent indulgence soon gave him taste for
the beverage. 1t soon became evident to
his friends, though he remained unconscious
OF danger, that he was posting rapidly down
the dark road to ruin. His society was
Stunned by his former associates. The
good and virtuous among his neighbors
pointed out to him the error of his way,
and warned him against the fearful results
of such course of life he had, however,
long since deadened in his bosom, by con-
slant indulgence of intoxicating drink, all
those nobler impulses and feelings which
should ever distinguish man from the brute;
and, now a willing slave to appetite, he
strove only to satisfy its Unsuitable era
wings, while the voice of reason aud remon-
STRANGE fell uselessly upon the bulwarks of
his impenetrable soul. The old distiller,
who had learned from long experience that
certain ruin awaited the wine-bibber, at
tempted by every means in his power to
overcome this propensity in his son. Be-
lieving it originated principally from want
of occupation he gave him the farm upon
which David Bruce had lived, and urged
him to marry and settle down to regular
business.
This aroused Thomas Tyndal to a sense
Of his real situation-he awoke us if frou
fearful dream, and felt for the first tim,
that he was actually becoming drunkard
He saw that the fearful vice had ALREADY
fixed it's pangs deep into hrs vitals, aud WA
now hurrying him rapidly onward to sham
aud disgrace-an involuntary shudder pass
ed over his frame, as this sudden fcke
from the Aame Of his expiring conscienc
displayed for a moment, to his minds eye
the horrors of his situation-it was but
passing CLEAN of light among the dar
ruins Of his heart, lingering but momen
aud then leaving all again to darkness
He lost all hopes of winning the heart
his fair cousin-he knew that her faith W;
plighted and her affections won by ii
true and manly companion and friend
her early youth. The very thought
Helen filled him with deep sense of h
unworthncss-her name and acts were
the memory of happy childhood, sunshir
and flowers to his heart.
He therefore sought and won the har
of young lady Of fortune, and his faith
bestowed liberal share upon him.
They settled down upon the Bruce farI
Thomas applied himself for a short til
diligently to his business-but this was
brief duration, for happiness was a strang
to their home They were rich-had
abundance of everything-could spend tn
days in luxury and ease; yet they knt
not the pleasures of home. They lack
that element without which it is vain
seek for bliss on earth they lacked tr
love aud confding hearts.
No cheering smiles on pleasant faces gowed,
When dcwy morn broke over their abode;
No sweet good bye" when morning meals W
Ger.
They, labor sought, to meet again no more,
Till SOL his head, behind the hills had how'd
And clothed creation in a sable shroud
Nojoyful greeting at return of eve,
When ceased the turmoil of his daily strife
Did man from love and loving ones receive
Tell me, pray, were such happy life.
They had married not for love-
convenience. Thomas Tyndal became m
and more mperate-family contentic
only contributed to add new life to
'worm that deth not'-and fuel, to
q fire that is not quenched.' He becal
by degrees, confirmed drunkard-his b
mess was neglected--his property vast
and his wife, after much suffering and
row, sank into the silent grave, where
wicked cease from troubling and the we
are at rcst'-leaving one son to the car
her husband.
Jacob Tyudal now resolved to sell
his lands, reserving only few acres, s.
to be able to pay off his debts, and 60 n
extensively into the distilliug business +;
after selling his farm, he found that
debts were still uupaid-he was theref
Obliged to dispose of the old distillery,
at the same time advertised his sons
for sale The neighbors took conn
stock in the purchase of the distillery,
it was with one consent, burned to
ground.
\ fate it richly deserved said l. il
ruptiug the old man, considering the
it was instrumental in spreading broad
throughout the land
Yes, richly he continued, 'and a
which all distilleries of intoxicating
should share When the house was
sumed, the still itself was broken
pieces.
During all this time nothing had
heard of Arthur Bruce. He had tolt
Teacher and Helen that he would co
pond with no one until he could re
and live respected in the land of his b