Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-12-05

Raymond McGregor went mad-a large
and prosperous business was Abandoned
he recklessly flung his wealth, by whole
handfuls away-he neglected the wife he
once idolized; he seemed to forget his lit
tie children, once the jewels of his soul /;
home and its sweet joys, once so dear to
him, were abandoned for the fry pleasures
of the bacchanalian revel, and the mad
delights Of the bowl Before Raymond
became openly 'dissipated, it was beautiful
to see Inez (who told me almost everything
try to hide her husbands intemperance,
Ieyen from my friendly eyes. It's strange,
yet true, that Raymond and myself, thro'
all our long and close intimacy, never took
even a glass Of wine together. Why, [
know not. We never asked each other to
drink.
After Raymond gave himself up to drink,
[ called to see him and his wife as usual
[ found her alone, with trouble on her face
HInez," [ asked, where is Raymond 7"
4 have not seen him. she replied, for
two whole weeks
Is he in the city ? I enquired
/ think he is she answered, I hear
rumors Of him. You know how often
have hunted him up, and taken him home
intoxicated from the tavern and coffee
house. But now [ cannot find him,
don't know where he is-poor Raymond,
and she wept bitterly.
Oscar, said she suddenly What am
[ to do?'
Sell out said I, and go home with
your children to your father, and when
Raymond calls to see you, (for call he will, }
pretend thatyou have finally separated from
him, and refuse to see him. If this does
not reform him, your last chance is gone.
But, Oscar, if do it, it will make him
drink still more
so it would said 7, If Raymond had
a common soul in vulgar clay
She did so, Raymond, as usual at the
end Of one Of his deep debauches went
home half intoxicated; to his utter aston
ishment, he found to let,' upon bis door,
the house shut up and deserted. Nobody
knew anything about his wife and children
As [ expected, the tremendous revulsion
not only sobered him at once, but kept him
sober. He soon found out where his wife
was, and about half frantic, called to see
her. 1t almost killed Inez; but at my
suggestion, she not only refused to see hin
but sent him word that she had no hus
band, that she did not know one drunkeI
Raymond McGrogor.
lie called upon Mr. Lascelle and deman
ded his children. Her father told hin
> that if he did not keep sober and behap
himself he would not only have the chill
dren put under their grand fathers lega
protection, but that he would get a divorc
for his daughter. Do you know Raymond
said the good old man, that [ can prov
more than enough to separate you and Inez
forever? Inez knows Chow she found i
out cannot telr that you have been falls
to her, and yet she loves you still Re
form, prove it, and she viii forgive ALL
Raymond my only child is chained to
drunkard shall break the chain and Sc
the captive free?
No, no, no. exclaimed the wretchet
man-"s spare me, spare me, only give M
hope to cling to and [ will REFORM" an
like repentant Peter, he wept bitterly
Poor fellow, in his trouble he called W
on ms. I knew my man (and I knew ais
that desperate diseases required desperat
remedies so, | too, refused to see him.
[ sent him word, | did not know and woul
not know the drunEard, Raymond NJ
Gregor, that my old friend of that name
was dead.
Raymond could not stand this. Fl
went and rented a house; furnished it i
style, worked like a bee, joined the Sor
Of Temperance and became christian.
ever there was changed and reforme
man, it was Raymond McGregor
But before all this happened Inez me-
her husband at her fathers.
Forgive me, oh ! forgive me, Inez,' sal
her husband when they met I wi
neUer drink another drop, only forgive m
for the love that still lives in my heart
Raymond, said Inez, although yc
drank deep always loved you, but yc
have been false and traitor, Raymond
'Incz,' exclaimed he passionately:
was drunk, mad, crazy. Rum has RUNE
me. I am utterly degraded, an object mo
miserable, wretched man.
Tell me, Raymond, said she, /" is Is
bella the quadroon, more beautiful than
: the white mother of your children?'
'Spare me, Inez, said he.
Is her low-born love- exclaimed Il
proud wife, greater than mine--then
it stronger than DEATH
Forgive me, dear Inez, said be.
Dearest Isabella, said she, my qua
room RIAL
Inez,' said he, I will never speak
her again, so help me heavenp
If you do exclaimed the wife thoroug
!, ly reused, by heaven! l will knife h
in the street. Only dream Of her agail
I'll make your own bowie-knife laugh in b
sleeping heart. My rival, low quadro
leman. Oh! Raymond Raymond K
me, but spare me this deep degradation.
t ooh! that had never" said he.
: "seen the cursed BOWL am a lost, a
| ruined man, it has made me-who was on
| the very soul of honor, false to myself,
7 my wife, to my God. Inez don't tread
t a crushed and fallen thing; save me frc
s myself, and lift me up again." and t
!. wretched man grasped, like drowni
/ sailor, her hand, and passionately kissed
: again and again.
i A rush of tender feelings swept o,
: her proud bosom, and the pride, 50 stror
s and deeply rooted there, went down bef
# it, like tall oak, and splintered, befor
s falling avalanche. In an instant her f