Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-08-22
Choice Literature.
M AL COLIN WARREN;
THE OLD MANs LESSON.

LIE OLO LIAM y AESSOH.
Malcolm, / wouldn't 90 out to night.
Come, stay with me this evening"
Not this evening, Alice. have pronI-
ised to meet some friends this evening, and
must keep my word / will be at home
in good season.
Il had hoped that should have your
company Come, why can't you try and
sec if | cannot make you as happy as those
companions whom. you are to meet Just
this once, Malcolm. o, this once =
'No, no, Alice; Tam going out. What
crying Now what's the use Of that p
Can't fellow go out once in while with
out leaving a crying wife ?
/ can't help it, Malcolm But here,
kiss me before you CO..
Thus spoke Malcolm Warren and his
young wife. Malcolm was a young man,
twenty-scven years of age, and carpenter
by trade. His wife was one Of the sweet
est dispositioned girls in town, and she
made one Of the best wives. She loved her
husband with the whole energy ofh pure
soul, and she knew that she was loved in
heart. Her two children, boy and girl,
often saw her shed tears when they were
alone with her in the snug little sitting
room, and the boy was old enough to ask
what made his mother cry, but she dared
not tell him.
Malcolm Warren owned the little cot
tage in which he lived, and he had paid
for it all out Of his own hard earnings,
while Alice had borne her own share of
the burden, by purchasing all the furni-
turo. Malcolm was stout, and an excellent
workman, and had never yet seen the hour
when he needed to lay idle for the want of
work. A better-hearted youth lived not
in the town, and when hetook the gentle
Alice for his wife, there was many a fair
maiden whose bosom gave place to kindly,
wistful envy. They would not have robbed
Alice Of her prize, but they only hoped
that their own lot might be as fortunate
Why, then should cloud come upon that
house? Why should Alice weep All,
for the same reason that thousands of our
fairest daughters wept For the same rea.
son that hot tears are ever crying out their
silent appeals for mercy tears that run
until they make flood that fairly shrieks
as it rolls over our land.
Malcolm Warren had a high social ma
ture-his society was priced by all who
could secure it--and he had been indnlsina
III the iuiuo' Byssites Is CS.~as.i-NA CUP. EoE
the last year he had beeu allowing his ap.
petite to gain strength. At first it was
only an occasional glass, then "a glass
or so once in q while and then zone OF
two glasses day But lately he had
gone 50 far as to spend his earnings away
ftom home, and for nearly two months pas
he had spent all his money with his jovia
companions. Alice saw all this, and sh
knew full we'll where it would end if it wa
not stopped. She knew her husband S ne
ture, and she knew how surely he wa
fallen. She had whispered to him he
fears, and he had tried to laugh them o
as idle whims. She had prayed to him
stop the fatal career while he yet IA
strength, but he had been offended bccau
she would think that he would ever becon
drunkard. So Alice was afraid to spei
all her fears. Yet she saw with Gle
eve all that was coming. She saw Il
broad road upon which her beloved W
travelling, and her heart was aching. 5
knew that even now want was stari
them in the face 1t was autumn, and s
had asked of Malcolm for money to b
warmer clothes for herself and children, a
he had none to give her. Only day
fore he had brought home bucket full
flour, instead Of sending home u barrel,
he used to do. lie earned money, a
where was it? Alas poor Alice kn
too we'll Malcolm's face, and she saw Il
its manly beauty was slowly but sur
eating away The large blue eyes W
growing dim, blcared and bloodshot;
once fair cheeks were becoming swol
and bloated and his lips looked dry ;
cracked No wonder she knelt down
her bedside and prayed.
1t was now Saturday evening, and \
colin was going out. He was to n
some friends, and Alice knew that he
to meet them at the tavern. He
worked only three days the past week,
he had the pay for these three days "
in his pocket That money was needle
home, but where would it be on the l
row ?
Malcolm o, do not wholly forget
fond, loving Alice, when you are gone
But Malcolm did not answer. He ki
her. not as he used to do, but kissed
merely because she had asked him to,
then left his cottage After he had {
Alice sat down and wept. She coulc
helpit. Her darling boy crept by her
and placed his arms about her neck
+, asked no questions, but he asked her
to cry. His little mind seemed to
some idea Of the coming calamity.
must have been vague, but it was
enough to prevent him from forcini
dread thoughts upon his mother.
more he asked her not to cry, and the
own little heart burst, aid mother
child wept together. This was an
drop in the poor woman's cup Of affli
O, how palpable must now be the
hands course, when even the pra
child saw and knew the danger! b
could only clasp and pray more ferv
And the little boy, when his mothe
done praying, said, Amen
II was a clear, cool evening, and
colin Warren stepped out into the
he seemed to shake himself as thou
would shake off the influence of thc
he was leaving But he could not
do il. He could not wholly drly
his mind the fearful countenapce