Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-10-03

that she might yet save him.
With her whole soul she wrought for
his salvation, and hope would rise and rise
again, on buoyant silver wings, to fall into
utter darkness. Again and again did she
promise to risk all, in his keeping, if after
a few short months of probation, he still
remained in abstinence andas often would
that cherished promise be unavailing, to
keep him from the tolls Of sin.
Once more he sought her forgiveness,
and gained it.. he knew for the last time
and Valiantly he fought with his Unsuitable
appetite. Eight months passed--the goal
was almost won. Their sun of life bright
ened, and shed warm glow over their
hopeful future. Castles, with golden tur-
rets, cleaned in their imaginations Glori-
Gus visions danced daily before them. A
thousand plans were discussed, thatseem-
ed almost accomplished.
Must that radiant sun 90 down in dark
ness the glittering castle sink in clouds F?
those glorious visions pale in despair
One evening Mary sat listening eagerly
for the welcome sound of his foot-step, her
fancy wreathing for futurity chaplet of
brilliant gems, when bark it is his step,
but-O God, it falters, it waves - Save,
Q save me from this hour cried Mary,
with ashy lip and clasped hands.
lie entered, and with unnatural hilarity
commenced bantering her on her forelorn
appearance. She stood for moment, be
reft Of utterance, then with wild and fran
tic energy, exclaimed
0 Harry, tis past; my dream Of hap
plness is dead. The hope that [ have
dared to cherish in my heart has recoiled,
like venomous serpent, and poisoned its
life springs. Earth has no smile for me,
alas nor Heaven. Leave me, 0, leave
me-
He stood gazing into her face, with a
vacant stare, as if not comprehending her
vehement words, and then his awful situa-
tlon came rushing upon him with the force
Of thunderbolt. Overcome with wine,
passion and grief, he caught her hand in
his iron grasp, and showered upon her head
the most dreadful reproaches He placed
his promise Of happiness in time and eter-
nifty, IN the scale against her cruel tempta-
tlon. He cast the wreck Of all his pros
poets, his principles, his love on her hands,
and left her forever, with a curse on his
lips.
He left his native State, and became a
wanderer. Little did she hear of him, but
that little was ever the same, onward and
downward, till at last she lost all trace ot
his existence.
Had life one CLEAN for her ? not one
She cared not to live, she dared not to die
but the tide of misery surged on and on
enveloped her in the cold, dark waves o
despair. Years passed, and she moved on
her eye robbed of its light, her step of its
elasticity, aimless, without joy, unable tc
catch one glance of the white-winged dove
of Peace; when the wailing of thousands
in the land reused her from her lethargy
cry to come over and help u.s. a CRY
for assistance in the battle against the de
mon ALCOHOL.
Then her heart beat with new life, anC
she vowed herself champion to fight will
the Philistine. Her soul was arrayed il
this battle of the Lords, and he blest he
efforts. Though lifes pleasures had al
dropped and faded, yet she had holy pur
pose for which to live and struggle, glo
His all-saving arm.
Ten years had wheeled their circlins
fight and Mary was staying with friends
in far distant State. One evening, a
twilight was stealing o. er the winter land
scape, her friend, Frank Patten, entere,
the room where she was seated, and said
Cousin Mary, will you go out tonight
Hhnra IC fO ba n lao4,,ro in 81
James, delivered by Mr. - well, [ hav
forgotten his name, but somebody, the
say, very eloquent
| shall be happy to hear him, replie
Mary, as she rose and gazed from the wiz
dow. She was sad, for it was the anivel
sary Of the too we'll remembered parting
and her heart was full of the past Tear
stood in her eyes, as she looked up to th
stars that were fast appearing in the dar
armament, their long rays came down an
made those tears part of their effulgenc'
It had been raining, and the pure drol
had congealed in a million gems of ever
hue, upon the trees, that swayed and cracl
led in the light wind. A shower of di
monds came rustling down at every m
: ton, and lay strewed on the .snow-cla
earth. Every post, fence and wall w
tasselled with brilliants, and even the dan
buildings of the great city, were rooft
with silver.
As they threaded their way tot the entran
r of the church, Mary lifted prayer of than
) fulness to the Author of the beautiful, th
she was still able to worship him in b
, works.
When she entered it was nearly filled.
. food of light danced and glittered on Il
walls, and threw along, grotesque shadow
among the dim arches and flashed back
rainbow hues, from the gorgeously stain
3 windows. A hum of voices mingled wi
n the musical tinkle of the pendants, tn
@ trembled on the great chandeliers, as fc
after foot sped up the long aisles.
Scarcely noticing the assemblage arou
e her, Mary seated herself, absorbed in de
o reverie of the past A few moments, a
} then the voices were hushed and silence reis
Ie ed. Ehe speaker had risen.
IS His first words, clear and deep toned, f
Is with electrifying power, as he proclaim
:, himself devoted heart and soul, to the ca,
for which he labored. That voice. w
:, might Mary Ellis gasp for breath we'll mis-
III cheek, lip, and brow turn to the hue of dea
e That voice had last fallen, in curse ur
Ill her ear. No one observed her agony. III
ne were spell-bound by the food of eloqueI
id that rolled over them. One moment a sh