Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-03-28
FIX ARGA 88.

head with dire images OF all The miserles q
which fall to the lot ofthe drunkard's wife. 2
Say. Annie z J
DO not speak so lightly Edward, it jars ]
upou nv spirit now. | never heard you {
advance such a sentiment before, and | do !
know your life has been one, thus far, Of
strict sobriety. But many from regarding
the use of fashionable liquors thus lightly,
strong even as you are, have gone down
step by step FROM an elevated social and
moral position, to the lowest round of de-
graduation aud becauseit wasa simple thing
and one in which believe your heart has
no real interest, l feel emboldened to urge
reflection upon the consequences likely to
attend a dissemination Of any such views.
but if my preferences are not sufficient
ly enlisted to act out those idle words,
how will they provo detrimental to my in-
terest or happiuessP
Words arc always regarded as the type
Of ideas entertained by the mind, and they
are departing from their intended mission
when otherwise applied. Ifthen we believe
that to partake Of intoxicating drinks be
wrong, by all means let our words and con-
duct coincide Herewith. Moreover, we are
TO remember that though such light ex-
pressions may be rightly construed by those
who know us well, others will receive them
rs they fall from the lips in all truth, and
-Aaue sure ihwonA give you nosPldasure at
some future time to hear a drunkard say
your words had FIRST banished all his scru-
pies against alcoholic drinks
NAY, you are treating it entirely too
serious, Annie man is not often thus
easily influenced
yet little things do often make or dcs-
troy a character, aud when we consider the
variety of tempers and dispositions we must
encounter in our journey through life
the foul influences to which so large a class
are subjected, and the absence of all those
elevated advantages we have richly enjoyed;
in view of these things, should We not feel
the more deeply responsible for the opin-
ions we entertain and the correctness of
the conclusions to which we have arrived !?
Unto whom much is given, much will be
required, forms one of the scriptures love-
lest lessons, and Que harmonizing beauti-
fully with those higher aspirations that
very trimming has served to develop
FThere is such a thing as looking upon
life aud its relative duties too strictly, An.
ME investing it with a gloom which the
thaukfuluess arising from our own peculiar
social position should go far to disprove
Gratitude to q wise Creator ever imparts
feeling of satisfaction for the lot that ha
fallen to US in this life, or should at leas
always produce that feeling in every reflect
ing breast .
1T should do more than this. It shout
render US actively DESTROYS to carry out t
the extent of our knowledge and power a
His holy precepts ; to show forth in OF
individual lives the high estimate we plac
upon the sublime ends ofa rational ~existenc
l d. not think l am advocating ar
morbid yieWs when / say, we should c
deavor always to condense in our short liv
of probation here, all the good we can efe
towards our fellowman, and in the advanC
meut of those movements which We knC
to be right. But to 60 back, do you belle
the act Of drinking wine q harmless ont
. TO me, l believe It is, though L won
never be so rash As to propagate any su
a sentin, ent-but | am very sure nothi
could tempt me beyond the limit ofsobriet
so have thought thousands before, /
ward but do you admit that drunkenn'
is demoralizing and sinful in the high
degree?'
Certainly l do
Then how are you to separate the ca'
from the effect? You may take that VIII
would leave your mind free and your bri
clear, whilst another differently c%onstitu'
might drink no more, yet present the loa
SOME spectacle of q human being strip
of all the glorious regalia of true manic
aud whose conduct would make your che
tingle with shame, that he belonged to
class to which you also claimed Atm
There was to him somewhere in that drau
a line of demarkation between sobriety
drunkenness. You passed it ia safety,
he being more unfortunate was overwhelI
by its influence. You have both commit
the same act. Then are you really be
than him, Edward ? Is the sin upon y
soul less than his?
But you forget, Annie, the use of
calm discriminating judgment given vi
u kind Providence, and which should
stand sentinel to warn us against going
far
And yet, at every draught after il
gins its work Of firing the blood and inf
ing the passions, judgment recedes
her wonted post. With many, as l
just said, this effect might occur long b
it came to you, whilst they might also
to contend with the i~nfatuating love en-
dered by frequent Labit, so that the ms
bic cravings of the appetite added to
excited state of the MUD would, as is
quently shown, prove more than sufi
to couuteract all the cooler dictates of
dcnce, or the promptings of their b
judgment.
'And are you going to hold me RESP
bic for tae conduct of all, Annie? /
test against that
Certainly not, Edward. But you
man, a highly educated one, aud as
must take a position of influence, to b
fined only by the purity and integriI
your conduct. And can you not plain
how that, regarding every thing derog
to the higher charactero of manhood in it
light, you will be the better prepar
battle against its perpetuation, impre
your views upon other minds and lei
the more unfortunate victims back I
hearthstone of %virtuous peace? One
gifted as you are with improved talent
an honorable position among men, M
much if he neglect not the daily oppol