Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-06-06
Cumntnmitatiuns. O. m M
FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE kaE.
A KETCH. -
BY JOHN R. LIvEsAY.

lence reigned omnipotent, except when bro
ken by the solitary boot of the owl, or an
occasional burst Of laughter from the vii
lage inn. The shops were closed and dark
ness gathered around. Through the win
dow Of the little white cottage on the hill,
short distance from the inn. streamed a
light. Within the cottage, on the bed, lay
a child, on whose features death had set /
5 his stamp ~ csmOtlucf sat bysmitl5 5teariess
eyes night after night she had watched
by that bedside, and now, when the little
sufferer was about to be taken from her,
tears were denied her. 1t was her only
child, for she was young mother, and now
it was dying, how hard it was to bear it.
Suddenly the child starts and says:
Mamma, | soc such pretty people; lit
tie boys and girls with wings: do you see
them Mamma +? they are so pretty = and
the little sufferer relapses into silence.
A footstep is heard The mother rises
and goes to the window
Can it be him he does not know his
child is so sick, or else he would be here
But no; the footstep passes by and the
mother returns to the couch. Again the
child moves:
Mamma, is Papa going to come?
am going to the pretty little angels, for l
know they are angels, and they keep telling
me to come on. want to see Papa be-
fore go will he come?'
He will, my child = but she feared he
would not.
Long she sat and waited in another
hour day would appear suddenly her at
tention was attracted to the child, which
was struggling in the embrace of the grim
monster.
Good bye, Mamma, 60 to the angels =
and the spirit left the body.
Then the fountain was opened, and the
tears gushed down the cheeks of the mother
as she stood by her dead child 1t was
awful thus for her only offspring to be ia.
ken from her, and she by herself, no other
living person being about the cottage
And where was the husband aud father?
The bar-room of the village inn was in
confusion. Some were disputing about the
result of the late election others seated
around the gambling table throwing dice
or playing the accursed cards; or Others
still with the Devils Bible open before
them, taking the genteel game of backgam
mon. Liquor Of course was circulated pref
ty freely, and some of the inmates of tn
bar-room were tight Seated at the car
table was George Wilson, the husband an
father Of the mother and child above ALT
ded to. With eyes strained almost OF
of their sockets, he eagerly watched th
shutting of the cards, for his last dollar WI
on the table the cards were dealt, an
Wilson lost. Suddenly he exclaimed:
Thompson, you are cheating me, Fl
you have an ace of clubs in your hant
and have one in mine, you are using tv
packs and cheating me out of my money
you lie! replied Thompson excited
at the same time thrusting his hand
his pocket.
'Villianp cried Wilson, striking Thorn
son with his clenched hand.
A fight consequently ensued, duri
which Thompson shot Wilson and ma
his escape. 1t was now day and Geor
was carried home to his weeping wife
Who can describe the anguish of that W
as her wounded husband is brought in a
laid on the bed beside her dead child. S
swooned, and on recovering found some
her neighbors engaged in shrouding lit
Mary, others attending to her husband, W
by this time had found out that his ch
was dead, and was raving madly.
Little Mary was buried, and the aim
broken hearted mother applied herself
siduously to the nursing of her husba
After long time George recovered, Q
was an altered man. He sold his ia
and removed to the western part of
State, where he was unknown he left
drinking and gambling, and applied h
self industriously to the support of
family. We will pass over few ye
and visit the town of S, where he I
resides.
1t is Sunday evening, and great rev
has been going on for more than W,
George, though powerfully wrought VI
is still without the ark of safety.
strange minister is introduced, whose
lures seem familiar to George. The |
lister rises in the pulpit and takes for
text: Come unto me all ye that
and are heavy laden, and will give
rest Take my yoke upon you and
Of me, for am meek and lowly in he
and ye shall find rest unto your souls,
my yoke is easy and my burthen light
With great eloquence he descr
Christ's love to the world, his suffer
and death, and the nature of the yok
imposed on mankind; in conclusion
called for mourhers, George was the Fl
respond to the call, and was followe
several others until the altar was file
After striving with the Spirit for
time, George was converted, and ther,
general shouting in the church, f
had become endeared to the inhabitar
the town by his virtues, and now he
laid up for himself crown in He
where there is more JOY over one S
that repenteth, than over ninety and
just persons that need no repentan
George was introduced to the minister
proved to be the Thompson with who
had had an affray in the bar room, in
he was shotl
Thompson was converted soon aft
shot George, and on returning to /
deayored to find George to make r.