Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-09-05
Cnrrfspanhiug ehitur's DrpnrtmRut.
For the Spirit of the Age.
A True Story.
R. c. STAPLES. 4 BROOKLYN, N. Y.
BIZ LUTHER P. RIGGS.

n 1TuG 0boIJ. X
By LUTHER P. RIGGS. !
Some years ago, fortune induced me to
leave my native village and take up my res
Idence IN a city some miles distant, where L
CHANGED to be a perfect stranger.
My first object, after arriving at the place
OF my destination, was to find some suitable
place for boarding, and which desire was
satisfied with but little effort.
My baggage was conveyed to my new
quarters, and at noon | was ushered into the
presence Of some fifteen or twenty gentlemen
boarders, who were seated at the dining table.
Before had been in the house a week, |
had made the personal acquaintance of near
ly all its inmates, and with not a few had
already become quite intimate.
One evening, I was invited to attend a
party of my fellow-boarders in a walk, and
feeling lonely, and the need ofsocial company,
| gladly accepted their invitation, and was
soon with my companions sauntering leisure
ly down the street.
Not having any idea where we were jour-
neying to, | was not a little surprised on
beholding the foremost of my companions
enter the bar room of a hotel and with a
little hesitancy i followed them, and was
soon introduced 70 a number of theirfriends,
who were in the habit of making the said
81 OoA % pow " eAV AOuA h4ntCI
evenings.
Before the party had broken up for the
evening, | had become interested in many of
them-had found many good-hearted, whole
sOuled fellows, and had received from many,
urgent requests to meet them often in their
" head quarters" las they termed the bar
ROOM. | promised to do so.
Several months rolled on-I had become a
frequent visitor of BIS bar-room-st the
head quarters held forth inducements which
called me thitherward. At all hours of the
evening I could drop in and find half dozen
eopgenial spirits, have a game or two of
cards, another of dice, and tip off with bran.
dy and water, or other winter beverages"
One evening, as usual, / made my appear
ance, with a smiling countenance, and asked
for Ed, this was a name by which one of
the most social and clever of our club was
designated, | received no answer to my
question, and wishing to see him on business
of some importance, concluded to go up to
his clearinghouse, which was but a short
distance off. Arriving there, I asked for
Edward B., and was told he was un.
we'll. | then asked to be shown to his room,
and was forthwith conducted up a flight Of
stairs to the apartment wherein, on a bed
lay my friend, a most devoted and attached
friend.
Henry, l am so glad you have come
said he, with a.faint voice, and no little per
ceptible emotion, as | entered the door of biz
room.
4" am sorry to see you so ILL.," said I
and trust the indisposition is but Temporal
= ry--that there is nothing serious"
Henry" and he gave me = look l shall
never forget, more than | shall the solemn
> deep-toned voice in which he pronounced m.
% name. Henry, | feel that l am on m,
) death-bed-that | shall never again arise
. never again mingle with my thoughtless, ga
- companions. already feel the horrors of
:, hell, where my spirit will soon be in duranc
J vile. Oh! take warning: take warning fror
me, and while it is now the accepted time,
prepare to meet thy God. Tell my comrade
for | know | shall never see them again
: tell them for me, to forsake their evil way
and seek their souls salvation."
= Here his strength failed him he was Ell
tirely exhausted with the effort he had mac
., to converse with me. Motionless he was fl
: a moment, then he gave a loud soul-thrillin,
agonizing shriek-a struggle, and all W
silent, Horror struck, / stood and gazed i
II to his face Soon the appalling truth rush'
IL to my mind I felt his wrist for a pulse,
- had none, Edward was DEAD
~ For some moments, l stood transfxed
~ the spot, but gradually my senses came
~ me, and | was just reviving from my stupC
- when a servant entered the apartment for t
purpose of attending to any wish of the
~ cupant. He came to the bedside, and aft
-. looking into his face for a moment, in a to
of alarm said " He is not dead ?"
ho Yes" I replied, he as dead !"
!" :c Together we left the room, neither utteri
-, a word till we had reached the sitting roo
20 where we told the sorrowful news.
= Two days afterwards, | followed his
CHO ,-aSao 70 tho .burobvard ood eoo 49,,
~ TERED, and a pine slab placed in the grouI
~ to mark his resting place, till a more app
y" pirate article could be substituted.
- The death Of my friend made a deep a
lasting impression on my mind. [ RENE
-: bered the mission | was to perform, the n
IN sion sacred, and the more so, as it was gi,
in the last words of the early dead ant
}ou determined early to execute it. Accord
no ", for the first time since his death, I wen,
Gu my way towards BIS hotel. On arriv
at that place, l entered the bar-room, too
,o - seat in a vacant chair that was placed n
:" the stove.
"Hallo, Carlton" said an acquainta,
addressing me, "where have you been lat
NJ havn't seen you for a week or more.
DIS Edwin" said /, in a gentle, but peri
Ut ly audible voice, Edwin, l have resol
to turn from my evil ways to discount
p the servitude of the devil, and pay my d
ried 'ioa9 = po, : =, oa -
.se went round the saloon" Ha ha! ha! T
~ ~ ! Cartoons turned pious-he's been to a M
~ 1eu odist camp-meeting, and got converted. /
~ join in prayer with him, what do you
fells 2"
As soon as this impious speech was fir
va" ed, / arose /" Friends" said !, " but a S
.l time ago Edward B-waso one Of our r
IN. Der. A more daring, religion-spurning
'"" son could scarce be found. / was presel
his death. His last. words were, +" seek
T souls salvation, escape while now you
- from the jaws of hell! Tell my compan
and associates in the club to take war
from me, to forsake their evil ways, an
ried, to their final end, and receive an inherit
e, on in that kingdom not made with hands"
Esq, Did Edward give you that messag
ugh tell us ?" asked one.
pair, He did, was my reply.
artin A more fool than [ had taken him
after rejoined a second.
purse sFelPs,' said Edwin Jerrold, In Sigh
impious, and yet iocose manner, 8 let's
by 5 journ to the carrion field, and call up
ixins ghost of Edward B., and make enqu
It'll 8 concerning the spirit land. IF he's in
ward We'll find out what sort of apartments
to let in that region and if in heaven
er. inducements in that direction
| will stump you in a bet that yom
,dent not go to the Craze gard, stand oUer Edo
0r1re-DroDOyDce bie oroo ooJ ou