Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-09-19
A TEMPERANCE STORY.
nY.cARRIE, OF povER.


1t was Sunday morning the sun was
shining brightly, and light breeze rus
tied the leaves which were thinkly strewn
over the ground. We had just finished
breakfast, when Charles S., boy about
IL years old, entered the parsonage breath
less With haste, and with the tears stream
ing thick and fast down his cheek We
gathered around him with childish curios-
ity and ready sympathy, for Charlie was
great favorite among the children but he
quickly. almost rudely, pushed through the
circle, calling loudly for Mr. D. My father
soon made his appearance, and Charlie, the
instant that he caught sight of him cried,
Come sir; Q, come, my father is dying!'
fastened with Charlie to his home it was
but a few steps just on the other side of the
church. We remained standing where they
had left us, astonished.
The news soon spread through the vii
lage that Mr.. T. was dying. Mr.. T. was
known and esteemed all through the State,
not only for his piety, he was an elder in
the church, but he was the Great Tenn.
perdnce man many man now sitting in
his own house with happy family around
him, but for Mr. T., would have long since
filled a drunkard's grave; they knew it,
and were grateful. No wonder, then, that
after the morning service crowd collected
about the door of Mr.. T.'s house, waiting
to ascertain whether he was dead or not.
The Doctor was standing by his patients
bedside, expecting every moment to be his
last; when suddenly Mr. 7. rallied, he rails
ed himself up in bed, and said, &" Doctor,
60 out and bring those people all in here,
Ihave something to say to them" The
Doctor thought it best to grant his request,
and in few moments the room was filed
by his friends as they looked on his vast
ed form and sunken features, they wept,
and wished his enemies could have seen
him then for he had enemies, and bitter
ones too; such firm, steady upholder Of
the Temperance cause as he was, will never
be without them until the time come when
a grog-shop shall be thing unknown, and
drunkards will never be heard of except in
stories of the past
My friends - said Mr. T., C in few
moments more I shall debut l want to
say little to you now, on the great SUBJ
Ject for which have labored all my life.
Many of you have often expressed won
der that l was so active in the temperance
cause, and so violent in my hatred of all
kinds of drunkenness.
Listen, and | will tell you. was born
IN country village, poorer, smaller, and
more filled with drunkenness of every kind,
than any other ever saw. NV father
and mother were both drunkards. | had
nj
one loved, really and truly loved, was my
sister Lucy, and her idolized. We were
scarcely ever separated for moment, not
even in the night for in drunkarfs
family the children sleep any where, and
IN the winter time the more together the
warmer. For while we went to the vii
lage school but as we got older, the boys
would tease me, and ridiculed Lucy's rag
ged frock, SO we stopped going. But we
went to the Sunday school, for Lucy loved
that, and went to please her, Lucy would
sit by the hour and talk of heaven, wish
ing that she were an angel-she is one
now.
Gone cold day, my mother had drank
more gin than usual, and as it was cold,
she was unusually cross. By and by she
SAID to me, Tom, 60 out and get some
wood obeyed. | went to the forest
and got a large bundle of wood, and brought
1T home; as l entered the house, saw the
children grouped in one corner, crying
Lucy lying on the only bed the house con-
tanned, alone. put my arm around her
neck: and said coaxingly, Come Lucy and
SIT by the fire. but she did not answer. /
asked my mother what was the matter
with Lucy. The reply was, she is dead,
and wish we all were. threw myself
on the bed beside Lucy, and lay there q
long while. By-and-hy the neighbors came
In and laid her out and put her in an un-
painted coffin. watched by that coffin
all night ; it seemed to me as if Lucy must
awake, she must awake; but no, on the NOR
row they buried my little sister Lucy.
That nightI found out from my brothers,
that after had gone out Lucy had crept
up to the window to watch for my return.
My mother called her away; she obeyed ;
but after little crept back. Mother was
angry, and seizing her, shook her violently,
and pushed her. Lucy staggered and fell,
t hitting her temple against the sharp corner
/ of the stone. They picked her up and
laid her on the bed, but she did not speak
presently Mrs. Smith, a neighbOr, entered
and after having tried various means fol
reviving her, told the family that Lucy
| was dead. That night 1 cried bitterly ;
e they were the first tears l had shed, and
a they relieved me, but felt SO lonely, D
E SO lonely. l kept on going to the Sunday
e School, and always thought of Lucy, who
: was an angel in heaven.
i Soon after my oldest brother took to
f drinking, and died in drunken brawl-
Y NV friends, my little story is finished
e but and he spoke with tremendous en-
}. phasis, do you wonder now why l hate
E rum it has killed my father and mother
: my sister and brother p
a He fell back exhausted; there was moi
/ dry eye in the room, as they quietly de
g parted. NJ Y Peoples Organ.