Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-02-13
With but little difficulty the tops are rip


bear from taking hold Immediately, so tempt O
ting does it look. But what is this As L d
live warm heavy coat which must have a
been made Oh purpose for Dick and this :,
blue jacket with bright buttons will just fit
John to nicely And then. those flaming =
red worsted dresses are just the things which Y
Fannie have longed for time and again and q
here is a linsey woolsey fer Effe. and green a
ns,rino dress end c.he, Ind a warm blanket n
shawl fur mother; besides there are shoes q
and stockings and shirts, a plenty for all ,
hands And here is real spelling book,
too, which has been the height of Dickie's
ambition Tor many long day. And such
an amount Of toys and candies, and other s
. goodies" had never gladdened their young
hearts before.
Thankee! Thankee good Santa Claus,
ten thousand, thousand thanks for your many
nice presents ? shouted all the children in
concert. And they hallowed and sung, and
shouted and laughed, and cried, and leaped,
and danced, and tumbled, and hugged each
other; so very, very happy were they all.
Surely the Lord hath done all this ex-
claimed Mrs. johnson, as soon as she could
subdue her emotion so as to command the
use Of language, and let US kneel down,
my children, and return Him our thanks for
IHNo vi Us al luc LlIuG Vi great
need
But short time had elapsed before they
are all attired in their new dresses, as hlithe
and gay as young lambs, wishing all the
time that their Father was at home to wit
less theirjoy. The old pine table has been
brought out in the middle of the floor, and
covered with theironly remaining table cloth,
and is now groaning under the weight of the
delicious viands and the smoking pot of fra
grant coffee. They are just preparing to take
their seats when a rap for admission j. heard
at the door, which being opened they arc ac-
costed by plain but neatly dressed gentle
man who requested the privilege of warming
himself by the fire, as he is extremely cold.
Permission being granted, he seats himself
on the hearth and commences to converse
upon the extreme severity of the weather.
Father! Father! doE't you want some
cake and candy it is so mighty nice,' cried
little Efhe, from under the bed where she
had concealed herself on hearing the gentle
mans rap, and whose voice her young ear
had mistaken for that of her father.
1t is not father, Efie, but gentleman
whom you have never seen before but come
out, he will not hurt you,' said her mother.
c"axingiy But what makes the stranger
tremble so, and turn away his head t?
Mother, how much the gentleman favors
father, as he used to lie a long time ago, be-
fore his heard had grown all over his face,
and his hair was so long and tangled OBJ
served little Dickie. But what is the mat
ter with the man? what makes him weep SC
bitterly ?,
Mary, children, am / then so much
changed thatyou cannot recognize your hus
band and father Come to my arms, my
wife and little ones, and welcome me home q
contrlte and altered man. he at length said
clasplng them passionately in his arms anC
stralnng them to his bosom.
But what means all this, Edward? wha
new wonder is about to take place tell me
! pray hurriedly demanded the astonishet
! woman.
/ Come sit down by my side, Mary, an
let me put my arm around your neck, an
you my little children come around me a
: you once did, and will tell you all. Whe
lleft home yesterday to 60 to the dram shor
as usual, had not cent of money in II
world, and so | managed to steal from !,
) hiding place your mothers Bible. NAV 4
not shudder, for l have brought it back ,
' gam. as the last resort left me. On arr
r wing at Old Grimes and demanding n drinl
: was scorntully repulsed, and told that
e should have no more until had paid whs
already owed | attempted to reason wit
t him and to remind him that all nv posse
sion were in his grasp, but all to no pnrpos
}, Finding all argument useless, offered to G,
{ change with him your bible on reasonab
r terms. That book is worth nothing to me
e said he, but as see you are Obliged
e have liquor, will fill your Jug for it, Boi
: ing with Indignation and rage, | was stron
S y tempted to smash my jug among his d
O decanters and forswear the use of the accu
n sed poison forever afterward. But denou
O cling him as base and contemplate wretc
d l lett his He'll of Iniquity, never hope,
q enter IN 1t again. On my way up the sire
passed the Temperance Hall just as t
Sons were going in their Division: one
whom espying me, inquired whittier 1 W
q going
n oh y said /, jocularly, lam goinetoio
n the Sons and take the pledge
e Then break your bottle and come in al
IS we will do you good
r But you will not have me- for am
l, low and base, and too poor to pay my init
t oh, never mind about that b,t coro ;
r come in.'
do not know what put it into nv hea
e but instantly made up nv mind. and ha
t, ing broken my jug into thousand piec
t, upon the pavement followed them in tbt
d Hall. Having left me few minutes in tn,
,r reception room, two of them returned 6
lowed by barber with his apparatus and
W servant carrying large trunk.
e NO" johnson, we want to see what !
le provement the razor and shears and n sn;t
k clean clothes will make of you, and then
RS Will take you IN our Ark of Safetv.' tn
Il short ume was metamorphosed into the
st ing you now see, and was receiving the r.
n graduation OF many of my old friends "
S, welcomed me into their circle with tears
n. joy. When the Division broke mn ,ba 30
minister said that must not he a1neoS r., ono g
I'd the temptation of passing by the dran, sb
so soon, and that | should sleep at his bor or
)" till morning. '''
ed But here his narrative is INTERRUPTED
d, the noise Of some one driving a team in :
ut yard, and they all run to the door to osc
re tain its origin. A new wonder hursts or 81
re them when they learn that it is a load of +
In visions and other necessaries Of Gfe VII; +;
1g has been sent by the Sons to their newly
On formed brother. Dare l, gentle read
cd depict the scene that ensued, and portray
er emotions of this now happy family B.
te and fruitless would be the effort. and for
IT. present drop the curtain. shall. bowev
lis observe the characters which have here
ng troduced in their future history and m
gi- perchance at some other time furnish '
lu- with Sequel to the joyful Surprise.
Elm CoTTAGcE 1855.