Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-10-22
Original Sturg.
Written for the Spirit of the Age.
ii 0 r ACE LA VERN E
OR THE WIFE'S TRIALS.
lcoNTINuEp FRoM OUR LAST.
CHAPTER V.


We left Mr.. Laverne lying in troubled
and feverish sleep, and his poor wife watch
ing beside him. About noon he awoke
and with glaring eyes looked around him
Mrs. Llverne tent over him and called
him by name, but it was some moments
before h. could sufficiently recover from
the stupefying effects of his debauch and
the anodynes administered by the physi-
cian, to recognise her. Gradually, howev-
: ~ the clouds Hfed from his mind and rea-
gn resumed her throne but his physical
strength was almost exhausted. The wild
rayingsof the morning had subsided, and
he bnisunk iuto the opposite extreme -
In ppportion as the vital energies had been
RAISED above the proper standard, so had
they now sunk below it. But as his eyes
rested on his wife they bore the old ex-
preston Of affection, the beam Of tender
endeirment, that used to light them 1t
Naso Joy to the bleeding heart of Mrs La.
Verne, and lifted a heavy load from her
soul.
WSVe am ] 2 what has happened 7 be
aSksa Wa faint voice; but memory was
leturSeg, heavy laden with sorrow and
OohtritlN, and slowly the events of the
Precedlngnight began tounfold themselves
confasodiy aud iudistinctly, to his mind
The hot tears of his wife fell upon hi
face, aud he turned away and groaned il
agony
Little Marion stood, trem bling and .
frad to to speak, beside the bed. Will
what bitter anguish would it have fillet
the fathers soul to have seen her then an,
read in her expressive countenance tn
feelings of her heart
'Oh! | have dreamed horrible dream
said Mr.. Laverne family, again lifting hi
eyes to those Of his wife No, no. cor
tiuued earnestly, it is not dream woul
to God it were !
IIet it pass as a dream said Mrs. Ii
verne tenderly, and resolve now never
drink any more
ooh have made that resolve mar
times said he bitterly, 'and as often as
have made it have broken it--temptatic
has been too strong for me. | am afra
to promise, but with the help of God,
hope to be hereafter able to resist Il
tempter.'
PA, do you want to see your little NJ
rion /? said the little girl timidly, as 81
advanced and laid her hand on his.
God bless you, my child! ! said b
father, aud tears gathered in his eyes, al
his emotions choked further utterance.
Mrs. Laverne saw the excited state
his feelings and prudently withdrew t
little girl, advising him again to try al
sleep, and soothing him with words of te
derness, such only as the most devoted 10
Of woman's heart can utter.
Late in the afternoon the physician
gain called, made some further prescripti
and declared him out of DANGER and tn
left lie had had a refreshing sleep
some hours duration, and after partaki
of some food, was much strengthened.
We enter not into the privacy of fam
conversation, but Mr.. Laverne and his "
talked long together that night, and te
were shed by both, he and promised to
TO abstain from the intoxicating cup.
Alas the demon of ardent spirits
willy aud potent one Half way resista
never vet overcome him. He yields to n
but the very stoutest, most determined
position and even then it is necessary
be forever watchful, to fortify every pi
to guard every avenue, to resist every
croaehmeGt with promptness and 6rmnC
lie remembers his countless conquesti
the past, the millions of his subjects at
present time, and tries with unweary
assiduity every pass aud every avenue.
How few can stand singly and alone
successfully combat him And shall 1
be termes weak, pusillanimous for distr
ing their own unaided individual siren
aud seeking securityin Association ? S
they be branded as slaves and towards
cause they seek strength in union S
ignorance and prejudice impute to Il
base motives, and accuse them of cor
ring against civil and religious liberty
true liberty so connected with the inter
of dram dealers and dram drinkers a:
be worthless when separated from tn
But let the boastful champions of rum
on let them mock and scoff aud s.
big words to their hearts content.
every Son Of Temperance turn to his
conscience aud smile at the puny ra1
of all whiskeydom, satisfied that his
noble cause the cause of all mank
Let him look upon his badge, and reu
Der that it adorns him more than C
robe or kingly diadem.' But the Ord