Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-08-06
The Curse at your Own Door.

SoME people are always opposed to the
temperance cause, and can never see any /
good to result from its teachings, until the t
shadow of the curse falls across their own
threshold and strikes down itsvictim. Then, j
when the dead cart of the rum plague stops I
at their own door, and the solemn summons
to "bring out your dead" is uttered, they be-
gin to see and feel with the keenest pangs
that there is an evil in the use of intoxica-
ting drinks, and sometimes deplore the coan
t~enance they have given to the custom.-
They may have lived a long life and not
been brought to mourn the loss of some dear
friend by its insidipus wiles and they may
have seen their ~neighbors sons reel with foul
blasphemies upon their lips into the hopeless
grave of the drunkard they may have seen
other daughters than theirs welded to drum
ken hus ,ands, and witnessed the cruel abuse
heaped upon them they may have seen
widows aud orphans shiyering in the snow
storm, begging bread they may have seen
the gaping wounds of some rum maddened
suicide; and they may have heard deep cries
of anguish and breaking hearts that were none
VI thOAio, dn0 TIC HliO 1dLneuIdllOuS III DIN
while they were in the enjoyment of social
happiness around u~nblighted fresides, and
hence, realized nothing of the accursed des-
~truction of rum. They may have defended
it in it's unholy shedding of blood, and
spoken harsh words against those who pro-
claim its infamy. They may have taken it
into their own homes and given it an honor
able place in the family circle. But when
the serpent has become warmed into a vigo-
| rous life and turned and stung a number of
f their own circle when they see a father, {
3 son, a. husband or a brother sinking beneath
its deadly poison when they hear the nun
r bling syllables of the scottish kinsman beneath
r their own roof when they see the red grav,
IL yawn to receive the bloated form of a bellows
it one and hell cape to swallow the blighte'
J. Immortality, then are they ready to cry GU
4 with all the bitterness and anguish of
e crushed soul-"WOe! Is me! Woe ! is me! /!
To realize fully the terrible effect of drur
1T kenness, it must be brought to ones ow
he home. The curse must linger on the thresl
r hold to learn of a truth how black a shade
it casts. Death must come in its wake an
to NOW down a cherished flower, to teach us no
lie, truly blighting and blasting it really is
in Man is so constituted that he cannot correct
by estimate it by others griefs. He must tres
vii the dark path Of its bitter experience to kno
ose its terrible character.
M There is an old mother, long a widC
ra- and her downcast eye dim with wee ping.
he Sha boc coop on down to tho a. rInoco of Z
ON grave a husband and three strong sons, sc
to thither by the use of rum. These ma
the years she has been weeping her life aw
vii. hopelessly, knowing that she will new
nc meyer, see those loved ones again; for b
Bible teaches her that they are not in til
,or ''better land" where she is pilgrim bound
~LGoareaast the tear stained leaf of her old b
nla ken heart and you will learn more of
accursed work of rum than human pen {
NJ write. Go read its bitter lessons. ;
Ia Thanks to the writer of the follow
letter for his kindly aid and encourageme
Who else will follow his noble example +?
non BROTHER german: | have had a de,
for some time to see your valuable pa
HCCb ! SuCCSOS, dllu 10 dIQ III tile 81
g OF work of destroying intemperance. | h
lass felt and known for the last six years that
{ d. temperance mas peeh' IS ana VIII De a CT
to our country. Knowing this to be a f
Wv, L have determined to do all in my powe
and destroy its evils. And one way in viii,
men have commenced to aid in destroying i
! or by procuring subscribers to your valu;
paper. | have procured twelve names,
0"y' inclosed you will find twelve dollars, al
be assure you, my Brother, | shall not so
ever this. | intend to keep trying to get subs
f the bers to your paper, for | know it has {
a great good to our people, yea it has |
oPro' the means of causing many a poor drl
the ard to quit his cups and become a good
re of zen; and | trust the time may quickly c
when our Banner of Temperance shall v
t~riumphantly over this whole earth.
ppll- true, my Brother, God made man upri
inter- but he has sought out many inventions
alive which he will destroy the peace and ha
esent ntnmn "a ""a auannI n' +" y
. the one way to break down the cursed avi
The Intemperance, that is for the Sons of I
car perance to rally around their standard
main az "a ;tbfnl 70 Tho ond 81 a. P:Po-s'
e full be ours. Let us try and learn our poop
throw away all intoxicating liquors. LIE
learn them that whatsoever gives his neigl
FRAN drink, is accursed. Let us learn our ne
rance to pledge to each other Love. Purity and f
them ity, then will our country be truly called
ion of ply America, and not until then.
table '"' NJ
an be Wake Forest College, July 25, 1916.
with -se~
Glow B% The following tradition, concer