Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-08-06
Halifax, \. c., July p, 1856.
For the Spirit of the Age.
s. Watson.

F TIE sahi0et Of the following sketch was
once an upright, intelligent, and highly re-
pectable citizen of Guilford county, II. C..
In him was verified, to some extent, the
saying of Solomon /; he that is diligent in
his business shall stand before kings: he
shall not stand before mean men,
At a very early age he married beauti-
full, lovely, and affectionate wife, And per-
haps fairer couple never graced the hy-
meneal altar, or entered the arena of life
under brighter prospects of success than
they.
Trained as he was to the business of far
ming, he engaged with energy and delight
in cultivating the virgin soil. lie mama
ged his business with skill and economy,
and everything seemed to prosper around
him. His fields waved with golden har-
vest-ripening fruits with autumn rich
ness bent his orchard trees-whle focks
of sheep and herds of cattle were seen gam
boiling in green pastures, or heard lowing
around we'll furnished stalls. Everything
so far as the concerns of this world extend
seemed to point to Fcontentment and ease.
His wife was like a fruitful vine; his
children grew up like olive plants around
his table. His daughters were fair, intel
lectual and domestic. His house within
was filled with beauty, order and loveliness,
while, all around, the scented herbs, and
budding flowers, watered and dressed by
lilly-white hands, cast their fragrance on
the passers-by.
To the eye of the spectator this was GER
tainly happy home. The field, the gar
den, and the house, was each arranged with
reference to convenience, beauty, and utili-
ty And to cap the climax of the whole,
here were the loved ones taught to win
the strangers heart These were objects
of attraction at midnight's dreary hour
amid the bloom of summer-and gather
ing storms of winter.
But alas, how uncertain is earthly felici-
ty! fAll flesh is as grass, and all the
glory thereof as The flower of the field in
the morning it springs up, in the evening
it is cut down and withers.' And SO this
husband and wife so true are numbered
among the pale nations underground, their
children are scattered abroad without a
home, and the fair dwelling once their own
has passed into other hands. And intem-
perance was the cause, the primary, the
leading cause of all this. What desolation
intemperance has producedl
The faithful wife was the first to pay
the debt of nature With physical frame
and constitution sufficiently strong to brave
the storms Of life for many years, she was
unable to cndurethe shame and ignominy
brought upon herself and family by the
conduct of an intemperate husband
Disease brought upon her by disapoint
ed expectations and blasted hopes, soon
laid her low in death Aud now no mar
BILE stone, or tree, nor shrub marks the
place where her last remains are laid.
The disconsolate husband felt, when he
saw his beloloved companion and bosom
friend pass into the silence of the tomb
: like the last cord that bound his heart t.
l earth was severed for ever. Then he sough
5 consolation and comfort in state OF intox
ication. Delirium followed and soon ht
: wasno more. His life was short-his deatt
r ;nplorious, and now his memory has almes
, died from the mind of all alive.
5 Knapp of Reeds, 1856. J. G. ID.