Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-10-22
@gee: 8.
The Drunkard's last moments.


The end of the drunkard is fearful to con
template. Death, at all times and under all
circumstances, is a solemn event at which
mortals fear and trcmble; but in the case of
the ~drunkard, one who has through a long
life openly violated Gods law by drunken
ness and all its attendant sins, when he
comes down to the dark and gloomy valley,
It Is with feelings the most awful that he
eontemplates il, and starts and fears to enter
the terrible realities OF an unknown eternity.
In our professional vocation we have re-
Gently been called to attend upon a drunk
ord whose course had been run and his race
finished. We have witnessed death in many
forms and under many circumstances but
the most fearful scene we have ever witness
ed Is the death Of a drunkard in the terrors
and asonies Of delirium tremens. May our
eyes never look upon the like again.
Sometimes it is n relief to one to see the
christian die-one who has for long and
weary days suffered the pangs incident to
our frail hdmanity-to him Death affords
release from pain and anguish cad gives the
sickness, sorrow, pain and death are felt
and feared no more" the contemplation of
which kindles a holy light in the eye grow
ing dim with the mists of death. But the
last moments Of the d~runkard, alas how
terrible I! With bloodshotten eyes, wild and
glaring with the fire and frenzy of delirium,
he gazes upon the dreadful prospect before
him and pleads, and begs, and prays for a
little more time on earth. With shuddering
and fear he fights and tries in vain to hide
from the imaginary spectres and fends that
seem to fit about his miserable bed, haunting
his distracted mind. He sees that his end
is nigh at hand and his sinful course in life
begins to press him down with mountain
weight, crushing him down, down, down
without q single ray of hope for peace IN the
world to come. He has no word of comfort
TO whisper in the ear of those he leaves be
hind, on the contrary every word and every
gesture is one of terror and agony expressive
Of the great dread Of meeting that inaexible
Judge who has declared, no drunkard shall
inherit the kingdom Of Heaven ~
"Ohl Doctor, for Gods sake save ny
life this time and / promise you / will never
drink spirits again II" Too late /! Too late
The last assault that nature would admi
had been made upon her citadel and 81
yielded to the Infamous conqueror, and a. Il
groans, and screams, and yells she gav1uI
the ghost Of the poor ~drunkard to be judgeC
of by the God who gave it in innocence an,
purity.
Poor s*#s, was poisoned-somebod
drugged his whiskey." Such is the croal
ings Of some Of his grogshop %cronies. Yea
verify, he sOas " poisoned" and somebod.
drugged his w~hiskey." He was poisone
again and again by the man who let hir
have the whiskey. lie was poisoned by tn
infamous huckster who took property frOr
him a few days before he died and gave hill
in exchanges a dram. He was poisone'
again and again by this servant Of his ma
ter who would let him have whiskey for Il
money when he had it, and when he had I
money take property worth ten times mo-
than the gill Of whiskey. He and othe
poisoned him again and again until they CT
poison him no more. Whatever may be h
condition now he is beyond the assaults
this p~oisoner general. Let hell Shrek a Je
tempest of thanks that the Iiquor-selter cam
bring his cart, his jugs and has achtskey TO t
dark cells ofhe damned And somebo'
druggod his whiskey." Yea, verify; the d
HHer drugged it by a natural process in
manufacture. Let an outraged communi
hold up these Infamous prisoners to the e1
c~rations Of good men everywhere. Let
mark like that Of Cain, be set upon the
guilty brows ! y
"