Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-07-30
For the Spirit of the Age.
Friendly Talk to the Liquor Seller.
NJ 9


DEAR SIR /: Perhaps the questions with
which | closed my last letter have led you
to think very seriously about this matter.
Are you a young man If so, you must
have some desire to do something for your
self and for the world in which you i've
/ can hardly suppose you to be entirly in
different as to whether you are to be es-
teemed as honorable and useful or not
No, far be it from You You have de-
sire to be man, and to leave name to
be remembered for good when you are gone
from earth. And why may you not hope
to be useful, honorable and happy? Look
at the advantages you enjoy Poverty and
poor advantages in early life may be over
come by dint of courage and application in
this glorious land Of freedom But my
dear friend, that business you are following
will prove barrier in your way. It will
prove vampire to suck the life-blood
from your veins. An incubus to crush
you, Notwithstanding your efforts to rise.
A blight upon all your hopes for the fu-
ture. And, l fear, death to your soul
But perhaps you are an old man, and have
but little concern about these things your
self. But have you family? Do you
not care for your children? know you
must. Now, it is not my purpose to hurt
your feelings, but suffer me again to ask
you few questions and leave them for
you to answer to yourself l. Are you
acquainted with the history Of grog-sellers'
children in general? g. If SO, how do
their daughters generally marry, good men
or not? 3. And how do their sons gene
rally succeed in life Now, I entreat you
sir, as you see those dear little ones gather
around you, think how we'll you love them,
and how you wish them to do we'll, and
then consider how seriously your business
is to affect them.
And now sir, in conclusion, let me re-
mind you that you are accountable to God
for the bearing your business has upon
yourself, your children, and the world.
The time is soon to come when this ac-
count is to be reckoned. Yes, you will
there face your Judge with all your injur.
ed family, and injured customers around
you. That wife whose peace was broken,
and whose prospects in life were blighted
That daughter who felt the dread influence
of pour traffic opposing her in every stel
of life. And that son who was made
drunkard and was ruined, with that molly
group of human beings who ripened ant
matured in drunkenness and oritno abou
your shop, yea, all these will rise up anc
lay their ruin to your account! And i
may be that you will stand in that day, AM
lay your oaon ruin, your own eternal ruiz
to the business you are now following!
Sir, in view of all this, will you not b
prevailed upon to quit the business ?
is not the only business which you can fol
low. There are many other things tha
can be done for living, and for prof.
which are not so dangerous to you, you
family, and the community, and I do hop
that you will make the change. These rt
marks have not been made in a spirit
bitterness, but from the purest motive
and in the hope they may do you good
If SO, my object will have been accom-
plished. If, however, they do you I
good, [ shall have this to comfort me-tf
thought of having made an honest effort
do good. [ will close.
Yours truly, G.