Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-01-30
GO M M
Fer She Spirit of the Age.
Say ings and Doings.
A DIALOGUE.

Mr.. H. enters the store of Mr.. B., who
is engaged in drawing liquor for a customer.
b. Good morning, brother H., walk
back to the fire, | will be there in q few
minutes.
Back in the counting room. H. This
is very disagreeable weather. I do not think
that | have ever seen such before. I should
not think it was suitable for such stuff as
that you were selling as | came in.
: B. Yes, this is the very kind of wealth
er for it, while the snow is on the ground,
and it is so very cold, they take it to keep
them warm and to prevent their taking cold.
H. | did not come here, as the saying
is, to beard the Lion in his den,' but as we
have started, l guess we had as well go on.
You know we are both members IF the same
church, and therefore should speak to each
other as brothers, and we are directed in the
good Book to be instant in season and out of
season, &c. Did you ever think of your bust
ness-I mean that of selling liquor-in con
nection with your profession as a Christian ?
b. How? what do you mean by g in
connection with my profession as a christian?
H. Why, first, in relation to your exam
pie before the world. Second, in the amount
of evil you are producing by it; and thirdly,
the great risk you run in losing your soul.
B. Why, brother H., you would make il
out a great sin. What has my selling LIQUOR
to do with my example as a Christian? | ne
yer compel any one to buy, neither do I plac,
any extra inducements before them.
H. That is just what should like to ge
you to believe, but [ will not argue that a
this time, as I hope there will be enough il
the three positions l have taken to convinc,
you of it's s%infulness. You say, you canno
see what your selling liquor has to do witt
your example as a Christian I think tina
it has a great deal toedo with it. I will civ
you one instance, and no doubt if they coul
be found out, there are many more of them
of the influence your example exerts on otf
ers. There is brother O.. who has but latel
joined the church; whenI spoke to him abou
his selling Liquor, hsimmediately referred t
you, and said if brother B. can sell it | shout
think hat | might do so too. But, | remarl
ed, there is danger of your getting in tn
habit of drinking it, and thereby %injurin
yourself. But he again fell back on 70,
and said, that you had never drank any
hurt you, and that he could do the same
Now, suppose brother O.. should become
drunkard, and finally lose his soul, do yC
think, should he plead your example at tt
bar of God as an excuse for what he had don
that you would then say that your selli1
liquor had nothing to do with your examp
as a Christian?
B.. Well, I have never looked at it
that light before, and | must admit that the
is a probability of my example having a de-
terious effect on some, but / am not respo
sible for others.
t H. So Cain thought, when he slew
: brother Abel but how soon was he convi
l ced to the contrary, when God branded hi
| as a murderer.
:
t b. How am l producing evil by sellin,
H. You are taking from your fellow-mi
f that which should 60 to sustain and comfl
$ his family, and giving him in return tn
which, instead of preparing him better
: obtain the things necessary for his fami
/ degrades him to the level of a brute, and d
$ qualities him for all the duties of a man, a
4 causes him finally to sink into eternal ~
and misery.
B.. That may be all true; but how cal
e prevent it? If | had not sold it, some O
d else would, and therefore, the same ey
would have been produced.
H. That is all true, and vet YOU wor
not be willing to sell me any thing that '
knew | intended to destroy myself with, 81
1t ply because you knew that I could get
d some where else but if I wished to puFch,
'fl a bottle of brandy, you would sell it to