Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-12-23
THE TRIALs.

Woe Is me that l sojourn in Mesech, that
I dwell in the tents Of Kedarl
PSALMS.
Looking upon the drunkard a. in his wild and
reckless moments Of dissipation, one would
naturally suppose that he never experienced
a single pang Of remorse or entertained a re-
greet for his course in life. But such is not
the case; for he is sometimes sober, and then
he resolves to reform, and in his efforts to car
ry out this noble purpose he meets with the
most affective trials.
Let us take a single case as an example Of
the thousands similarly situated: lie is .
middle-aged man, with a large family depend
ant upon him for the comforts Of life. In his
younger days he contracted the habit Of
drinking with his friends and ~neighbors in a
social way, and as the years came and went,
the dangerous appetite for drink grew upon
him apace until he finds himself to-day a
miserable slave to his bottle. Now, ne is not
always drunken, and when his reason is not
dethroned by drink, he casts his eye around
him md realizes the fearful ground he occu-
plea We sees his wife and children depend
ing Upon i'm for bread, and for protection
and guiaanr through the paths of life. He
sees the hessity Of a reform and resolves
that e viii ppa . ruiDous practice Of drink
mr fbm him a. 15c a Slave TO his cups and .
curse to his fam, no more. This Is a noble
resolve, but what the results Not always,
thank Heaven more frequently than
otherwise, this good solve-this noble pur-
pose is set aside when,e unfortunate man
comes in contact with old enemy.
II will REFORM says ~tdrunkard. and he
forsakes his cups for a fewavs-it NAV be
for weeks or months, and H. thrown into
evil company, oris called to ,ce where the
destructive agents are on sale 4 his strong
resolution is made to quake an falter.-
The bewitching fumes Of his old INV over.
power him, and he puts the des CUP to
his lips agaip-his strong purpose made
weak-the bright vision Of better On tc
come, calledupby bis short respite, hy Wv
he again falls into the dust a poor DRUMS,
covered with renewed disgrace.
If he was removed to a land where M
quor could be had, he might rid himself
his trials but while in a land where g
shops are found at every corner, and WI
whiskey pedlars go through the country
molested, tempting all who fall in their "
it may be expected that every drinking
who is endeayoring to reform will meet v
sore trials and temptations. This has
the experience of the past and will be r.
frmed in time to ONE The gospel ma,
preached, and temperance men may use
ry means in their power to disseminate
perance sentiment among the masses,
awhile liquor-selling is countenanced by
people, and while grogshops and whi'
carts set snarcs for men, we may expect
best directed efforts to prove mainly abor
The drunkard has trials, no matter
much degrated he may seem. In his $
anesseats bn laala bacL With IaasiDF ey.
the fair fields Of temperance he has left,
looks forward along the dark and ter
road which ne is to travel, with dismay
he knows it leads to n fearful end, aud h
coils with a shudder as he feels an irresis
force impelling him on and onward to
the drunkard's fiery doom. He feels thu
is gone unless he makes a speedy retrea
sees he is surrounded with temptations "
power he is unable to resist-he signs
land uncursed Of rum, and cries out in b
ness Of soul, "Woe is me that ! sojoui
Mosech, that | dwell i'm the tents of Ke,