davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-03-25
Extract from a Speech by Cough

In the following passage, by this extra
ordinary Temperance orator, he speaks
much OF children, and in a way which
must touch the hearts of the old, as well
as the young
There IS no power on earth will make a
man a fend like the power of strong drink,
One circumstance in my own reminiscent
ces l Will give to you. | was asked by an
Individual to 60 and see the hardest case
then In town. | said " have no right to
60 and see him; he will say to me-
Who sent you to me who told YOU
was a %drunkard? You mind your business
and will mine you wait till YOU are
sent for; and when [ want you [ will send
for you " | have no right" said. " to
60 to him WE'LL" said he, che is a hard
case he beat a daughter Of his, fourteen
years OF age, with a s~hoenaker's stran. 50
that she will carry the mark to the grave. "
SAID |. He is a brute" His wife ;o
very i'll now with a fever and the doctor
says he thinks she cannot get over It the
man has not been drinking for some DAYS
and if you can get at him now. [ think Won
might do him good"
| thought I would go. I knocked a,
the coor ne came to open it. He had
been to one or two of our MEETINGS Tbe
moment he saw me he knew me. Said he,
"Mr. Cough, [ believe 2" eyes that Is
my name; would you be good enough tc
give me a glass Of water, if you please p
Certainly" said he, " come in
So | get in. | sat on one side Of the
table, and he sat on the other. There
were two children in the room PLAYING to.
gether, and a door halfway open that led
into the room whesa the wife was i'll |
sat and talked With him about everything
l could think of but the subject: I talked
OF trade and crops, and railroads, and mo.
ney matters; and then I got on to the pub.
Tic houses, and then drinking, and he head
ed me on again. I looked, and l thought
l saw a malicious twinkle in his eve, as
much as to say, " Young man, you are not
up to your business yet"
| was about to give it up; but. I think
proVidenltally, saw the children I sale
to him. You've got two bright looking
children there, sir" 60! yes, yes, bright
little things p Said I, You love youl
children, don't yon ?" "Rless the chill
dren, to De sure I love them" Said [
Wouldn't you do anything to beneft
your children !" He looked at me as il
he thought something else was coming af
ter. Well, to be sure, sir" said he, " :
man ought to do everything to benefit hi.
children"
Then | stood up, SO that I might get GU
of the door as speedily as possible, and
said, Don't be angry with me; I am 90
ing to ask you a plain and simple question
you know who I am, therefore you won
be angry. Suppose you never used an,
more intoxicating liquor, don't you thinl
your children would be better OFF,
Well, WELL said he, you have got M
this time Said I, 'Yeu have got a gooc
wife, haven't your Yes, sir, as good
woman as ever a good man had for wife /?
and you love your wife?' TO be sur,
do; it is natural that a man should Low,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-03-25
HONEST

Labor, honest labor, is mighty and beau
tlful. Activity is the ruling element of life,
and its highest relish. Luxuries and coz
quests are the result of labor we can ina
gine nothing without it. The noblest man
OF earth is he who puts hands cheerful V and
proudly to honest labor. Labor is a business
and ordinance of God. Suspend labor and
where is the glory and pomp of earth-the
fruit fields and palaces, and fashionings Of
matter for which men strive and war? Let
the labor scorher look around him, look to
himself, and learn what are trophies. From
the crown Of his head to the sole Of his foot,
unless be is GARTH. made as the beast, he
is the debtor and slave of toll. Where geets he
garmenting and equipage? Let labor an
swer. Labor-which makes music in the
mine, and the furrow, and at the forge. o,
you scorn labor, do you-man who never yet
earned a morsel of bread. Labor pities you,
proud fool, and laughs you to scorn. You
shall pass to dust forgotten but labor will
live on forever, glorious in its conquesIs and
monuments.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-03-25

MS "lfe;, And you would do anything
you could to please your wife ? well I
ought to, Suppose you were to sign a
temperance pledge, would that please her?
BY thunder, | rather think it would +; l
could not do a thing that would please nv
wife like that. If I was to put my name
down there, why, the OLD woman would be
up and about her business in two weeks
AS she Is SICK said I, Then you will do
IT. Yes, | guess | will do it. And he
at once opened a closet, took out pen and
Ink, and | spread out the pledge, and he
wrote his name.
The children had been listening with
eyes, ears, and mouths wide open, while we
WeretalkIng about temperance. They knew
what a drunken father was thew knew
what the principle of abstinence would do
Tor HIM and when he had signed one said
to the other, Father has signed the pledoep
o! my! said the other now I'll 90 and
tell my MOTHER and away she ran In the
other room. But the mother had heard
it; and listened to her calling, Luke (!
Luke come in here a moment Said he
Come in here along with me; come in and
see my wife
| went and stood by her bedside. The
face was CHASTITY pale, the I've large and
sunk deep in its socket and with her long,
thin, and bony fingers, she gripped my hand
and with the other took the hand of her
husband, and began to tell me what a good
husband she had. Luke said she, is
a kind husband and a good father he takes
care of the children and is very kind to
them; but the drink, @ the drink makes
terrible difficulty That difficulty! God
only and the crushed wife of the intempe-
rate man know anything about it.
The man shook like a leaf; he snatched
the hand from the grasp of his wife, tor,
down her night dress from her shoulder
and said, Look at that 7 and on her whit,
thin neck, close to her shoulder, was a bad
mark. Said he, look at that : and wher
| saw the mark Of a bruise, =. felt nv fesE
creep. SaiG he, look at that, sir !! ]
did three days before she was taken dowr
upon the bed and she has told YOU tina
she has a good husband. Am [? Am
a good husband to her? God Almight,
forgive me 7 and he bowed over that woman
! and wept like a child, gripped the bed
clothes in his hands, and hid his face i
, them. And she laid her thin hand upol
l his head, and said, Don't cry, Luke; don't
you wouldn't have struck me if it had no
: been for the drink. Mr.. Cough, don't be
a lieve him; he is as good a man as eve
lived. Don't cry, Lukep
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-03-25

supposed to be in entire ignorance of the
proceedings up to this point, is asked how
she would like so-and SO for a husband
Now, it is but just to say that if the girl
aoes not approve, the negotiations 90 no
FARTHER; but as she has never spoken to
this sultor, and knows she will not sneak
toany future suitor, If the man is toIerablv
good looking, and his tailor has done his
duty, why, she-be;ng assured by her par
ents that the money is all right-generally
says yes. Then the mamma of the BRIDE
groom comes one evening when the house
has been set in order and every BODY dres-
sedln his best, and after the best salutations,
she rises, and in a solemn voice, asks the
hand of MadlPe Estelle-, for Monsieur
Achile-. Then the mamma on the
opposite Of the room rises and accepts the
offer; MadlPe rises and throws herself in
to her future mammals arms; whilst the
son-in-law embraces the mother of his in
tended. The papas shake hands the be-
trothed lovers, released from parental arms,
naturally bow to each other, and he SER
wants bring in tea.
Then the lawyers set to work to draw
up contracts the mamma orders new dres-
ses, &C., for her .dav and puts new
caps and dresses On herself. The bride
groom comes every evening with a grand
boquet, which he offers to Mademoiselle,
flrts an hour or so with mother, bows to
the daughter, and goes of. The bride
elect has only to embroider quietly by her
mothers side, smile, blush and shipper.
Then the negotiating lady comes in great
state, preceded by an enormous trunk
Mamma and the bride receive her-never,
of course, needing the trunk. Then the
lady makes a speech, opens the trunk, and
presents the bride with the cor6eiWe--name.
~, the wedding dress, veil and wreath.
or three cashmere shawls, ditto velvet
dresses, a set of furs, a set of lace hounces
a'set OF diamonds, a watch, a fan, a prayer
book, and a purse of gold. These come
from the bridegroom. In return, the lady
gets a bracelet from the bride, and MANY
thanks for the presents and the husband
The mother scolds the intended for til,
reckless magnificence displayed when b,
m at night. The bride says: "Ah
monsieur + bushes, and throws herselfin
to her mothers arms. Then the MANN,
gives her presents to the bridegreom-si,
cambria shirts and six white cravats, tn
whole trimmed with Valencienres, chosel
with an eye to the future pocket-hanker
chiefs of the BRIDE ; for after the wedding
day what man will be bedecked wit
such.
At last comes the signing of the contract
The bride takes one step into the room an,
receives her visitors, and, speakingto them
converses with all except the intended, a
that would be improper, She gives token
OF affection to her unmarried relatives. t.
ken from the purse in the corbeille. Th
articles Of the corbeilIe are displayed i
one room, whilst the rousseau of the Bird
(glyen by the mother is exhibited in tn
ether, Embroidery, linen, cambria, lace
&c, are here lavished on the personal Ill
derclothing of the bride, made up in d.
zens OF each article piles of table cloth
sheets, towels, &C., all Parked with embro
ribbons.
This is the way they manage marriag,
in France.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-03-25
e.. 80.
EXtravagance.

Selt-Indulgence is the order of tho
The plain simple habits of old tine.
gone. The Improvements of the aaa-
brought with them a train of evils uhioS
threaten the prosperity of the country. The
State buys more than it sells. Indiv;du.Is
spend more than they make Parents br;na
up their children in idleness and nr;do
Extravagance is the fashion; and muIt;t,3ae
blinded by numbers. are rushing on in the
race to ruin.
The material evils of such a course of over
trading and extravagance, in the ruin e
fortune and of credit, are surpassed IN m;so-
ry' and sin, by the moral evils which produce
and follow insolvency.
The victims of fashionable extra,acoroo
become unfit for any useful calling. Thew
acquire habits Of vice which make them nests
to society, and a blight to good morals
Hence the prevalence of idleness and dissi.
patton in the land.
A false pride causes many to shrink from
such business or labor a. they are oealised
to prosecute suecessiuHx They seek imsri-
nary respectabiiity in professions ana s9F-
suits for which they are totally untitled
They aspire to a style Of living rather L, 81
ting their inflated nutiors ef their own oo.;t.o,
than the narrowness of their income
These hopeful young men, with NOTHING 70
do, become idle, dissipated and extrav,ran,
They ruin the "old folks at home" and I'm,
into constant temptation to illegal mades of
obtaining money, to feed their bad habits
These are unwelcome facts in the condition
OF things around us, which cannot fail 70
strike every rejecting mind with sadness.
What is the remedy for these evils Tho
Temperance Reform may snatch some Of
these victims of dissipation from ruin. In
dustry and economy may repair the effects Of
extravaganza and a genuine piety NAV
sustain and complete the reform Of soma of
them.
But others, alas will go on to the bitter
end and spread an influence which will
l drag others down with them. AN ounce a
prevention is worth a pound of cure.n saith
the proverb. This tide which threatens the
country with ultimate ruin, can only be kent
down, by a thorough reform in family gov
eminent. In old times men governed in
latter days it has been said that the ladies
ruled but in fact it is the children who now
bear a great hand in the government of the
family. Parents must use their authority
kindly, but firmly and completely. They
must train their children to industry and
econ my they must instil into their mind.
a noble pride of honest self dependence which
, will ever maintain itself by useful diligence
rather than stoop to mimic the extrayagan
fools of fashion. who are bartering thsil
Immortality for the wings of a butterfly OF
the grave of a drunkard.
All the public evils against which bereyo.
lenee lie contending, while originating in the
depravity of human lature, are nurtured by
defective training OF childrtn at nome 4
y thorough reform in family government viii
make the work of the philanthrupist in IA,
. next age far easier than it is now and " il
h DO much to check the ruinous extravasanc,
. to which only in this article, it was our oriqi
! nal design to call the attention Of the reader
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-03-25
Of tbeAge.
RALgIGH, E.c.
W2SagsDAg, MAaca %.
A Positive Arrangement.

subscribers receiving their paper with a CROSS
Mann are thereby notified that in four weeks
. tne receipt of the first number thus marked,
'-'i SUBSCRIPTION years viii expire; and unless
renewed within that time, the paper viii be dis.
continued This rule will be inAexibly adhered to
SS- Having been absent the greater por,
uon OF the time since our last issue, we have
oeen unable to make cut a list of Receipts fol
this No. Our Correspondence has also not
oeen attended to, owing to the same cause.
we hope to catch up in a few days.
The EDITREss" is attending an afflicted
l%elatlve, in V~irginia-hence the vacancy II
her Department this week.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-03-25
Written for the Spirit of the Age.
HOW WE WENT WEST,
DRY IA MILY.
Being selections from the letters of Mr.. Alderman
Dry and his family, while in the West 4 South.
EDITED BY DAVID DRY, ESQ,
ATTORNEY AT LAW.
LETTER II.
FROM MISTRESS PHILURA DRY TO MIS-
TRESS ELEANOR GUYTON.

LETTER II.
FROM MISTRESS PHILURA R TO MIS-
TREss ELEANOR GUYToN.
New York, Sept. 9Th, 1856.
My DEAR NELLY:
DID youfe7er? pv@ PERSUADED Mt, at
last, (he's a dear, good husband, after all.
Nelly /; Tho he don't know much to 90 and
make a visit at Map}ewood. He ses biznis
Is blzness talnt there a q or a u in bizness ?
| never was any great shakes at spelin-tho'
| can beat Natl and | entirely agrees with
him but, Nelly, we has got money enough.
Nat has made piles of it for the last three
years; and as we have moved up to the 5th
Avenue, It's right that we should brush up,
ard do IN Rome As rome docs. Besides, its
80 lmproVln> to young people to travel,
and see the world. Bob, and Angelina Ce-
%lestina, tho will stand a pretty fare compar-
lson, so to speak, with most of the Young
people. I've always wanted to go and see
you tho You have thought mebby, that we
sllghted your invite, as it were. Not a bit
OF 1t. Nat was always such a hand for BUYS
MS (PH put a y in this Tipe at a venter)
that he never could find time. Indeed. he
rather run the thing into the ground, so to
speak. | can Hardly realize that [ am
about to see my deer nelly once more. What
~salubrlouS times, so to speak, we did Have
at Mrs. Millington's Female Institute You
and wasn't altogether congenial in our
Tastes but circumstances, as it were, threw
US a CRATE Dele together. And, then, YOU
know, we corresponded, after you married
kurnel Guyton and went to Arkansas.
You would Hardly know US, dear, in our
new Establishment in Fifth Avenue. Our
house is one of the tip top; cost %!
my a site of money Squire Edwards SEES
it ~proximitates to palatial magnifcence, so to
speak, and reminds him Of the Corinthian
gorgeousness of St. Peters in London and
the Paragon, at Athens. We are bizy As
bees, Citing reddy to go. Such a bother as
it is! Nat got mad this morning, and limi-
ted me to three trunks and two ban boxes.
Lesty is to have four Bob has only one and
a v~alese, and Kate takes but one trunk and
one ban box! Husband swore oudaciously,
30 to speak, and muttered somethin' about
oharterizing the Collins Line of Steamers to
carry our baggage. Will you believe me ?
He takes a small trunk, only, and a carpet
bag. We shall git to Maplewood almost as
soon as this letter. So no more, at present,
from Your friend till death,
PHILURA DRY,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-03-25

The Office Seekers. President Buchan-
an is said to be overwhelmed by the i'm
portunities of crowds of office seekers. A
letter writer remarks:
This thing of crowdiug in upon the very
limited time of the President, and when it
is chiefly taken up by the Cabinet consul
tatlons upon paramount State questions, is
not according to etiquette or generosity.
1t 1t continues much longer, unless be is
possessed of the strongest constitution, it
must inevitably break him down, for no
man can stand such a pressure. I heard
the President say on Saturday last that he
hadn't time tosay bis prayers. He thanked
God that the next day would be the Sab
bath, when ne would have a day of rest,
on which to recruit his shattered health, ,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-03-25

when love or prayer are insufficient to turn
the barb of death aside, the christians bea-
con light will fling a long line of silvery ra.
dance across the lone dark way, by which
he may wind his storm-beaten bark to eter-
nity's shore, and find sweet mornings in the
wide harbor of eternal rest. LORA.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-03-25
Distilleries.

has the reader ever noticed the effect that
one distlllery produces on a neigbborhood 2
Ii he has not, we would refer him for illus
tratlon to some noighborhood with a still
house IN the centre. First among the cons
spicious buildings is the low, black, dirty
looking soup house of Satan and around it
for a considerable distance the houses mar
take of the same character-dirty. smoky,
and dilapidated in appearance while here
and there may be seen a dwelling Of a differ
ent character, looking as if it had escaped
the contagion by being placed at a greater
commencement of reform that has removed
the mask from before the eyes Of the people.
With the latter exception, does not the
whole scene show plainly that prosperity has
been blighted by this one plague spot? The
mental and moral elevation Of the people
no doubt has been retarded by the same
cause. This is not an isolated instance
The ravages Of the still house manufacture
may be seen in every neighborhood even
where abe fires have long since been put out,
the traces of their devastation are still dis
cernible, and in many places conspicuous.
May the day speedily arrive, when every
trace Of them shall be swept from the earth /
Rzgr DEAL thou gently with that tender
youth suffering under the paugs of his
" first love-" His heart is soft and a harsh
word would CRATE terribly upon his sensitive
soul. Above all don't dreneh the poor fellow
with strong medicine, lest the rash strike in
and the boy strike out from parental author
ity. First love and the whooping cough nave
to be had soon or late, and nurse says one
time is good as another, only the earlier the
better,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-03-25

Ihe Drunkard's fife. A bill has been
introduced into the Senate of New Jersey
which provides that the wife ola drunkard,
on proving him such before a justice of the
peace, may become entitled to hold her
W wages and those of her minor children
until he reforms.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-03-25

A Centenary Soldier IN Prison, One of
the keepers of the Auburn On. W Prison
writes to the Advertiser of that city, that
among the inmates of that Institution is a
man named Schoonoven, who is within a
lew months of one hundred years of age.
he claims to have fought with Washing
ton and Lafayette, in the American revo-
luton,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-03-25

In the following passage, by this extra
ordinary Temperance orator, he speaks
much of children, and in a way which
must touch the hearts of the old, as well
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-05-14

ply, and Sir George also held scornful Sill
ence from that moment until he landed in
the Thames. He was here put into the
hands of sailors, and conducted to hotel,
on giving his solemn promise that he would
not attempt to escape. Believing all to be
lost in any case, he was glad to be relieved
from the confinement of Jail, though it
might be but till his creditors were warned
of his capture.
1t was night when this landing in the
Thames took place. Sir George spent a
wretched night, moaning over that fate which
his conscience told him was not unmerited.
In the morning he drew up an act, briefly
giving up all to his creditors. He had scar
cely finished this when visitor was announ-
ced. 1t was his betrayer, the baroness.
"Wretched woman what seek you said
he sternly. "Is not your task done? l have
now to do with Others"
"With none but me-" said the lady in a
low voice, and with timidity Of manner
most unlike her previous department.
"What do you mean, MADAME? asked
Sir George.
81 am your sole creditor" said the lady;
and she placed in his hands some papers,
which he at once saw to be his own redeem
ed bonds. He looked up in amazement.-
"You had cousin once, Sir George" said
the lady, with her eyes on the floor.
81 had-Anne Fulton" said Sir George;
"we were playmates in childhood"
"She went abroad, when mere child,
with her family !" continued the lady.
"She die" said the boronet; "and I have
heard, was married to very wealthy plan.
ter in the island where they settled. 1t pain
ed me to hear it, for We loved each other
even when infants"
"She welded against her WILL" continued
the lady; "for she, too, remembered old
days. She is now widow" A light had
been gradually breaking upon Sir Georges
mind. He started hastily forward, and took
hold of the lady's hand, almost throwing
himself at her feet.
"You are"---
81 am your cousin Anne" said the lady.
1t is needless to carry out the tale beyond
the point when the imagination of the read
er can do all that remains to be done. The
lady had returned to England rich widow;
had learned the situation and embarrassments
of her .well.remembered cousin; had seen
him at Boulogne; had contrived to overturn
at his door, and made his acquaintance.-
She had only thought of the fishing scheme
through spice of romance in her tempera-
ment, and that she might get him to Eng
land, where she might have his debts paid
They welded, and lived happily, like all
lovers in stories; and we wish all were as
true as the present one.