Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-08-05
9stpts> to Gsmyeranee, gSteratnre,
RAlElea a0a1A GAA0lleA9

er replied by blow at the man who gave
him the lie, which was returned by the other.
and a regular fight ensued between the two.
The rest of us, who having been drinking
very freely, were all by this time considera-
bly, intoxicated, sided with either party and
without pretending to part the combatants
Joined in the fight, and the row soon became
general. All the efforts of the landlord to
check the fight were frnitless, and the room
was one scene of confusion cursing, shout
ing, yelling-we continued to fight, until
finding myself very hard pressed by one of
the opposite party with whom | was contend
ing, and being maddened BY liquor, seized )
bottle which stood nren the counter of the
bar, and with one ps.Z:s .ssul blow struck nv
opponens sc sshe "a 81 & ssy IL horror
escaped from all present as the man fell;
the fight Instantly ceased and all crowded
around the fallen man to see the effects of
the blow. AS for myself, was completely
sobered by the catastrophe and horror
stricken at what had done, stood gazing
upon the hfeless form before me. It was
found that the edge of the larger end of the
bottle had struck upon the head just abovethe
temple, fracturlng the skull and penetrating
the brain, killing him instantly.
The body was taken proper care Of and
the crowd quietly dispersed to their homes.
The next day an inquest vas held upon the
body and verdict was rendered that the
decea sed came to his death by wound in
ficted by my hand and was Immediately
arrested, examined before magistrate and
committed to answer al Indictment for mur-
! der.
'The day of trial arrived and was duly
arraigned to answer the charge. The usual
forms were gone through-evidence taken
arguments of counsel heard-the charge of
the judge and the case given to the jury
who retired and soon returned with verdict
of GUILTY. Sentence Of death was passed
upon me and was remanded to Jail to await
the day of execution.
"A large crowd assembled to witness the
execution. | was taken to the scaffold in a
wagon attended by the proper officers and a
minister. The scafold reached was assis-
ted to ascend, and the minister prayed with
me for the last time. | was then led forward
the rope was adjusted signal given
! and the drop fell a sensation of fallin ga
sudden Jerk-a few struggles-and /
daooke! to find myself lying upon the floor
in my own room, having fallen from the bed.
! The noise Of the fall awoke my wife, who in
|, quired the cause. l told her that had had
a dream and had fallen from the bed. She
, was soon slumbering again, but sleep visited
, me no more that night. / laid awake pom
: dering in my mind the scenes of the dream,
, which made a powerful impression upon me.
} felt relieved to find it all dream and that
l the blood OF fellow being was not upon my
hands. l thought over my past life-my
, happy childhood, my schoolboy days, my
: apprenticeship, my arrival at the age of man
hood, my bright prospects at starting out
3 into life free man, my marriage and the
many happy aud pleasant days 7 had spent
with my family until ] sell a victim 60 intem-
: perance. l thought of all this-of what !
: mig hit have been, and what / wSs-a miser-
: able drunkard-an outcast from friends and
/ society, and disgrace to myself and family
: l thought that if | went en- -as was, nv ca
[ reer might end as pointed out in my dream
r and [ firmly believed that it was sent as a
It warning to me; and there, In the silence Of
r the night, L resolved that would never
e again taste intoxicating liquor-that would
t. reform and be man instead of brute =
l, The first thing did when my wife awoke il
d the morning was to relate to her my dream
d and tell her of my dete rmination to reform
y and IN that room, upon my knees in tn
'r presence ofGod and my wife, took solemn
e oath never again to touch the intoxicatin
Us cup. The happy creature shed tears of 10
- " w. ~ "S, "nu AaAIluS5 upou u1Y ueCk pieS
n sed me for making her heart glad with brigh
IS hopes of future happiness.
1t is true that it was very hard for mt
lie to break off all at once from my previou
u habits of drinking, but the scenes of m
y dream were still fresh in my mind and
h kept my oath. Making my determinatio
d. known to friend few days afterwards,
le was advised to connect myself with this s.
ne ciety. did so, and feel that have bee
er benefited by it. ..... .e.
st / found no difficulty in obtaining emplo,
II ment as soon as it was known that ha
n reformed ; and now, instead of spending n,
1n time in bar-rooms and low groggeries
er company with drunkards and vagabond
n; my leisure hours are spent at home, as
ed days lang syne in the company of m
[ beloved wife and child, upon whose cheel
IS, the bloom Of returning health is already
be seen.
er In conclusion, Mr.. President will sa
he that from this time forward I shall do all
u. my power to promote the Temperance caus
ct, knowing as [ do from experience the mar
I evils arising from the use of intoxicatir
nd liquors; and ifmy story should be the mear
Is, of influencing onesingie drunk lrdIto sign OF
It, pledge and give up the intoxicating cup.
shall feel that [ have been of some servi
er to humanity after all, and shall feel great
ad encouragement to persevere in the mob
MS cause Of Temperance"
IN