Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-02-25
Written for the Spirit of the Age.
A Y, EMP ME NOT!
B INyALID


l knew a noble youth; high-souled,
chivalric and impulsive; brave as steel
yet magnanimous to a fault the sole rep
resentative of an ancient and honorable
ancestry full himself of high aims and
noble aspirations and the centre around
which clustered the brightest hopes of
idolizing kindred. With a firm, a trust
ing and a dauntless heart, he girded on
his armor and sailed forth to the stern
conflict of life. He chose an honorable
vocation, and soon the fame of his achieve
MEETS both upon the rostrum and in his
S1fctum was upon every tongue and
pny said that Fortune, almost unbidden,
as pouring her choicest gifts at bis feet.
YBut alas with all his heroism, with all his
gallantry. he was to fall the victim of the
most debaslng and most ignominious of
moral servitudes. Aye, he who could
stand unblanched before the mouth of the
belchIng cannon, who scorned the ~pusilan-
lmitS of little souls, and defed alike the
seductlons of adulation and the brides of
corruption, was to bow a seryile yassal at
the throne of a despot who feels no mercy.
and whose bosom never thrills with the
glow of pity or compassion.
In a convivial coterie of boon compap-
ions, ne yielded to the destinations of the
wine cup; and like the unsuspecting mar
liner who glides circle after circle towards
the fearful maelstrom, he was drawn grad.
ualiy but surely to the yawning vortex of
lnebrlety. But just as he was trembling
upon the very verge of the frowning chasm,
ready to plunge forever beneath it's faith
omless abyss, with his possessions souan-
dered, his intellect impaired and his ener-
gees unstrung; with the wreath which
Fame had woven for his brow torn into a
thousand shreds by the monsters bloody
hand, and as he was laying his last oblation,
his life and soul, upon the reeking altar,
the Sons OF Temperance, a noble band of
generous spirits, ever vigilant " to succor
and to save" snatched him from his i'm
pending peril into the ark Of safety which
they had prepared for the tempted and
fallen: And binding up bis bleeding
wounds like the good Samaritan Of old, they
placed into his hands the sword and the
shield of Temperance and sent him forth
to do valiant service in the fierce struggle
which was waging around him. Thus
rescued, thus confirmed and encouraged,
ne rapidly retraced his steps to that proud
; niche from which he had been beguiled by
the subtle wiles of the tempter.
When next [ saw him it was at a brilliant
, fete, prepared by his friends and admirers
to commemorate a decisive triumph which
r he had Won in the political arena in the
t face of formidable barriers. The board
crowned beneath the weight of luxurious
viands, and was dotted here and there by
a flashing array of trimming goblets. His
own health had been drank with ~rapturous
o plaudTts and he was challenged to pledge
s that. Of a former rival to whom after a long
e and bitter arrangement heNhad been recon-
u ciled. Here was an unsupported, a fearful
. crisis. Courtesy, the claims of etiquette
n and the conventional usages of society de-
d handed the sacrifice but memory rue to
her mission reminded him of former perils,
d and he stood appalled, az the very thought.
: 1t was a moment of painful suspense but
reason soon triumphed, and rising with
: that calm self possession for which he was
e SO remarkable and glancing his eagle eye
t over the assembled guests, he addressed
the presiding officer in a strain of thrilling
k %eloquence and imprisoned path IS such as
n | have seldom heard surpassed. He rap
idly reviewed the leading episodes in bis
! past history; depicted in vivid colors his
4 temptations and perils, his fall, his rescue,
e and his pledge; and concluded by appeal
h ing to his friends to be allowed the priv
lege of substituting for the accursed poison
the llmpld beverage which Goo had brewed
for man and beast. This was of course DO.
) ] litely and unhesitatingly granted and
when after the applause had subsidized,
cast my eyes over the table, I could not fai
IS to observe that a large proportion Of the
glasses had been left untouched.
Nay tempt me not if thou woulds't be
h A faithful friend and true to me
le Nay tempt me not again to drink,
id Nor lure my feet to ruins brink.
For have sworn while life has lett,
l. A single tie to bind ;
ID Or still of reasons ray bereft.
to ~Benighted gropes the mind
aye have sworn no more to drain
We The damning cup of woe
y That would strive with might and main
81 This raging thirst forego.
tn
n, Nay tempt me not to drink again,
ct The lethean draught of death to drain
in For meath its dregs a poison lies,
i'll And he who quafs as surely dies
An I'll not drink another drop
No, never will l sip;
I'll touch no more the foaming cup
No mere the goblet tin.
For he who looks with ravished eye,
Upon the ruby wave,
May soon prepare himself to lie.
In the inebriate's grave.
Nay tempt me not 1 do implorel
l cannot-dare not-drink anv more
nj Vo-. "oAO