Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-11-11

Dsstiller-Why do you ask such puz-
ling questions! You know don't like
hem at all, especially when my mind is
occupied with other subjects. Leave me,
i least till can compose myself, l be-
eech you.
Conscience. Nay, but hear me through.
S it right for you to 90 on manufacturing
evers, dropsy, consumption, delirium tre-
mems, and host of other frightful diseases,
because your property happens to be vested
n distillerys Is it consistent with the
great law of love by which you profess to
De governed Mlll + bear examinatlon in
ssdying d0ur4 Shall bid you look vack3
upon it from the brink of eternity, that youI
may from such recollections gather holy
courage for your pending conflict with she
king of terrors Will you bequeath this
magazine of wrath and perdition to your
only son not already ruined, and 90 out of
the world, rejoicing that you can leave the
whole concern in the hands of one who is |
so trustworthy and so dears
Here the Distiller leaUes abruptly, sOith-
oat answering a aOord.
Second Interview.
Dishller.-( Seeing Conscience approach,
asad beginning to trem6Ee) What, so soon
and so early at your post again | did
hope for short respite.
Conscience-O, | am distressed-I can
not hold my peace l am panied at my
very heart.
Distiller-Do be composed, | beseech
you,, and hear what | have to say. Since
our last interview, have resolved to sell
out and I expect the purchaser on in a
very few days.
Conscience What will he do with the
establishment when he gets it?
Dsstiller.-You must ask him and not
me-. But whatever he may do with it, l
shall be clear.
ConscSence.-I wish [ could be sure of
that ;, but let us see. Though you will not
make poison by the hundred barrels any
longer yourself you will sell this laborato-
ny Of death to another man, for the. same
horrid purpose You will not, with your
own hands, 60 on forging daggers for ma
MACS to use upon themselves and their
friends, provided you can get some one to
take your business at fair price, You
will no longer drag the car of Juggernaut
over the bodies Of PROSTATE levotees, if
you caa sell ont the privilege to good adUan-
tage
Distaller.-Was ever any mans con-
science so captious before Z? You seem de-
termined not to be satisfied with any thing.
But beware by pushing matters in this
way you will produce violent reaction. y
Even professors of religion will not bear it.
For myself, L wish to treat you with all
possible respect but foEbearance itself must
have its limits.
Conscience. Possibly you may be able
to hold me in check little longer; but |
am all the while gathering strength for an
onset, which you canuot withstand and il
you cannot bear these kind remonstrances
now, how will you grapple with ''the worm
that never dies 2"
Distiller.-Enough, enough, will obey
your voice. But why SO pale and death.
like 2
Conscience. I am sick, am almost
sufocated. These tartarean fumes, these
dreadful ferebodings, these heart-rendine
sights, and above all, my horrid dreams,
cannot endure them. There comes oul
nearest neighbor, stealing across the lots
with his jug and half bushel of rye. Wha
lis his errand, and where are his hungry
shivering family9 And see there, too, tha
J, Etattered,, half-starved boy, just entering
the yard with bottle-who sent him here
at this early hour? All these barrels
where are the wretched beings who are t,
consume this liquid fire, and to be con
sumed by it?
i DistilIer.-Spare spare me, beseecl
lyou. By going on at this rate little lon
Iger, you will make me as nervous as your
self.
4 Conscience | cannot close this in
t Eterview, til [ have related one of th
dreams to which just alluded. 1t wa
only last night that suffered in this way
more than tongue can tell. The who'll
terrific vision is written in letters of fir,
upon the tablet of my memory; and
! feel it all the while burning deeper ant
deeper.
( I thought l stood by great river O
) melted lava, and while / was wondering
from what mountain or vast abyss it came
suddenly the field of my vision was extend
q ed to the distance of several hundred miles
e and perceived that, instead of springin;
from single source, this rolling torrent Q
fire was fed by numerous tributary streams
and these again by smaller rivulets. An,
e what do, yon think heard and beheld, a
: / stood, petrifed with astonisment and ho1
r ror! There were hundreds of poor wretch
es struggling and just sinking in the mere
o less flood. As | contemplated the seen
e still more attentively, the confused noise {
). boisterous and profane merriment, mingle
) with loud shrieks Of despair, saluted m
a ears. The hair Of my head stood up-an
d looking this way and that way, | behel
r. crowds men, women and children, throns
v ing down to the very margin of the river
a some eagerly bowling down to slake the
: thirst with the consuming liquid, and othel
e convulsively striving to hold them back
$ Some saw actually pushing their neigl
bors headlong from their treacherous banl
" and others encouraging them to plunge il
v by holding up the fiery temptation to the
Of view. To ensure sufficient depth of th
d river, so that destruction might be mad
le doubly sure, | saw great number of mel
and some whom | knew to be members
in the church, laboriously turning their n
h. spectiye contributions of the glowing an
d. Kissing liquid, into the main channel
OF This was more than could bear. | WI
lie in perfect torture. But when l expostul
he ted with those who were nearest to Il