Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-09-08
yaAits' 9spartntnt.
POOR TOM.
! rIoIvRE Of TnE aVM TRATFlo.

IL -
the air then It's musical cadence died yc
away till an was still. u
No. all was not still for a bird was u
singing without and the light breath OF 81
sAmmer came floating into the room where u
Lay and bore its tremulous song to my II
ear. | arose and looked through the case a
ment into the latticed porch. The ge- 0
ranium, the rosebush, the vine and the hon G
ey-suckle, spreading ont their tender leaves, v
obstructed the view, but, nevertheless, left
uoom for A glimpse into a pleasant garden, c
whore the flowers arc smiling. How peace c
full !
After All, is this not q happy world! I
TOLL Toll!
Again that sound; but this time Its lam
ting murmurs were caught up and Proloh-
red by another more deep-toned than the
first. The inarticulate harmony tells more
forcibly than words, that "man goetn 10
his long home, and the mourners 60 about
the streets" There is a sadness and YET
swcetncss in the knell-a mourning, and
yet a JOY.
Just such a requium as the saints should
have sorrow for our lost, JOY fortheir tn
umph. But, on! it may not be the body
OF a departed believer that now takes It's
last Journey o to think that when the
last trumpet shall sound-alas alas!
a = =
Come with me, enter a sick chamber.
A bloated form lies before you; the eyes
olarc wildly around as he wakes from a
stupid slumber, and a sepulchral voice
breaks the silence, "Where IS my bottle Z
4Tom.n replies a middle-aged man by the
bed.side-it was kindly but firmly spoken,
1Tom. YOU have drunk all that was inthe
bottle and you shouldn't have had that,
HT had not been afraid You would sink be-
fore your medicine could act" :,
az want my bottle, | tell you. | Will
have It. I'll get up out of this bed, and
oo into town, and get some for myself
lie rose up in his bed, but his strength
was too far gone. He fell back III a fain-
ting ct.
& few hours later. Day dies in the
West the crimson, the gold and b.ue that
oyerhang are fading into a sombre pail, as
though this abiding place of ours were, as
Il ia indeed, one vast charncl-house. Knock
Knock! Death is at the door.
AIift me up" SAYS the dying man.
oTom, you can't stand it; you arc to-
weak"
>aLit me Up" said he sternly to a servant
The servant takes sold OF his hand an
raises him mp a iitdc. He tries to rise SUI
further, but the effort was too much ie
him. he sinks back in his last swoon, draw
two or three brcaths-and he is dead
Toll = y = Toll!
A group Of idlers were standing on Il
corner Of the street, when presently the
came into view a slow procession. kea
or. win you, or your father, or your brot
er, or your son, ever lead such a proct
sion
AIsoor Tom said one Of the compa
on the sidewalk. The speaker was plur
and ruhieupd, With a heavy gold f9fhSnhi
out at the house tbs morning, and W
IN and took a look at the corpse. lie s
an old woman was standing at the heaC
the lounge, when he lifted up the cove,
from Toms face. She looked f~earfully
emn, and when Sam laid back the cover
she took hold of his hand and said, "P
TON is gone !" and then the tears ca
trickling down her face and she cried
though she would break her heart. Be
you know Tom was mighty good to
servants when be was sober, but he
like a very devil when he was drunk"
A man who was passing by, paused
heasIag these words, and said to the spC
or, Mr.. Jones | believe he died from
effects Of liquor did he notF
so Fm told" was the reply.
SWELL did you sell him the LIQUOR T.
HWhat if did! III hadn't, someb
else would. And what business is
minc ifke chose 80 90 and kill himself v
II, I'd like 60 know ~
"Yoa will learn that better than |
tell you in the last day." calmly rospon
the intenocutor, and went on his way.
turned the corner and was ogt of sight
hearing.
Now" said Mr.. Jones' "Just listen
that fool. But, come in boys, it's
treat"
So in they go, and the rum-scller .,
out the liquid fire to his admiring frie
They turn off their glasses.
y = \
Toll! = y y Toll!
aft them bells would stop their moi
said the rum-seller, 81 just wanted to
never killed poor Tom, did | boys n
ANoV said an old topper who took b
dy, 1T wash't yeW that killed him-I
Il gas your liquor, he! he! he! ~
tte crowd here laughed, but at that
rumble rumble! went the wheels Of
hearsc right in fro0t of the grogshop.
unfortunate They had put Toms hor
the shafts of the hesESe to draw his M
20 the grave. Bat the dumb beast
learned by long practice to stop at a
before the groggery door; and wher
came to the place. in spite of all the
ver's exertions he turned aside from
middle of the street. and stopped stock
ct his od stand. An Involuntary shu
ran through the procession. !
The drinkers e&me to the door. and
or two seeing the difficulty, went TO
drivers assistance butthe rumseIler Ii
behind in bis den.
During the brief delay oeeasicne,
the stubborn animal, a woman's face
denty red with weeping, was prOtr