Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-10-20
CkOite giteratare.
Touch Net Taste Not! Handle Notp
BY CLARA AUGUSTA.
AUTHOR OF 1.-THE STRAY wA1F."

) udge mansion, at fashionable party
where wine flowed in abundance "young
man, put down that glass there is certain
death in it"
Harry Gordon dropped the costly goblet
upon the table, startled by the abrupt ex-
clamation of the Judge, and the ruby wine
flowed in bright stream over the Persian
carpet.
"Siri what mean you Z" he cried, his
face flushed, and his eyes brilliant with ex-
@I mean," said the judge calmly, and
drawing up his noble figure to its full
height, II mean to discountenance always
in every place, at every time, and in ev-
cry available manner, the use of intoxica-
ting drinks! My young friend, you were
about, thoughtlessly, to place an Internal
poison to your lips-you were doing it
gaily, carelessly! Would you, ifyou stood
at the very gate Of Deaths domain, dare,
in the face of God and the angels to quaff
the draught which but moment ago filled
yonder shattered glass Would you?
The young mans brow grew paler-he
shrank before the solemn, penetrating gaze
fixed upon him, and his deep voice was
slightly unsteady, as he spoke the single
word
"How 2"
"Sit down, my friends" said the Judge,
to the gay company that had been smitten
to stiffness by his portentous words, "and
you, too, Harry Gordon had a little
story to relate to you, which will possess
double interest when tell you that know
it to be strictly true in every particular.
: : : Thirty-fve years
ago there resided in the township of Milan
a happy family. There was father, a
mother, and three children two boys and
a girl The father, whom choose to call
John Wood, was lawyer of high reputc
"a man of brilliant intellect and solid ed
ucation. His wife was beautiful woman,
richly gifted by nature as we'll as art, and
we'll worthy to be the companion of her
husband. said they were happy fami-
ly-it was true. Peace sat all day with
folded wing by their hearthstone, and hap
piness was contented to abide there.
"John Wood stood very high in the
opinion of his townsmen and by-and-by
his name was whispered abroad for the
nomination of Senator from the Milan Dis
trict. He received the support of his par
ty, and the election proved him the sue
cessfuI candidate It would have been diff
ficult for him to have been otherwise thar
pleased with this testimonial of esteem
and his hitherto quiet house was throw
open for the reception of political friends
1t was fashionable then-as in some circle
at the present day-for every table 10 b
freely supplied with wine, particularly ifther
was company and it required greatdes
of moral courage to break in upon tn
usage. OF course, the successful candidat
could not refuse to treat his friends; an
Intoxicating liquors became au every
day accompaniment upon the dinner tab
OF John Wood. At first he did not san
ton this; he only suffered it-but hah
accustoms us to all things and in time /
grew to think that meal very insipid whic
lacked the crowning charm Of Viaet
'Tme passed on, and having discharge
: his duties at Washington to the satisfa
ton of his party, he was reelected for Il
ensuing term: His talents fitted him fl
the highest rank in society, and at the b
sy capitol no party was deemed compile
without the presence of the witty and a
complished Senator from the Milan d
! trict. He drank the highestfavo char
| pagne which was offered him-frst, becau
it would not do to seem "odd''-afterwar
: from pure love it. Wine became almc
: necessary to bis existence !; luxurious livil
: had vitiated his tastes, and enervated bo
mind and body, and to prevent reacti,
! and consequent remorse, he endeavored
!. Icure the disease with tho very cause viii
n had engenderedit. Howmany others ha
e done the same, until the God-given intele
n has set in blackness. and the light of /
n been quenched in the eternal night of
> drunkard's grave!
!, John Wood, at the expiration Of
i term of Office, came hom" to his family
e confirmed inebriate. Promise after pro
! ise he made to leave forever the Tempt
n poison, but appetite always triumphed
e The serpent was too strong for the seed
D the woman Friends entreated him-te
OF perance votaries did all in their power
a save him, but they produced, at best,
a momentary feelingof self-reproach I'M
n breast of the miserable man. But 10
at Wood was stayed once in his course of
al by terrible discovery which made eN
# his besotted soul shrink with horror!
n wife-his beautiful and accomplished !
IN ry, had yielded to the temptations of
In spoiler, and following the example of
on husband, was fast becoming that thing
which no one can speak without loath
a female drunk,ard For a time, Je
e. Wood retreated in alright from the ya'
al al ing abyss of intemperance which
m opened at his feet heshunned the tave
ia, and abstained from the daily glass;
ng footsteps left the slippery places and t.
us hold upon the adamantine path of tn
nd but, alas it was for a time No gel
Ia wife to keep him in the light of the Il
b;s 81 perance Star; but only creature, to-
he her temptations example-to
eet strength of the Wine Demon. He &C
the but lily resist the double fascination,
the so they drank together until intoxicated
Of Their youngest child, the precious b
I'd I'd Mary, was quieted by the mother with "
ras -. and one day, when the child had tried
oni. patience OF her mother, she became an
land poured down the infant girls thre