Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-11-24
ORIGINAL PAPERS,
For the Spirit of the Age.
Real Facts.

For Lhe oprlG Oh the Age.
Real Facts
Mr.. EDIToR: The present hour shall be
spent III collecting few facts for the Age,
which have come under my own observa-
ton. shall present them in plain, sim
pie style, hoping that some poor deluded
inebrate may take timely warning by their
perusal, and escape similarly awful and
ruinous end.
There once lived in the county of L--,
young man Of superior mind, and of
high moral and literary attainment. l
knew him well, for he was my almost con-
stant and only associate; one whom l low
cd as Jonathan did David. In our early
association he drank not one drop of the
ruinous poison. His whole manly soul
abhorred the idea Of drinking, for his faith
: er was drunkard. A few years of our
youthful existence sped rapidly and smooth
ly away, during which your correspondent
became concerned about the interests Of
his soul, sought the religion Of Christ, and
became a minister of the gospel. The
subject Of our story, however, did not fol-
low the example; but to calm the turbu-
lent emotions Of his unchanged heart, he
flew 10 the wine cup; and in the social
circle he was ever ready TO quaf down the
inebriating ruin. In vain did we remon-
strate. Drink he would, though not to in
toxication.
About this time he led beautiful, ac-
complshed and lovely young lady to the
altar Of Hymen, and swore eternal fidelity
70 her young and guileless heart.
Old time rolls speedily on, and we be-
hold his increasing prosperity until he
reaches the acme OF his glory, but still he
drinks. Another year shakes hands with
time and plunges into the dread unmeas-
ured past, and VIC raise the curtain to scan
once more our friends affairs. But alas
what an appalling scene presents itsclf!-
The stately dome has been transferred to
other hands andinyonder miserable hut
stranded upon bed Of straw, lies my ear.
ly friend, in the last stages Of consumption
and suffering all the horrors of delrium
tremens. His weeping wife and beggared
children stand around his bed, and shcC
scalding tears upon his burning head
Ten thousand devils encircle his couch t.
drag him down to hell. He shrieks, anc
groans, and dies. He's gone-but Q IN,
God, where is his soul His wife anC
children were left in poverty and disgrace
and ere two more fall years had passed
the afflicted wife aud one of the chidre,
Ia lovely boy, slept in the fearful silenc
Of the grave.
There once lived in the county of c.
tn..l,r ,vt,pa | ,r,ll 49,
to public gaze, but who was most violent
ly opposed to tie Temperance reform.
few years since, while some Of the vetei
ans of temperance were canvassing til
county Of c., procuring signatures I
memorable the Legislature to enact pre-
hibitory law, he took the field in open OF
position to them and on one occasio
while he was haranguing the people to pl
down this cursed REFORM" God in Hea
en- sent the javelin Of death to his hear
and he was carried from that place to IL
solemn graveyard! A warning to all wi
in the future should act a similar part.
Some weeks since, as your Correspol
dent was attending a protractcd meetir
near Nj, he saw Young man d.
AliE NlG 4 a " OGAOIh nGINlGGs OIi DuHud
staggering over the encampment. Or il
quiry, learned that that young man WI
Of honorable parentage, but in early Ii
he had learned to drink. The officiatir
minister said, as If moved by prophet
spirit, There is some one in this assel
bly,, upon whose grave the next white frC
that comes shall fall" That young m
returned from the meeting on Sunday e,
ming, and in fit Of intoxication, load
his musket with a double charge, and ste
ping out into the front yard, placed t
muzzle against his forehead, and fixing
toe against the trigger, blew the whole I
Of his head off
Imagine the feelings of that Christi
mother, who during that day at Chul
had made the woods vocal with praises
God, as she now bends over her mang
boy, gathering up the scattered bones q
brains until her hands and clothes rese
bled those Of butcher
What were the feelings, think you
that affectionatc and amiabe wife, (for
was married,) as she sat that night "
sweet little cherub upon her breast,
watched DER the mangled remains of
suicidal husband o my God, liquor
it all These are FACTS, my dear brc
er, witnessed in part by your
CORRESPONDENT
Tho above is indeed chapter Of
rors-all occurring in our own State
coming under the knowledge of the
ter; whose veracity, knowing him wei
We do, we thoroughly and unequivoC
endorse.-ED. AGE.