Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-02-17
TRY AGAIN.

Don't give up that poor drunkard without
making one more effort to rescue him from
the perils surrounding him. You may have
spent much time already in your efforts to
win him from his evil ways, and all your la
Dor may seem to have been in vain, but do
not despair-try again and you may be in
strumental in leading him out of the dark
wilderness Of drunkenness, t~orejoice and pro-
claim his redemption, from the sunny and
fowery fields of temperance.
The duties incumbent upon a man preach
ing and practicing the doctrines of temper
ance are imperative and exacting. He has
high duties to perform towards his fellowmen.
If he sees a young man just starting in the
wild career of the drunkard, by indulging in
the habit of occasional social drinking, it is
his duty to faithfully and earnestly warn that
young man of the dangerous ground he is
assuming, and point him to the reefs and the
wrecks upon the stormy sea upon which he
is about to launch his life and his immortal
T interests. His kind offices may be met by
r scorn and derision, but he will feel an ap-
2 proving consciousness of having discharged
bis duty in the premises. He should not be
content with one effort alone to turn the
e youthful transgressor from the evil of his
! ways, bat should make many efforts to con-
= vince him of his danger and to induce him
4 to abandon a course leading to inevitable ruin.
}, Many efforts may be made without success; but
at last, when hope of a change has almost
been lost, be may suddenly put the evil afar
from him and render those who loved him
happy again. Never cease your efforts with
such, but try again.
:. The duties of the temperance man towards
At the confirmed drunkard are no less impera
e. tive. 1t is true, in his degradation of mint
and body-in his sinful, filthy, bloated, dis
eased condition, it looks almost like a cas-,
beyond hope. He has wandered far from tn
e. straight and narrow way and gropes yer,
ne near the crumbling brink over which so man,
~ thousands have fallen to rise no more bu
he still lives-the grave has not claimed hin
Ia hell has not passed over him-he may W
re- be saved from a doom the most terrible, Oh
try again. Away up in the dark chamber
les Of the poor mans heart there is a hidde
tly door, which, IL tapped by the finger of low
will open, and the messenger of grace m,
YES enter in. By every means try to find tn
in secret door. You may fail time and agai
BILE but should youa at last be successful, the ma
nitude of the triumph will be ample compe
on sation. OH how gratitude viii swell t
happy mans heart to thankfulness. VIII
iac- the broken shackles that bound him a
trampled in the dust at his feet, he viii reali
t in the degradation he has cast off and will e1
regard you as his best friend in being instr
mat mental in efecting his reformation.
,un- More than all, the new hope and happin,
OF that shall shine in, like a golden sunbea
upon a broken, darkened, disconsolate hon
r in shall be a great reward for all labor in
drunkard's behalf. How the little hands
cur hungry children shall clap for joy and
no" weeping wife's heart leap with a bound
i in pulse of pleasurel Be not weary, o, frie
of Temperance, in your noble labors fol
the great work is to do. The harvest is at hanC
the heads of many drunkards are bowed "
anne ripeness for the grave; and, unless they
speedily rescued, the scythe of the destroy
angel of the rum devil will NOW them dc
u W to be gathered in a garner of frel Be e
indi- vigilant, and though foiled In all your
!? tempts, once more to the breach, and
IN again!