Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-10-20


heavenly Father.
"The two boys, Arthur and William.
Tor awhile stood aloof from their parents
bane of life-but at last the younger, Will
ham, got the habit of tasting occasionally,
out OF curiosity" he said, to quiet his
brothers expostulation. By the goodness
OF Divine Providence, Arthur was enabled
to resist the fascination of the accursed
cup; but William went on and on. even
unto death. After ten months career at
the gaming table (the inseparable compan-
Ion OF strong drink, he was shot by com
rade OF a drunken brawl. To the deaden-
ed faculties of the father and mother this
Yrcnmstancc vas not an, afflict;on tbaT
scarce looked upon 1t as anythIng for
which they should grieve, and when they
stood together over the silent coffin of that
dead boy, the cup was there to comfort
them. They went to that beverage which
has been strongly but not inaptly termed
the drink of hell" for the comfort which
is Heaven-born, and that cometh down
from God alone!
Their handsome property was long
since squandered; their beautiful house
and furniture passed under the hammer Of
the auctioneer; and lowly hovel receiv-
ed the drunken couple and their wretched
son. Oh, the scenes of horror which the
eyes OF that son were forced to witness =
A father-his noble manhood prostituted
to vile appetite, his intellect ruined, his
soul wandering in the shades of infdelity, |
and cast out from the good to the compa-
ny of sinners A mother-her gentle love
turned to indifference, her nature wrought
upon by the foul viper she had taken to
ber bosom her whole life but a series of
quarrels with him who, at Gods holy altar,
she had sworn to love and honor! Her
child no longer regarded her with that
most halowed of all sentiments-a moth
er's lore. His heart no longer gladdened
with her smiles, or led into the paths of
! Right and Truth by the light of her Chris
tian counsel. Worse than orphaned
child OF shame and contempt! Judge of
his life Men may cry out against
! the usage of strong language in speaking
= of this demon which yearly lays in the
grave its thousands, but think you that
! child of those miserable parents would call
any expression too strong! No; language
is too weak and inadequate to convey to
you the loathing, the utter detestation and
= hatred which Arthur Wood bore in his
) heart for intoxicating drink. Would that
: every man, woman and child throughout
. the length and breadth Of our land felt the
same
{ "But, to return. Five years passed a.
= :, way, during which gaunt Poverty estab-
" lished himself at the ireside of Wood
= Starvation paused often before the door,
! and wan. and suffering were the every day
- guests. Broils and domestic strife began at
: sunrise, and ceased not at going out of day
- Oh, It's black memory to the soul of ar
- - thur Wood In a fit of drunken fury
Ia ]" the miserable husband struck down biz
~ ~ wife with the fragments Of chair which
~ had previously fallen sacrifceto his rage
~ Sobered by the sight, John Wood stopped
! over the body of the one who was ono
~ ~ dearer than all the world, and sought BY
- the long forgotten endearments of thei
I I'0 e.rly love to call hr back from uncon
~ ~ sciousness. In vain she lay there befor
:" him, and still and white-a dark stream {
"a blood gushing from her temple, and cloth
~ ing the long, dark hair which. fell in neg
.'1 e1s dead-murdered by her own husband!
~ Stung by remorse and fear, as be sa,
~ ~ the cold pallor of death setting over he
~ features, the wretched man drew razc
=. ~ across his throat, and fell bleeding upo
- the floor beside bis lifeless victim. An
-" ~ there was only brief struggle, little cal
nSe .Ss ing out for mercy, and John Wood ha
'u9 gone to his account And Arthur WooC
~ ~ over the corpses of his murdered parent
~ took solemn oath-neyer, so long as th
o'n spark of life burned in his breast, to swa
'ol' ~ low one drop Of aught that will intoxicatt
y y Could that son be blamed for the VOW
,Gn ,Ga The Judge paused, and the awe-stricl
- en- company broke not the silence. Il
,:e went OH
= lne Harry Gordon, have loved you as N
own son-yOu are soon to stand in th
=. near relationship to me-and | wish
warn you against an enemy which wall
=, the land alike at midnight and at noonda
;na an enemy that Is found inthe homes of t
rich as well as the poor. Will you be a
! &c monished! Will you heed my counse
-, Shun nsore-nay, a thousand times mo
: - than you would death, the wine-cup. I'll
~ itself turks in its depths, and eternal t.
tbo ment burns in its crystal brightness Ill
- ry Gordon, beware p
s;n There was brief pause, during viii
ron 9 the face of young Gordon alternately p
H:. ed and flushed. There was strong inf
NJ NJ ence at work in his soul. Judge Hallist
Ma saw the impression he had made and be
ber M ding toward the company, he said
= : ~ ltanything more is needed-kno
" then, that John Wood was my father, a
-. ~ the wife he murdered, while under the
gnn fuence of ardent spirits, was the mott
WI WI who bore me /! |, Arthur Wood Hal
an" @ ton, was that son who, beside the de
~ bodies of my parents, took the oath whi'
- IL by Gods grace, bas never been broken
III .'th Harry Gordon stepped forward, a
- ~ took the hand of the Judge rcverentia
7n.l' in both his own.
oa1 e at is enough" he said, while his no
al. - brow cleaned with new light; Il S
ny .nS emnly declare, in the presence of my c
o" ator, and these witnesses, that hencefo
: H"u will shun everything that can intoxic
u. as would Satan himself-and may
pay! Great Father deal with me as | keep
! ~ vow p
Indoe> HslIiston threw his arms al