Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-04-27
Criminal Dapers.
For the Spirit of the Age.
MARCUS STANTON:
lOr, The Drunkar DIS DR. m
BY r. F. B.
CHAPTER |.

'Tis bright and beautiful night. Myr-
lads of little twinkling stars beam sweetly
in the blue expanse above, and bright, cold
Luna" shines softly down whilst ten thou
sand little dew-drops glitter on the grassy
sward"
"Oh what a lovely night, and what
dark contrast between it and my troubled
spirit within" exclaimed the drunkard's
wife" and she covered her face with her
hands and wept bitter tears! All who
bat a drunkards wife can tell how bitter.
Ten years ago and Marcus Stanton, the
gifted, high-minded young lawyer, led Car
rie Ellington the beautiful blooming heiress
to the altar as his happy bride. Oh how
envied were they, and how serenely joyous
did the months pass around No cares or
sorrows came to spread their darkening in
fuence DER those happy hearts
Years rolled on and little bright angels
were added to them to increase their mu-
tual joy-to crown their earthly bliss; but
alas they were not destined to live always
in such peace and joy. The despoiler
came and brought with him his damning
blight The once respected and successful
lawyer, the proud, loving father and fond
husband, from the social glass went step
by step down to the lowest dissipation
and the verge of eternal ruin, and now,
where once the roses bloomed, the thorny
briars grow, and gloom and grief walk
boldly amidst that once happy circle.
The little ones" that once like angels
were, who used with. laughing eyes
and floating curls to sing their merry songs
and with childish glee to Gull wild flowers
to lay at happy mothers feet, now in tat
tered garments walk the streets and beg
their bread. The joyous bride---the hap
py wife that gloried once in a fond hus
bands love, now weeps alone in silence, il
an attic dark, DER the downfall of her hope
and calls herself with bitter tears tht
Drunkard's Wife" She sits at her win
dow this bright spring night and gazes ou
upon the green earth beneath and tn
beautiful starry armament above; sof
sadness steals DER her still beautiful feature
as her thoughts wander back to the year
that are gone: in the mirror of the past
she sees herself the pet fondling of fath
er's heart-the happy, hopeful maiden
she remembers, oh how well, the time sh
saw and loved" No troubling thought
for the future ever entered her mind-a
seemed bright and beautiful. In successio
she sees herself-the joyous bride-th
happy, loving wife-the fond and dotin
mother-and now she compares the pa
with the dreary present-turns and gaz1
on the sleeping forms Of her little ones
thinks of their future-of their drunke
father, and weeps while choking sobs ren
her heart already worn with grief and car
, "Oh! God, show me the ark of safety
; help me to reclaim from the damning bo,
: my poor husband, and all will yet be vel
: once again his voice will be heard in Il
: chambers of the nation and wealth al
5 honor will again be his; again the roses
4 Happiness will bloom on my faded chez
and light beam in my sunken eye He
: him, oh God, and my darling but begg;
5 ed babes will learn to lisp your name
c prayer-to sing thy never dying praise