Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-05-11

tends to eenfrm the poor drunkard IN hist
miserable course, and often causes him to
treat much. more cruelty the wife of his
bosom. IF, on the other hand, it was ow-
ING to the wife's being termagant, vira-
90 or scold, that the poor infatuated hus-
band resorted to the bottle, the guilt and
shame is mutual, and in order to supply
suitable remedy, we must consider them
mutually guilty-and endeayor to convince
them of this fact, and try to persuade them
to remove the cause, if they wish the efectl
to cease.
Is it not strange that wives .scold their
husbands for rfailings, either real or suppos-
ed, which in themselves considered are trl-
vial or of little eonseq gerssss.. wfs<sn thay
know, or ought to know, thai thousands of
husbands have made this pretext for re-
sorting to the intoxicating glass, and al
though this course is only adding fuel to
the fire of which he already complains, yet
wives will continue to act so unwisely and
foolishly, as to furnish unreasonable men
with even an apparent excuse for engaging
in course which aggravates and enhan-
ces his troubles? No prudent or intelli-
gent wife will chafe or irritate her husband
on any occasion, as it always produces un-
happy results-and no instance has yet
come within my knowledge, when it ever
did any good or answered the purpose for
which it was designed. The married life
can only prove source of happiness to
those whose constant aim and effort it is to
render it so; and although it is the hap
piest life on earth when each of the parties
act we'll their respective parts, yet 1t IS the
most miserable, when the parties are resolv-
ed to make it so. And what an example
to set before their children! Can anything
, be more horrible to contemplate, than the
} final end of such a life, as without repen-
tance and reformation, such persons will
|, inevitably be doomed to dwell forever In a
pit OF inconceivable and eternal despair,
| and whose employment doubtless will be
: to criminate and recriminate each other,
with being the author of each others eter-
E nal perdition? Now let me suggest rem
edy, and urge each of the parties to adopt
it-that the terrific consequences of such
a course may be avoided during the day of
their ''merciful visitation" Let them agree
to "bury the tomahawk," THE husband
s DIN the Sons-pledge himself to give up
the Internal, inebriating cup, and try to
r live sober life-and the wife cease her
!. scolding, and try to atone for what is past,
s as far as she can, by endeavoring to make
t home the happiest place to him on earth.
1t would seem to reasonable, rejecting
! creatures, such as we are. that the idea of
. being miserable through this life is gloomy
. enough, but when We look forward to an
y eternal state of existence, which must bt
= perfectly miserable also, the mind is over
whelmed at the idea And when we may
- add another feature to this picture-al
l, ready too horrible to contemplate-thato
IS the children of these wretched, miserable
is parents, who will in all probability share
,e the fate of their parents--the heart sick
m ems at the prospect-for may we may no
~ suppose that children whose moral and re
~ ligious training has been entirely neglect
L ed, and who will be likely to copy the ex
W ample of their parents, will ('without
OF miracle of grace preventing,"O finally g
. down to the "horriblc pitt and there charg
IS, their already wretched parents with a
de their sufferings, "both IN this vorld an
is the avorzd to conae."
is Let me urge both the Daughters an
Mt Sons of Temperance sVery&ssre, (if the
,r have a neighbor whose dreadful conditio
~ ~ is similar to the one described above,) t
~ entreat them kindly and affectionateIy t
y ponder che matter well, and take the az
u vice of friends before it will be "forevt
fal too late" R.