Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-03-09
For the Spirit of the Age.
a Brief Sketch of Reality.
WIVES PRAY FOR YOU

chANJs LIZ huOLuCI udu utCu WnlIG IN her y
infancy. And while the mother was gone c.
as there is reason to hope, to obtain the re-
ward of a genuine christian, the daughter was
left with a drunken father (FatKer. did
say OIL can a drunkard be a father ~
How often that wrctched man came home ra-
ging from the effects of the Intoxicating IL r
quid, was knowno only to his miserable chill 4
dren, and the great God who knows all things. I
y! how often did those children feel that !
they were indeed among the thousands of or s
phans, whose fathers were still alive But ,
an q darker day was coming Years !
rolled round. That dreadful day was fast I
approaching-alas /! it soon came--when
those sorrowing ones were called to mourn
over the drunkard's grave! And as the clods
of the valley rolled in upon his last remains.
their rafting seemed to rise in one immense
voice, POISONED to DEATH poisoned to DEATH!
Licensed to sell poison ! licensed to sell poi-
son !" He was buried. His children were
scattered and most ofthem, at least, seemed
to take warning from their fathers prohigate
life, and learned to avoid the company of all
such characters and consequently, notwith-
standing their poverty, became highly re-
spectacle, and were loved by all who knew
them.
Mary, the girl above mentioned, was low
in stature, of fair complexion, dark hair, blue
eyes, and a somewhat delicate figure. She
possessed an air of acknowledgement in
her manners, although modest and rather
dignifed at times with a sad expression on
her brow, which seemed to say there was still
sorrow ahead. In short, she was considered
the belle of the community in which she re-
sided. But better than all, she was pious-
loved the Saviour-leaned upon him for sup
port, and asked him to be the orphans pro-
tector.
Many suitors encircled her shrine, but all
in vain, for most of the young gentlemen (0
of her neighborhood, liked their "morninq
DRAM" land sometimes eUening ones, [ fear)
and she shrank from the thought of ever be-
coming the wife of a drunkard. At length.
however, the son of a wealthy farmer, some
distance from her residence, sought and OBJ
tanned her hand and heart. He was good
looking, respectable-but not pious-but she
lored him. They were married. His father.
too, partook freely of the Intoxicating bowl,
and often came home reeling from the effects
of that poison which has sunk many a poor
soul into irretrievable woe. The old mans
taste for ardent spirits grew, until he lost all
regard for his wife and children, and conse,
~quently left them and went to sea, which was
the last they heard from him.
As might be expected, much of his proper
ty was squandered in consequence of hi:
drinking. His son had become, to some ex
tent, disguised at the evils of intemperance
and it was now the aim and object of hi
young wife, to lead him to the Saviour-th
one altogether loyely-and to use every ex
ertion in her power to stamp indellibly upor
his heart the danger of ''dram drinking
throwing around HIM the sweet influence
which none but a lovely wife could afford.
This young husband, having been brough
up quite tenderly, by indulgent parents, kne,
but very little about managing to get along
so that he and his wife were now compelle
to work very hard in order to support then
selves and rising family. Years passed OF
and at last the happy day arrived, when tn;
husband found the Saviour, whom his wi
adored, precious to his sonl. OF how owe
flowing with Joy was to the heart OF his wifi
to feel that they could now 60 hand in har
to the kingdom of God! But alas! too SOC
the tempter came! and this unfortunate ma
yielded by degrees.
Almost every professor of religion can 9
test, that soon after conversion, the de,
seems to have more power over a person tn;
at any other time. So it was with this ma
The ''sweet toddy'' had been handed to hi
in his infancy, from which he had derived
appetite for the liquid fire. (Mothers!
mothers, beware! bewareD His old col
panions now gathered around him, and to
: him that there was no harm in taking a drd
: He declined at first, but a few more disa
pointments and temptations, caused him
2 yield-he tasted! ah, that was the fatal ste
!. he tasted again and again : x =
1t was evening. Mary was watching t
return of her husband from town. The ct
|" dren, too, were almost necessarily runni
to the door, looking for their father. Nj
came-no husband-no father. At last
came-drunk The children glanced first
the father, then at the mother-a deadly
fence pervaded the room. But O! how Il
wife's heart was made to bleed! when s
T., beheld her drunken husband! He end
vored, but in vain, to conceal his drunk
e ness, for he was ashamed. Bat that sc
It wore of. The tempter told him 'to be m
IT of a man, and not be dragged about by a
" man" His affections were soon weal
from home. His taste for ardent spirits 81
e stronger and stronger. He became "
d irritable-at last kept the poison by him ne
ly all the time, although he did not very Of
get drunk, yet drinking in the presence of
wife, knowing that she was so much oppo
ar to it, rendered her perfectly miseral
lg He tried for a long time to get his wife to
e with him; but in vain which caused
of often to abuse her shamefully. And o!
tear8-the grodns of that mother and tt
children, which assembled to heaven,
known only to the Father above-methi
they are bottled in heaven!
ed This wretched man continued to get w
and worse, until it was no uncommo Il
for him to be raving like a mailman.
wife grew pale and sickly. Disease andh'
rending troubles had set their mark upon
on features but still she prayed for her
band knowing that if he was not reclail
SO they must soon part forever! Ere Ions
IN was laid upon his death bed land O!
'ou prepared to die! His wife prayed-his
dren prayed also. for they had been ia
ne by their mother, from their infancy, to
M the name of God in prayer. How eag
to did they all watch now, to see the first
'ou tential tear! At length it rolled down
ma cheek, followed by scores of others.
de. sprang up-faith increased. For a we
nat so before this man was attacked by his
oc- sickness, he appeared more like a hus
ent and father, than he had done for many mt
her previous. Soon, to the extreme joy of
self and family, the happy change took
.ent he had passed from death unto life.
10 entreated, with tears, the forgiveness
family, which of course was granted, a
q