Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-07-27
Cbotte glitter atnre.
MALCOM WARREN.
OLD ANS STORY

Come stay with me this evening"
Mot this evening Alice, | have prom
ised to meet some friend this evening, and
| must keep my word. will be at home
in good season."
L bad hoped that I should have your
company. Come, why can't you trY and
see if | cannot make you as happy as those
companions whom you are to meet? Just
this once, Malcom. O, this oncel''
No, no, Alice, am going out. What
crying! Now what's the use of that
Can't a fellow go out once and while
without leaving crying wife?"
81 can't help it. Malcolm. But here,
kiss me before you 60"
Thus spoke Malcolm Warren tand his
young wife. Malcolm was a young man
twenty seven years of age, ami carpen-
ter by trade. His wife was one of the
sweetest dispositioned gi% in town, and
she made one of the beS of wives. She
loved her husband witb.the whole energy
of her pure soul, and she knew that she
was beloved in heart Her two children,
a boy and girl, Often saw her shed tears
when they were alone with her in the snug
little sitting room, and the boy was old
enough to ask what made his mother cry,
but she dared not tell him.
Malcom Warren owned the little cottage
in which he lived, and he had paid for it
all out> of his own hard earning, while AL
ice bad borne her share of the burden by
purchasing all the furniture. Malcom was
stout and an excellent workman, and he
4 had never yetseen the hour when he needed
to lay idle for the want of work. A bet
ter hearted youth livel not in the town.
and when he took the gentle Alice for his
wife there was many fair maiden whose
bosom gave place to a kindly, wistftll envy.
They would not have robbed Alice of her
prize, but they only hoped that their own
lot might be as fortunate. Why, then,
should a cloud come upon that house?-
Why should Alice weep? All, for the
same reason that thousands of our fairest
daughters weep. For the same reason
that hot tears are ever crying out their 81
lent appeals for mercy-tears that run un-
til they make food that fairly shrieks as
it rolls over our land.
i Malcom Warren had high social ma.
ture his society was priced by all who
could secure it; and be had been indul-
ging in the false smiles of the wine cup for
4 fhs tlssssyEsaFz be bad been allowing his ap
ly an occasional glass" then glass oI
so once in WHILE" and then one or two
glasses day" But lately he had gone SC
far as to spend his earnings from home
and for nearly two months past he hae
spent all his money with his jovial com
panions Alice saw all this, and she knew
full we'll where it would end if it was no
stopped. She knew her husbands nature
and she knew how surely he was falling
She had whispered to him her fears anc
he had tried to laugh them off as idl
whims. She had prayed to him to sto
the fatal career while he had yet strength
but he had been offended because sh
should think that he would ever become
drunkard. SO Alice was afraid to spea
all her fears. Yet she saw with clea
eye all all that was coming. She saw th
broad road upon which her beloved wa
travelling, and her heart was aching. Sh
knew that even now want was staring ther
in the face! 1t was autumn, and she ha
asked Malcom for money to buy warme
none to give her. Only day before b
had brought him bucket full of -four il
.. stead of sending home barrel as he use
to do He earned money, and where wa
it! Alas poor Alice knew too we'll Ma
CONS face, and she saw that its mani
beauty was slowly but surely eating ava
The large blue eyes were growing dir
bleared and bloodshot, the once fair cheel
: were becoming swollen and bloated, ar
the lips looked dry and cracked. No wo
: der she knelt down by her bedside ar
, prayed.
!, It was now Saturday evening, and Ma
com was going out. He was to meet son
friends, and Alice knew that he was
J. meet them at the tavern. He had work,
only three days the past week, and he h
! the pay for these three days work in |
: pocket. That money was needed at hon
:, but where would it be on the morrow
: Malcom, o do not wholly forget 20
fond, loving Alice, when you are gone p
But Malcolm did not answer. He XII
l. ed her not as he used to do, but kissed b
s merely because she asked him to-and th
left his cottage. After he had gone, Al
l. sat down and wept. She could not h,
ID it. Her darling boz crept by her side, a
ut placed his arms about her neck. He a
rs ed noquestions buttold her not to cry. !
r. little mind seemed to have some idea of I
IT, coming of calamity. 1t must have bt
vague, but it was clear CROUCH to, prev
De him from forcing the dread thoughts NJ
Mt his mother Once more be asked her
mt to cry, and then his own little heart bu
and mother and child wept together. I
or was another drop in the poor wife's cur
sss affection. Oh how palpable must be
husbands danger. But she could o
clasp and pray more fervently. And
of little boy when his mother had done pr
ru- ing, said, Amen"
he 1t was a clear, cool evening, aud as n
ex. com Warren stepped out into the street
'ea seemed to shake himself as though
Iu would shake off the Influence of the d
sss place he was leaving. But he could
ms, wholly do it. He could not drive from
un. mind the fearful countenance of his f
no~ Io,l fo;+bfrl x,;fo Y,or couid ho forOaf