Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-03-09

comfort, Cora
'Howr
On many ways.
Name one of them
Why in the enjoyment Of our guests
'Ah-but | am speaking of ourselves,
Henry-of you, and me, and your own
little family. Has it ever ministered to
our comforts?
No can't say that it has
And If it was banished from our house
to-day, and forever, as a beverage. should
we suffer In consequence?
Certainly. What would orr frioad--'I
'Ah--but sop. / am only speaking of
our own affairs, as shut in from the world,
by our own freside | want all extrane-
Gus considerations left out Should we, as
a family, suffer, in our moral, physical, So
cial, or domestic affairs in the total abb
sence of this beverage?'
tNo-I don't know that we should
Then to you, as husband, and father,
and as a man, it is of no earthly use!'
No
And it would cost you no effort, so far
as you alone are concerned, to break clear
from it 2
Not particle
and now, Henry pursued the wife,
with increased earnestness, L have a few
more questions to ask: Do you believe
that the drinking Of intoxicating beverages
is an evil in this country 2
'Why-as it is now going on, certain
ly do
/
And isn't it an evil in society'
Yes
Look over this city, and tell me if it is
not terrible evil
/ "A terrible evil grows out of the abuse of
it, Cora
/ And will you tell me what good groa0s
out ofthe USE Of IT.?
Really, love-when you come down to
this abstract point you have the field. Bnt
people should govern their appetites. All
things may be abused.'
Yes. But will you tell me the use-the
real good--to be derived from drinking
wine and brandy?
AS | said bcfore-it is special custom,
and has its charms
Ah-there you have it, Henry. 1t does
have its charnas as the deadly snake is said
to have; and as other vices have! But ]
see you are in hurry
1T is time | was at tie store
i will detain you but moment longer
Henry. Just answer me few More ques
4 tiiuns. Now eah to mind all t!.3 E.aeilie.
.of your acquaintance think of al the do
mestic circles you have known, from. YOU
school-boy days to the present. Run you
thoughts through the various homes where
you have been intimate. Do this, and tel
me if, in any one instance, you ever know
a single JOY to be planted by the hearth
stone from the wine-cup. Did you eve
know one item Of good to flow to famil
from its use?'
No. l cannot say that ever did-no
as you mean
And now answer me again. Think
those homes once more. Call to memor
the playmates of your childhood think
the homes they have made-thnk of otht
homes-think of the fresides where a
you have known dwell-and tell me if yo
have seen any sorrows flow from the win
cup Have you seen any great grie
planted by the intoxicating bowl upon th
hearthstone ?
Henry Seaburn did not answer, for the
passed between him such grim spectres
Sorrow and Grief, that he shuddered at t.
mental vision. He saw the youth CT
down in the hour of promise-he saw Il
gray head fall in dishonor-he saw hear
broken-he saw homes made desolate-
he saw affection wither up and die-al
he saw noble intelects stricken down !
Good Heaven what sights he saw as
unrolled the canvass of his memory!
: Henry whispered the wife, moving
his side, and winding one arm gently abo
his neck, we have two boys. They a
growing to be men. They are noble, ge
. erous, and warm-hearted They love the
/, home, and honor their parents. They a
7 here to form those characters-to recei
4 those impressions shall be the |
! sis upon which their future veal or W
must rest. Look at them 0, think
them! Think Of them doing battle in t
t great struggle of life before them.
Shall they carry out from their home Q
evil influence! Shall they, in the time
). come, fall by the way side, cut down
# the Demon Of the Cup, and, in their
N ing hour, curse the example whence th
q derived their appetite! o for cur ol
5 dren-for those two boys-for the men
hope to see them-for the sweet memor
ID we would have them cherish Of their ho
to for the good old age they may reap
'. US cast this thing out-now and foreve
1e Cora kissed her husband, as she cea
is speaking; and then he arose to his fe
,u but he made her no reply.
ed 'Henry-are you offended
m No. he said. He returned her kiss, &
without another word, left his house
lis went to his store.
cd How strangely did circumstances "
to to keep the idea his wife had given
am alive in his mind That very morning
met youth-the son Of one Of his wea
est friends-in state Of wild intoxicati
e a and during the forenoon he heard
,st- Aaron C. had died at sea. He k
va that Aaron had been sent away from b
that he might be reclaimed.
put After the bank had closed, and as H
Seaburn was thinking of going to his
|. or ner, he received note through the Pt
by Post. 1t was from medical friend,