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

He wont tell US. He goes by the name
of Smith bat | am satisfied that such is
not his true name He is in the last stage
of consumption and delirium He has lu-
cid intervals, but they do not last long
He has been here week He was picked
up in the street, and brought here. He
heard your name, and said he knew you |
once
Mr.. Seaburn went to the room where |
the patient lay, and looked at him. Surely
he never knew that man! There must be !
some mistake, he sad.
The invalid heard him, and opened his
eyes, such bloodshot, sunken, unearthly,
looking eyes,
Harry he whispered, trying to lift him.
self upon his elbow. is this Harry Sea-
burn I?
That is my name
and don't you know meg
Pm sure | do not And he would have
said that he did not wish to, only the man
seemed SO utterly miserable that he would
not wound what little feeling he might
have left.
Have you forgotten your old playmate
IN boyhood, Harry-your friend in other
years-your chum in col!ege?
WHAT gasped Seaburn, starting back
aghast, for a glimmero Of the truth burst up
on him. This is not Alec Lomberg!'
All that's left of him, my Hail. return
ed the poor fellow, putting forth his was
ted skeleton hand, and smiling faint,
quivering, dying smile. Ah-Pater,
Peccaui 2
| Alexander Lomberg 7 said Henry, ga
zing into the bloated, disfgured face before
him.
You wouldn't have known me, Hal?'
Good Heavens-nop
/ know | am altered. All, Hal, SIC
transit gtcri0 mundi p
But, Aloc.,' cried Seaburn, how is this!
I Why are you here?
Rum, Hal-Rum! I'm about done
for. But | wanted to see you. They told
me you lived not far away; and l would
look upon one friend before died.
But | heard you were practising in
your profession, Alec, and doing WE'LL
So | did do well when practised, Hal.
have made some pleas but I've given
up all that
sand your father-where is hep
Don't mention him, Hal. We've bro
ken. | don't know him. He taught me
to drink Aye-he taught me land
then turned the cold shoulder upon me
when I drank too mach But---1'tf 90
ing. al,-going, goingp
Henry Seaburn gazed into that horrible
face and remembered what its owner had
/, been; the son of wealthy parents; the
l idol of a fond mother; the favorite at his
school, at play, and at college; ligh! o
intellect and physical beauty and noble
generous friend. And now--AIas!
'Alec-can | help you?
Yes And the poor fellow started
VI higher up from his pillow, and something
: Of the old light struggled for moment il
u his eye. Pray for me, Hal. Pray for m,
y soul Pray that may go where my moth
81 er is! She won't disown her boy l-sh
y couldn't have done it had she lived. Oh
a She was good mother, Hal. Thank Go,
VI she didn't live to see this? Pray for me
e e pray-pray! Let me 60 to her p
Is As the wasted man sank back he fell t
e weeping, and in a moment more one of hi
paroxyisms came on, and he began to rave
re He thought Harry was his father, and h
oi cursed him; and cursed the habit that ha
le been fastened upon him under that father
~ influence. But Henry could not stop
le N listen, With an aching heart he turne
Is away, and left the hospital He could NJ
90 home to dinner then. He walked dow
az town, and got dinner there At night
went to the hospital again. He would il
ne quire after his friend, if he did not see hir
Poor fellow! said the physician, 4
" never came out of that fit. He died
u half an hour after you went out
h0 1t was dark when Henry Seaburn reac
n !. ed his home.
~ You didn't tell Bridget where to p
ple p those demijohns, Henry said his wife,
se " She had not noticed his face, for the G
"a "a was burning but dimly.
oe 'Ah--I forgot, Come down with N
/, u Cora, and well find place for them
he His wife followed him down into t
basement; and, one by one, he took t
'ne demiiohns and carried them into the re
- yard, ard there he emptied their contel
,oY into the sewer. Then he broke the "
y sells in pieces with his foot, and bade Bride
e:y have the dirt-man take the fragments aw
IN in the morning. Not one word had
We spoken to his wife all the while, nor {
l0s she speak to him. He returned to the
'he ~. ting-room, where his boys were at tn
~ Nv !" books, and took seat upon one of
= tete-a-tetes. He called his wife and
sou children about him, and then he told tn
'0'' the story of Alexander Lomberg.
And now, my loved ones he add
!. laying bis hands upon the heads of his bc
'nu, I have made solemn vow that, her
anu forth, my children shall find DO such in
ence in their home. They shall ne
!. have occasion to curse the example of Il
nin father. will touch the wine-cup no N
! 7.h he forever. What say you, my boys, will
10y 10Y. join me in the sacred pledgeg
that They joined him with glad, gasl
new willingness /, for their hearts were full,
ome their sympathies all tuned, by moth
careful love- to Right.
enry And you, Cora!
din Yes, yes p she cried. And may
emmy holy lesson of this hour be never forgot
and 10, God, let it rest, as an angel of me