Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-06-15

J Il
Grasp the bowl in nectar ~sinkingl /
Man Of sorrow, drown thy thinking"
0DEs OF ARAcREoN.
Twas on the afternoon Of the day before
that recorded in the last chapter, in which
Minnie suffered 80 greatly, and Willie Harley
sat in his room at - College, absorbed in
study, when a knock at his door aroused him,
'Come in" he cried, and Instantly several I
young men entered.
'Hallo, Harley, hard at work, eh? Come,
throw aside your books, boy, and listen.-
We are going to have a jolly time tonight!
Sumner gives us un grande JestiUe. Cham
payne in abundance"
Eyes" said Sumner, you must come over
tonight, Harley. Now, don't refuse, because
we are not inclined to take a REFUSAL and if /
you dsn't go willingly, a select cohmittee :
has been appointed to carry you per force.
/ hope you will not urge us to this"
"Well, the fact is, Sumner, / don't exactly
approve Of these parties, and hope you will
let me off tonight have letters to write,
and some tasks to attend to. / really cannot
spare the time to go. Though l thank you
for your kind invitation"
Thankful Nonsensel / wouldn't be so
childish, Harley. You've got to 90, that's
certain. We can't get along without you
Why, sir, your presence is quite indispensa-
JIG ~ " hhOW hhatp - NAHNu
the young men in one breath.
II will positively feel sighted and angry
il you don't come over tonight, Harley. |
counted on your presence to give brilliancy
to the affair, and chime in with the sparkling
champagne. No other person can fill your
place, so give us q promise to come, and we
will leave you TO your books, and to pen a
letter to that fair one, who, report says, isl
become Mrs. Harley ere very long" said
Sumner.
'Well, I'll go, Sumner. But you must let
me off early. | cannot remain late, my tasks
for tomorrow must be prepared. Now, I've
made up my mind to 90, l will look forward
to it with as much pleasure as either of you.
Don't hurry, boysr
Eyes, We must 60, as there are others to
see. Wen call for you Will, at ten. "0ld
Tack" will be in his room by that time, and
will know nothing of it."
At the appointed hour they called for Har-
ley, and he accompanied them to the room of
Sumner, at a hotel in the city. Sumner was
n wealthy young SOutherner, generous and
gay-some said inclined to be wild. He had
early imbibed a taste for the wine cup, for in
his fathers house, the sparkling liquid flowed
like water. When a tiny boy, he was giver
the sugar which had settled in the bottom o
the glass, from which his father took hi
"toddy." And now let me say, it Away
grieves me when | see this done. / eve
shudder when a parent takes his dear it'll
boy on his knee, and feeds him thus-layinI
n foundation for after life-which too ofteI
terminates in that interesting, pliable littl
fellow, becoming a miserable, degraded drunk
ard. i have heard parents laugh, when thei
little ones, having taken a little tulip" G
'toddy," given TO them in sport-tottere
over the floor, and seemed halt delirious. Bu
felt so such inclination A wonder no,
they could enjoy such a scene absorbed m
feelings, and il was terrible to me to see
wee, wee child-int0ricated- for it can /
called nothing else.
Sumner was a general ~favorite with h
college companions. Intellectual, generou
and honorable, all loved him. His partit
were frequent and brilliant, and much e
joyed by 'the boys who ever looked forwar
with pleasure to the entertainments given b
him. Harley bad been 10 many of them.-
lie had quaffed the wine and felt exhilarate
by it. Had he not done the same each da
at his fathers table but had never bee
really intoxicated as yet. Cards formed
part Of the entertainment at these parties, al
he much enjoyed these quiet games-he HI
participated an the same an has fathers h0o
but had never gambled. He had alwa
left early with some others, but the part
ever lasted till the lawn Of day.
This was to be the most brilliant emit
tainmcnt Sumner had yet given. A lar
number Of young men from the city were
so there, and soon all were chatting merr
over their cigars. Then supper was ammo,
ced, and they clustered around the table,
ed with all that could tempt the appetite
Champagne-as had been promised-v
plentiful, and freely quaffed. For the (
time Harley entered with zeal into the 81
Of the party, and drank more than he
ever done before. lie had drowned the W;
ings Of conscience when he wanted to 60,
now when she struggled to gain the mast
he soothed her thus, Champagne hurts
one, and will enjoy myself, as | am he
There was good old brandy too, and parta
Of freely by those young men. Harley
not refuse it, and took more than he in
ded. His laugh grew boisterous, and he
tered many an obscene Jest that would l
shocked him, even to hear, when in a
mood. Cards were introduced, and for
hrst time he was induced to gamble.
was a novice, in the art, and, of course, ev
ually lost all he staked, though at first
wiley partner allowed him to win sew
games, and pretended to be much concel
about it. But when Harley had lost t
hundred dollars ne left the table and
again was engaged in drinking and carous
Twas near the break Of day when they
the hotel for the college. Harley was
much intoxicated and boisterous. He
supported to his room by his compan
and placed upon his bed. He had BY
means entered quietly, but was laughin,
following oil the way, in spite Of the e
Of his friends () to keep him quiet.
were themselves under the influence ofli
but not so much intoxicated. They
drank as much if not more than Harley
being accustomed to ii, it did not affect
so much.
They flattered themselves "Old ,
would know nothing Of the occurren
the past night. But as they had failed
tering quietly, they did not feel entirely
"0ld Tack" as they called the Pre-
of the College, however, was by no
deceived. He was a keen man, and hal
for some time that all was not right.
so suspected more than one Of the guilty
but Harley was not one of these.
Mr.. Roland had heard the hustle ocC
ed by them when they entered that mo
and recognized several voices. One Of
he thought sounded strangely like Ha
and that the noisest of the party, but
could not bel Not being a hasty IN
wisely concluded to wait, knowing he
easily detect the guilty ones.
Harley was not present at prayers,