Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-05-18
A Sur Nay C Doing Good.

a Su1C H3J u OoAhS OOO v
Under this caption, our excellent cotempo- -
arv, the Virginia Conductor, discusses the az
of how each man can induce his Il
,eiobbor to think of the Temperance cause, Il
md persuade him to take an interest IN the :
general improvement and happl- f
ness of his own family and the families around S
him And then suggests a plan, so excel b
lent and feasible, that we commend it to each )
of our readers. The plan is to get every man {
to take a good Temperance paper and then q
follows a graphic picture Of a happy family :
group. Here is a paper published every
week-ffty-two times a year-devoted to
family interests, education, morality, temper
ance. general news, agreeable and instructive
miscellany, &c. 1t comes quietly into a mans
house., and takes a place on the table near the
man. He picks it up-out of humor with
himself and everybody-and he reads a funny
paragraph. and that makes him smile. He
reads again, and now laughs rightout. bis
family are surprised and pleased. By and by
he looks at the He reads of some new
improvement, and thinks he will try it. He
reads an article about making home happy,
and he likes thinks it very good. He
comes to IN earnest appeal in favor of total
abstinence. It shows how the drinking hab-
it consumes time, money, credit and respec-
quarrelsome, and all around them unhappy.
He sees it is all true, and not now, but by and
by, he will quit drink. He turns over to a
story-perhaps a prize story-and he tells
his daughter Jane that she may read that if
she chooses. He does not believe in these
stories anyhow-they are all stuff. James
brothers and sisters ask her to read out loud,
so all may hear. She does so. The story is
about a man who once had a devoted wife,
and beautiful, loving children. He first drank
moderately-then became a ~drunkard. His
wife was abused by him, and soon her heart
was broken, and she died, and the little chill
dren were poor neglected orphans.
They are all listening to Jane. The father
says nothing, but he hears and thinks. Tn,
mother wipes away her tears, and resolves il
her heart that her children shall be brough
up in total abstinence.
And thus, fifty-two times a year, this 81
lent visitor comes into the family with it
budget Of various and useful matter; at ever,
visit making some good impression-lodgin
some valuable truth in the mind of one an
another, till, after a while, the whole famil
is more intelligent, y%irtuous, temperate an
happy than they ever were before.
And the cost of doing all this good is
mere trihe a year. A cheap missionary. tru
ly and the good done in preventing evil an
vicious habits, and forming correct and elevs
ted opinions and conduct, can never be meas
ured in dollars and cents. Now, there ar
tens of thousands who will never send fo
such q paper, and they are just the ones VIII
need It rost. If some friend would send
to them awhile, they would soon feel ths
they could not do without it, and would sui
scribe. As a means of doing good, we veril
believe this would be unsurpassed.
FINE IRISH EoTAToES-Mrs- A. M. GO
man sent us an irish potato which measure
six inches in cir .umference, and is a specirne
of her early crop of this excellent vegetabl,
Mrs. q. informs Us that she gathered som
two gallons Of potatoes, several of them til
size Of the ono sent, and all of them lare
enough for use, from FIVE or six vines. Thes
potatoes were gathered from seed plante
in November. They were covered with leave
and a good hill Of earth drawn over the leave.
The specimen sent US is as large as the d
tatoes VIC usually see in midsummer. Afrl
G. intimates in her note, that in few day
she will send us oenough to enable Us /
taste their quality, as well as to see thei
size" That was : kind and thoughtful oil
servation. Meanwhile we viii add that tn
specimen sent as sample F3oof hat Mrs. G
is ahead of any lady in the State with th.
vegetable; and we have no doubt that ht
other vegetables give evidence of equal ho,
ticultural forecast, industry and skill.
Standard.
The same good lady let ua TrsTE those fir
e~sculents, neighbor Holden, and we can Fee
ingly congratulate you on the prospect
testing their quality. We saw somebod
gathering Straps" in that same good lady
garden this morning. We are anxious f
din ner time to come.
GRAHAM INSTITUTE, GRAHAM, n. C.-TE
annual sermon will be preached by Rev. "
B. Wellons, on 18th Of May, and the Addres
viii be delivered by 3 7. Scales, Esq.