Spirit of the age., 1860-11-07
FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
To the Drunkard.
BY RANSOM GULLEY.

Think not, reader, If the appelation above
applies to you, that our object is to ridicule
or tantalize; mol on the other hand, like
Shem or Japheth, we would rather cover thy
disgrace from the sneering multitude, than
be one to cast at thee the first stone of vitu-
peration and reproach. We are we'll aware
of your weakness n0ao !; if evil communica-
tions exerted over thee ruinous tendency
in days gone by; if vicious associates for
we cannot believe that any one possesses an
intuitive inclination and desire to sacrifice
life on the sin-polluted altar of Bacchus) first
placed the bottle to thy lips and made thee
drunken, thereby planting within thee an ap-
petite which now, with the mighty power of
the eyeless Nazarite, threatens soon to over
whelm and destroy thee; if this be your con-
dition, we think you will be willing to ''come
and let us reason together"
| We know that man is prone to evil - that
his bosom is the repository of vice and pas
| sion, and that ''his heart is desperately wick
ed above all things; !" yet we trust that, not
withstanding your ruined estate, there is
still left in your heart something of the De-
ity--that the heavenly monitor Conscience
yet abides-
"An Eden in the waste
to govern you Alright, and if you would hear
ken to its admonitons, to dispel the night of
your dissipation, and make shine upon your
4 polluted soul glorious morning of reforma-
tionl Did you ever think that you should
reform that it was an obligation you owed
to your former reputation-to your impover-
ished family-and your bleeding country !;
nay a duty. to an offended, yet lenient God,
to come out from among the drunken revel,
and ground the arms of hell-defiled nature !?
II you have not let me tell you, that both
time and eternity loudly invoke an ameliora-
ton of your life; and though your manhood's
j strength is groaning under the weight of self
abuse, yet remember that an effort made noso,
! with the help of providence, may result in
your eternal salvation from alcohol and re-
dound to your welfare in the world to come
Every day that you indulge in intoxicating
! drinks, but widens and deepens the abyss
! that is being formed between you and reform
> alton; every hour the tempter obtains renew
ed possession of thy shattered faculties, ant
:, if you still suffer yourself to "be led captiv
= by the devil at his will" the time may soor
2 come when your doom will be sealed ant
your destruction fixed! No,o is the only pc
/ rlod that is given man to forsake wrong AN
= cleave to right-tO-day is the only time h
possesses. The past is gone with its dream
: enjoyments and blighting ills-the future re
mains hidden in its uncertain and silent lat
yrinths: therefore it behooves you now, oh
10 drunkard, to arouse from your lethargy, 1t
IL fill your lamp with the oil of sobernes
IL and patiently watch for the Bridegroom
comingl
10 Methinks hear some degraded specime
er exclaiming: "Oh! that could unloose m
if self from the poisonous folds of the 'Serpel
- of the Still-that [ could rise superior
~ every temptation and forever drive away tt
ng longing after the beverage of Hell!'' v
We know your miserable condition, fallen ma
tv and as a stronghold that may be reliable al
= steadfast would advise you to fly to the /
er, vision room, sign the pledge Of total abs
ll- fulfill and perform its obligations. Ma
of whose casos woro oc bonolocs 90 ,7o,,rS h,
ne thus stepped into the waters and lived /! liy
'he free from the degradation of the drunkard
a lived, free from all the communicating infuen
PCs P'S of dssipation--nay lived ultimately with
all. gels in heaven, instead of fiends in perditi
where you are rapidly fastening.
raj ''Dash down the cupl and on thy brow,
ear Though darkened DER with many stain,
o"i Thy manhood's light, so feeble now,
ave Shall bright and steady burn again
lice Thy strength SHALL like the fabled Bird
~ From its own ashes upward spring,
cen And fountain9 in thy breast be stirred,
hot Whose living waters joy shall BRING
of In the next place you can reform. "Wl
dies can ever be a man again?' exclaims
and sot, in whose bosom conscience is flicker
of like a candle dying in its socket, and VIII
With person is bloated and defiled by the debau
ain cry of months and years! "Why all h
He'd forsaken me; | am an alien and outcast
Thoughtless boys make sport at me; and
KEN bred young men hiss and point the finger
his derision at me- is it possible that can
talk be sober and honora BILE? To all such, if a
!! we answer in the affirmative. 1t is never
H. late to do right-to return from the vaI
and folly of misspent life, with the resi-
0. to make amends for past transgression:
,e to How many living examples, if present, &C
allie testify how they have thus been rescued,
that the influence of the Temperance cause, f
orth thevery quicksands of eternal despair
rit" Dash down the sparkling cup! its gleam,
\ II Like the pale corpse-ight DER the tomb,
Tc h11to foI tfulh hoor,1