Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-08-15

ups qulVered with repressed emotion. Throw
ing myself into his arms, I whispered:
BE of good cheer, father. 1 will soon re-
turn, and we will be happy together YETI
God grant it" was the fervent response.
Remember, my child, that though you have
disooeyed me, my heart and nome will ever
be open to you. Farewell l see that your
husband is waiting for you-may you be
happy IN the lot you have chosen" and con.
aucIing me to the doorh e presseda kiss upon
my brow, and extending his hand to Albert.
who coldly grasped his, he turned and re-en.
tered the house.
Il tried to buoy myself up with the homes
OF a brighter future, and succeeded in some
measure. But, soon, alas were these fond
VISIONS dlsslpated by the sad news sent US
py telegraph ofmy fathers death. His health
haa been feeble for some time, and when |
reached home L learned that he had retired
" oea as well as usual at night, and was
touhd hfeiess the next morning. Died of
disease OF the heart was the verdict render
ed by the Coroner's jury. Died of a broken
heart, was the verdict rendered by my con-
science. TIL way of the transgressor is
hard, says the Holy Writ, and most keenlv
did experience the truth of these words.
My father dying intestate, of course all
his property became mine. NV husband hay-
ing now attained his object, threw off the
mask he had hitherto worn to me, and | be-
neld his true character in all its naked de-
iormlty. How my soul sickened at the con
trast between what l believed him to be. and
what he really was! He gambled. he drank.
ne attended the race course, and habitually
mingled In the lowest and basest society,".
when under the influence of liquor he some
.lihes treated me brutally, and as l still
| loved him fOnAlr a. ~
my heart. When my first child was born
a beautiful boy-I felt that I now had some
thing to live for, and upon him was layisbed
all the love of my nature. Other children
We're born to me, but all died in infancy save
TINS my hrst-born, named Louis, for the ia
ther so bitterly mourned.
GRADUALLY my large fortune was seuan-
dered In the hands of my husband and we
were reduced almost to b~eggary. Albert's
excuses had told upon his constitution to
such a degree that he was untitled for labour,
even had he been SO disposed. In this strait
| cast about IN my mind what was to be
done, and at last came to the conclusion of
giving lessons in music, that being the only
available talent | possessed. With the assis-
lance of a few old friends | obtained a num-
Der of scholars, and could easily have SUM-
ported my family in comfort but for my hus-
bands selfishness. He, thanks to the un-
just law which gives the management of a
woman's income to the hands of her lord and
master, spent the money faster than | could
earn 1t Trouble, comes not in single spies,
but in battallions.' My boy-the pride and
JOY OF my blighted EXISTENCE discovered.
with a mothers u%nerring instinct, was fall
ing into d~issipated habits. In vain l wept
and entreated, cited to him his fathers ruin
Gus course. Steadily and surely, with an ag-
onlzed heart, l saw him treading the down
WARD path, which has proved the destruction
OF so many noble and gifted ones. Oh this
was the most unkindest cut of all and in
my bitter anguish the cry went up to Heaven.
My burden is greater than / can BEAR The
curse of disobedience was restlessly pursuing
me, and strive as [ would, l could not escape
until the full measure had been melted out to
me-.
A length my husband died, and removed
from his communicating example l fondly
hoped that my boy might yet be saved
yam hope! As if the sorrow that | had
brought upon my fathers grey hairs, was visi-
TED In retrlbution uponmy own head, the dar-
ling OF my heart-he whom | had thought.
would prove the solace and support Of my
old age-went step by step down to an igno-
minious grave. And | am left alone. poor
In purse and feeble in body, to drag out the
remnant of my days uncheered by the voice
OF affection, bat thank God, not iwithoat the
hope ola brighter hereafter for He who
has said, Whom | chasteneth / loveth,' has
through much affection, brought me to a
knowledge Of his ways, and to a perfect re-
lance upon his will
L would have spared you this sad story.
my dear, said Mrs Weston to the weeping
Alice, only that wished you to avoid the
rock upon which | foundered. Oh nv
child obey your father, even if YOU tear as
under your heart strings in SO doing, for no
after years of repentance can recall the first
false step and the curse of disobedience will
rest like a nightmare upon you, poisoning
your very enjoyment and turning the sun
hight OF your existence into deepest gloom
never give your kin parent occasion to fee!
now Sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to
have a thankless child
Il have overstayed my time she contia-
ued rising. You have missed YOUR music
lesson, but / hope that you have received
another, whose teachings will influence your
lifetime. Goodbye, my sweet Alice pom
der well the tale | have told you, and if yeu
would not, to your dying day, feel the
gnawing OF that worm that never dieth-re-
morse-disobey not your father y and stoop-
ing, Mrs. Weston imprinted a kiss upon the
coral lips of the fair girl and left the house.
The next morning Alice Herndon called
to see her teacher, and her beautiful face
though still wearing a pensive look, was not
SO darkly Swallowed as on the previous day
The first words were:
Your timely warning, dear Mrs. Weston.
has saved me from, perhaps, a whole lifetime
OF misery. After our conversation yester-
day l summoned courage, which | had never
been able heretofore to do, to make enquiries
OF various persons in regard to Howard Ira
scy, and my fathers opinion was corroborated
by many. Last night, when Howard called.
| firmly refused him in spite of his entreat,
les and promises of amendment. With your
sad fate before my eyes, | dared not listen to
the p~romptings of my heart and act other
wise. Here is a little note which my faith
er has written you. We had a long con-
Versation after you left, in which | commu-
nlcated to him what you had told me. I
hope, you are not offended at nv doipe so
by. no means, replied her companion. II
am but too glad that / am Instruments in
saving you from perhaps a similar destiny.n
Mrs Weston opened Col. Herndon's epis-
tie and read as follows:
How can | thank YOU sufficiently NV
dear madam, for your kindness? You have
saved my daughter from a fate worse than
death, and her father blesses you for t.
Alice tells me that you are without kindred
or ties in the world Come to us. then let
US be as such to YOU. Nv danobtar ,ool,