Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-09-05
FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.

With your permission, | will give your
readers a brief sketch of a once happy, but
0 ruined family:
Mr.. R. was a sprightly, noble hearted
young man. Handsome in person and pre-
possessing in maners, he was quite a ~favorite
with the young ladies in the vicinity in which
he lived.
Mr.. r. formed an attachment for Miss j.
NJ, who, for high responsibility had no supe-
riors. Amiable and unsuspecting, the attach
ment soon became reciprocal, and A. ID. 1862,
they were united in marriage. All parties
were pleased with the arrangement, and those
two youthful hearts bounded with a~nticiea-
tons of future hapines.
Mr.. r settled on a handsome little farm,
and by industry and economy %prospered be-
You'd many around him, and the general pre-
diction was, that he would soon become
wealthy.
Unfortunately Mr.. R. had contracted a taste
for alcohol, which soon grew into an almost
irresistible habit. Not far from his dwelling
was one of those smoking huts so common
in our country at that day, where day and
night the liquid fire was tecming forth, and
around which a number Of the citizens fire.
quently r%esorted, especially on Saturday
evenings. Mr.. r. was frequently in the crowd;
but the attractions of a happy home deferred
him from remaining until a late hour, and while
his doating companion would sometimes
tremble at the idea of his being slightly dis
gulsed with liquor, yet she never once dream
ed that he would become a confirmed drunk
ard. On one occasion, an unusual number
assembled at the old still house early on Satur-
day, and began to amuse themselves by
shooting, pitching quoitS, &c. On that even,
ing, for the first time, Mr.. r. forgot the at
fractions of home. His af~fectionate conpan-
ion awaited with an anxious, aching heart,
until the clock struck twelve, and her hus.
band had rot yet returned, and when he die
come, it was only to confirm her apprehen.
sions. He was so intoxicated that he could
scarcely get into the house. Painful as was
the occurrence, yet she did not SO much az
give him an angry look.
From this time Mr.. Rs. downfall was rapid
scarcely a week passed that did not witness
a scene similar to the one above described
Business was now neglected, and Mr.. K. be
came involved in debt, his property was
squandtred, and finally his beautiful farm
was sold by the sheriff.
Late in the Fall of 1912, Mrs. R. with he
three lovely children, were forced to leayo
their beautiful home, and with their drunk
en- husband and father, went their way to
miserable hut IN one Of the mountain gorges
The sudden reverse of fortune seemed a
first to bring Mr.. R. to reflection, and h
resolved to break off from his habits of in
temperance and pursue a different course
For several weeks he labored with a neigh
boring farmer for support for his family
But unfortuna ely for him, his appetite wa
too strong for his resolution, and he retnrne
to his old haunts; leaving his family to strus
gle against the tide of misfortue as best the
could. Late at night IN the dreary month
December, with winter bleak northern vino
bowling around her cot, Mrs. r. might
seen plying her needle for the support OF he
family. When, ere she was aware, she tie
asleep, and dreamed that her husband return
ed and informed her that he had been e
gagged in a very successful enterprise, ma
purchased their old farm, fitted up their o
mansion, to which they woulo Immediate
return and once more be happy. When 81
; awoke she was startled by the hurried breat
, ing of her infant daughter, a sprightly hit
; girl OF two years old she fastened to Il
little couch wherein Emma lay, and was a
tonished to find her feVerish and scarce
| able to breathe. That fatal disease, Crou
: had fixed its iron grasp upon the vitals OF h
: lovely child. Destitute of medicine,
physician near, no one to send even for
f nelghbor-alone in the dreary wilderness "
! she compelled to watch during the long al
e tedious hours of night and when day cal
: It was ushered in by a heavy snow storl
f nor did 1T bring the slightest relief to
t little sufferer. No language can express t
e anguish OF that mothers heart. As the d
advanced the storm increased, and the CHI
+ grew worse. About twelve o'clock a neis
| Dor who was passing called to warm, he b
y been there but a few minutes when the Lit
e girl breathed her last. Mr.. r. was imme
n atedly sent for, but so stupid was he that
h seemed ignorant of the sad calamity, n
withstanding the cold remains of his
e parted child lay before him. Next morni
when he came to himself, he appeared mis-
) able beyond description. With sobs a
n bitter lamentation did he look upon the Z
/. lid face of his once lovely infant for the /
n time at the grave. And when the fam
returned to their miserable hut, he hear
y upon himself the most bitter reproael
for his wicked neglect of so smiable a fami