Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-12-05
THE SEcRET
cHAPTER !.

--T-. "A Division Of the Sons of Temrer
ance bad just been Instituted, and had re.
deemed some of the most abandoned drunk
ards in the place. Legions Of devils had
been cast out, and noble men given back 70
their families.
The gentleman presiding over the meeting
in the church was a noble specimen of q
man tall, finely huilt, polished in manner.
and with in eye and voice in which the light
and one of a fs4l, great heart we're unmis-
takeably blended He was dignifed and
commanding !; yet gentleand unaffected, as
49, : le-sea be s...i-4fA-sa--z haiAad
placed his hand in mine.
Others we're impressed with the bearing of
the president of the day+why so much so /
could not understand, he being citizen with
whom they were familiar but feeling ofunief,
beaming joy seemed to psrvade the vast audi
ence IN attendance. Tisre were three ladies
in the audience who more especially appear
ed to labor under some deep and uncontrolla-
BILE emotion. They wept like children bat
their tears seemed not those of sorrow. no.
tieed that the chairman, at times could hard
ly suppress his own feelings, for the lip was
pale and quivering, and his voice was trem-
uious with the flooding of tears beneath. I
saw here and there, tears dripping upon his
cheeks. 1t was a mystery, for the exercise
had not commenced, and had seen nothing
to account for the tears. And vet | was
deeply affected myself before was aware of
it.
At the close Of my address, appealed to
he people in behalf of the Division, and
asked them if il bad not wrought great good
IN their midst Had it not redeemed some
citizen who was once the soul of honor had
1t not restored some erLNg son to widowed
mother? lisd ii not nStfe some happy, filled
some aching heart with bliss too deop for ut
te erancc?
" 1t has! and the widows blessing be up
on 1T, and the blessing of the God of the
widow and the fathcrless!'
AS If one heart pulsed in that audience, q
deep and thrilling amen burst from every
lip, the eldest Of the ladies before noticed,
standing upon her feet and weeping in the
tlilness Of Joy. The chairman hid his face
IN his hands, and bis broad chest heaved as
only that of strong man can do, in such an
hour.
In the evening the Division met, and was
pleased to find the chairman of the day the
worthy Patriarch filing the position with
that rare tact few men can boast. Twenty
three were initiated by special dispen-
sation and the glorious old altar glowed
with the hindling of a more glorious light
Hands silently clapsei hands tears answer
ed tears; and through all the calm, smile of
great JOY shone out snd warmed every
heart
reopen uhudr -fe,.u 81 ...sas, oass
and the doors be thrown 0 pen to the people
who were thronging the streets before the
building. "This is not so much for the peo-
pie" said he, "as for parties Immediately
! blessed by our efforts of earthly ties,
ties, those whom rum has put asunder.-An
gels in bliss are drawing aside the cur
tains this hour to witness scene at this al
tar which will cause joy on earth andin Hea-
yen."
The doors were thrown open, and like
pent up flood, the people sweptin and filed
all the vacant space save that which had
been reserved in front of the altar. First in
that crowd. were three ladies ! had noticed
in the church. Silence secured, the chaplain
advanced into the open space and said:
This is one of the happicst moments of
my life, for am about to perform fdty
which an angel might we'll be proud II per-
form.
mo where in life, is tae effect >of rum so
cruel and desolating, as al the hone. These
spots which good G9E dcssgped should be
I Edens, are transformed int5 hells where
c homes are crushed out, lives turned to gall,
; and the holiest ties which ever linked human
!. hearts, broken in agony and tears. The hus-
5 band forgets the gentle heart which gave its
priceless trust wheh he was worthy of it
S and treads it us.der foot by the broken
shrine.
'sBut here is a poolwhere the angel comes
e to trouble the waters, and however long tht
years of ;flfrmitY, thestricken ones can b'
4 healed. Here there is bread enough to spare
and many hungering prodigals have returned
-e VIZ have seen them asar of, and there ha
S, been singing and rejoicing here, for the los
'ef has been found, the dead made live again.
It eve have Witnessed these things in on
Ie midst. Wehave seer Two whom We all loved
le Join hands at the mafiage altar in the ligh
of a glorious life prdnise, and the fend Q
the wine-cup rend tic sacred tie, and driv
Us the wife out to weep and the erring hus
band far down the besconless way of drunk
n eness We have sen one loved as onl,
woman can love. e6knellad fl obtain thi
st seuaration which Is Thousand times wors
nd than death. But, bless our Father in Hea
i'd ven, the wine-cup has been dashed dowr
and the exile retuhs and kneels in the Eide
from which he was ianished by the hamin
sword of appetite. Jet those whose lo1
n' through the long d,k aight of the last fiv
an IN years, has chung With changeless strengt
~ ~ around the early voE, stand forth and onc
y more Join hands 1t our fraterEal altar, befo
MS these brothers and neighbors, here, ar
W oii God and his gold angels in Heaven"
Sc Sc Pale, and reling with terrible emo ito
o oh the Worthy R.triarch stepped down al
.a ~. | stood for monent, as if crushed with Il
.tss' fear th.t he spuld not be met by one who
."o / now unelersood was discovered WIFE
aJ ;oh The intensity of feeling manifested by tho
l.n who were resent can never be depicted
ias i.s paper-it Wis painful The suspense, no
ain ail ever. was but Tor moment. With sha
Oh, On quick cry Of joy, the lady in black toss
an her veil back from her face, sprang forwa
a. a., and grasped the extended hand in her or
20 20 and kissed it over and over again"
Civ Civ mine /" she sobaed in delicious j.
""S Mine! Mine again. O God how can
thank thee for this. Mine at last, and J
will love me again as Of yore, Hubert, and
S of shall be SO happy"
Tcs. Her face, the picture of innocence q
hat trust, and of exceeding beauty, giisten
Dos with tear-drops, wearing smile Of inc
mis- cribable sweetness and JOY, was upturnet
O he his. With simultaneous cry the long
anne vered hearts sprang together, and locke,
3 each others embrace, they were one az
bree While thus united, the Chaplain repeated
The marriage ceremony. ana VIVA. Uoo
our reform has this hour united, let not
1pis- or rum put SSohdef. b.o'Lefs' saiuie
81 IS brother and your sister"
hold Before the rough hand, however, had d
u ~