Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-03-28

Certainly, my good womanl' replied the
benevolent official.
And then how earnestly did that wife plead
Tor her husbands release, Her language was
such as none but the loving wife can use, and
1t stung the wretched man to the quick as he
heard those earnest prayers from the woman
he had injured. She ended, while the Mayor
was buried in deep thought. Oh! woman,
woman, how boundless thy love, how incom-
prehensible thy affectionsi
Mr.. Green, the young LAWYER. arose.
Your Honor" he said, when offered N.Y.
self as counsel for this man, I had decided to
speak upon the case, but YOU have heard
enough, think, to judge clearly. Sir, you
see a wife and mother pleading for her hus-
band, and what can I, a stranger, add to those
appeals? The man is p%enitent, and I appeal
to your W innate feelings. The sorrowful
man, the forgiving and pleading woman, the
silent oratory of the child, are speeches too
Welghty to be disregarded, and know that
you will not lightly pass them over. The
case depends entirely upon you; l can add no
more to the address of the wife.
Your Honor!" and the fearful prisoner
came forward with his hands shaking with
the emotion that was convulsing his frame,
I'm a poor wretch, and she's a good wife
But couldn't help it, sir. Ny God, they
filled my brain with burning liquor, and, in
deed, didn't know what | was doing, sir
Oh, if | knew, if | only knew who it was-she
Is my wife, your honor God knows | love
her when I'm sober, but they give me drink,
and l cant help but drink they make me
take the money from hertz buy whiskey with.
and it makes me so drunk, sir. | don'tknow
anything, indeed | don't. Oh. sir. for Gods
/ sake Shut nm thoSa ,rroor cho,. +la,,,.o -.
ing everybody. Tn ruined by them, they've
killed me, and they'll kill my wife and chill
dren, and" but the poor man could 60 no
further, and bursting into a loud cry he fell
back in the dock.
The gruif policemen were moved by the
tears OF the strong man, and the Mayor still
sat bordering over the case. John Garland
dashed a tear from his cheek, and pressed the
form Of Alice closer to his breast, for her head
lay there now IN weeping sorrow. The moth.
er, too, resting on the arm of the young law.
yer, t~earfully regarded he who should Judge
her erring husband, while all the bystander.
dropped a sympathising tear.
Edmund Rowand," said the Mayor, ''yor
have committed an act which calls for Justice
and severe justice. But for the sake of youl
wife and children who have so eloauentl,
pleaded for you, you will be set at liberty
At the same time | would impress this seen,
upon your mind when you drink your mex
dram, which may you never do, think of tn,
wife whose entreaties succeeded here thi
morning Now go, and may God keep yol
in his mercy.n
"Amen!" cried John Garland, and tn
poor inebriate bowling his acknowledgement
to the Mayor, joined his family outside. TIL
editor examining all within the coach, ordere,
tho 6rIyar 10 frErn ~, ao,,- IL
office of the Stylus" Here matters wer
settled, Alice being cared for by the editor 70
a day or two, until work could be foundf 70
Rowand, while the husband and wife were t
return to their Southwark home. John Gan
land resisted all attempts at thanks, and SEE
ing them safely in a carriage, babe them fare
well, and hurried back into his office.
How true was the speech of the poor inc
briate as he stood at the bar of judgmentl !
We blame the drunkard if a man, in a stat
OF mtoXlcatlon, commits a crime, he is to az
swer for the deed, and he who guided h
hand, is to go free. 1t should be the cry
every American freeman against the outrage
OF the rumseller and distiller. When II
grog shops of our cities are closed, when til
slx-pcnny groceries of the country are gage,
then we may expect a decrease of drunkennes
and not until then. The majesty of the La
availeth nothing, for it has been tried; tt
preacher who holds up the vices of intempe
ance from the pulpit might as well be at SON
other theme; the temperance lecturer doc
but little good; and the temperance paper
often sneered at. No! we strike at til
branches, and the root is unframed. Clio.
these grog shops and rum-selling g~rocerie
lntilct heavy penalties upon the seller, instea
OF the imbiber of liquors, and then the might
change for which the world has been prayin
Tor years may be expected. But though IL
preacher, the lecturer and the editor reap lare
h%arvests, still the legislator must be the re
per who shall store the golden sheaves in IL
almost empty garner. And the clergymal
orator, and editor should bring all their poy
ers into full play, to accomplish this ere
end, and when this is once accomplished. a
others will follow. Oh! legislator how muc
depends upon you! You have sworn to a
vance the interests and promote the welfa,
OF your country look well to your step
meet out due justice to all, hear the acknow
Judgements of the poor drunkard himself. ar
then do yOur dutyi Arise in all the glol
and majesty of the law, say that this cur
shall no longer blight our fair land, relic,
the Edmund Rowand's of our nation, and We
will receive the welcome plaudits of a livir
|, constituency.
/, ITO BE CoNTINUED.)