Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-10-31
fuesloeR eaoing
From the Washingtonian.
Il Don't Drink Because I Love It: I only
Drink for the Fun Of the Thing"

How many young nsen have said this and
yet have gone to the drunkard's grave
Week before last We published our youth
full experience in hooking apples" and what
resulted thercfrom- Now we propose to give
the history of one of cur companions at that
time. He lost his father when an infant. and
had none but a hard working mother to look
after him.. He was an intimate 'chum' of
ours in nearly all our boyhood days. If ska.
ting, sliding down hill, marbles, or hooking
apples was the order of the day, we were to.
gcther, and when we advanced ia life we were
apprepticcd at about the same time. both at
different trades. Our companionship still
existed, and no pic-nies, muster or any other
occasion of Importance could take place
without cur being there together. Well do
we remember the first taste Of any thing in
toxicating. 1t was Of an evening when we
went into an oyster saloon for some oysters.
We each Of us had q Port Wine punch
We INDUCED in such kind of drinks for some
little time, when we imagined that it was
about time to drink something a little stron.
ger, which we soon did, and before we were
aware of it we could take it plain as often
as any Of our age. Soon our parents earned
of our habits, and spoke to us about it
How we'll do VIC remember the remark that
our friend made when we informed him OF
what had been said in relation to our drink
ing. He appeared to be quite angry at the
idea of having his habits spoken Of disrespcc-
fully. He said, i don't drink because I love
1t; only drink for the fun of the thing
we reccollect 1t as though it happened but
yesterday, instead OF sixteen years since
We do not know what it was. but so,aeth;no
caused the remark to impress itself stronolv
upon our mind.
When we had served our apprenticeshin
we both came to Boston, to work at our re.
spective trades. We were the same kind of
friends as ever. We ate, slept and drank
together. Where one Of US went the other was
sure to follow. We continued ON in th;v Wv
for about six months, when we observed thai
our friend was, in our estimation. drinking q
little too much. We cautioned and advised
him, but to no purpose. He soon became so
unsteady that his employer could put no con-
fdence in him whatever, and he shortly lost
his place. Being unsuccessful in secus ing an
other, he concluded that he would go to New
York. 1t was hard to part with him for he
was a noble-hearted fellow, and we had been
intimate friends so long that we had an idea
that we never ought to be separated. Hi,
excessive drinking led us to reflect upon on,
position. We found that il we continue,
on our past course for any great length n
time, that the results could not be ealculate,
upon.
A few mornings since as we were sittin,
at our desk. we CHANGED to leok up and "
saw standing tefore us our old friend an
companion. We could scarcely recoon;z
him at first, for he was dreadluliy change
since We last saw him. We took him by n
hind and lookedinto has face. He was acor
frmed drunkard;; his countenance bloate
and wretchcd TO behold: his garments Of n
coarsest kind. There he stood before n
once a man, but now a perfect soreck. askip
FIR charity. We talked With him. and four