Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-03-06
TaE THIRD ioF FnE nINoR sPlRsrs.

THE THIRD OF THE MINOR SPIRITS.
There was mighty change in the breast
Of the liquor dealer. The lion nature which he
showed Ut the first visit Of the Master Spirit
was entirely subdued as the grim spirit of
hatred returned him in safety to his own COW
hreside. The fearless courage which he pos
sessed had turned almost to dwelling fear.
He was no longer a man. Fear had made
him but one degree removed from an idiot.
And what did he fear ? Why did he fear I?
IL was not the coming ghosts, whose skeleton
forms were even then upon the wintry blasts.
Fastening from their terrible home to be his
guests and guides-it was not the impressions
OF future, more horrible and sickening than
the past-it was none of these; but he was
above an internal machine. Below in his
cellars and beneath the very floor he stood
upon, were choice brands ranged in serted
rows, and in his cowardly fear he turned them
all into barrels Of powder with lighted fuzes
thrust into them. Shuddering as he looked
about the room on his return from his last
visit, he seemed more like one of the poor
wretches whom he had robbed of mind and
body, and whom he was just robbing of soul
With his eyes glaringly opened his hands
clenched, his nostris dlated his lips parted
IN suspense, the aged villain tottered from one
place to another, now here, now there listen
ing-for whatP Fol- the mighty blast that
would awaken the dead and the living to
judgment-for the bursting Of the great bar
rels Of powder below for the debut Of the grim
angel of death-for anything that would hurl
him into eternity and place him before his
Supreme Judge. How could he help but
think of death-and yet he could not think
Of anything else ; no. no, it was not death,
off AM r
wind, as its angry garments tapped against
the windows and ratified against the panes, he
started and shuddered as he feared the mas
sive walls were tunbling and the mighty roof
threatening to grind him into powder upon
his barrels below. When now and then a
struggling boy would cry out in the streets,
in merry tones for Christmas he would rush
alarmed towards the door, fancying that the
hot breath of the demon Of fire was upon his
cheek as his furious flames enveloped his
house. Then again he would stagger back
and raise his hands to his heated brows-
then again he would think of the past and
the future, and at last as the great hammer
struck one upon the massive bell near him,
he sank down into his seat and groaned, My
God, how can bear all this!
Then came another of the mysterious spir-
its who hourly came to wait upon him He
was like the others, grim, ghastly, terrible.
But his garments were spare, and the white
bones peeped from many rent They were
remnants of silken gowns and velvet robes,
they once sported upon the persons of the rich,
but now, their faded beauty, their colorless
fabric only made the fleshless skeleton, grin
ming beneath the rags, the more horrible for
the dress.
Abraham Snapr it said, L have sights to
show you. I-l-I-ohl death, seize your
soul, cry out many a hungry soul and hear
them--I only hear them. Ha +! hal ha! ii
is sweet music You shall hear some, too, to-
night! Come, the night is waningP
And tell me who are your
Me--ha! ha ha you know me not ?
Mol God forbid that in the future you
should know me more
'Pishi am the spirit Of Want
oh. God groaned the liquor dealer, a'
grim specuations of the dreful sights he was
TO witness in the coming hour passed through
his brain.
In the same manner from the same oper
window, over the same roofs went the myse i
ous spirit. But not to the novels of the poo
went he, nor did he sail over the great roof
Of the rich, but flying like lightning owe
the city, he sped over the fields of the coun
try. ON, on, on, faster and faster went tn
terrified man in the clutch of the winge,
skeleton. Now the spires of the distant cit,
grew dim in the vista. They grew more dis
tinct. Roofs sprang up and the couple wer
in another city, another great sink of Grim
and wretchedness. Down they came, an
alighted in one of the public streets. All wa
ms quiet as in the city they had left. Her
and there, as in Mammonopolis, was ligh
burning, as some wretched spirit bowed owe
the couch Of q loved one watching the fleet
ing pulse and shortening breath. Here an
there distant football, as some one hastene
10 his home-or, as the thought forced itsel
into the mind Of Abraham Snap, as some on
hastencd with blanched countenancc to
neghboring physician to attempt to save
life from the doom of all mankind. Snal
thought Of death-all his thoughts were o
death-eyery football or every sound he hear,
was connected with death. What n terribl
ordeal was the man passing through, or wa
Il punishment for his deeds : Punishment
no, no that was not enough for ninety thou
sand souls Punishment no, 1t was nc
even the beginning Of 1t.
II was an old house to which the spirit
Want winged his flight with his tremohr
oharoa In an Office within its duSky wall
surrounded by the books and papers OF trad
sat an ola man, uSaiJ my
liant of this sn.stricken earth; as be be-
over the task, the wrinkles OF care grew mo
distinct upon his brow. His hair was ju
tinged with the silvery tint of winiry ag
but the coming tramp Of time that pass
within his door brought with it no change
Il was the same old thing over and over agar
The daily arrival of orders and bills, the oa'
despAtching Of the same, the entrance a.
departure Sf customers, the coming IN Oh
voices and the sending out Of boxes and paC
ages, the notes TO pay and the bills to coii'
the same cd life of trade that had been
lot of the old man for twenty-five years, a
which promised no end as yet. Snap stud
the old man attentivey, and his eyes W.
bedewed with tears as he recognized IN
care-worn and tme-bcaten face, his old
ployer
My old masterr murmured Snap, as
gaAed The same face, the same,desk, the sa
room. ~ twas here served my time
The door opensd and a youth of TWEEN
perhaps, gaiy entered, bearing packag,
papers and letters, ltwas handsome YOU
and as the spirit uudgcd the old liquor dea
he recognized the whole scene The bri
youth was himself, thirty years ago.