Spirit of the age., 1861-06-05
A Graphic Sketch.

Some years ago, an individual, of specu-
lative disposition. built neat cottage in
quiet country district, where two roads cross
ed each other. The place was distant some
miles from the nearest village or public
house A license was applied for and gram
ted every one hut the publican and his inn
mediate friends wondering what would be
the use of it. Unfortunately. the wonder
soon died away. The destroyer was instant
" at work, and the effect soon became appa
rent. Every effort was made to make it
rendezvous-the bait succeeded. Numbers
of the young of both sexes frequently met
there. and with songs and merriment passed
away the long nights of winter. Evil habits
were thus engendered and fostered there
the desolating influence of that house exten. |
ded for miles, carrying grief into many hap |
py homes causing them to mourn over ruined
daughters and lost sons. The once peaceful,
moral, and happy spot became the haunt of
profigacy and the home of wretchedness.-
But. to particularize. John P, the pro-
prietor of a small upland farm, situated on
the brow of hill about one mile from the
public house, and which overloOks one of
the finest landscapes in the western country,
had an only son who became regular fre-
| frequenter of the placer enlivening the even
ings with numerous songs. In few years.
| the good old farmer-one of the saints of God
was gathered to his fathers. The son be-
came sole proprietor of the farm. He had
now full commandof money, and freed from
the restraints of godly father, could art as
he thought proper. In short time the farm
was mortgaged and the publican he'll: the
bond! Days and nights were spent, for
weeks together, at the public house. DeLir-
was in was fearful. All mankind, he thought
were enemies seeking to take away his life
Snakes intertwned themselves around his
limbs and body; devils, in al their varied
and horrid shapes, haunted his imagination,
Bringing hell, with all its damning t0rments,
before his vision. One cold hle4k nigh in
the winter Of 1874, he left the drunkery
amid the jeers of his companions; haunted
by The drunken demons, he took to the
fields, and death closed the awful drama.
If to die in our own house, surrounded
with sympathizing friends, with the consola
tion of religion, and the hope Of immortality
strips not death of his character as the king
of terrorS, what must it have been fo tha
young man to breathe his last in a ditch
alon"-conScience upbraiding- hell opeui.ts
and foul spirits passing quick before his vi
sion to seize him before his time? This il
woe-this is the triumph of sin and Satan
Yet, in the last year, how many have dieC
the drunkard's death in this Christian LAM
of ours, and whose blond cries for vengeance
Oh, what a traffic! We talk of our reli
gion-we weep over the delusions of tn
false prophet. At this moment our countr,
is mourning over the deeds of horrid cruelt
committed in our eastern possessions by tn
followers of Mahomet, but in our ow
churches there is more decetful system
than that of Mahomet, killing our sons an
sughters-ruining their deathless souls.
Woe, woe to Zion! Satan is in Eden, an
unless some check be put to the ravages
the liquor traffic, our benevolent institution
must die--our Sanctuaries be for saken--ou
fields become wide waste, and the churc
read the history of her offspring in the 70
lowing" Their throat is an open sepulchre
their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness
their feet are swift to shed blood ''-blaStr
all our bright hopes Of the speedy approac
OF millennial glory.