Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-03-06

here here! Pm-a dog-now-and they
spurn me--and take hemselves-far-fiar
from me. Oh that had some-brandy-'
and here the voice of the old man grew into
frightful scream; 'brandy--brandy-
Gods sake, brandy. It-has- brought ME
to this-give ito me-that / may die -
Will they have--brandy-in He'll? There
is-somethng-that tells me-so! Brandy
yes, they-haye brandy-plenty there. 1t
lis the fire-of hell Pn go-yes, Pn CO.
down to-helI--to the--deepest cavern--if
they only give--me brandy Yes, they
-sasse branlg-in hell Brandy-brandy--
brandy The old man sank back to his
couch of rags. Yes they're e-coming-I see
the angels-of death and hell-they are
COMMISSIONING for-my soul-take it-oh
take-it. Give-me-br -dy- and-take
my soul-my soul-my-soulp
There was silence! The old man had gone.
But there was groan unuterable. that
filled the soul of Abraham Snap, as the spir-
it touched him on the shoulder, and bade him
prepare for another journey. They slowly
moved towards the door, and as they crossed
the threshold, the spirit again touched the
merchant, and pointed to the dead body,
grinned between his teeth,
Love him! Hal ha ! ha
The hand of Snap was clenched to strike
but ere he had done so, he was flying through
the air, right on towards the great metropo-
lis. Back again, over hill and valley, over
brook and river, until the cross and spires of
the city, broke once more upon his sight
The spirit turned the merchant of wines to
the homes of the forsaken poor of Mammo-
nopolis. They entered the street, and the
spectre bade Snap look in the windows as
they passed by the broken down novels.
See Within said the spirit, as he noise
lessly raised the window of one hovel, and
showed the sight within its dirty walls. 'See
here lies a woman! She was once rich, and
you knew her. You loved her once, Abra-
ham Snap. Once you went down upon your
knees to her and begged her to bestow upon
you the love of then priceless heart. She
refused you, because she loved another You
know well the peerless mansion in which she
dwelled; her father was very rich broker
near your store-you remember, do you not?
The costly drapery upon the windows the
rich carpets upon the floor, the heavy chairs
the elegant piano from whose keys her Jew
elled fingers drew sweetest music-she used
to play The Sunshine of the Heart you
know
Blanche Mayfeld, screamed Snap, at the
mention of the familiar song he had heard
from her lips
You remember her, said the spirit, with
out regarding him, you remember all the
taultless pictures, the gay circle of society
Yes, you remember the great belle and beau
ty, Blanche Mayfieldr
The storm that had been gathering while
the spectre spoke now burst upon the wine.
merchant.
Blanche-Mayfeld Blanche darling
Blanche My God, peerless Blanche May
deid come to this that RayeftH stHiiep
| Held? Oh oh God of Heaven, how canst
thou let this damned, black and hellish soul
stay upon the earth. Damn me in thou
sand hells for this, thou God Of justice. -
| And the man raised his hands to his face and
wept bitter tears.
Yes, Abraham Snap! In an evil hour she
tasted the wine upon her husbands side
board. She liked its taste, she ceased for
more. Her poor old father died broken
hearted man. She used to buy your liquor,
Abraham Snap, and that bottle that lies by
her side full of the meanest of the meanest
of fluids was once filled by your brady and
wine. 1t was, Abraham Snap, your wine
that ruined Blanche Mayfeld You loved
her-yes, you have proved very SATISFACTORY
rily to my mind what kind of love it was.
She used to sing The Sunshine of the
Heart you know, but she sings now ofa
dark and gloomy shadow that lies upon
what's left of her heart. Come! she dies
tonight, poor, wanton outcast, kicked from
door to door. She is starving to DEATH
Don't be baby. Abraham Snap, you are
an old man. Don't trouble yourself about
punishment if you are crying, you'll get
enough of that Come, our time is nearly
expired"
Thank Godp groaned the spirit of Snap,
although he did not dare to speak it.
Here is another one of your old friends
and customers said the spirit, as he raised
another window, and disclosed another scene
within. DO you remember ever the Hon
Justice Ermine He used to be another one
of your neighbors He was in the councils
of the nation, and was said to be the bright
est gem in it. That was only ten years ago
The last time you saw him, the citizens O
Mammonopolis gave him a grand .fete because
of his success in the great financial system
He made grand speech to which you lis
tened and which you admired You SPOKE
of it to your friends and gave glowing &C
counts of it. There he lies, dead drunk
and before my hour expires, he will be re
penting of his evil deeds in the tormentS be
low. You knew him. lie had mighty in
tellect.'
And is that him?'
Yes, that is the hopeless wreck of the ma
tional councillor the great statesman, tn
mighty man of intellect. You ruined him
Snap, it was you. Ha ha ha!-you hav
conquered ,nlnd and beauty both-havn'
you? Why-what mighty conqueror yol
Il are You have vanquished thousands 7
The strain of levity-and the mention c
thousands caused a cold icy chill to sprea
over the liquor dealer.
Then the spirit caused to move before tn
wine merchant scenes without number. A
the terrors and woes and miseries of wan
and poverty were displayed in all their black
ness and truth. There were drink -poisone
fathers with palsied hands, and pinched couI
tenances, dying fast away in the cold bias
| There were mothers hugging to their coolin
bosoms, the latest offspring to shield it frol
the embrace of death. There were boys an
!; girls scarce grown, pining slowly away, sic
e ly, hungry cold. There were husbands ar
| wives, and then more fathers and more mot
q ers and more childrcn-all passed on, un
: there was formed vast procession reachir
d from earth through the grave to the pits
Il pedition below. Snap as he gazed upon t
: perishing countenances and naked limbs, Fl
/ his heart smite him with whips ofscorpion
,t ever and anon he would fancy the eye
d some sufferer turned upon him in maniac
Ie rage, and the long hands ready to clutch
Of soul and drag it with them to hell before
. time He shut his eyes as more came
le his view, and motioned to the spirit to ia
ar him from the ghostly scene.
ie Then the spirit said to him:
- Abraham Snap, have fulfilled the co