Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-03-27
A Goblin Tale for a Winters Eve.
(CONCLuDED.)
ny II. LANSING BURROWS

II was no hidcous spectre or ghostly Spirit
that bent over the fallen Snap now his trial
was past, and his mighty lion-nature was
subducd. She who smoothed his burning
brow with a soft and velvet hand was Of
purer and holicr form than those Of GARTH
A garment Of white enrObcd her person, and
n girdle Of gold held tho many folds around
her waist. Her hands were the tiniest and
most nultless mould, the skin upon her brow
Of as snowy a hue as her garments; but the
tnge Of rosy health was upon her cheek
Soft blue eyes were bent upon the wine.m
chant suifused in tears Of pity and sympathy. |
This was all that Snap could see, but if he |
had gazed more minutely, he would have seen
folded upon the back Of the new conner, a
pair of gorgeous golden wings. 1t was an
angel that had come to the lonely abode of
the winc-merChaut
Slowly and wonderingly, Abraham Snap
opened his eve and gazed upon her faultless
form. 4 feeling Of awe thrilled through his
guilty soul, and hc shut his eyes again, for
he could not gaze upon holiness and purity.
What did she want there? he Il ought. Wick
cdncss and guilt bhun holiness and virtue
lac, i'm his Outlines, wished the spirit away,
he could not bear to look upon such o radiant
face il must be dream he opened his
eyes again, yet there kneclcd the fair spirit
by his side, pondcIing tearfully over him.
But could it be possible? Was there an an-
gel come from Heaven to turn his footsteps
from the paths of folly and crime, in which,
for twenty years he had been travelling p
Could lie entertain the thought? Was it
possible for him to retrieve the deeds he had
done No, oh mol hc could not retrieve
hut one ray Of light sped across his way
there was little more for Lachess to spin,
ere Atropos sundcred the thread. There was
still little future before him, he would not
suffer that future TO pass by us the terrible
past had done. The future should be differ
cnt.
Scarcely had he made this determination,
while lying upon his floor, when silvcry
voice broke the still echoes of the ROOM How
il sounded IN holy cadences upon the ear of
the wine merchant-that ear which, for all
that long and dreary night had been doomed to
listen to the horrible voices Of his skeleton
guides Snap was silent, when it spake again.
DO you not welcome me after this terrible
night, Abraham SnapY
Blessed spirit know you not.'
Alas know that too well, Abraham
Snap. But in the future learn to know me
follow in my footsteps; tread where | shall
direct; only my counsels; in my right hand
is length Of days, in my left riches and honor;
alas, for yourself, Abraham Snap, that you
do not know me-.
who are you, bcauteous angeY
Il am the Spirit or TEMPERANCE
Thanks, thanks, holy one. Teach me thy
counscls and lessons at once Ipray thee teach
me TO follow in thy footsteps; teach the, blcs
sed spirit, to know and love thee
Il spurn not those who come unto me. Ny
heart is ever open to those, however low, how
ever degraded, they may be. Dost'fcar me
Abraham SnapY
No, no bu am too vile to be thy sub
ioct now. The past-oh! that dreadful
dreadful past
is past, Abraham Snap. Look to tho fu
turc, man, to the future, and to Heaven
Ave, the rctributon in the future
NO, mol Retribuion may yet be averted
TO the God of mankind must thou look
Come, up man upon the rock of Temperate
plant thy feet; rush to relieve those who ar
not yet ruined what you can do, do quickl,
and with n noble heart
But can |
Aye, you can. See, this night have drin
en- from you the Spirit Of Wine Renounc
his authority over your soul, join the arm
fighting under my banners.
Il will! ! willn
Il nave, tDen, SlHntS u SuON liieCi AOl
ham Snap. Fear me not but come with m
and will raise thy spirit from the grim dark
ness into which ii has sunk, and bid thee hop
for the future
The Angel spread her wings, and the wir
merchant ioatcd away with her. His hea
was ghtcncd as he sped over the same roo
and spires that he had passed with his skel
ton friends. The first scene that presente
itself to the eye of Snap, was comfortab
cozv office. Around the little arartmen
we're shelves piled high with books bound
that style so peculiar to the profession of Law
4 delicate little carpet spread over the boart
of the floor. and a large secretary in one co
ncr was covered with bundles of papers til
up with red tape. a man sat at the secret
~, musing lie held letter in his han
and il seemed to be the subject Of profour
thought and meditation. The man was &C
tainly not beyond the age of thirty-five; b
full broad brow bespoke the intellect within
lie was second Dcmosthenes, with all I
fire and fcrvor Of eloquence pent up With
And is this the drunkards son. Snap hea
him murmur, is this he who was sceffed
and scorned by all meny From one step
another, until here this little paper inforl
y,e of my nomination to the Congress of I
nation by n predominant party-unanimC
too. was the nomination--and the paper ad
the highest hopes of success. Temperar
these arc thy works. Thou hast it been b
hast raised me from the dirt of lgnora
and Intempcrance to this Ugh and anna
station"
Unlocking little drawer in he secrets
that s,ood before him, he drew forth pl
white collar bound together at the end b
single rosettc-t was the emblem Of the S
Of Temperance.
Hail Son of Temperance, and he that M
thy glory and thy shield. High now is
position among the sons Of men, rcspons
and great the duties it involves.
Tho man kissed it, and the picture fac
And this washe who was to be the vic
of Ignorance 2 asked Abraham Snap.
III was have taken him from his dr.
ca Jstchcs, and raised him to what hc is
oless you, Spirit Of Temperance!
Again the Angel few away, and the
tnre aawned upon the mind Of the wine Il
chant 1t was another cozy little room
fire burned brightly in the crate. the ,e,