Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-01-16
From the American Messenger.
The Drunkard Saved at Last.


The Drunkard Saved at Last.
Twas driven to the parsonage of my new
home and all hands commenced to unload
and arrange my plumber for occupying our
new home
While thus employed stranger approach
ed US and bade US welcome. He had man
| ly form, polite manners and an intelligent
coGntenance; but was pale and seemed to
strangers eye victim of disease. He pre-
sently put to his hands to help and ex,rted
himself for hours beyond his apparent
strength. On finishing he offered to oblige
US at any time; said he would do US any IA
vor in his power, and desired US to visit
| him.
Who is this kind Stranger inquired l.
J. "Why' that's Dolph B. You Will
find him to be what be now appears, when
he IS sober, but he is a drunkard, and is at
this time suffering from one Of his spreeS.
1 Poor Dolph, hc it the worst enemy to him
self and We ali fear that he is past redcmp-
ton"
Next day a venerable man of between
seventy and eighty, with bending form aud
silvery locks, entered the parsonage. lie
was an elder of the church, and seemed
trembling on the verge of heaven. lie said t
he had come to speak about his son-in-law |
ed down his furrowed checks He lad |
heard 'Doiph speak favorably of me- hoped |
good would result from my acquaintance ilh |
him, and begged me. for the love of God, TO
take an interest IN ais SOUL and labor for his
reformation. | learned his history in few
words and then resolved that, should it please
a sovereign God to bless my efforts, that
poor man should never reach a drunkard'S
, grave nor drunkards hell. ....
; Subsequently his lovely Christian wife
5 gave ME similar account of him, and hold
ing my hand in both Of hers, secured prom
t Use that =" would never give him up for she
still mad hope in him."
+ My efforts with him extended over cirh-
! teen months, ana the history would fill
) volume. His intemperance was periodical
and regularity in his case was to leave
n home for the indulgence of his vice, and not
e return for days, and sometimes weeks. From
= my subsequent watchfulness it became diff
e ficult for him to do this, and when he did
ahscond it was with the utmost secrecy
is Upon discovering that he was gone, my
e horse would be instantly on his track, pur-
y suing him from village to village, and from
tavern to tavern, until either his track was
d lost or he secured and restored to his deiec-
ted family. - .
e Often was | discouraged, and almost
i tempted to give up. But that tearfi. Cnris-
: tian wife would say Don't give him up
ut don't give him up And my Master. her
n Saviour said the same Wicked worldiings
g also said, we hear he is trying to inake
;e 'Dolph Christian ha, la we would like to
Ii see it One wicked sinner pledged, with
at an oath, that if 'DoIph B. became a
IL Christian, he too would seek religion"
d. A crisis came. He had left his already
large family in great destitution. A domes
tic occurrence nearly proved fatal to his near
est and best earthly friend, and another
ng young immortal increased the reSponsihii
OF ties already bearing on the recreant husband
lie and father.
ut Having provided food for the furnishing
and care for the sick of his households, my
so horse and that of another friend were onc
lat more upon the drunkard's track, in dffoyeat
es directions. From dawn till sundown W
a sought him. Happily he was found taper
i'd ing off, as inebriates CALI and waiting IN
of til he could again appear among his fieEd
with some degree Of decency.
At a late hour the other friend ushore
I'VE him into his house amidcircumstances whic
IA especially when he saw so many sympath
eat sers present, filled him with horror Th
accursed influence of ardent spirits had neal
1g- ly evaporated, and he stood confounded spec
tator OF the misery his wickcdness LA
ng, but the Scriptures were read and prayer y:
d." offered in his presence, and be vas left aloi
say that night with the suffering victims OF Il
md neglect, prey to remorse and dreadful dc
id pair.
IN The folio ing day he was often seen val
ut dering about. and gazing towards the paIso
age. a messenger from him came to rr4ae
ent me to go and speak with him. / refascJ
ars see him. The messenger came again, ami
ent refused TO see him. TIE messenger car
again, and | refused third time ii
lts- again she came, and said with fearful cye
It'll ''0h, sir. lease 90 and see him. That h
ch been sad house to day. lie never Sic
last night He is in g,eat distress lie
nc, weeping like child. lie says if Won vi
my not come and speak with hin,, he cannot Ii
ath out this night Mrs. B. says, fer Ia
sake come, if not for him."
Truly pi,iable was the spectacle he d
but then present. His head rested on his hand
lis hands upon his knees, and the hou
about him was Bochim, place of wecpii
it. never to be forgotten. H. confessed /
for wickedness, pleaded forgiveness for ingr>
inst tude to me, begged that | would help hin.
70. reform, and requested prayer that God mig
have mercy upon his soul.
ear set forth his sin in its jnst aggravatior
warned him that God alone could help h
y 10 upon ms repentance, ard promised 10 90
ke- he asked of me, upon condition of s
ltcr emn pledge that lie would follow my advi
Prayer closed the interview.
ain a few more nights, and he was found
the hall of g the Sons of Temperance, +" Z
saw Gently Clad with . initiation fee in hal
such and hailed by them brother.
dn't Another night, and he was seen in I
we'll house of God, the first time in years. list
ing to a preached gospel
Separate yourselves from this congre
tioE, that may consume them in momen
;erve Such was the solemn truth brought to
t on on the consciences of sinners that night
'Dolph b gave attention as if standing
the bar of God; and overwhelmed with
dreadful sense of his condition, he hurl
nfiiet home when the preacher ceased.
Taking dosn his Bible to find the sole