Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-04-10
FoE THE PiR or rus AGE.
THE ~DRUNKARD'S DAUGHTER.
BY FINLEY JOHNSON.

y y o SfiiSiC Il paSStiiS III tuC ClCaI bluc
sky, and the ground, bushes and fences are
sparkling with the glis'ening dew. The trees
are robed in beauty, and beneath a sky so
bright, all things are clothed IN garments of I"
loneliness. The happy children as they wend
their way to school, seem to partake of the
general gladness, and by their glowing checks,
and merry voices, attestthe JOY which is with
IN their hearts.
But see that poor girl, who at some dis
lance from the happy group. is slowly and
sadly walking EDWARDS her pale, soiled face,
ragged dress, and bare feet give evidence that
she is the child of poverty and vice. Behold
her as she gazes upon the smiling counte-
nances of the happy children-see how the
bitter tears are falling down her cheeks, and
how she hides beneath her shawl, a small tin
pail, which she is carrying.
She is the daughter Of drunken parents
The bright calm morning has no joys for her.
She feels none of the l~ightness of heart such
as natures children feel. She cannot laugh
: like those joyous children, and she wonders
why she cannot be as happy as they. See
; she fingers until the others are out Of sight,
, and casting around her a searching look, she
rushes into a low GROCERY at the corner.
{ Poor grill she knows she is doing wrong,
: that she IS about to carry home an article that
2 will make her mother cross, and her father
savage; but what can a poor feeble thing
lhc HCi Oo dSdiiiol lnC HClSS SVAiilAAiuS "a -
: british father ?
She is in the store-with trembling lips
:. she asks for rum, and as she hands up the
II pail, the man says
II More rum-why your mother is a perfect
= barrel of it.
oi She cannot answer-her little heart pants
= with grief, and hastily seizlng her purchase,
81 she takes her departure.
o. She reaches at last her dwelling, and oh,
"a my God, what a sight! Everything is in
ak confusion-the children half clothed, and
n worse fed, are huddled together, and hunger
ca is staring from their CLASSY eyes. Misery,
lat want, and despair, are there. She crosses
lal the Threshold, and ere she is within the door
es. her mother rushes out, and Selling the pail,
w. pours down Seine Of its burning contents.
IN And Mas as uonan, Gods best gift to man!
eSs Bread, mother, we are hungry, cry the
&C poor children, and they press around her,
oW- eager for food.
Go away, you brats,' answers the mother,
ne and, Mary, be off to gather some sticks to get
Ie, breakfast with
ind The poor girl hurries of, and soon returns
'me with a bundle of sticks, with which she kin
dies a fire.
OF See now the wretched breakfast Some
Is corn meal is mixed with water, andthe dough
by thus prepared, is placed before the smoky
loou scanty fire. The children gather around 1t,
of a o,d nth the ewes of famished hawks watch
=, q ~ I'LL 6tAC ~ % VI 1taAAAOtASN AHS' ny 1890
the the baking.
the Terrible sight-see-they cannot wait I'm
ner til it is cooked-hunger must be satisfied
uon' and, there they are Selling it, like birdS G
e 90 prey, piece by piece till nothing remains.
;uon With their hunger scarcely satisfied, tn
ie is boys go as usual to loiter in the streets, Will
nee; the poor girl takes the babe and strives t
ahlt- soothe it.
lper- The mother Is unconscious-she is ine5ri
Inc ted.
efore While the daughter is soothing the bah
nd at the father enters. He was once a usef
nters member of society, but his wifes condu
T so has, step by step, led him on to ruin. Tin
event was when he expostulated, argued, and tire
king tened-now, he fights for the bottle of rum
vaole he will not work, and has been gatherh
11er- berries to satisfy his appetite. He enter
49, lie turns to his daughter, who still holds t
ction, DIT d. +ba+ en0ono .
III d these berries and sell them
But, father, the baby has
4el % None of your impudence-do as I bid "
noana Sell them as soon as you can, and then &c
reece, pint of rum
armed She puts down the infant-it utters 10
&c cries, and stretches forth his little hands
r'G,- but what is that to the father?
i nii0 Ram as has naaster-he Is a sare.
ee T See how the poor girl is going from d,
70 n9' to door, ard everywhere she meets with
nao same chilling answer, no.
!, I'm Nn She can so no further-weary and W.
MIS- out, she sat down upon a marble step, d
9TH won't h;ttorIr Sbo nanaot LII ~. 60 .
ierean narcon will hnv tbom no+ . col III :
nun chase from such a slovenly girl as she. w
ooe1 is to be done? She must go home, but "
IL ahu would her father say if she brought not
VI 20 rum? She cannot sell them-she de-
'uc.Se mines she will not go home with them-a
la.iol' therefore, she thinks she sill exchange tn
MAJ re- for rum.
ID was Again she stands before the dirty count
zen ol and asks Tor an exchange. 1t is gwen,
OF the away she flies for home.
oy The father is out, but the mother is the
Aninal Where have you been, Mary I? was the
oy clamation.
1 MISS TO sell some berries for father
'iher OF Where is the money, child? Come
with it.
g selec- 4 could get none, so II | g-g-ggot 81
III pur- r-I-ru-rum,' says the trembling girl.
Give it to me this instant and the moth
rs their eyes sparkled with supernatural fire.
The girl refuses, for we'll she knows
praises consequences of her fathers anger.
But see the mother, rendered insane
err own her depraved appetite, seizes the jug,
zee. de- drinks one-half of its contents.
1t The burning liquor has been scarcely
which bibed, before the father enters.
and it HnefelS the rum . is MS hrSt remari
Ter the He takes up the jug, and as it reaches
due to lips, he ~perceives the diminished quantity
she This is your work. says he to his '
in gen why in the devils name can't you let
cor liquor be ??
the Half intoxicated the wife retorts. Exc
.eryation by her bitter taunts, he rants and rave
her un. Fearful scene of human misery-of hu
lily and depravity. The children seeing their par
that her fighting like wild beasts, are in a ter
ng char fright. The girl fears for her own safety,
ess falls that of her brothers, and creeps into a eli
we as where, with her arms thrown around the
in the ers, she is trembling with fear. The so
or the of discord are at last hushed-the CON
ants lay as if dead-prostrated by the
son.
bosom Behold-now the children creep from
IN, owes hiding place, and roam about to seek for
o a few 1t IS now Oakland before they retire to
situated bed OF straw, they wish to appease the
valleys. wings OF hunger But in vain is their Sc
glories not a crust of bread not even a cold no
depends can they discover.
US roots hungry and supperless they crawl
ian gaze. their miserable touches of straw.
but Each succeeding day is but a counte
to prove OF the one that preceded it. Rum has bre
b educa- them down 10 the level of beasts. anc
G. Aims House, and Potter's field winds u
scene.
ALTON Let our prayer be, Lead us not into