Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-03-27

II. The room was finely furnished and eve
rything betokened comfort, peace and hap
piness. Then Abraham Snap saw the door
open, and burst of merry laughter broke
upon his ear, as there rushed in the door two
little cherub children, with happiness upon
their beautiful faces. Then came the mother
with a bright face and cheerful STEP as the
father entered by another door-a man of
noble look and handsome form. Then the
two little children climbed upon their father S |
knee and the mother hastily prepared the |
evening meal
James, said she, as after the blessing of ,
God had Seen asked upon the meal to NOR
row is the anniversary of our marriage
Yes, yes. had not forgotten it. How !
different is our lot from then. What clouds |
have passed since then. But God bless those |
Sons of Temperance, they have raised me
from the brutal degradation to which | was !
almost eternalIy doomed and made me a man.
Temperance is jewel that none but those
who have been plucked from the miry clay
can appreciate. 1t is gem which | shall
ever wear in my bosom. Oh! Wine, Wine
there is no greater curse upon earth treach
erous in the extreme, terrible in its effects.
| There are more chances than otherwise of
this whole little family being stepped in hell
five years ago, had we not have given it up.
God bless the Sons of Temperance
God bless the Sons of Temperance y ech-
oed the sw eet little children as their faces
were lifted up to their reformed fathers, for
the goodnight kiss and blessing.
The tears that welled from the eyes of the
lquor-dcaler washed away the second pic
ture.
And the demon of Hatred has, too, been
foied, said he, turning to his radiant guide
[ : II A.
some lover that the Spirit of Hatred showed
me on their wedding?'
Yes, the same. Here, too, my hand has
been at work, reforming and beautifying.
Again the magic pencil Of the Angel drew
pictures for the reformed wine merchant
This time she took him to the public street
of Mammonopolis, and within a gorgeous
marble front store she bade him look. There
was an old man within, reading his paper
with seemingly much satisfaction. His eye
ran over the Commercial column He read,
and putting down his paper gazcd musingly
upon the red hot stove before him. The
clerks running in and out, the hustle of drays
and carts passing before his door, the harsh
) noises Of tracks rolling over the floor, and
, the removal of bales and boxes, did not inter-
. rupt him.
'Mcssrs Redwood & Co., made enormous
sales, yesterday says the morning paper
People say | am getting wealthy, and they
bow to me once more like they used to do
, before fell victim to the wine cup and fell
to the degraded man | was-before / knew
Y the blessing of Temperance, and what it WIS
= = to be man. 1t is the work of Temperance
= of naught else but Temperance-heaven S
y y richest, purest blessings upon that noble hand
u that has raised me up from the mire of hell.
: That is your old master, Abraham Snap,
. said the Angel He fell victim once to the
Demon of Want, but found him and restored
him to life and mankind
= Then he is not dead?
:, No, the Demon of Want, but showed you
;, = that scene as happening in the future. | in
= terposed my arm and he was saved. He is
:, now rich and influential citizen, in ter
u years you will pass his marble store, erectee
where your warehouse now stands. Chez
up, these prophecies are compelled to b,
true, for | have the power to bring them t.
Y pass which no Demon of Wine or any of hi
- spectral retinue can take from me-
Bring it to pass, Angel bring it to pass
=. Il willr
, And show me my future, pure and unbe
y clouded, Angelp
y Have patience! have PATIENCE Now be
+ hold the one you once loved so devotedy an
= tenderly.'
- 1t was night, but the benign moon bathe
+, everything in rays of glory. But upon tn
clear, still summer eve, whose atmoSpher
was fragrant with the exhalations of a milio
, flowers, came the groans and means of dyin
N' men. At glance Snap saw that the Angt
: had taken him to a battlefield. Scattered O
~ ~ all sides " re the munitions and implement
~ Of war-broken carriages, bursted guns, us'
> less muskets accoutrements stained wit
blood, everything laid in confusion, Will
:. upon every hilock and in every little dal
~ lay dead, or wounded soldiers writhing i
W agony. Here and there lights moved abou
~ fickering every where as the two armies pc
formed their camp duties or as brother wer
-. to look for brother or friend for friend anon
80, 10 the slain.
u no But fitting about also among the woundt
n was female figure. Her black dress fell
'P' folds to the earth, and her hood of the san
- sombre color was drawn over her face b.
'Ie Abraham Snap still felt the influence of h
ac presence and his heart at once cried ou
iS y" Blanche Blanche! the same sympathisin
N, tender, loving woman once knew The
t tIa the female form holding in one hand ca
". o.o teen of water and in the other a number
~ bandages, went from one to another on h
III GRAND of mercy. And as each wound
~ ~. soldier refreshed by her presence laid hil
- self down again upon the dewy ground
"a "a await the coming of those who would ]
w move him to medical treatment, he bless
10 the name of Blanche Mayfeld, and breath
,,Ui IA a silent prayer upon her. But she went c
,"s ,nu on, here staunching the life blood
I L;. some gallant soldier, here bathing the head
~. Hc pale and Gainting youth sighing for
a., country home and doting mother, an an!
,;n of mercy everywhere ministering and BILE
ard ing
= =, EShc used to sing The Sunshine of I
y ;, a. - Heart Aoraham Snap said the Angel.
pro o YES yes; you know her, AngelY
,hs Il do But now there is a shadow on
,a,s &c heart, and she seeks to drive that terri
IA" shadow from the hearts of others. She
80 blessed woman, and the fame of her me-
~, ~, full deeds shall ere long resound throu
no" NV. the length and breadth of the land
49, Now, Angel, relieve me of my suspeI
"''-' You haze shown me that the Spirits of
,.,. norancs, of Hatred and of Want arc i'm
-; tent in their intentions if they battle agai
t pia' YOU Oh show me whether or not
c. Spirit of Retrib0tion can be thwarted
you
,oro Behold thenH
thy An9 A'i c' au"n. c.oa,,o1Ir, H.
s'oio ures were worked in and the colors bega
LID glow. The Angel of Temperance IN
ctm Geh'ic VI tuo - &c IN;Do uhoee
.o.5 writings were being closed IN the emo
- go of DEATH The broken bottle and the as