Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-09-25
The Drunkard's Trials.


dwell IN the tents of Kedar PSALMS.
Looking upon the drunkard in his wild
aud reckless moments Of dissipation, one
would naturally suppose that he never ex-
perlenced single pang of remorse or en-
tertalned regret for his course in life
But such is not the case for he is some
times sober, and then he resolves to reform.
and in his efforts to carry out this noble
purpose he meets with the most affective
trials
Let US take a single case as an example
of the thousands similarly situated: He is
middle-aged man, with a large family
dependant upon him for the comforts of
life. In his younger days he contracted
the habit of drinking with his friends and
neighbors in social way, and as the years
came and went, the dangerous appetite for
drink grew upon him apace until he finds
himself to- day miserable slave to his bot
tie. Now, he is not always drunken, and
when bis reason is not dethroned by drink,
he casts his eye around hirn and realizes the
fearful ground he occupies. lie sees his
wife and children depending upon him for
bread, and for protection and guidance
through the paths Of life. lie sees the
necessity Of reform and resolves that he
Will put the ruinous practice of drink far
from him aud be slave to his cups aud a
curse to his family no more. This is no
pie resolve, but what is the resule NJ,
always, thank Heaven ! but more frequent
ly than otherwise, this good resolge-this
noble purpose Is set aside when the unfor
tunate man comes in contact with his old
enemy.
l will reform, says the drunSard and
he forsakes his cups for few DAYS it
may be for weeks or months, and he is
thrown into evil company, or is called to "a
place where the destructive agents are
o. sale; ana his strong resolution is made
to quake and to falter. The bewitchip o
fumes of his old enemy overpower him,
and he puts. the deadly cup to his lips
agaln-hls strong purpose is made weak
the bright vision of better days to come,
called up by his short respite, fly away, he
again falls into the dust a poor drunkard
covered with renewed disgrace.
1t he was removed to land where nc
liquor could be had he might rid himself
OF his trials; but while in land where
grog shops are found at every corner, and
where whiskey pedlars go through the
country unmolested, tempting all who fall
IN their way, 1t may be expected that every
drinking man who is endeavoring to re
form will meet with sore trials aud tempta
tioDs. This has been the experience o.
the past and will be re affirmed 10 time tc
come. The gospel may be preached, anc
temperance men may use every means il
their power to disseminate temperance sen
timent among the masses, but while liq-
uor-selling is countenanced by the people
and while grogshops and whiskey carts SC
snares for men, we may expect the beS
directed efforts to prove mainly abortive
The drunkard has trials, no matter hov
much degraded he may SEEM In his SO
Der moments he looks back with longin,
eyes to the fair fields of temperance he ha
left, and looks forward along the dark an,
terrible road which be is to travel, wit
dismay for he knows it leads to a fearful
end, and he recoils with shudder as h
feels an irresistible force impelling him o
and onward to meet the drunkard's fer
doom. He feels that all is gone unless
makes speedy retreat, he sees be is SUI
rounded with temptations whose power b
Is unable to resist-he sighs for lan
uncursed of rum, and cries out 10 bitter
ness Of soul, "Woe is me that | soiour
in Mesech, that dwell in the t. nts Of Ke
dar!"