Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-06-05
Full many a gem of purest ray serene,
The dark ~unfatnomed caves of ocean bear
Full many IA flower is borh to blush unseen,
II waste its sweetness on the desert air."

And waste its sweetness on the desert air."
But, not only in the dark caves of ocean
are gems unseen not only. in the desert air
of the wild wilderness are sweets of flowers
wasted-but here, in what ha, been called
cur own happy land, till willy ~demagogues
did mar its peace-amidst the blaze OF civil
zation's light, are many of the brightest gems
Of mind to remain unseen-many rich budS
of intellect never to be developed. Such a
gem-such a flower now is hidden in the
darkness of that ignorance in which a drunk
en- father and a worthless mother have left
that bright-eyed boy. If the hand of char
ity could reach him, and procure for him the
means of obtaining the rudiments of learn
ing, and if he had a friend to take him by
the hand, and lead him to the sunday school,
where the gentle guiding hand Of religion
mIguL Ieau ntm In crc 1aUmcTy PEtt'o Of viz
tue under the genial light and influence Of
Truth, he might become a blessing to the
world by enriching its stores of human hap
piness. And that boy, said Leon, is but a
specimen of what may daily be seen in town
and country throughout the wide domain of
our highly favored land. And this is one of
the numberIess evils of drunkenness. No
wonder that the condemnation of the drunk
ard to the lake that burns with fire and brim
stone, is written in the Holy Book.
But is the drunkard alone to bear the curse!
The owner of an OK, under the, law Of Moses
which had been known to push with his
horns in time past, and his owner did no
keep him in, and the death of Il person shoulC
be caused thereby, was to suffer death. /
Esuch awful responsibility should rest upor
the owner Of an ungovernable OK, under
Law which was promulgated by Divine au-
thority, what must be the responsibility @
him who sells the draught of intoxication
knowing its consequences? Is there no
much nore danger in a mad drupkard tina
an unruly OK?
The business Of the day was ended. Leo
was returning to his home. The storm cloud
had disappeared from the sky. The norther
gale which swept them across the darkene
horizon in the morning, had died away upo
the western hilltops, now gilded by the la
!, rays, of the setting sun. All nature appear
to be sinking 10 rest. And as Leon procedt
:. on his way, the calmness and serenity of tt
| evening contrasted with the storminesS of ii
! morning, turned his mind to serious refle'
ton upon the events of the day. There W
a storm in the natural world, but storms me
: angry ragged in the bcsoms of sinful men,.
r He had seen the staggering bully, infain'
: by intoxication, abusing his fellow man wi
m SUCn lICdlLlEuI 10 NOuiu navy Y q HildL
> and disgrace to iufict upon the meanest bru
. in all Gcd's creation. lie had heard his hi
S ter oaths and blasphemy, enough to sink
G world to the regions of woe. lie had Sc
deceit and fraud practiced for unlawful ga
10y men who have the reputation of honorat
9 men in society. He had seen the votary
Q fashion and pleasure coming down from
O lofty position in society to an association W
a certain class, which for decency's sake
will not name, aud yet he is allowed TO retu
he to that position. What would become of
id lady il she were to descend from a high !
- sition in society to such an association
Could she ever return to that position aga
Vi Would she not be degraded forever? Ger
rit reader, do you keep company win a gent
id man-genlleman md | say ? do you k
~ company with a man WHO would spurn
forever If your associations were such as
I. own? | thank God for the lestraintS vi
"a are upon your sex. But why such ii diff
he ence when it is all the same IN the sigh
! High Heaven? Is it not because the II
~ of the world called wealth is more respe,
by many of your sex than the jewels of c
sistency md virtue?