Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-07-03

It was Saturday night, by no means a woo
ing one Those who had homes and cheerful
dresides ortheir own, and plenty of money to
pay their debts, and servants to do the market
ing, and no wild truant children to look after
and bring into the paternal fold, were not apt
TO venture into the streets on such a night.
There was no silver moon above to light the
wanderers path, or stars to guide him not
one redeeming feature of an ordinary night,
to invite raIuble to those who had been pent
up during the week. The clouds overAowed
with watery righteousness the crossings were
abundant in mud, and woe to that pedestrian
who did not carefully plant his foot, or who
miscalculated the distance Of the successive
puddles that sparkled gloomily between him
aad the next lamp. 1t was not a time for
romancing-the circumstances conspired to
bring to mind far more wildly the realities
instead Of the romances Of earth. Gladly
would we have stunned either a usual or un-
usual journey on such a night, in that neigh
bouring city where we happened to be, Just
one year ago to-day.
We passed up the principal street, more ia
nous for its railroad crossings than its fra
GRANGE or cleanliness, and while hurrying along
at q short distance from the track great as was
the gloom around US, we encountered an object
on the sidewalk. The rain was falling fast,
AAAa NlN DbNl0 VI hhAlI, Ailab hNIC CuuyI ilK
around him into the gutter, did not make a
pleasant bed, yet there lay a man. We
thought at first that he had fallen with, and
was reclining upon, a bundle of sticks, and
seeing a stranger on the other side, apparently
investigating his condition, after ascertaining
that he was alive, we PASSED on. In return
ing, however, some twenty minutes later, he
was still there, though the supposed good
Samaritan was gone, and the bundle OF sticks
also, If there was one ofthem. The response
that greeted a slight jostle by the arm at
once explained the diff culty--he was drunk
and he lay there amid the drenchings o.
the pitiess storm, as seemingly unconscious
OF his manhood as the swine wallowing IL
she mire.
Get up we cried, and go home
lie gruntcd out some dismal answer, partial
ly Strengthened himself up, and then fell bacI
TO his old position.
Don't give ii up try again
so on, he muttered, and let me alone
What leave you here to drown? Not
bit oft Get up, or you'll be dead, or in tn
lookup before morning.
None o your business 'haint got no lock
up growled the human whiskey-jug.
We bent down TO aid him in rising. TIL
arenching rain, howeve had not washed ava
al the fumes Of rum and tobacco, and til
odour that greeted our nostrils was almos
intolerable. We raised him partially. an
with some effort Of his own he was soon Q
his feet.
Now, old fellow, you must go HON
Where do you live 7
Down here a piece. Help me, and I'll sho
you
1t is no easy matter to pilot into port
drunken mau in foul weather, but we O
sayed It. 1t was no great distance to |
home, but his recollection of the exact !
cality was not very clear.
That's the hou house, he hiccoughed
last.
He plunged against the door, and tried, vii
out avail, to open it 1t was quickly open
from the inside by a woman. She showed
surprise, but was evidently embarrassed
our presence. 1t was a dismal, wretch
home, such only as drnnkards inhabit.
single glance showed that she had seen b
teT days, and that she was a true wom
Together we steadied the footsteps of
drunken husband, and she tried to partia
disrobe him of some Of his tattered GARNER
but he tunibled h~eadlong upon his dis,