Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-01-23
FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
THE FATAL BALL.

Col. W., wealthy citizen of Virginia,
was remarkable for his disposition for pleas
ure. He had kept house of entertainment
for several years, and bar always furnished
ting, the eldest SON youth. of abont 10
years. had just returned- from Collece rto
Colonel gave fine dinner to- LARGO mart. &c
the most respectable citizens ORR.
borhoed. This young collegiate haSn"Isei 5.I
access to his fathers bar almost from his IN
fancy, had acquired taste for spirits that
had now grown into habit difficult for him
to control.
Every thing passed off pleasantly: dinner
was well served up, and all seemed to enjoy
the repast with high glec. The Colonel had
two objects in view-one was to give an ey-
idence of his qualification at the reception Of
his son, and the other to divert the mind of
his only daughter from melancholy serious
ness in which it had been some time en-
shrouded
There was revival Of religion not far
from the Coloners, and Miss W., had been
in attendance and became powerfully con
victed Her father sternly objected to her
attending the meeting any more, and thought
by her returning to the gay company and
other amusements to which he would intro
duce her, she would soon be restored to her
former cheerfulness. While various topics
were being discussed and preparations were
making to commence the dance, the young
collegiate suddenly entered the hall. With
| a genteel bow ne commencei delivering a
speech lie seemed to think he was at Col
lege and scared aloft with giittering elo-
quence All seemed to be astonished even
to admiration, with the fl iency OF the young
mans eff,rt. Before be advanced far, however,
he paused as though absorbed in thought
| + ha nk III
in drinking saloon and began to order various
kinds of drink, and then shocked the whole
company by the most obscene and profanc
| language.
The modification Of his sister can be bet
ter imagined than described. She retired to
her room and spent good portion Of the
night in prayer ; and when the kind restorer
of nature did come, it brought not that
balmy refreshment so pleasant and necessary
to the weary--shc was aft lighted by terrific
dreams.
Miss w. wished to attend the meeting that
day, which she did; and there solemnly vow ed
} that she would never dance again. Very
J soon thereafter there was a ball in the gh
, borhood, and notwithstanding she had fully
esolved she would not attend, by the per
7 suasion of her father, brother and Others, al
the expense of her conscience she went t.
, the ball and strange to tell, she broke her
2 VOW and was seen on the fl ,or engaged il
$ the dance Every thing passed off smooth,
5 until about 1 | O'Clock, when suddenly whilC
, dancing, Miss Emma was attacked with tht
: palpitation of the heart and compelled t.
n abandon the floor. She was conducted to
e sofa where she had severe fit Of ofsyncope.-
She was now conveyed home and q physicial
q called in, who after examining the patient
informed her parents that she could live bu
q very short time. Little consciousness a
she seemed TO possess, she appeared to rea
l. the Doctors sentiments Looking him fu
J. in the facex she exclaimed-"And so | mu,
o diA Deetpe+- You cannet save me Y-contir
g. uiug"-"I am undone, forever undonel ~
q poor soul is lost, lost, .torerer lost?' Vine
a turning her eyes upon her weeping paren
she bade them farewell, declaring that the
lc were the cause of her eternal damnation.-
OF After which she started as though she woul
ID leap out of bed, shrieking that the devils ha
st already come after her. In this conditio
It. she continued until about 5 o'clock, whe
u her spirit took its flight to meet its etern
q, destiny in the invisible world.
tn We viii not attempt in this article to d
nj pict the anguish of the family nor their
OF ture course.
ig PHL0 yERITAS.
p, JeffsrSoD n O. G.