Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-05-12

$1,000 80 4Ao0x04 ]
; and he could hear chains rafting
as the people crowded along, SO that he was
soon convinced that he was in the world
of despair. Here he was to keep a tav.
ern.
The old customers who had brought him,
had been sent as a committee to find the
right sort of a man to keep tavern in hell ;
for they often declared there was no man
doing SO good a business as Squire Ball, or
who had SO many qualifications for the
high honor Of being the landlord of the
hosts of the prince of darkness.
He was instantly and duly installed in
office, and commenced dealing out spirits
to the spirits in prison. But his surprise
was great, and his confusion truly pitiable,
when he recognized in every customer that
cam into his bar the faces be had known
in Kingston, and all of them his neighbors
and their families.
cha Squire Ball, is that you ~ said a
fierce looking man who came for a drink
!" when did you come"
The squire perceived In the newcomer
a man to whom he had sold liquor for ff-
teen years, and who had died In the poor
house. He was a sober, industrious man
when the landlord of Kingston first tempt.
ed him to taste a dram, and his progress in
the downward road had become sure and
rapid from that day.
Next came a female fury, a lost woman,
a wild spirit who few at him as she entered
his internal tavern, and reproached him as
the cause of her ruin and thai of her fami-
ly.
But for you,' said she, in a clear voice,
that pierced his ear like a knife, but for
you | might be an angel in heaven, aud
now | am a demon in hell. You made my
husband a drunkard, and now we are both
Of us here
The squire was speechless. What could
he say :? His face blazed red with shame,
and he tried to find some words of excuse,
but in vain. At last he thought of bis
Bible, and gathered courage to say:
Didn't [ often tell you that you must re.
pent OF your sins, or you would never go tc
heaven I?
Yes, [ know you did, and | have heard
you praying half a mile off but what gooo
do you suppose the preaching or praying o.
a rum seller would do ? All you wanted
was to get the money for your liquor, ano
it was nothing to you what became of the
souls of your customers. But [ am glad you
are here at last. | never wanted to see any
body here as Auch as you. Did you bring
your Bible with you, squire?
No said he, | came away in a grea,
hurry. Indeed, | had no thought of coming
at all, but was seized in a moment when
hadi no expectation of being summoned
VIII /; / a; a s5 a | As Why J | vas aga wanted %ifslPf here e,
FWhy you were wanted ? You were wan
ted that you might see the fruits of you
doings, the end of your labor and that 20,
might feel the fires you have kindled TO
the souls you have destroyed. You hav
come 20 your own place, and you will know
what it is to be an agent of the Devil O.
earth, and his slave in hell. am glad yo
are here
{ While this wretched woman was rayin
and cursiDg, a troop of spirits rushed int
, the internal tavern, and whom should tn
astonished publican behold but tue com
:, pany who had been at his tavern 10 King
ston the day before and among them q
the head were the two whom he had drive
away from his door, after they had becom
:, so drunk that he could not bear them an
l longer. In they came, reeking with tn
fumes of the still, and raging with the mac
ness of the pit and as they entered, the
=. gave three cheers for the landlord, til;
made the whole region of darkness riu
: with horror.
why, you are here before u.s. cried OIL
, of them.
Caught you too y said another.
0 This is the place for you and your bus
{ ness
You'll make money here, and get p,
in your own CON- said another.
And so they went on jeering him IN
g his wrath was kindled beyond measure, al
= he began to storm in reply. And then tn
:, laughed.
Why, you can't hurt us. We have
= good right here as you, and if you wi
- to have it all to yourself, We only wish y
y could. But you sent US here, and now
must have your company f!
Is The squire sunk down with shame a
!, remorse. He saw his own work. The
q were his victims. Once they were
neighbors, honest, industrious men, IN
they began to frequent his house, and tb
d they grew worse aud worse, till they beca
u quarrelsome, noisy, p~rofaue, Sabbath bre;
d ing men, and now they were in hell, a
ID he among them, where he deserved
n be.
at Then the spirits of all the men whom