Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-07-14
The Result.
eau number

IL seems many years ago, when l stood
upon the green bank just in front of the
school-housc Of our little village, in the
beautiful valley Of Virginia, but it has not
beeu long. Scarce ten years have rolled
by, since the time speak of: but oh, what
change has occurred since then.
There was another stood there with me;
he was muca older than [ he had seen
some of the world and engaged il it's dis
s'pations. Ho had just finished telling me
OF "spree" he had in Richmond, the
metropolis OF our beloved State, where he
had reslGed Tor some time. He spoke Of
the drinking saloons, Of the bar-rooms, of
| the theatre, and other places.
How could you engage in such things?"
exclaimed /, after listening to his recital.
Oh you See, do not do this often,
and 1t revives one-puts some life into him
to get on jolly frolic like that every
once IN a while"
| But, If Mary was to find out that Won
bad done it once, would she not fear tue
| cur lollies that all young men aolU nave,
and would say nothing about it; and, be-
sides, there is no fear Of any evil result"
"Tbere is great fear, Charley; and if
she but knew of it, it would make her fear
make her look forward, because she has
felt the evil before"
"WelI, say nothing about it this time.
and will promise never to indulge to ex-
cess again.
| had forgotten in the commencement OF
my story, to tell that Charley II waF
|, IL, - bod TO IfT ho lnUa
!, hest women Of our vilage-not beautiful
in face and form was she, but beautiful
, lovely in her manners, actions, words. She
delighted to be engaged ia aileviating tha
= pain of tee suffering, of cooling the heated
brow of the fever tossed victim, of visiting
r the poor, and speaking words OF encour-
Il agetnent to the suffering. Such was the
q woman whose love he had won by his no.
-. ble bearing and frank manners. lie hat
4 then come to bear her away as his bride
p, and God knows we prayed that their live
might be happy ones. But, after learning
bis history from his own lips, feared ths
"a they would not be so happy as they b
IL for, and as | took leave Of him, said
~ Remember, Charley the result
~ No DANGER" he replied, as he gail
ey leaped into The carriage and disappeared
e. x * 4 :: x
20 Some years rolled by, during which tim
7 heard from Charley often; then b
4 letters grew short and far between, aud
he last ceased entirely, and / lost sight
II. him.
od I often wondered what had become
e him. He had left Richmond and gone, I
- one knew where | heard Of him AS beii
- issipated-recklesslv so. lie had 60
ley on in his downward course until it was L
IN safe for his employers to keep him long
and he was discharged from their hon
hts Even I had almost forgotten him, wh'
one evening, as | was walking along t
ing Drincipal street of one of our Northern citl
sun I heard my name called and on irving
ax- see who it was that had thus hailed me
the saw 2 pale, haggard being making towal
an me. BE came up and and asked:
7ay, "Ale you not"
ark 7 told him that was my name, when
ung asked again,
ever {. DO YOU not remember me &
ton replied in the negative.
can "Do Won not remember Charley H
My God IS it possible" y L oxclalr
The almost involuntarily.
had 1T is him and you see how changt
light am now | an not the Charley L was tn
bout " Bat, Mar p asked.
ceiv- {. Alas, she has cone to her long h'
said, killed KILLED !! KtLLED!., by me
, a VAS her MUaDERER" and the poor 4
, one Overcome b. h.s feelings, sank upon
vile groaud. l bad him raised up, and con-
an ed 10 a hotel and as soon as ne revive
tsslr H.-e kis v-hels hist ory,