Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-02-02
5f(l1s,esllaneols,
wHosLEw EsE'
AN AUTHENTIC NARRATIVE.

ABOUT twenty years ago, MT. ahii mrs'
-, decent and respectable people, re-
moved with family of children from the
,ountty to a neighboriag town, where they
purchased smal! house and lot, and lived
very cousar tably. Their family, however,
increasingto Eve boys, they removed tol
lhe shore 1.-The town being situated on
river-and In addition to their former
meansof obtaining living, erected sign,
-u4 provided entertainment for such as
ose to call on them. They were tenn
rate people, accounted honest, and sent
Aeir children to the most respectable
chool in the place. In short time 1t was
perceived that they too frequently partook
Of the entertainment" AS it is called,
which they provided for their customers.
The habit Of daily measuring the poison
to others, induced them to taste for them
selves their house was not as respecta-
Bile as formerly restraints were removed; /;
and although they were not drunkards,
they gave evidence that they used too free
ly the deadly drug which they fearlessy
handled. If the temperance reformation
had been at that time commenced, they
might have been warned of their danger
and saved from ruin 6ut nothing arrested
their PROCESS 10 the path of the destroyer.
Their children, WHO used to be clad with
garments which denoted mothers in
dustry, soon began to bear marks of neg
lect, and were by degrees Withdrawn from
the school-their parents, because of hard
times, not being able to support them there.
They consequently louuged about, became
acquainted with the customers at the bar
and learned their evil habits, especially
that of drinking. ......s.--sti -el,,.s Il.
The parents had commenced the sale OF
Intoxicating drinks to become rich but at
the end of few years it had reduced them
to poverty. They had lost their respecta,
bility, their honesty, aud their property
which was mortgaged for run their chill
dren had become vagabonds, end thei
house receptacle of vice. Ofall their 6v
sons, not one escaped the Infection the
and their miserable parents wollawed i
the mire together.
In consequence ofthe dreadful excess t
which she had abandoned herself, tn
imaginati,n Of Mrs. became disorder
cd, and corjured up horrible visions.
her fits of the delirian1 tenaens, she fan
cied herself bound with belt of brass,
which was attached a chain held by til
great enemy of souls. who had indee
enchained her with this most dire an
effectual fall his spells She would GRO
the room With the Iapidity of lightnin
screaming that he was winding up ii
chain, aud she must go-she could n
stop. She was afraid to pass her ov
threshold, and faucicd she heard unearth
voices, and saw spirits black and hideo
all around her. "There they Sit" S
would say, "J---------, -, Nj, me-
tioning the names of all her children
"there they sit, grinniDg at me and te
ing me | sent them to hell +: they are
the beams aud in the corners, and wher
ever go" Pig -9".
The writer Of this has often witness
her desperate struggles has seen h
when a CLEAN of reason came over /
mind, weep in bitterness over her ruin a
misery; has heard her confessions Of dee
of villainy committed under her roof a
has heard also her solemn VOWS to refr;
from that which wrought all this mis-,
anu STU ) OuI aiteE all tnlS LAS seen !
"seek it yet again"
All the arguments which religion {
offer were set before her, and she often
or appeared to feel, their foes, aud
solved bat the deadly wave seemed
have retired to gather new force, md ag
swept over her and Frustrated her lo'
than "the beasts that perish" There
be no more effectual barrier against
voice of conscience, the powerful infne
of natural affection, and the striving of
blessed Spirit of God, thao the use of
toxicating drinks.
Her husband had made himself literal
beast his appearance was scarcely huns
bloated, discolored, totteriug, uttering {
ses, and sometimes threatening her life
Her constitution after while gave "
and she sank in death, snoring out the
last days of her existence in state of
por, covered with rags aud filth.
husband had so benumbed every feelin
humanity by his excess, that he seer
very little affected by her death and
one who reminded him of their. for
responsibility, and spoke of the wretc
state to which they were reduced, urs
him powerfully, over the dead body of
self-murdered wife, no,c to desist, he
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