Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-10-12

:. Sooii alter, next preceding tue |
oaleuictory, Carroll gave an extract from
Uie u,;e. oI "lllls's best poems, 'Absalom,'
;r 'th AZ an earnestness and pathos, which
t;an uo GREATNESS stiffness of rapt atten-
% of urew IRON many there the tribute
oam; ~ ssar, ana from the Judgment of the
prize.
The students, having neaay equally
natural gifts, We're in character widely |
dlssimilar; Gray, great favorite among
his free and easy boon companions, |
professed little moral restraint, and re-
sorted often to the wine cup as stimu- |
liant for effort or for the flow of soul at |
conviVial gatherings, and On the exhibi-
ton evening had taken little too much of
the stimulant for the correct exercise Of
judgment; and the mortifying result was
a subject which his friends did not fail to
banter him upon long time thereafter
Carroll, opposed from priaciple to intem-
peranee, saw also that even moderate
use of alcoholic liquors was in time ru-
inous to the powers of both mind and
body, and with a jealous care for the full
development of both, ever abstained from
aught that could intoxicase. With equal
ambition, but with aims and views thus
differing, the two friends, for such they
were, though not very Intimate, left the
Academy for College, and from the time
of their leaving College, / had not heard
from either.
AS | stood musing thus in my suppos-
ed solitude, was startled to observe the
form of man rising from a seat in what
had been an arbor, now oVergrown with
jessamine, trailing in wild luxuriance
and to my earnest gaze, the thoughtful,
intellectual face seemed strongly like that
of well remembered friend of nv child
hood Gould it be? Yes, it was Emer-
son Carroll, thus strangely met near
what had been the home of his father.
and soon after the warm grasping of
hands we We're seated there together,
mutual questions and answers followed
thick and fast on the spur of thousand
"my own story is quickly told," said he
"You know how my term in college was
passed, and of the profession which, at
|. the call as believe of duty, I decided
upon. After completing my theological
studies, Ijournied with an invalid South
in search of health, which there she soon
found, and after officiating several Sab :
baths for the Centenary Church in the
city of t., received unanimous call
to become their pastor; and there, to a
! home made pleasant by the smiles of one
whom consider peerless among the fail
daughters OF. theeSouth, | had the pleas
ure of welcoming my parents after the
| burning of the old homestead But
you recollect Gray-Frederic Gray p
| have that to tell concerning him which
will grieve, if not surprise you. On my
| journey hither diverged from the direc
| route to visit cur old friend at NJ, OF
the Ohio; and stopping at the neares
landing, took horse to proceed a
once to the residence of my friend. Al
accident disabled the horse, and | wa
obliged to stop at an obscure inn on tn
way, and put up there for the night
Entering with the landlord, we passed
group of card players in the bar room
and how was astonished to recogniz
among them Frederic Gray change
indeed, bearing in his haggard face an
blood shot eyes, the fearful evidences {
a life of dissipation but I knew him 8
glance. He did not recognize me, be
ing too intent on the game probably
see or care for aught else. :.
As was about retiring, the sound {
angrys voices in the room below dec
ded me to go down and stay, if possibl
the strife What scene there met m
f view! The party were all on their fee
, and in their midst Gray with uplifte
knife was threatening his late antagoni
, at the game. 1t seemed that, rendere
f desperate by the loss of his last dolla
e Gray charged his late antagonist, pr
fessionap gambler, with cheating, and n
a ! without reason.
Y with the hope of arranging it amic
l bly,, in the mean time, the landlord pr
r posed that the quarrel be settled in t
: morning according to the laws of hon6
}, which was at length decided on, ar
Ii calling for lights ali soon retired. In t
If morning, before he had left the house
e found and declared myself to Gray, a
sought by every persuasion to indu
20 him to leave his manner of life and
IS evil companions at once, but in val
\, snd at sunrise he was on the tgrouI
# where all had assembled. As | stO
ID there, lovelier morning and mc
le pleasant scene | thought never beh'
l. from the high bluff overlooking the
( BILE river rolling placid through its bes
10 tiful valley, the view was indeed m;
be nificent, while thesweet perfumed bre;
/ Of L a.