Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-03-16
com II s.
TOR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
/ O TO THE SOLDIERS.
BY ERATo.

NOM, nd the loved ones there "Ah!
Won c4elaip, "do YOU think We ever forget
the home circle, and its endearments G"-
Do not think harshly Of me, if | tell you
that you do, too often forget home and
its haIlowed Influences. When" Henry"
takes q "sociA glass; with a comrade, he
forgets the gen.,e another, "ho babe him
think of her instruc. ions, |" never taste any
spirituous liquors. Henry, you know there
is death and luin in the bowl. God bless
you, my boy" and the gentle mother sees
her boy depart, full of hope. She prays
that he may. return untarnished by con-
tact with the %ruinons cup.
table, he forge's The burning kiss imprinted
on his check, AS he started to the war
when his fond sister sail, Charlie, do not
let me hear Of your playing cards never
give me reason to thiLk my noble brother
is a gambler. Go dear one, and nay
heavens richest blessings rest upon your
Will heavens blessings rest upon you,
Charlie, while ecu disregard your devoted
, sisters parting Injunction? Surely not.
Jammie, Jammie, does not the hot blood
rush to your check, now that you remem-
Der your broken vow ); you forget that
your gentle Marie said, as you imprinted
warm kiss on her pale cheek, Jamie,
never let those pure lips be stained with
bitter oaths. If you are sp Jared to return,
may your lips and heart be pure as now !.
For your. sake, Marie, I promise to use
no profane language Jammie, you have
not kept that premise! Think yeu, that
you could bear the searching glance Of
Mariei Would not the broken promise
come before you Coald that gentle being
whose every heart-throb is for you, hear
the bitter oaths that fall from your lips,
her cheeks would grow paler, her eyes
dim, and a lew months more and we would
bear the form Of her you loved, to its Last
resting place! That fragile creature,
whose undivided love and trust Is chine,
cannot love and trust q SaUeorer!
There arc hosts of others, whose crimes
are blacker and more numerous than those
mentioned Crimes, such as would black.
en- the page of history I! All I! soldiers,
must the loved ones think Of your return
with dread? Would You have them
shudder when they think O your coming
Do you not tremble when you remem-
Der the thousands Of sins that you have
committed 10 camp? Does the hidden
future-the world bcyond-or even the
present, look so bright as when your
heart was free from guile?
Has not whiskey, with its attendant
evils, darkeued your understanding ant
lowered you in your own estimation !
Soldiers ! look for a moment see those
bristling bayonets--seo the '~atars ant
stripes" waving over those demons of dark
ness-as they come to murder yow. Hush
Hear you not that report,-boom H.
some SOU launched into eternity All
the conflict RACES - you are in line Of bat.
tle-the enemy rushes upon you-neare
and nesrer-a shell speeds over you-an-
other-Asd another but here comes still
another, it goes not over, but through
Charles head !" Charlie is killed !'-
sounds through the company! Wher
goes the gamblers soul Can it be til
rosy-cheekcd, fair-haired boy-the noble
handsome man, the good soldiel--th
GAMBLER! Yes, lie is gone! All tn
terror that strikes The sisters heart az sh
hears Of the battle /; she has heard ths
Charlie had disregarded her parting word
and had become . gambler "No
the battle" comes, the sisto> Editor of tha
long list Of " kiilel~"Versed vi
quick eve cr"es county "