Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-08-24
Mise&lIanens.
A Powerful Sketch.

III inscription vi run,
personifying one of Millions devils in
council, is too good TO be lost-too
true a picture of rum aud its doings,
to be let 90 out Of print. We repro
duce it in our five thousand edition
and send it broadcast over the land.
1t ought to be read and studied by all.
1t FIRST appeared in the Spirit of the
Age years ago.
any shapes and nsus: are legion, and
I change them at will, 50 that men
shall ofttimes hug me to their bosoms
ike an angel of light. l will be the
greatest Of hypocrites, and deceivers,
even with a kiss ; protesting love and
kindness when my only aim is ruin. l
will be the patron and support of the
gambling den, and OF her, "who.e house
inclineth unto death and her paths unto
the dead" l will through her portals
bring the very flower of manhood to
blight, and shame, and everlasting
contempt.
On every foot of earth and sea l will
follow my victims. Where discor'
and anarchy prevails, there will l be /
where cruelty is, there will l come,
and burn out from the hearts of mer
every vestige Of mercy, till they becom +
6ends incarnate and devise unimsgi' e
able horrors. | will stand beneath tn
gallows-tree, and aver while the deatl ,
rattle is in the throat of the crimins
vii! drive men to robbery and murder,
will lie in wait in the streets Of ~citia',
and plan the midnight fire and assigns,
tion., l will plunge my victims in :
prisons and hospitals, | will stcc :
them in poverty and degradation t,
the very lips. 1 will cast forth thei
families to want and wiBtry winds, an
the babe shall perish in the mother
arms, with its tears frozen to icy DROP !
on her bosom. I will turn the dagge
of the husband against the heart of hi
wife, and her blood shall stain the era
die of his children. Stimulated an /
urged on by me, the father shall dane
in maniac glee over the mangled bod
les Of his murdered babes, and laugl-
to see their fair locks dabbled in blood,
the mother shall "forget her sucking;
child" slain by her own hand ; an'i
mock at the tender years and helpless
ness of her offspriug.4
On whatsoever heSfehstone my foo,
be planted, the gladsopfe fire shall GO
out, to be lighted no IRE forever; am
the roof-trec shall faf'and the voice.
of children be hushedingd all that mel
cluster around them Nv make thei
earthly homes so mugt, like heaven
shall vanish like a wreath of smokr
and desolation brood over the ruin,
Twill point the sons knife against tn
fathers throat, and his grey hair shaI
drip with gore. Where war and ven
geance are, l will rouse their fury t
ten-fold rage, and blot from the soldier
breast the last vistage Of humanit
The incendiary's torch shall be m
banner; the CT acklipg frame of burniu
villages, and the shrek of murdsIe
innocence the music of my marc!
Pestilence shall follow me as a sba'
Ow and l will open unto him the gait
of a million dwell ng. which had bee
secur l will spread famine and dis
ease even in the lands of plenty al
wealth, and will seal up the eyes of a
my victims, so that they shall not Sc
nor know that their next plunge is i
to perdition. | will sweep whole con
nents of their inhabitants; and 81
woes and Sorrows aud g wounds witt
out cause" to the whole race of INA
Yet, whosoeyer is wounded by II
shall seek me as hidden treasure.
be wounded yet again. | will bind
on their brows the iron crown of su
ering, burning with hell fire, that sh
scorch and scar and cut into their br'
and soul, and yet shall they fall do
and worship me, and for my sake P
with their houses and lands, wife a
children, and hope and Heaven.
Let Jehovah send forth spirits, p
as the snow. fake, to dwell in cart
bodies; l will seek them out and kin
in their hearts an u~nqaenchable t
that shall consume them, and the CT
ubim shall watch long for their ret