The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1888-10-25
"Reminiscences
Spccta. Correspondence Of tic GoN Leaf.


SpCctdt Correspondence Of tic G0tG Leaf.
A few years ago visited a city of my
native State on business. Having trans
acted the same, to avoid the oppressive
heat, | sought the cooling breezes Of a
shady cemetery. While reading the i'll
scriptions on the tomb stones, some of
WkicA tald what the departed should have
been instead of what he was, | saw Il
hrarse, followed by d lohg train Of We
hicles, comiEg through the outer gate oF
the cemetery grounds. They were making
for newly opened grave under a spread
ing tree. | took My position near the spot
silent spectator u thc scene. They were
bearing young man; the fallen victim Of
the Ubiquitous liquor traffse, to his grave.
lie WAS the son Of 4 kind and wealthy IA
tlcr, whose means had been freely cX-
pended to fit him for the duties Of coming
years. He sent him to college hoping he
would improve his time, and return with a
Well stored mind #iae pride of his family
and an ornament 10 t2e church and his
count9-. But, alas. he rtSernrG Sunken
III morals tD blast the hopes Of his kind
. father and shroud his house in mourning
| His pious mother lingering in another room
IN the last stages OF consumption saw not
her crring boy as lie tossed upon his bed in
the agonieS Of dplrum tremcns She
| heard the footsteps Of kind friends hearing
HIM from his fathers mansion, but oh ,
q
with him in the brighter land !. As the
man of God pronounced the impressive
words = dust to dust" and the rumbing
clodS sent back their sad Sepulchral sound,
| heard an expression from thc lips Of q
, weeping female | can never forget" oh
my poor unfortunate brother" 1t was the
expression Of grief-StriCkcn sisters heart
that loved him. She was reared under the
same r1ternal roof with him, and sported
with him in tender wears under the spread
ing trees that 5eautifed her fathers house
Oh how many thoughts of happier DAYS
crowded her memory as she Wrpt by the
grave Of her " unfortunate brother" With
such scenes before rs s1ould we be told in
this Christian land it is not our duty to sup
press the liquor traffic and arrest the tide
Ot moral corruption that is sweeping the
youth of our country into druudard'S
graves? Our Legislators and Counts Com
miS~ionerS will have Il fearful account to
render irt the bar of God for the prrSiStcncV
with which they throw their arms ef pro
lection around the murderouS WhiskeV
Sc0urgc. Ii. vain may they Plead non re-
I SpnnSIhility (With their discretionary DOW
crS) i'll the matter, while licensing the I'M
/ feeling liquor seller in his business but
the wall of the distressed mothers OF the
zand Will reach the ears of q sin a. en- = ng
/ Cod on high. Gre Us the YellOwIever OF
! cholera SCourgc with their DESTROYING
sweep. Which impart no moral pollution to
the sotl, IN preference to the licensed
/ liquor scoGreo that is shroudiug the house
/ holds Of the land in gloom, leaving heart
broken widows ard destitute orphans in
/ its course. Nothing shows more fully the
m0ral deplayity 81 our people Than the
/ tthacity with which they cling to the
/ liquor business. But the wheels of moral
/ progress are in motion and the time is rap
! idly approaching when, in the light III y
/ brighter age, the liquor traffic with It's
| diretul con>ts Fences will not he tolerated
! IN this land. The monster Will die hard
| but the nations iulniee will he heard OYER
! its downfall. .st}hs fiat my voice could
mingle in the Shout OF rejoicingS
| henderson, y. Z. x ". H.