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my it! r. I 'in;1; o I- A FAMILY -.NEWSPAPER. r ctTlje (Dffiriol (Drgns tiiltid; te , if if nb nf , f f niprrnnrr . , TWO DOLLARS A YEAR. VOLT III.-. r J iiA'r-iJiG-H- isr!" jc vEDisrEsriAYf atjgv ai. -1869: fell M " .. : ! ; rgr? - f il 'l .. . i I Written xpres!y for tL FreniL . T12'.0U ARC! AN ANGEL m i. w;TiioMisoNY CIIAPTERIV. T1IE Sob nhti hicr heart, and fell tips. A perfect d to be raging in lier bosom. Presently her grief found . expres sion in ' words. I heard my own lame. " ' ' ' "Edgar, oh, Edgar, why did I ever nect you ! Why did I not die before you crossed ir.y path ! To see the heart for which I would give my life .trampled beneath the feet' of another, there," ton, by yon in yonr blind adoration! Oh ! Ed2:ar, whvdo yon'not mwalce from your dream of bliss, when tb precipice of ruin is just before you." Then nho started upTind her slight form dilated with indignation, and her blue eye flashed defiantly, as she burst forth, "And you, O Helen Sinclair, are among the most cruel .and false-heart--' od, to wreck such a noble heart as that of Ed f a r Trent. You are we ivi,,j n-r ! i rd him'- tl'C ; meshes .of'yom- p- -. 'iv. 'rnv tnut'1 him ! rnl". li'. 4l. 7 iU?.f yivi 'ia' 1 e tl t ,'va rt h e V ' T, Y?s ;;! -: the .J 1- . ,1-- : ! 1 tit of JPgs of nti nf -mo. Hv and by. I I: hi r:j) t'i-t ( !, : 'lioir-'.v;;- raying, as it' exluoi-t1 lv the violence of- lier ' liinder, in tear-stains still -upon her lovely fare ! Then and there T registered a vow in my heart that T would forsake. the divinity wh' h I had so long -'wor- - tliinnfrl. nnd he'ne forth devote mv life to that dear one who. had proved my. guardian angel in the midst of. temp tation.i No'iRelesHly I glided outof the room, ajid nought my own. ! I almost gained my chamber, when t heard tliie distant sounds of mirth and ' mQiic in the parlor. . '"'"I know not what evil spirit tempted v iao there ; but I was irresistibly drawn to tKeaonrid of merry laughter ""that" came echoing through the passage, to -:tnv enm.1 ' Oh ! that I . had passed on ! ' My mind wandered back to that one uleeping the sleep of exhaustion in the library ; I thought of the confession which I had heard from her own li,s ; bntthat had no power then to keep me back. . s- " . . ; - When I entered the parlor there was a murmur of surprise at my haggard - -sppearenee. iy .'.;;.;....,,. : : . MWb'y, Trent," said one "yon look like yva had seen a ghost." .nfComfehere Mr. Trent," said Helen, smiling thai smiU which I could not I passed overdo her side, and as I cught the glance of those magnificient , yes, my heart seemed : to come back r ndfU-in. submission at her feet, , v, Mr. Trent, r you,; must atone for dropping jour wine to-night by drink ing another glass with ,rne. There do Uko tV gla8' And she offered me the - vine with a look that dissolved all rav resolutions and my vows of fidelity to Alice, as the sun melts the hoar-frost ofmorsing. , , Jtoas under the spell t A. There was no Alice Haiden, as a guardian genius, to save me now.- I was completely in the coils. "Miss Sinclair," I replied," I cannot resist,, wbea tou pload, I will take the .-The glasses clinkodt ogether and the )iqnid gurgled down ray throat. ' Mv first nlass was oreeted with nn- Vihirn :kh$ .'.?9Wny-'. But when I , lncrrd' atMr., Siiiolair there was a troubled vxpfeslon' upon his face. However, I thought very little' "of that as Lhad seen him, drink more than one ..tgljlhat,. evening. . r.j , .tiAltcnvth0-firtt step, ii -.taken in vice, ivis eay to take the -second. After the (?rf t barrier of conscience has been , - r J . I . . " , y tx i iiunor ana .fience: the other -MVn- irom ner qmvenng 1 felt as I never frit, hofcm i T m.-i. , , :r : ' V . nurncanuui irrivi et'in- . D .1 can be! In m . . - moments Irom the time I drank m v first g!a8 of wine I had dranki all presented by the hand of Helen Sin clair, whom I conld not resist. I teas under th'c spell! The result can easily be imairined. not describe the sensations I exberien ced ; nor do I th'nk such a description would intrre?t the reader. ' ' ." j , ' 1 Glass after glass was drank, Until I became unfit to remain in the company, How T reached my chatnberi i can not tell. I have n dim recollection of ectj lind groping, my way , like a blin rran tli rough the long 'passage's - an,l I can remember that near the library!. door, something met me, I know net wheth er a living being or ghost, thjeform seemed so. light and etherial to iny be wildered senses, and the c.onntpianee was so lead ly pale. Il may haVe been my mother's spirit, disturbed in her eternal repose by the waywardness -of her child. I saw th'e same deep-blue eyes, and the same. long. golden 'tresses which she pps'sessed. Jut the expres sion of the countr nance was strangely like Alice linden's. Tlie vision' faded from my sight- passed away down the dim, shadowy passage and disappeared. I know not how long I stopd there gazing after the phantom jfjMnf recollection of stretching forth my arms towards the retreating figure, as tender thoughts forced their way upon my beclouded mind. I j But the spectre Avas gone!. The next s-nsation which I experienced was a t- rr i bl e ' aching smj fiosvl'rS rTuw1STto finl Tnyseit in my own chamber, stretched on the couch with all mv clothes on, where I must have crept, after meeting the strange figure in the passage. I looked at my watch and found it to belong after .of- tice fionrs. l saw none ot 1 fie tamiiy wlvn T appearel at th'e breakfast-table, which had been kept, waiting -for. me. I asked the servant where the numbers ot the family were, and was told! that Mr. -Sinclair had gone to the store, Mrs.. Sinclair an( Helen were gone on for a morning drive, hud Alice Haidtn had not left her room that morning. Mr. Sinclair said nothing but a sim pie " good morning" w hen I entered the office, and during all the morning kept a profound silence. "I fear I should not have received his rebukes with that meekness which my guilt would have prompted under other circumstances. Tor had not his own child caused my downfall ? I think it was this' cireum stance that kept him ' nlent -upon the subject.' I felt sure that he was troub led ; but he had not the courage to cen- suro me for an off nee of which his own daughter had been the cause ! ; At the dinner-table, I met all, the family, Mrs. Sinclair was quiet and re served ; Helen said very little, and seemed to be suffering, if I may judge from, her flushed countenance and rest less, acfitated manner, Sliss TIaiden said nothing, ate nothing ; and I could perceive traces of tears upon her pale cheeks. The mal was eaten in silent embarrassment, and I went back to the tore, gladjto escape from the society of those w ho had witnessed mv humili ation. Iu the afternoon the same scene of silence between, myself and Mr. ; Sin- olp.ir was enacted. He- seemed to be suffering mentally, and 'was in no way inclined to talk ; and I was glad to es cape conversation,' It is needless to say that I was un happy ! T was iweichtd My moth er's sad Jaoe was constantly before me, and in imagination I could; hear her voice ringing out from the long Past : t: Edgai my child, never toucJt a, drop, of ardent spirits f' - CHAPTER V. SAVED ?V THE QUAKDIAN ANGEL. '. . i. . ; ' . " - I was no'v upon the very threshold of ruin, I stood, as it were, with two paths before me, one of which I had already begun to tread. The one lay upward along the thorny way of absti nence, where bowers of ease invite to repose at every step, on cither hand, brkcn down, the next oestrored almost at a blow. I KODIl HPfnmi 11Ils!U.l IVIIII wino nn I - . l s - -tt-; : rr 1 : . 1 a n r. . .1 . . ' r.k.. I , I he. other, wa? the path Sc dissipa tion, lying in the very heart of, these enchanted region with no ynn'rdable wall of prohibition to scale 5 order to participate in all the forbiddo delights. One led through toil -and iangefy to nd terrible struggle which I had wjh my own heart, ere I cquld deliberated' re nounce the smiles of ph asure ari the hollow rewards, of dissipation, :d ac cept the nobler rewards of - a pelceful conscience ! .... mi 1 here was but one w-av 1 could abide by the resolutions of 'for mation which I :had formed; and that was by removing from the influence of Helen Sinclair. This I resolved tot do. 1 1 was with great j ileasurei therefore, that I. received intelligence of a leiacy bequeathed me by, a dying relalve, that would place me at once beyond ihe reach of want. But what must. 1 do? Must I lead an aimless life? Musi, I bury myself in seclusion from he world, to avoid its snares? Xo! I would buy the old homestead, refit it, and ask Alice Haiden, my guar dian avgel, to share life with me. I was convinced of a tender affection for her, infinitely greater than I had ever expeiineed towards any other human being. . ., " ': 1 The reader may charge mo with in constancy, in ' so roadily yielding ho mage to Helen Sinclair, and at the same time professing love for Alice Haiden. But, I beg j'ou to remember that I and where the svren sonrr tn!easuref did hot love Helen Sinclair. I was tn- Alice has indeed proven my gnar ly fascinated. My feelings wlienhi dian angel. Her gentle influence has 1 periericed by onelfi eTlin- der the spell ot a snake. While the poor wretch has no power to flee fnom the charm, his heart was filled with a sense of his peril. So it was with me. Helen Sinclair c.-uld sway .me by. her mysterious pow er. . She could fascinate me by her ir- reistible charms. But she could never enthrone herself in my heart . as the queen of its most t :nder and sacred affections. , On the ether hand, Alice Haiden's qu'ct unobtrusive beauty, her reserve and maidenly modesty, , together with Hie t. interest which she manifested in my welfare, and which led me to believe that the was not .'indifferent to me, all attracted me irresistibly towards her. .My conclusion was formed. I would seek to win this fair girl-my guardian genius. Far away from the sc.ie of j my temptation, fill and. humiliation,! would . set k in her society that happi ness which springs -from a life. of so briety surrounded by tSc asures of domestic life. J hese resolutions formed J went about my business with fresh alacrity, resolving not to tell Mr. Sinclair of my expected departure, until my fate should be decided. I found, howevor that' Alice tried to avoid me more than ever before. Eve ry advance which I made seemed Jo produce an effect the very opposite of that which I had intended. ' Onef rerring- as P was -passing the library T door, V caught the low sound of some' o'rie 'sobbing ' inside. The thought flashed upon me that it was the and, X could not resist the iraptd.se to go to her. I opened the door, and olosed it lightly behind me, as I stepped into the apartment. t ii In her grief, she seemed not to have noticed the opening of the door, but continued to weep, , L "Miss Haiden t" She sprang from her reciunbent pos ture npon the sofa, aqd stood before me her cheeks alternately paling and flushing, and her form quivering with agitation, "Mr. Trent, please suffer, mc tq pass " said she, as I stood directly in her way. ' ' " t'Pardon Tn v intrusion, Miss Haiden,' said I , "and So not let my presence d ri ye y qu from the room. Pray, be seated, as I bavp something to say to you." She sat down in a hesitating . man-ner. "I see, 3Iiss Ilaidcn, that my society I is distasteful to vbri. The reason for it I T mnat. nt tribute" fn mv shameful . coil- duct. Hut I trust, lhat I shall never be so humiliated again.' I have resolv ed to quit my dissipation so .recently commenced, and never more to degrade my manhood by re-enacting th scene of the other night." -. ' "I . But Avhat is all this- to mel tr. Trent,' said she in an agitated manner Vfam sure, I am very glad of yonr reso lution to reform ; but I cannot imng ine why you should seek to infoVm me f it. .. ; , :-. , . . "It is because I desire you to assist me to keep that, resolution, Alice," said I looking into her deep blue eyes uplifted to my own. I will draw the veil over that sacred interview. I will net .speak of the out pouring of my heart's, affection in her ears; of he doubts which she enter tained because of my w-rsbvp of Hel en," as she called it ; of the "nr .inner, in which those doubts were removed ; of the blissful commingling of two loving hearts, and the intevc-hango of love's sa- cred vows. Of these things I will not give a detailed account. In a. few months more Alice Haiden became mv bride. The ceremony was performed in a quiet manner, with no one present but the family and the offi ciating clergyman. , Mr.' and Mrs. Sinclaiar bade us an affectionate good bye when we left ; Helen took leave of us with averted eyes, and hurried from tle room before we left. We are now installed in the old homestead, and have been for many long, deli, t ful inonths. hour ot temptation . I am supremely happy. The wine cup and the tempter are unknown in our peaceful home. One evening, Alice and myself were sitting in our vine-clad porch admiring the beauties of the setting sun. A holy calm seemed to have settled over the busy scenes of Xature. The landscape streched out before us in all the varied beauties of autumn, and the golden sun was gilding the peace ful scene with gorgeous hues. aAlice," said I, drawing her loving ly to my bosom, "you have never told me the cause of your strange aversion t f the drinking habits of society. Tell me now love." A crimson flush overspread her countcrnance ; but it was quickly suc ceeded by a hxk of peace and confidei c as she nestled. -'more closely in my arms. uDear Edgar," 'she replied at last, "I will tell you. I will keep nothing from you." So, there while tlie twilight shade- were deepening about us, sho told me ihe story of her short, but eventful, life,' and .gave the reasons whioh prompt ed her to bct her face so firmly against dissipation in all its forms. This narrative will be laid before the readers of the Friend, if nothing shall i prerent at no distant diy. " When her story was finished we botli arose with hearts too full for "ut terance,' and passed.- into the parlor. .' There as "if bv mutual consent we - - . - paused before too pictures that hung side by- side in a, ooiispiotious p!ace. One reprinted a pale, golden haired woman reclining upon a couch, With her thin hand upon; the curls of a kneel ing boy. -The other was wondrotisly like her who lies upon the couch, the same blue eves and sunny hair, but the ext pression is that of AHca Il iiden no w Alice Trent, Tiir Guardian Angel. The End. A Senator from one of the mount iin districts of Tennessee, on hisarrival at Nashville to take his seat, put up at a first cla5s hotel, when the following ocenred on taking his seat at the table : Senator of serv ant " What is y our victuals Vy Servant " What will you have, sir, tea or .coffee ?". "Senator u Tea.' ? Servant What , kind ' o f tea?" Senator "btore tea, do you suppose I come here to drink sassa frar'" ' : ': OUT OF WORK. "It is no use, Maria,' PveXricd every where 5 'lf'V'- !ii " Bui xou are not going to give . up, VHirhrp? How can I help it? Within fonr days 1 have been to -every book bindery in the citv, and not a bit of work can I get." ?' ' " But have yon tried anything else ? " Wlnt else can I try ?" j-t . v t 41 Why, anythi'ig that you enn doi 4 Ye- ; Pve tried 2 btlter t lilies I 1 hae-l;cen to more than a dcen'of -mVl f. iculs, and offered to liilu thejn if Lhev would hire me." ' - ' - . r ' J "And what did vou mean to do for them?" . . " I offered to post their accduuts, make out bills or atteud at the coun ter." . ; Mrs.-Stan wood smiled as her hus band thus spoke. , " What makes you smile?" heaskel. 44 To" think that vou should have imagined that you would find work in such places. But how is Mark Leeds ?" 44 He is in a bad way." ' How so ?" 44 He has nothing in his house toea'.'r It was a shudder that passed over the wife's frame now. " Why do you tremble, w ife ?" 4t Because when we shall have eaten our breakfast to-morrow morning, we shall have nothing." 44 What !" cried Peter Stan wood, half starting from his chair. 44 Do you mean that?" . 44 1 do." . 44 But our flour?" - ' HW.WI Til 11 ,' W, ... --IlaI:l-U lnsr tht 44 ut wse have pork." 44 You ate the last, this noon." 44 Then we must starve?" groaned the stricken man, starting across the room. Peter Stan wood w as a bo. k bui.der bv trade, and had now been out of em ployment over a month. He was 01 e of th"SO who generally calculate to keep square with the world, rand -who con sider themselves particularly fortifnate if they keep out of debt. He was now thirty-eight years of age, and had been married eight years. He 1 had three children to provide for, besides him se.lf.anri his wife, and this, together with house rent, was a heavy draft upon his purse, even when work was plenty, but now there was nothing. ." Maria,"' he said, stopping and ga zing his wife in the face, 4i we must starve, I have not a single penny in the world." , 44 Bnt do not despair, Peter. Try again to-morrow for work. You may find something to do. Anything- that is honest will be honorable. Should you make but a . shilling a day, we should not starve," - X.y. 44 But our house rent ?" 41 Trust me for that. The landlord shall not turn us out. : If you , will en gage to find some; work to do, I'll see that we hAve hpuse room.".. ; ? tf . 44 I'll try, pnoe moje," tittered Peter, despairingly. f ! ; j ' 44 But you mnst go prepared to do anything." ! " Anything reasonable, Maria." " But what do you call reasonable?" " Why anything decent." 'The wife felt almost inclined t Rmile. but die matter was too serious for that, and a cloud parsed oyer her ace. She knew her husband's dispo sition, and she Jt sure be would find no work. She knew he would look about for scjne &oit 01 work that would not lower him in the social scale, as he had once or t wice expressed it. Howr ever she knew it would be no ue to say anything to him uow, aud sle let the matter pass, On the following morning the last bit of iood in the house was put upon the table. Stan wood could hardly realize tliat he was penDiless and with out food. For years be badbee rgay, thougHtlesa and fortunate, making the most of the present, forgetting the past, and leaving the future to take care of itself. Yet the truth was- naked . and - clear, and when he left the house he ' said- something must be done. :Ko' sooner had the Tiusland gouc lhau Mr, Stanjpod put on her hat and shawl, lier oldest child was a cirl girl seX'en yeaw ild and her youngest' four.' She asked her next door neighbor if she would take ciro of her children till nbon. These children were known to be good and quiet, and they were taken chcercfully. --Then Mr$- Stan wood lock ed upi herhou.se and went away. She returned at'nobnj bringing some dinner' for the children, and then went away again. She got Komo'In the evening before ber husband,' carrying a heavy basket on her arm. ' ; Ui AVllTetcr;" iie asked; j after the husband h:Vd? cht red 1 ami sat "what Iuck?,' ' 'P -"'-1 "r' down, 44 Nothing ! nothing!" he groaned. tcTTnade, 'out toTsTjuec iit"irdTniier out of an olI bhum,bV.t I can't find -work." .. ' -i.-'V ' 44 And where have you looked to day?" ; 4t Oh ! every wherei 1 I have becif tp a hundred places, but it U the same in every place. ' It is nothing biit i fto eternal 4 1 1 o ! s o-! N O T : Pru tired aud sick of it;? !!; 44 But what kind of Work have yoii offered to do?'T ; M. 44 Why I -vcn went so far as to; ..offer , to tend in a liquor store down sow n " The wife smiltd.v v r u Xowy what shall Wtf do?" uttered Peter, spasmodically!. j w Why, well eat supper first, and then we'll talk the matter over." "Supper! Have you got any ?" " Yes-plenty of it." , ! 44 But you told me tliatyou had none." 44 Neither had we this morning, . but I've been after work to-day ami . lonnd' some." : , , 44 You ! You bf en after work" ex t,W hir.fii,t ..... ni 1 1 44 Why, first I went to Mrs. Snowrs. I knew h r. ii 1 wa sick, an 1 I hopel she, might have work to be done. ' I went to her and told her my story, and she set me at work at once doing her washing. She gave me food tr bring home for the children ; and paid mo three shillings w hen I got through." " What! yon been out washing , for our butcher's wife?" said Pvte --looking-very much surprised.. ; ! ,t; Of coursa I have, ami haro thereby earned; enough to keen ui in food through to-iriorrow at any rate ; so to morrow you may come home to 1 uinr ner. 'But how about the rent ?' " Oil T I have seen Mr. Simpson, and' told him jiist bow we were situated,, and offered him my watch as a pledge for the payment of the rent within two months, -with interest on all arrears, up. to that date. I told him I did the business because you wcr.e away look ing for work,", . ; . ';;,,; ,. 'So he's got your gold watch ?" No he wouldn't take it. He said if I would become responsible for the payment he would let it rest." . 44 Then weVe got a roof to ooyor us and food far to-.monw. Hut vhat next ? , Oh, what a cUtrso. these &xb times.are.V-. r ' j I. ;.i,;. '.li . 444Iii?t dcapairItcr,:Jor oi shall not starve. Pve got work enougb crv. gaged to keep, us a1iye" " " Ah eh, what is It ?" , 44 Vhy, .Mr.s Snow has engaged me. to carry small package?, baskets, bun-. dies ami so forth, to bis rich customers. H has had to gip one of hU. .horses.'; .' : ' "AVhat dyou mean, 3Iaria ?'' 4 Just wliat I say. AVheu. MrASapw. came hoiue to ,tUiner, I vas there, and I asked him if he ever had any - ligh articlea whicli be yished to send round to customers. Never mind; alt he said. He did happen to want just puch wok dono, though he. meant to . cal! up,.n some, pf tho idlers wl loie; about the marked ilrcised to ? me n .nri Iia rnnld. and I am to be j there in gW4 season in the moryng,"- 44 Well, that is a pretty go J my wife. turned butcher boy! -YouwouH - da, auySwhthing- ' Jrl ? " And wbynot?n J;:;;;' -' M ' f ' 44 Why not? Because-1-because v " Say because it will lower yu in the social' scale." Y:-' r''1;:. :;V ; " Welbanu' it will ! ! ( Concluded on jourlh lagc
Spirit of the Age [1873-1???] (Raleigh, NC)
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Aug. 11, 1869, edition 1
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