Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-04-11
THE BROKEN HEART.

On the first sabbath following my arrival
in my native village, after fifteen years alb
sence, I took an early walk to the old burial
ground Of the parish. 1t was OH the brow
Of a slipping hill, and from this green summit
/ looked around with rapture upon the wild
unshorn mountains which completely encir-
Gle the valley Of my nativity, and off on to
the beautiful river, whose nlurmur had lull-
ed my spirit TO life's purest dreams-then
turned with sadness to the silent city,"
many Of whose mounds covered the ashes Of
playrates Of my boyhoOd. And there was
one neat enclosure, its turf within all cover
cd with blooming flowers, and under the
name Of Ann, carved on the headstone,
Blessed arc the dead who die in the Lord"
round which / fingered with tears.
Ann, from her cradle dreams, was a gen.
lie being. Her confding heart was early
imbued with the beautiful spirit off mother
piety and in the sweet retirement of her
cottage home, she grew to w~omanhood, pure
in feeling as the lamb upon the lawn, but
frail in form as the flowers she nurtured be-
meath her easement. Her songs in the sane
tuary and round the family altar we're like
the MARBLE of the sky-lark soaring heaven
ward.
While thus the happy %favorite in the cir
Gle of society Of which she was a member,
William Noble, a young man called hand
some in person, and Of winning manners,
sought and won her love. She gave him
her affection, hallowed by piety, and next tc
her Infinite Father, be was the object Of
sweetest thought, whose smile was bliss, and
whose frown was the darkest shadow Of life
Years melted away, and he left his native
hills to complete his education. But the gay
world and new associations for awhile seem
ed to deepen his early attachment, and bright
on the rainbow hopes Of the future. Blu
there came a change-the tone of his let
tiers was altered, and the being who loved
him still with a true woman's heart, reat
them with tears. He finally asked to be re
leased from his promise of marriage. | wa
permitted to read a part Of their eorrespon
dcnce commencing at this period. There wa
no sickly sentimentality in her tender re
monstrance against his cruelty. She remin
ded him Of the past, and assured him he
heart had been too long fixed to detach itseI
from its idol without a struggle. How coul
il be otherwise She had known him fror
childhood, and suspicion of insincerity c
unfaithfulness had never flung even a III
mentary gloom upon her joyous spirit.
He relented, and renewed his assurance
Of affection. The wedding apparel was pr
pared, and friends at a distance invited,
harmony with his own wishes and Ann wi
once more happy and blithesOme as the son
birds Of her own blue mountains. But 81
was to learn in the bitterness of ~disappoiu
ment, that imam may smile, and smile agai
and be a villain y A letter came from h
absent lover she broke the seal with Il
ardor Of expectant love but as her eye II
over the page, the strife of an inward stor
gushed forth in tears, and clouded with gloC
the features of a face just now bright a
peaceful as the sky in spring time.
It was the cold farewell Of a faithless o
that met her swimming eye. Though W
Christian resignation she bore the shock, a
made a martyr-like effort to be cheerful, |
nightly pillow. bedcwed with tears, told
tale Of