Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-01-21
THE ORPHANS TEARS uroonv

LIE OhIaAN 1EAR-AN CO.
In q deep forest. where the Holian muir
muring waving forest trees mingled with the
gentle complaining Of song birds to their ab-
sent mates, and a rivulet smiled %sunnily, as
1t flowed like a thing of light on the green
bosom of the sylvan wild, a mother; in the
sombre weeds of widowhood, cleped the
cold hand of her fatherless daughter. They
stood besides the stream, and, as their pale
features where mirrored on its bright sur
Iace, The mother weaved for her daughter a
story OF her dead fathers life recalling a
thousand deeds Of gentle tenderness-his
caresSes and his smiles-his kisses and fond
misunderstanding, with all a wife's tender
ness upon his many virtues and many gra-
ces then, with a trembling voice and quiv-
erlng hps she painted his Diving bed how,
when the low beatings of the pulse had nigh
ceased, In husky accents he asked to see his
o"n sweet Nell : how when the little daugh-
ter pressed his icy hip, and felt for the last
ume the beating of his heart against her
own ne bad family whispered his diving hes-
sings, and his heaven-winged spirit bore up
on It's plnloRs a prayer for bis wife and child.
And as The sad story melted into the young
giris heart, her pale lip quiYered and her
hearts fountain welled up its waters till the
eye was full to OVERLOOKING, and a tear trem-
6led for an instant on the eye-lid, kissed the
pale cheek, and chung 10 it as though 10th to
leave the rich eouch-then, for an instant,
glancing through the air like a ray of sun
hight, dropped into the bosom of the stream.
Away with a laugh aud a smile through
the green forest, glanced the stream pratt
hing here to a Led of pebbles, kissin Ehere a
group OF wild flowers-leaving hereghe roots
OF a giant tree, and dashing gayly yonder
through the arches of rustic bridge AWAY
through forest and meadow-mingl here
with the bright waters that gush from a syl-
van spr1ng-meeting yonder a sister stream!
Away the twin-sisters glance along, bearing
on its bosom the Orphans Tear.
The river has found its home, and, foam
ing boiling, madly plunging, as though 10th
to lose the contest, rolls it waters into the
oceans waves and, borne on pillows noun
tain high, the Tear CLEANS upon their snowy
crests.
The sun is gliding the ocean with his
"4' ceoHNs, anu IeaNlng q pathway OF
gorgeous light upon the waters. Thick mists
ascend to meet his warm embrace !: and
minglIng with the skyward vapors, the Tear
mounts upwards, cleaning in the light of
the morning sun Observation-Disclosures
cends the Tear, till it seems forever Iost in the
thick clouds that hang like wreathed spirits
in the sky!
But not lost forever! When the sun has
gone to his evening rest. and shadows are
closing Ger the world, those vapors seek a.
gain the earth and to-morrow's sun will find
the Orphans Tear a dew drop on the flow
er that grows upon the dead fathers grave !
Need we write the moral Like the Or
phan'S Tear IS a gentle word. Though ming
ling with the thousond accents thatfall up-
on the ear, still it is never lost but, as we are
borne DER the stream of youth, and the NV
er OF life, lives distinct and clear, and when
we find at length the ocean of eternity, NAV
have won our heart to heaven, ard even then
through an angels smiles may speak to earth