Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-11-03
Written for He Spirit Of the Age.
Girlish Dreams Realized:
OR, THE FIVE BRIDALs.
Respectfuly inscribed to the Young Ladies
of CarolinG.
LORA.

promised visit and after considering the
sacred relationship existing between us, one
that is of equal Importance and interest to
us both. You are already aware, that the
last three days have been spent in a care
tul and minute examination of the private
letters and papers, lately the individual
property of my dear deceased father. And
have but a few hours since discovered
those, the substance of which [ feel bound
Immediately to lay before you. You well
remember, Mary, his mercantile failure of
some eleven months since, and now learn.
IN that failure (Which I had previously he.
lleyed settled to the last dollar) was invol-
we'd ten thousand dollars generously loaned
him by a valued friend, who, in the disin-
terestedness ofhis kindness, omitted to take
bone or security of any sort. Mr.. Carriers
own letter of coincidence, written a few days
after the event, holds the following Ian
guage "And now let me entrcat YOU.
William, by the friendship so long existing
between us, do not let the loss of my mon
ey, for one moment prey upon your spirits.
Pay off all your other debts, and bear in
mind, | have still amply sufficient left for
the comfortable support ofmy little family.
What need is there of more? Five thous-
and dollars would be a very doubtful adj
dition to the happiness or character Of my
two boys, both now old enough to learn re-
lance on a more substantial support than
wealth alone. And from me they shall
never learn its loss. Cheer up, man. Call
back some Of the fire and energy Of youth.
All will yet go well and believe me, when
| tell you, not a wrinkle will be added to
my brow or a grey hair to my head, out of
grief at any loss of mine in the NATTER
Thus vote my parents friend, Mary and
| know you arc ready to excIaim how few
there are in real life like him. The men
tai and physical imbecility which fell upon
my father after that unhappy shock, COM
~
any portion of the debt, after satisfvip"r II
other demands, must account for his nevel
mentioning 1T to me for not even Mr.
Carriers death and the astonisbment ov.
pressed at his arrangement Of business a..
or called from him n sentence Of ovnIo
nation. None can assert his desire to avoid
the payment, for he could have, in one in.
slant, committed all record of it to the
names. But instead, the letter from which I
haVequoted with a copy ofhis reply, wherein
was the assertion eff life and health wpro
spared and success attended his efforts
gratitude itself would compel him to nav
1t all" were both carefully preserved, and
upon the back of the package, written evil
IDENTIFY with a trembling hand, were the
words not one cent paid" and the date
TWO days only previous to his sudden death
You have already anticipated the conclu-
sion1 my beloved girl, that the payment Of
this debt is honorably and Justly obligato.
rY-unnn. ma. 45asa4f1 sr9ru WIDOW are
considerably destitute. My kind Aunts
late legacy, by this demand, will be two
thirds consumed, and we must either defer
our Ruptials until devotion to my profession
shall have given me part of it back, or with
oil the desire feel to shield you from the
slightest blast of adversely, | must ask you
still to share my altered fortune and sub
NIT to the restrictions it must necessarily
impose upon our previous arrangements.-
Did not know you as | do, Mary, posses
ing strong correct moral principles and a
sure dlscernment of truth from error there
might arise a sigh of regret over these
circumstances. But with that knowledge
and the confidence it e~ngenders, I only feel
grateful to Heaven that my heart is linked
10 one by whose side, through life, | shall
lear neither the raging storm or the inert
less often attending sunshine; but whose
voice will discourse it's sweetest music,
WHIST eneonraajpa .meJpt.hq heller ,pathb
low eve, good byo and believe me. never
more trulya and affectionatelv vonrs. than ~
TINS moment, ROGER G. HAsTINGs
What is all this, coz ? A letter in
your hand and tears upon your cheek p
VOW, remember, you are that most to be
Pitieo OBJECT, a betrOthed maiden Il re-
cures but a small stretch of imagination
to connect with that lengthy epistle neon
slant lovers and broken hearts. And .
merry, music-fraught laugh trilled ont
from the coral lips of the CAV Young crea-
ture, who unceremoniousiy burst in9 mon
9ur fair friend'sthird perusal of her lovers
letter. :
"!magiEation.is a sad deceiver, Helen
ana IS as much at fault in this instance %
usual" "'
ken hearts p" ~ -
"NeitheD the one or the other, as YOU
may see if you have patience enough to
reaa fAis and she handed her the letter.
III try; but oh dear, what impudence
most devoted lovers must possess. thus t.
tax ones time and patience, to say notbinU
OF the iustrous eye-bcams that are dimmod
Dy Rorlng over their scrawls. Don't YOU
afterwards" "nS"er
u would not be surprised if this GREAT
'ocrawling sheet is one Of the dearest mis-
slves you ever received, for all YOU have 90
many of mine, gilt edged and rose scented
filed neatly away.
do stop, Helen, and read it if you
wish to, we will discuss its merits then "
80 1T has merits, has it well. here
goes but where on earth is the dear dar-
ling, Mary? Oh I have found it way down
here in the third line, that ought to have