Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-10-06

are productive of baneful results and IL
melancholy proofs of the social and v
moral injury arising from their improper 8
influence. h
Life, viewed but as a preparatory school =
to an eternal state of existence hereafter, r
becomes invested with a dignity which no i
human circumstances can affect. And the a
beautiful glowing appurtenances that we
are so apt to love and place in the van Of /
duties and studies calculated to aid us in t
the comprehension and appreciation of that
future life, departs widely from their orig
inal design when they are thus misapplled.
There are influences of genius, influences OF
beauty, influences of love; but all how
futile and insignificant, how nude and
worthless they all appear, when unlinked
from the s%tupendous fact, that they are
given us as instruments through which we
may glorify God, their author, and advance
the interest of His holy kingdom. The
brightest intellect is sometimes deeply,
darkly shrouded in the folds Of madness,
or at best has the laurel wreath it toiled
for, wove above its unconscious grave
Beauty fades, even as the eyanescent rain
bow melts away or as the blossoms bril-
liant hue, and sad to tell, it leaves not al
ways in the heart the comforting promise
connected with the one or the halnaufrne
trance winch fingers amid the wilted petals
! of the other. Wealth, in most gIittering
trappinga, arrays itself and draws its gorge
Gus veil over a heart of misery and discon-
tent. Love twines its brightest, l~oyeliest
wreath about the fond hearts that draw to
, the hearthstone to day ; tomorrow its pri-
zed links may be severed and its altar shrou-
ded in sable. And ever the cultivation Of
: correct moral principles, if they refer to
this life alone, looking not beyond the
dark, dim charnel house, the grave, are in
G reality wanting the stimulus, nay, the
very essence of truth itself. But to re-
G turn.
The ensuing winter witnessed the nup-
tails of the talented, the highly gifted
Lawrence, with the brilliant and fascina-
h ting belle, Miss Howard. Ambition was
really his idol, and the conviction that his
union with the rich and aristocratic family
ID of the Towards would tend to his politica
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, was associated with hi
first idea of such a step. We might follow
him step by step as he mounted fame
so dizzy height. We might behold him re
IN ceiving with grace one after another of GU
country's most enyied public gifts. w
d, might list to the spirit stirring tones of hi
tie voice as it rings out bolda and clear throug
ed that vaulted chamber, and bend to the bul
ming stream Of words like the little lin
We to the overwhelming blast But had "
oh gone down to the spirits home, we woul
Nv have found its changing tenant craving an
3D. dissatisfied still. The filling up of eac
ate vacuum discovered vacancies deeper still
Each upward step aroused higher dream
Get that would not again be laid away to res
And still the cry went up from the deptl
de- 0 his restless heart" give me oh 81,
if me y No one who lent an admiring ear
to his lofty fights-who sat spell-bound |
to the brilliancy Of his intellect, or were borl
AWAY hu tho p+anai+uaGL5a4~1a4o-a~
ub- element wore away and the quiet seasC
ere of social and domestic intercourse rolled
md round, how totally different appeared
md character. Care worn and weary he soug
| his home as a place where more liber
lt's would be granted for venting his murmu
oily ings and disquiet. He knew he could the
ak conceal his humanity repinings from t
Der public eye. He knew submission, unco
planning submission to all his caprices,
ath- waited him there, and he could call to |
AN aid his wifa's talents to help him inve
ing fresh schemes by which hemight the me
,arn readily confuse and circumvent his riva
the And how, with all a woman's sensibili
did she bear up under these scenes so d
And ferent from what the rosy fingers Of i'm;
can ~ination had sketched so dissimilar to
ant her previous opinions and habits, E
was but q common error; the substitute
pare O Brilliant shadow for the less glowing |
ince far more tangible substance. And for Il
Mr.. errorwe are not to suppose her dispossess
ride of any of those cravings for sympatl
those warnings after affection and kindne
my to which woman must ever look for hap
able ness in the beautiful r%etiracy Of her stat
lied in life. For a time she entered with hea
felt enthusiasm into all his plans and
lich engagements. There was a novelty,
the brightness about it with which her b
lger wrought fancy was charmed. One see
lrta- Of dazzling excitement followed another
the rapidly, and each one so gaily clothed
and its WI peculiar attractive hues, that
the bewildered and overcharged mind had
Dove time left for sober thought. Her husba
de- was Aattered, caressed, extolled. Sire
light minds yielded to his; stronger the incre
at Of their homage. Intellect and ignoral
ain alike agreed in acknowledging the presel
the and power of genius. Many admired, S
3tin- more envied; woman smiled approving
ould and with true feminine pride the music
the Fame's bugle was sweeter far than if
melody had been breathed for her alol
dear its chaplet priced higher than if it
more been twined for her W bright brow.
ut a his wife, the beauty of her person and
than brilliancy of her mind stood forth inves
the with ten-fold power. Her society was
cart, sired and eourted. Her sayings were pro
ibed ly repeated, her opinions quoted, her de
,ung applauded and followed.
ding What was really wanting for the re
=, for zation of her girlish dreams? All, t
Many her bright and vivid fancy had once asl
with for, was hers. All that her imaginat
mar pictured, all her soaring ambition n