Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-12-15
Gbuirt Iitrraturf.
1From he North Carolina Whig.1
A MONDAY STORY.
CHATTER X.

melancholy music through the branches of
the trees. They seem Ike the sighs of the
departed millions Of Earth's former tenan-
try, while dim dreamy, hazy atmosphere
envelopes the earth, and there is poison in
that glimnering air. Disease has spread his
tolls throughout the land, and many youth
ful, buoyant hearts now beat unnaturalIy
under The influence Of the fever aud is pale.
stsiicfrrs ssii % -antss 6iintvns " ose-
constitution was not yet naturalized, and
TO whom the heats Of the south west were
not compensated by the see.5reeze, fell be-
meath the march Of THE destroyer, to linger
long between the dead and living First
came long, creeping sensation, a feeling Of
cold stupor, and then burning, raging fc-
yer, till the brain was surcharged with blood,
and he raved with deirium. The kind, low
ing, carressng Mag, his betrothed, was by
his bedside, striving to sooth him, admins
tering the prescribed anodynes, smoothing
his pillow, and tanning away the parcbing
heat. She was the angel Of mercy, and in
the intervals Of pain, bis heart flowed out to
her in love that cannot be uttered. Anon
the fever would arise, and delirum give ut
terance to bis maddcned thoughts. 40,
mother where are you? Come whv do
you not come / sec you There there
oh, let me leap into the Catawba-the Ca
tawbal Let me gol I'll jump into the
water Mary Mary! You Eaye killed
mo die for you, though you marry anoth-
or No, let the eagle change his plume !!
Then-go away you arc not my sweet Ma
-Mary-Mary + Thus he would rave
for hours till nature exhausted, sunk to her
accustomed quiet His thoughts were wan
dering in his native land. A mothers love
and care was wanting to him, though among
these friends his every want supplied. Yet
atender mothers place eanuot be supplied
by the sick bed Of the child, though that
child be n vagabond, a wanderor for years
Again his former thoughts were renewed by
memory, and lived over again the scenes Of
his troubles. For many days he fingered
thus till nature, almost exhausted, neverhc.
less, regained her power The disease had
been eradicated, the fever was gone, and he
lay there pale omanciated being, with less
strength than an infant. With a constitu-
tion naturally strong, he recruited rapidly,
and as day after day rolled away, the loving
ty, and still another care, developed in deli
rum, sat by his side and read to him, from
some well-ioved volume, or, hand in hand,
gazed into each others eyes, or whiled the
hours away in sweet conversation But the
rose was fading from her check, and the 10Y
Gus laugh had subsidized into the melancholy
smile. Her step, lately as light as the wilC
roc Of the prairie, was slow and studied
AS Clinton recovered she declined a few
days after he arose from his sick bed sh,
was laid there. A slight fever again recall
cd the tints of the rose on her transparcn
cheeks, but when it subsidized, the blue veins
like the ministers of disease, again nowet
languidly on her cheek. 1t was the even
ing Of Sabbath day, when all was hushe
and quiet, that Clinton was seated by hel
and she requested him to draw near for sh
wished TO AL, him a question. He Dire,
near, and she murmured in soft accents
DO you lore meP Clinton was surprised
but replied Certainly do, better tina
aught else on earth. But why, dearest,
YOU ask that question 2 Nothing but
dream, murmured she, a dream. La
night in dream, | saw bright, sunny hal
cd girl, far, fur away, and she laughed al
danced as you drew near, and you claspC
her in your arms, and she blushed and he
YOU by the hand. She was so beautiful, al
thought you loved her, and hated me, al
cried till awokc; but it was nothing b
q dream, and you love me-
And is that all that made you doubt I
loveY
When you were in delirium, you used
call Tor Mary, dearest Mary, and tell me
be gone, was not Mary but that v
delirium. and you love mono,o noD !
you not;
Yes, dearest Mary, but you will not bla
me for having once. loved another, bea,
full Mary in the Old North State. That '
before loved you bat she is married n
/ suppose, and love none but you
None but me Oh how happy
And | never loved any other, but you h
seen 50 many pretty girls in your own St
and | thought | would 90 with you n
summer and sec them all, but we will
90. Next Thursday We were to be MARI
but we will not we will never be mar
except in heart. will die and leave !
anu you VIII weep over my grave, ana
snow and the rain will soon rest upon the
ilc mound Of earth raised over me.
you will never forget me. But lament
for me; ! shall be gone to that be
world, where we will die no more | k
that my Rcdeemer liveth Ihave attem
to serve him here, and he will not dc
me at last. And you win come to me IL
after life is passed. But you must
somebody else to love you as | have 4
That fair haired girl saw in my dream
love you, know she will, and would
her too, if could sec her, but cannot
While she was speaking these W
Clinton sat motionless, while the tears str
Cd from his eyes, as he gazed upon
beautiful face half hidden in raven trt
and radiant with unearthly light. He
not speak but pressed her hand, and i'm
ted a kiss upon her marble forehead.
A week rolled away and cheerful Sal