Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-03-03

we're fathers, mothers, sons and daughters i'll I
hat animated concourse, and all seemed con- !
Of no danger bat amid the shouts Of :
d~eceitful applauders, each strove to outstrip :
the other, as if they ran for some moment t
Gus prize. {
| watched their movements, observed their G
earnestness, and wondered why they sported
thus On that fearful stream where nothing could
BE- gainei, while al was riskea While musine
thus, | heard a voice; it was that OF an angel,
saying I" Behold he delusive phantom! See !
how it leads the blinded multitude Then
casting my eyes far down the rolling stream, |
saw a figure dancing on the glittering waves,
chanting melodies that caused the infatuated
multitude to send forth thunders of applause
while each with renewed vigor, would exert
himself to be the first to reach the object ofhis
infatuation.
She was clad in a purple robe, with gaudy
wings and flowing hair, and in her hands she
held the prize for which they ran, which she
would beStow on him who ventured farthest
down the stream. There was one whom for
tune seemed to favor, for amid the confusion
of the heated contest, in which they had we'll
nigh chased the phantom down, success had
lighted up his forlorn and haggard c%ourten-
ance but when, with a bold and anxious eff
fort, be sprang forward with hands extended
to grasp the prize, 10! as a leaf before the
rushing wind, the phantom fed, and ~disappoint-
ment, sad disappointment, covered the infuria-
ted but deluded pursuer's face; while those
who seemed less fortunate, clapped their hands
and shouted till the plains echoed with their
merry peals:
"Oh for a tongue to curse the slave,
Whose treason, like a deadly blight,
Comes Ger the councils of the brave,
And blasts them in their hour of might"
While watching the confusion of that NIGH
ty phalanx Of striving combatants, goaded with
disappointment, [ heard the voice of one invis-
ible, saying: " Behold the delusiye phantom
see how it leads the blinded multitude !' and
with astonishment, | saw the same mysterious
being, seated in a monster ship, attended by
beings not less beautiful than herself; and on a
flag that tloated in the breeze was inscribed in
every tongue, in characters of gold,
Come hlther, all UhO seek pleasure"
With a shout that echoed from Ger the hills
and plains, the delighted multitude hailed the
suspicious sight, and with lightning speed dash
ell down the ebblng stream to worship their
favorite phantom. Beyond the vessel in which
this being sat, [ saw a mighty Cataract, which
threatened destruction, and my heart sickened
as | saw the Infatuated multitude rushing heed
iesSly towards its brink. | v%entured to warn
them Of their danger, but so clamorous were
they, that they heard me not, neither would
they heed the admonitions. AS they approach
ed the precipice, near which swan the proud
ship, fathers warned, mothers begged, and sis
ters screamed importing them to I orsake their
maddened coarse, ere they reached the fatal
tide. Some yielded to their entreaties; but
those nearest the object of their pursuits heed
cd not their warnings, but onward rushed,
longing to reach the pa5ac8 OF pleasure and as
sociate with beings SO lovely. But when about
to ap into the ship, | heard that deceittul be-
ing wildly laugh. and with a yell that demons
only utter, she hosndS over the precipice. De-
ceived again? O., wicked delusi IN! Danger
Deah! stared them in the face. They would
return and warn others to shun this wicked oe-
MUS, and listen not to her gathering promises
but they cannot already are they in the dead
ly current; (and oh! the horror of one de-
ceived and doomed by his folly to leap the pre-
they Drew near the blink, 4 heard them curse
their God, curse themselves, and, more than
all, curse the phantom that detudad them, and
, with a fendish yell that chilled my veins anc
, made my heart grow faint, they shrieked-
b" lost! LOsT!! LOST -" and went dowr
with the laundering tide, to rise no more!
J All was still! | heard not a sound HEAVIER
: seemed paralyzed at the awful scene-a scene
t so greatly momentous. AS | stood, terrific, al
Angel approached, and asked me why did no
= enter the gates OF the great City | knew no
= what to answer, tut asked ann TO tell the mean
ing of what | had seen. He said" Seest tho,
those beauteous plains ?-they are clothed il
light and loneliness. Seest thou those pearl,
streams flowing beneath those spreading viii
lows? Mark we'll their course, for they leac
to that great Rirer. Because of their beauty
those plains are called Morality. The stream
h you see flowing from them, show the device
. by which men are led, as if by magic, to tn
very lowest state of degradation. Each on
has its name. Seest yonder beings ~reclnin
beneath those spre ding shades! They roll i
luxury, fare snmptuously every day, and ar
numbered not with the things of time. TIL
river on whose banks they are, is called idle
= ness. 1t emptes into the great river. Bebol
rs that multitude who have separated themselve
from their fellows, and are posing the road t
yonder stream, whose banks seem laid wit
god, While diamonds sparkle beneath its wa
ers. How they rum! Each one tries to hol
the other back, lest he be most successful i
reaching first its golden banks. Its name
Sc ,4ggrandizement. 1t leads to the great strcal
40 and its course is rapid.
- Again you behold a class Of beings WI
seem To have no feeling for lhose around then
l. nor are they grateful for the privileges an
blessings hey enjoy. They murlnur becaus
" their lois are hard, and look with a Jealous ey
upon the gainings of those around lhen. The
d, scoff at charity and hold up philanthropy as
ct thing cuntemptlble. You see them ploddin
m t. yunder stream; they dwell on no other. [
So name is AUdrice. Behold a social crowd, az
n oh, how numerous! bathing in Wonder spar
ling stream Hear their jes,s, their merr
ments. Behold their comic actions, The
~ are yet on the plains of morality, and as sue
y aspire tn nothing greater. They regard IN
ali buton as an unpardonable sin, and thus the
IT, chouse To dwe,l on that stream alone; but beho
how 1t bears them down. Soon it will launt
to them into the great tide Of waters. That ri
er is Ignorance.
And 50 all the streams you see have name
but need not tell you all OF them. Few wi
re- dwell on those plains undertake to ascend II
tn mount on which we stand hut how man