Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-11-03

Hastings seems to 70
4~vrnPcT; q TancIed duty, Helen Z"
"Well, a positive duty, if you will but
oneinyolving the sacrifice of so much world
ly comfort, that three menin twenty would
scarcely hesitate in pronouncing itno duty
at ALL"
u hope you are mistaken in your opin-
ion of the sex"
"Well, let thatgo-but do you not think,
Mary, Roger might have paid you the com
pliment of asking your advice in connection
with this secret demand? %
"By no means, Helen. He has paid me
a far better compliment, by the correct in
ference, that his character as a just and
good man is dearer to me than the sum of
ten thousand dollars, or indeed any other
sum. | believed him, long before our be-
trothal, an upright and consistently honor
able man fearing nought so much as the
complainings Of his own conscience, that
surest electric telegraph between God and
his creatures and now hat circumstances
have corroborated and strengthened me in
that impression, shall I value him the less i?
No ! no / Gao we'll CHG
home of one in whom [ repose such high
and holy confidence, even though it be on
an humber scale than [ am accustomed to-"
"Still | cannot help thinking I should
have preferred some voice IN the matter"
And why, my dear cousin !? Had his
decision rested only on my approval, there
would have been no inAezible honest prin-
ciple developed. He knows that his cen
v%ictions are true, his conclusions just, and
he would sooner part with my love than
falter IN the course conscience has so plain
y marked out for him to pursue"
Sand when you say so, Mary, do you
feel no Pang Of je%alously thatheis thus de-
} ceiyed %
I "When I say so, Helen, it is with glow
!, ing feelings Of gratitude to God, that be is
l the character he is accompanied with the
' hope such may ever be his life, and that
may prove worthy the confidence Of his best
1 and hottest hours"
"YOu were ever romantic, far coz, anC
T NOW yoG are dre4-rsn- Of
: you would have him be in this cur LITTLE
7 village.
81 would have him first, in everv aci
that sanctities and ennobles human charac
ter, Helen. Not indeed for the world,
! applause, evanescent and full of the vanit,
: OF life as it is; but for the security of hi;
own individual happiness, for that position
+ OF trust every good man occupies among hi,
: FELLOW men, and above all to fulfil the dc
: sign OF a holy God in the creation of man
: and the subyersion Of which once caused
, regret that he had ever been made, Bu
! apart from all this, Why should we be elf
TED with hearts and souls? Why posses,
that lively appreciation of the beauty O.
truth and purity, or that innate aver
: sion to guilty error, if all such better per.
ceePtlons, instead Of being encouraged in
: their growth, are outraged and DESTROYED
! by a system Of worldly reasoning wholly
: lneAA~%~so-ettttfes incumbent uP02GcAI
. wife, if | violated the firm convictions Of
, right now? Or meet the responsibilities
, resting upon every married woman, if
: tlmldly shrink before, from the first cloud
! that lowers ? Surely not, Helen. Meth.
! er should we enter into hat union of souls.
: for time and eternity, but witha all the more
4 lasting feelings Of holy trust and well groun.
ded confidence, which should flourish in
! increasing brightness throughout its entire
existence"
, Only six weeks passed away, and the
: quivering wreath Of snowy orange buds
? was twined by fair young hands, among
: the olive curls Of Roger Hastings bride
: Beautiful did the bright young girl look
l in her simple white dress, with those burst
! ing buds peeping out from her glossy dark
! locks but On her c~ountenance there sat 8
calm and happy smile, betokening a heart
: at rest, which was to the few fond friends
attending her bridal, far more lovely. L
:, renee that evening. For only two month,
: before had the young bridegroom seen his
last parent laid away in the dark cold cham.
per prepared for the dead and none wbc
! knew the depth of his feelings but svmna
tnlzed IN the sorrow naturally ATTENDING tbo
dissolution of such heart woven t;es No.
a gay young voice had urged her, in their
thoughtlessness, to delay the ~nuptials un-
III the tune OF mourning had expired. and
IL COULD be thrown aside to make room for
me gHtterlng paraphernalia of a more
snowy bridal. But she shook her head ev-
er, and replied with frmness-"svmnatbv
and kindness are the more needful to him
now And thus her determination he'd
remained unaltered.
1t would be worse than folly to say that
through their long and eventful lives, thew
were perfectly happy. Alas! it BELONGS
not to earth, for days of sombre cloud and
brilliant sunshine come alike to all. But
with a union based upon such ENDURING
Prlnclples-the duties of life standino o7,f
III bold relief, mutually determined il bo+
tie against every usage or principle which
the better hours of the heart forbade wba
could not confidently predict much peace
and JOY IN their future intercourse !? Fame
unattended by sterling virtue, possessed no
music Tor her ear. Beauty lost all power
% captlvate the eye, when found destitute
q the more substantial attraction of right
principles. Wealth, with its glitter and
uisei' Pomp and show, was valued not,
when counterbalancing the purer coin Of
the heart in the scale of life. And oven
Love, a beautiful Mill=n-tha-m;n e