Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-09-07


from his loose and reckless habits and
became constant visitor at
Peyton's. The dark clouds that had hung
around Julia's future seemed rolling away,
and its dim vista opened with bright pros
poets and sweet flowers to bedeck her path
way across the landscape of imagination
leading to a. blissful reality.
Fisk soon told his love, and her pure and
ardent affections, glowing in the sunshine
Of love, and heart beating responsive to the
lay of love as breathed forth by her lover,
she yielded to bis entreaties, and they were
betrothed The day was appointed for con-
the nuptial pledge. Amid her
of happiness none were more
delightful than that of deliverance from
the home of drunken father.
The yellow morning light spread sweet
ly overhead the air waited the breath of
sweet forest flowers, while the trees we're
tuneful with the warblings of the feathered
songsters. Phebus rolled on the car of
day, and soon the soft influence of night
was approaching. 1t was one ofthose sweet
evenings which we would choose to wander
through some fair scene with those we love.
The wind was from the south, sighing soft
ly through the trees the night was warm
as midsummer, though the year had waned
far and in the sky were none but light
feecy clouds, which scarcely dimmed the
far twinkling stars as they shone out in the
absence of the two great rulers of the nj ght
and day The occasion had drawn togeth-
er the neighborhood, and many mild, free
heart was there but none more so, than
May Wallace and Evylin,
" "A beautiful and laughing thing,
Just in in the first apparelling
Of girlsh loveliness."
Like the sunlight flashing over wintry
landscape, thrill of joy ran through the
pledged hearts, for in all the lustre of her
beauty, stood Julia by her lovers side-and
they glided out from the room no longer
twain, but one flesh. While some feasted
on good things, others had by dark passions
and debasing crime destroyed the fine edge
of the soul, and eat into it, like corroding
canker. The mercenary and miserly are
not capable of pleasure, they have depraved
its purity. Hoarded gold monopolizes all
their feelings.
The party lasted afew hours and all took
themselves to their lodgings; though Mary
Wallace and Evylin would like to have spun
out slowly, a fine golden thread, which they
feared was about to end too soon.
The next morning all was delightful
1t seemed as if all the little loves and Cupids
nestled in the dimples which her smiles
created round her pretty mouth. julia
was in the widest spirits; and light was
the bound with which she sprang into the
carriage. Away they flew, by-gone feeling
rushed upon her as memory gushed forth
in one quick thought it darted back t.
childhood, and then rapidly it flew on t
her present moment of happiness.
Fisk was joyous, happy. All natur
: looked more beautiful, more green the ver
0 dure, brighter the leafy foliage of the woods
With those we love, a desert may be robbie
of its gloom; but the highway led throug
q q some Of the finest scenery in Western Cal
olina-a land that poetry has breathed owe
. and sanctiGed, the very air of which is lade
{ with the balmy scent of pasture, and th
= hOneysuckle hedge.
c The stream of human pleasure, exceI
9 when it falls in the fierce cataract of pa
u sion, is so calm and smooth that there
IL little to describe-let each one bring bac
>, a moment home to his own breast; let hi
IL fancy himself riding by the side of h,
ol whom he loves best, through scenes as fai
Y, with hopes as bright, and his own hea
a will present him better picture than n
If pen can draw. But amid our happines
lt there are fearful spelIs-demons may a
4 sumo the appearance of angels of light al
l. thereby lure the soul to destruction; al
sc we'll we know it is not for us miserable d
s. scendants of Adam to expect paradi
' on earth.
u May Wallace was bad boy-became
y hard-hearted youth, and finally cru
man. In his youthful days he had forsak'
e. home, turned his back upon the teachin
of father, and sought place in the arm
d of his country, and an abode in the cam
u After spending two.years in Mexico, he
y turned to his native home; and perhaps
~ one welcomed him more than the f;
~ Evelyn, since she thought he had prov
IS his patriotism and bravery, forgetting th
- his heart might become blacker and |
u I, nature more corrupt. But blinded
ne ne "love's young dream" she was soon WOO
III and won. The winter was gone, aud Spri
" came smiling over the earth, bearing
III her hands swect-smelling flowers, and on |
brow wreath of evergreen soft sunshi
lr- mingled among the delicate hues, and
CT breath was balmy and warm as when
III III visits "the land of the grape and I
lie vine." Venus breathes the breath of Il
Ut on these warm breezes, and Cupid nest
eSS in the rose bud This season seems pc
lse liarly suited to the union of hearts.
.I' .ne Simeon Peyton had another son-in-l;
l'h whose nuptials were witnessed by many
vas vas But we will not linger in giving descr
loI tion of the marriage scene. Time pas
.: " on, and Peyton still kept laying up dolls
us us until finally he spoke of making his will,
eai givings out of which were not as favora
~ l1' to Fisk and Wallace as they wished Il
Sn- were therefore not willing to wait the /
le5 ural death of the old man, but immediat
,n ,nu they commenced planning his death
'oh Knowing that the old man inflicted a sey