Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-07-20
Cbuirr Titrraturf.

Within a short distance of the college in
the city Of Cambridge, dwelt few years
ago. widow lady, whom for the purposes of
our story, we shall take the liberty of calling
Mrs Rayner.
Her. husband had been thriving me-
cAanic, who, unfortunately, at the time of
his death had only just entered the highway
Of prosperity, so that his wife was thrown by
his premature decease upon her own resour-
ces for the support Of herself and two small
children.
But, being woman ofenergy and ability,
she had maintained her little family comfort
ably, and managed to give the 6oy and girl
very tolerable education. 1t was fortu.
nate for Mrs. Rayner that her lot, previous
to her marriage, had been cast in the midst
Of poverty, for there she acquired familiar
ity with the harder side of life which was of
Infinite service to her in struggling against
the trials that besot her.
She had learned the trade of taiIoress,
and at the death Of her husband again APP
piled herself to it. Fortune smiled upon
her wei!.directed endeavors, and though she
had dwelt in an humble abode and Jared but
coarsely. she realized that even poverty is
not entirely unblest.
The son and daughter arrived at years of
maturity. Charles Rayner after several years
of study and perseverance, became assistant
book-keeper in the counting-room of a rich
merchant in Boston. Though his salary was
small it was piousy devoted to the uses of
the family. Annie Rayner had learned her
mothers trade, and where all were indus
trious and prudent, the dwelling of Mrs
Rayner was the abode of comfort and hap
piness.
In the midst Of their little prosperity ii is
not strange that desire to make u betterap
pearance in the world, gradually invaded the
minds Of the son and daughter. The old
house was dark and desolate-had all the
attributes Of ehecrless poverty: and though
industry and contcntment had long rendered
it tOlerable, the day ofindigenco had passed
by, and their improved circumstances SEEM
cd to warrant the renting Of a more airy
and stylish dwelling.
Perhaps this was mistaken notion, but
wo do not mean to croak' over the impro-
priety Of indulging such vain ASPIRATIONS
Everybody ought to know his own business
best, and if the snail thought it advisable to
crawl out Of his comfortable case and move
into the deserted she'll of the lobster, why it
is no business Of ours.
The dingy old house was abandoned, and
the neat, spacious abode, wherein the open
ing of our story finds the family located,
was taken. 1t took nearly all the sayings
Of the poor widow to furnish it but then
her children, forwhom she had toied all hel
lifetime, had come to maturity, and she
thought it proper that the accident of pow
erty should not too strongly mark their des
tiny.
And perhaps the loving mother had SOM
other motives, which she would not hav
been willing to speak out loud Ami
was just seventeen, and the most beautiful
eEeatgrs6 rs6iA Aaatatheg9etratfcd HrrJr rs TAR dam
sols-ever nourished into womauhood.
Annie was pretty though she was a tailor
ess- and the good mother had sense {
nough to believe that being tailoress wa
no detriment to her understanding or he
capacity to make even a rich man happy.
Mrs. Rayner knew that it is the inevtabl
destiny of young maidens to have beau,
and, though notquito so inevitable, that ma
rimouy is part and parcel of their lot.
She was fond mother, and it may hay
occurred to her that no very stylish youn
gentleman would be likely to come wooin
her daughter in the old house, where 81
had spent the years of her severest trugg
with the demons of poverty.
This is, however, only surmise of on
and We beg leave to give it no more weig
than its rcasonableness demands.
The rent of the house was two hundrc
dollars year. 1t was large sum for
family in their circumstances to pay b,
then the united products of all their indu
try seemed to warrant the outlay.
Though for a twelvemonth the Rayn
family were happy in the new house, al
they had no difficulty in keeping their c
penses within their income, the experime
proved to be failure. Mrs. Rayner by
fall on the ice, received a severe injury
the spine, which induced a most distressil
illness.
For six months, she scarcely rose from h
bed, and during all this time, Annie, like
bSh1S spun llDlh NhS utdNeu vi lONe, WalC
ed over and soothed her in her anguish.
Charles salary was all the family had
depend upon and it rapidly melted aw
before the continued demands for food, me
cine and medical attendance.
The poor clerk was in deep distress.
His pittance was as nothing now and
could not calmly regard the threaten
pressure of want. He bad borrowed mon
The grocer and the provision dealers W
clamorous for the payment of their bills,
TO cap the climax Of his misery, two quarts
rent of the house remained unpaid.
Mrs Bayners health was now partii
restored, but neither she nor Annie had
ded a dollar to the income of the family
more than six months. Poverty, cold
repulslve, stared them in the face, and thr,
ened to lay its icy grasp upon them.
The landlord had rePeadly demanded
amount Orient due him, and at last thr
enod to cxpel them, unless it was imm
atsly paid.
a hundred dollars mother said