Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-11-16

The corpse laid in the centre of the
large old fashionedroom.
Clara's face had been in life deli
catcly lovely-in death it wore a look of
angelic innocence. The small white
hands, almost transparent, were folded
over her bosom and held an emblem
of her own frailty, a lily, broken at the
stem.
But pure, though suffering, she must
have died, for a sweet story was told OF
her child-like submission, her longing
to be gone, her trust in the Saviour of
sinners, and the holy smile, death-born,
49, .UcTUU1 pa1gs. ~--A-.
Euwttds amanted, the beautiful
Laura, entered with a friend, and pas
scd the cold sleeper, without deigning
to give her one glance. Her eyes sought
forward, and u thrill Of pride, anguish,
and n more indefinite, unexplainable
feeling, ran through her as she noticed
that he wore the insignia of mourning;
that he was even more pallid than the
fair corpse and an expression of an
guish seemed stamped upon his feat
ures.
You will be punished for your haugh-
ty pride, Laura, they had been al
most the last words hat had fallen upon
her ear, as she came hither; and now
they REQUIRED often and painfully. Why
should he, the glory of her heart, APP
pear thus bowed down? Why was il
the aged parents seldom raised then
Chances from the coffin? and why, above
all, did every person read with sur
prise, the inscription upon the cofir
. plate, and then look at his neighbol
with i%ncredulous chances :?
All was hushedin that room Of death
The white curtains moved TREMENDOUSLY
guided by the caprice of the iowe
scented wind, and sometimes a spray o
eglantine looped them aside, giving
smiling picture Of field, valley, and gilt
tering church-spire beyond. In at til
open door came the village pastor,
man youthful in appearance, but wit
c~ountenance upon which were stampe
uncompromising frmness, and unshake
rcctitude oflife and purpose. He cam
forward and stood for a moment befor
the corpse. A smile kindled his eloquer
features on beholding the lovely, placi
c~ountenance. Then another emotio
disturbed the calm of his expression, h
turned to the large c%oncOurse assembled
essayed to speak, cast a sorrowfl
glance towards the aged parents an
their son, whose attitude was one of d,
votion. Sorrowful, exceedingly, W;
that glance yet, though his lips m
we'd, for a moment he spoke not.
Laura felt dizzy and faint. A '
sion passed before her. She was in
neat and humble cottage rich ga
ment in her hand for the completion
which, she grudgingly paid a scanty /
muneration. A beautiful, child-liI
being sat by the f~ower-covered windo
her eyes humid with tears. She W
telling a sad story of a sick and des
tute mother, Of hard services scanti
paid, Of better days, of hopeless povt
ty, and the ill-usage ola grasping Ian
lord. And Laura promised aid viii
she never bestowed.
Another scene.
In her rich home, that same swt
being, motherless, houseless, heartily
ken and neglected, knelt at her fe
and with the energy of despair, CIR
wildly, you may ave me; you ale
may rescue me from infamy. 1t is
your power, let me tell my sad st,
only hear me hear me but for {
little moment
And Laura had called a servant, {
with calm, scornful gesture, bid tn
put that creature, from the hou