Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-10-12
Spirit Of tBe Age, 8aleigB, QortB

gloomy, and i~nterposed no barrier to any
consistent recreation
In what respect was it %joyful?' said Ju-
liza.
Because it was the end of a troubled
and the beginning of a blissful life
your mother died in the Church 2 said
De Lisle.
'She died in the faith of a Christian, sir,
with heaven distinctly in view, and the GER
tainty of happy society above. If your
mother left you to visit the friends of her
youth, you might regret her absence, but,
at the same time, you would be glad of the
pleasure she hadin prospect. This pleasure
| feel in the death of my mother
Il never saw a person de- said Julia ;
| could not endure the sight
MY dear Miss Julia, you would not say
so, if you had seen my mother die
What was remarkable in her dying
inquired De Lisle.
In answer Sarah frankly stated the facts
already mentioned, adding, My amusement
| find in living to die thus
"A beautiful death !! said Julia, wiping
her falling tears.
"A wonderful death = said De Lisle, still
more affected. Pray, Miss Harcourt, what
is the secret of dying thus l should be
glad to have such a death too
Faith in the gospel, is the only secret.
1t is the faith of meeting friends that
makes US so happy under the fatigue of a
journey to the home of our childhood. Dy-
ing would be insupportable without the
faith of heavenly society,"
They were here interrupted by the in
quiry at the door for Miss Harcourt and,
in a moment more, a poor but neatly-dres-
sed girl of fourteen or fifteen entered the
room, and said, with tears in her eyes, that
her mother, she feared, was dying, and
would be glad to see Miss Harcourt.
Where does your mother live p inquir-
ed Sarah.
'Sixty-fve, Blank-street, in the third
story. Gro up two fight of stairs, and when
you reach the landing of the second, enter
the left-hand door,
This was said with much modesty, and
with the signs of some deep and incurable
sorrow.
What ais your mother, my child p in
quired Sarah.
90, l don't know said the child, the
tears beginning to flow amain 'she is sick
her breath is almost gone, and the fever is
burning her up. Will you come, miss p
Certainly. Will it do in the morning?'
20, I'm afraid that would be too late =
said the girl.
Very well; I will be there in an hour
Not so soon we shall not be through
tea said Julia.
We'll, it will not be much over an hour,
l think added Sarah, as the child left.
How dare you go to a strange place in
the nightY said Julia. Perhaps some mis-
chief is intended you, or there is pestilence
in the house
L shall take measures to assure myself
on these points, said Sarah. Il am not
With99at experience in these matters,
into better society at death, Miss Harcourt,7
said DE Llsle, anxious to resume the con-
versation. Il cannot see any such basis of
certainty as we feel on visiting friends, 1t
is true | believe in the Christian religion.
and in the SOULS immortality. But it af-
fords me no such grounds of realization as
that of meeting absent friends. We have
seen those friends, have enjoyed the frui.
ton of their society, and thus have in our
minds a basis for realization. Those who
have tasted a delicious fruit once, can anti
cipate what it will be again. But we have
no such experience of heavenly society,"
Dying is necessarily a plunge in the dark.
Mr.. De Lislc, one fact has escaped you,
said Sarah.
what is that, Miss Harcourt p
Heaven, to the believer, is a presen
inward experience. 1t is the love of Coz
shed abroad in his heart ; it is Christ il
him the hope of glory it is being fllec
with all the fullness of God What thes
passages of the Bible involve is heaven
whether enjoyed here or in another life
1t is a mind in harmony with itself and al
its relations. And what can heaven be bu
that p
But howis it possible to derive so mucl
enjoyment from a purely ideal good p in
quired De Lisle.
1T is not ideal, sir; it is positive it i
substantial. Is the happiness of a mind i
health any more ideal than that of a health
; body? That is a morbid state of min
which is never satisfied in itself, but is al
ways craving outward sources of excite
ment. Happiness and hope are the devel
opment of life from within, like the enlars
ment of a growing tree; but pleasures, i
the usual sense of that term, are but til
; leaves appended to a tree of wax. Yo
grasp them, and they crumble in yor
, hands
, 'Then the state Of your affections in r
ference to God and heaven gives you a di
: taste for the gayeties of the town
e yes; | am kept from themby the for
5 of superior attractions. | might think mar
of these amusements perfectly innocent
0 1t is so with dancing. | would dance if
h needed such an auxiliary of my Happiness.
but | do not. Besides, l observe that tho
L who have a craving for such modes of c
d joyment are betrayed into what is acknov
Ie edged on all hands to be criminal. Extrer
devotion to cards ends in gambling. T
is excitements of the theatre lead to drinki
)e and drunkenness. These pleasures are
seeds, which grow up vices and l do I
feel myself at liberty to SOW such a h
g vest. Ifyou could see what l have, duri
le my short stay in your city, / am cert;
a. that you would think as l do on these 81
he jects.'
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