Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-12-21
O. nj NJ mutations.
FOR TUE srIRIT OF TIE ACE.

AHA AVE-
DEAR Ma. EDiToR.-It has been a long,
longtime since | seated myself quietly to give
you q line and, Indeed, / think if you had
spent the last few weeks beneath the roof of
my humble dOmicilc, you would wonder how
between sick servants and six noisy, merry,
frOlicking children, OVERLOOKING with health
and exuberant spirits, l could ever get the
tangled mcshes Of my brain sufficiently un-
ravelcl to write one single readable sentence.
You see | nm presuming largely now upon
that discriminating taste awarded you. by
your numerous readers, and which would be
sacrificed il you were guilty Of the unpar-
donable offence Of laying an unreliable one
before their vision. But | have quiet night
before me now, such IN one rs makes the
fond heart turn with deeper appreciation to
the pleasures Of it's own home-cold, cloudy
and wintry without, but glowing with love
and warmth within. The little ones arc all
tucked suugly away to their rest, and one by
ono they have dropped to their peaceful rosy
Drawings, leaving me alone and feeling very
like 1t is an hour meet TO reopen a~cQuain-
tanco with the ~smilingfaces and happy hearts
which gather around the Preside where your
weekly visits arc made.
But here comes up the difficulty of an a
grceablq subject. There are many, very many
things | wish to say, but somehow l can get
nothing into nay head except personalities to-
night, and as o natural consequence they will
find their way to the point of my pen. For
instance, l am longing so deeply to tell a
certain young husband | know, how much
grief the profane language he uses gives that
fond, truthful wife Of his. lie knows it not,
for she is n timid, shrinking creature, fearing
nought 80 much rs his frown, or n cold harsh
word from his lips and so when she presses
close to his side upona cosy oyeninglike this,
and her little hand nestles fondly in his, or
she lifts the dark locks from his brow and
presses n kiss, warm from the heart, thereon I;
he only passes his arm about her slender
waist. drawing her TO his knee, perhaps think
ing all the while with q self.satisied air that
he has the happiest rs well as the fondest
wife that ever blessed the lot Of mortal man.
/ am sorry to disturb that complacent smile,
for it really gracos his lip but | know bet
ter, NJ. Editor, for there is q little toddling
boyin that house Just learning to lisp Papa's
words, and whom she wishes to grow up ex-
actly like Papa, saving only those sinful tenn
pers in which that ugly profanity, d~cfacing
his life, originates. And even now, as she
passes her arm about his neck and lays her
soft warm checks upon his manly breast, she
is longing 30 intensely to tell him all she wish
eS ana Ill ene reefs. but sue Is lar from her
sunny childhood's home, and she fears so
much the passing Of q cloud athwart the ioy-
Gus sunshine of her life, that she puts il aside
from day to day, least it should blight the
rich blossoms which bloom in the bower of
love.
And so | wish you would tell him for her,
dear Mr.. Editor, how those idle words of yex-
alton rsnd her gentle heart, and how she
wonders and mourns that any ono noble and
gifted rs she believes him to be, can be gull
ty Of such q wicked habit. Tell him how,
whom he is away, she lifts her prattling boy
10 her lap, sweeps back the sunny curls from
his unstained brow, gazes down into the clear
depths Of his soft blue eye, speaking in tones
so soft and mild, as she endeayors to impress
upon his mind the improperly Of some OK
preston he has just used and how the heavy
tear drop trembles upon her long dark lash
Is, and the deep drawn sigh bursts up from
her heart, rs the wondering child lisps in hel
face" Papa says s0l' And then, how sh,
seeks the solitude of her own chamber, an
with no eye upon her save her Gods, pray
earnestly for strength and f.mness tn act tn,
whole character Of a christian wife and moth
or. Tell him she is but n child herself, 70
soft hands and warm hearts have ever beef
about her pathway in life, smoothing ever,
rough place into a Aowery plain for her des