Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-07-06
SECTION V.

SECTION V.
The man who makes Mammon the only
shrine of worship, the only idol of the souls
alteration, isnot happy man he is miser-
able. When the deep faculties Of the inner
principle are surely welded to gold, all en-
joyment Of lfe's blessings are at an end;
all absorbed in the one idea Of gain. Hum
phrey Holbrook was not happy man; he
was miserable. When his elder born was
buried in the earth beneath the weeping
willow tree, there to sleep deaths quiet
night, he mourned and repined more than
forty days, and then drying his tears he
betook himself with increased energy in ac-
cumulating greaterstores Of gold and ofsilver
for his Margaretta, and vowed VOW that
she SHOULD be happy in the earth with great
riches e.usf long life.
Margaretta was lonely now; for she was
without her brother mate to play in the
meadows with her, gathering flowers and
chasing the butterfly merrily; she felt her
loneliness and Wept over his grassy grave,
on WI hich the bow at times was beaming
through the pendant plumes of the weep
ing willow tree, and beneath whose shade
he waf sleeping. But the little girl praised
God through her tears that the bow was
still banning, and that her brother was
amongthe pretty twinkling stars. And
the befning bow was her comforter
Yeabs rolled on; the grass grew thickly
on tht single grave beneath the willow
tree Ehe father grew old and rich in gold,
and tie child grew to be woman. Her
toys we're laid aside and she sat by her pious
mothe and sang with her and spoke of the
christin's hope. She was woman now,
and = ehfS04a S0 hefPy t4ys days aa Of Eaid def on tbs
brother were not forgotten, and the bow
they botl loved when children, beamed
bright as. when new in the sky, and 1t
beamed Of his little grave.
Margarttta was fair to look upon, like
the kindred Of Eve, and the fairest among
her daughters. She was beloved by many
admiriDg ones, and the old father wor-
shipped her like his gold, and said she
was wotthy Of his riches. He added
more to his wealth, and said it was his
! daughter's
Like the aged fig tree, Humphrey Hol-
! brook began to wither and pine under the
! weight of more than three score years Of
toll aud care He sat in his chamber and
: : felt the gnawings Of an incurable disease
! in his bosom, and he hugged closely hi'
! bags of gold against the pain and wept bit
terly that his race was run. He called ;
] learned physician to his chamber and tn
. doctor took the bags Of gold from him ant
eased his weary flesh to downy couch th
daughter had spread, and bid him rest iron
the tolls of life. And the old man cas-
lingering glances at his gold and wept.
Days and days past, and the old mai
grew weaker and more feeble until he wa
!, helpless like little child And then h
} murmured and would have bribed his ply
i sician with gold to give him the strengt
of manhood again; but the physician coul
not be bribed, and the feeble sufferer mu
= INJURED and wept.
i Days and days past, and death stood b
the old mans couch and beckoned hil
! away; but the cid man was unwilling |
,, go and leave his wife, his daughter and h
a gold He offered death great bribe
= gold to depart from his sight, but the spe
! tire seemed to smile in mockery of his brib
- and he touched the old man with his il
1e spear, and freezing horror crept lazi
II through his veins, and CLASSY film gat
es cred in his eyes that still were weeping
- cause his course was finished
2 And. the priest stood ever the dying ma
IL and gave him counsel and comfort.
= And the dust shalt return to the du
y again, but the spirit to God who gave it
And @. my gold my gold'
!. y Believe with all thine heart, and th
nc shalt be saved
nd Shall 60 to ny daughter. Oh
n's daughter! y