Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-08-16
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Gaaies' department.
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AAfsA 49, VIZ 80 80 htE-Ht
the early spring time. Dutthe clear splash
ing rain drops came plentifully last night,
md have cooled che heated Atmosphere,
washed tho dust from dame Fatefe's emerald
huod robe, and brcathed new life and beau
" into each animate and inanimate thing.
Thank God for clear, pure, gushing water!
whether it gurgles in the rib or foanns IN the
cataract-sparkles in the goblet or trembles
on the quiycring leaf-peals its laundering
anthem in the ocean or sings the pleasant
home-tune in the summer rain ; we feel 1t
deeply entering into that texture Of beauty
and harmony which Grapes the universe in
gladness. OIL how many things we are
prone TO overlook, because of common occur
renee, hat which should none the less call
forth the lotd pam Of gratitude and praise
Even from a superficial glance around us,
there is much to make US acknowledge the
truthtulness Of the stanza;
"Liboral and free, as air or sea,
Are the blessings sent from heaven;
With an odor each, TO the heart they reach,
OF the source whence ali arc given"
for mans comfort AID IuEartn lave BesfitNns
spariugly provided, but everywhere these are
garlanDed with fragrant flowers, and delicate
hues and witching melody, and genial airs,
that should awaken still deeper appropriations
and delights throughout the wide chambers
of the soul. Beauty indeed has its uses, its
subtil yet powerful influences, and that
great and good God who built the beautiful
blue lone above us, and illumined it by day
and night with His myriads of changeful
lanterns, and clothed the hill tops with YER
dure, and dug the base for the towering crag,
and painted the blossoms, and channeled
the limpid stream, never intended US to close
the eye TO every thing he has created, save
the advantages for coming new dollars and
cents.
This is n grand and beautiful edifce in
which we live not cold, and gorgeous, and
glhring in its mechanism, but each pillar
iostooned with roses, each window draped
with fragrant tendrils where the birds war
bic and the bees hum, and in which there is
sufficient room for gentle affections and beau
tiful thoughts, rs we'll ns the sterner cares
which we have no disposition to disdain.-
Shame upon those who would persuade us
that a mind tuned to these higher apprecia-
tions, fancies itself too high wrought for the
sober cares and claims of real life. Shame
upon those who would dare insinuate that
because the eye kindles, and the check CLOVIS,
and the heart warns in contemplating the
beautiful and grand in the natural, or the
generous and noble in the moral world, that
they are therefore too enthusiastic or roman
III ~ JuhuIb VIC hbClublOn Vi uOMeSJlC llIb,
the demands Of sickness, or even turn in per-
verified sensibility away from the deep stern
lesson taught by the dread messenger death.
Aye, even the young, and hopeful, and gay,
against whom the shafts of ridicule are so
often hurled, imbibe strength from true and
holy yet enthusiastic contemplation of Gods
goodness in the architecture Of a world, and
the noble spirits which he has everywhere
intcrspersed it with, to turn unmurmuring
to those duties which He has in equal
wisdom melted out to their own individual
lot
Society pampers and fosters the vanity o.
its young female members, by making then
ia chief copstituopts-deferring to thei,
pleasures and oftentimoo bofus rafou Uy~ Tuef
caprices-then sits down gravely to denounc,
them as fit only for the penning of q senti
mental sonnet, the performance of a few
polkas upon the piano, or the proper adjust
ment of her ringlets and jewels but giving
her credit for none ofthose undeveloped quail
i6cations which would beautify her as a wife
or adorn her as a mother.
BY the way, it occurs to me Just here t
inquire whether your Associate Editor Nigh
not be a severely hen-pecked husband, or al
~austere, beca1se disappointed, old bachelor
/ should certainly not Judge so, when he read
to'us from the dream-book of his i~nner-life
= for they are truthful and good, and awaken
corresponding emotions along the heart
strings of his six thousand listeners Blu
his repeated censure and distrust Of the sex
however lightly expressed, would go far to
ward warranting the FIRST mentioned conclu
sion. And | do wish, dear Mr.. Editor, yol
would take him some leisure day by tn
button, and tell him seriously, that Girls ar
worry ithpressible things, oftentimes volatil
to thoughtlessness, and yet equally oftel
I.a-Aa.1
leges, their neglected opportunities of dom
good, and to sigh for some clear, strong, T;
tional friend to direct them in that usefl
path of which they have so often dreame
and thought, but into which in their undii
Giblined state they could find no entrance
Toll him he can effect far more by sittin
down beside the thoughtless one he knows
not indeed as a lover, nor even under the 0
perverted name Of friend, but as a man cap
bic Of pointing out life's simplest duties
showing the beauty, and comfort, and futul
peace to DO derived from a life of consister
usefulness-to teach them that the wild an
ephemeral pleasures OF the passing hot
should be considered but as a feather, whe
weighed with the actual claims which a Go
has imposed, and which have been deepene
by the education of her immortal powers.
&c there is any class upon earth to be pitit
and treated with unwonted tenderness, it
carly girlhood. Utterly inexperienced upc
all truly rational points, she is thrust out
take a conspicuous position in society, ar
before she has ever realized the responsible
ties Of her situation, conscious Of q sincer
desire 20 please, and possessing quick pc
ceptions as to what is best calculated to s
cure that end, is it any wonder, when a
preached in an idle and superficial mann
from almost every direction, she should ado
the character and endeavor to support
we'll, that is thus dnceremoniously fore,
upon her. But, think we, she holds no dee
or thoughts What is it in the widest no
Of gtee that calls the shadow to her brow
the subdued light TO her eye whilst the rim
ing laughter dies suddenly away, and 8
half forgets the jest that was dancing up
her parted lips. It was the question almC
unrecognized by herself-Are these pursu
preparing me for the higher duties of futu
life-are they Strengthening me for the s
emn events which occur in every existence
are they increasing that faith and love viii
will alone support in the hour when the !;
lingering look at the past is taken ere / ST
from the shore Of timeto that Of a fathoml
eternity? / would not sadden a glad a
hopeful heart for the world nor do | belle
that to teach them lifc is not all sunshiI
and its truest happiness il derived from
consciousness Of discharging its smallest
ties faithfully, and in cultivating those p'
and beautiful perceptions which lead up
the contemplation Of their author, God,
calculated Ia nroduea anv such effect. M