Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-05-17
MAY r..
Origiaal pnptra.
For The Spirit Of tie Age.
MAY

kiss Of the gentle Zephyr-the quick expan-
sion OF the eUerald bud-the rapid bursting
Of the gorgeous hower-the deepening garni.
ture Of the grey old woods-and the soul
stirring music of Gods meL0dist'a. echo and
re-echo to tho fevered spirit-it is May again.
Ever beautiful, ever welcome child Of glce
some spring, We hail thee joyfuiiy. Still
continue to scatter from thy F%rofuse store
house yerdure and aowers-still fling from
thy liberal lap melody and love-and still
through these thy eloquent agents lead the
heart to purity and to God. 1t is well for
the sorrow stricken to wander forth upon
such OCCASION as arc now presented we'll
to se3 the anguished one 90 outin the bright
laughing sunshine of Mag morn-gazc upon
the fair, kindly, blue heavens-or watch the
carly yapors which strire to veil the day.
king with their purplish gossamer web, but
doomed gradually to roll away in light, fan
tastic wFeaths before his rising glory. Well
may such an ono list TO the merry hum of
the insect family-see the life and animation
that peryades all nature, and in despite oil
the poets assertion, 1" All things are dark to
sn-.avp 10 .napst. feel that l;fs ;tsaIf ;s.a lax;
airy, and existence in a world so fair and
lovely, is not thing to be scorned or thrown
lightly away.
When j lit my eye and gaze abroad,
brightness and beauty, industry and happl-
ness, music and animation, greet and elevate
the senses, pouring into my glad breast, con-
sentiment and l0ve--and yet even whilst mus
happily engaged, my thoughts, memory
hand has been busy sweeping Der the hearts
touching Tyre and her gentle fingers love TO
lingcr upon those chords from Whlch she can
extract the softest and sweetest melody. All
even after the lapse of years, and the conse-
euent accumulation of hfe's responsibilities
and cares, will not the old joyous light come
back to the eye, and n pleasure thrill, even
deeper than OF old run along all the electric
wires Of some gentle heart at the query,
{" have you my schoolmates forgotten our
gala days Of May 40 and A."
Methinks, scattered throughout the length
and breadth Of this fair land, many a thrifty
housewife would willingly resign the cares
of domestic life-many a fond wife, neglect
the absorbing study Of her husbands happi-
uess-many a doting mother withdraw her
protracted gaze from the fair face Of her
sleeping babe-and even many a bright belle
forget her ambitious dreams Of vanity long
enough, to revel n few moments with me iE
the recollection of those happy days. Ma
ture it would seem fingered long at her tot
Get, on the first morn Of MAY 1910, for after
the arrangement of her profuse %jewelry was
complete, and the day monarch with q sud-
~ VI Va SAbA AOho OAllllllCC uulE bLl6 DII-
dal veil Of silver sheen over ner fair form,
she stood forth in her queenly beauty, inim.
liable and unparalleled.
There was a gay happy group assembled
at the Wilmington Institute, DELI plotting
with all the enthusiasm of free light hearted
girlhood, the orderofp pleasure forthe day, and
mnny a bright eye grew brighter, many a
glad heart bounded still more %ioyfullv, at the
early promise of so early q holiday. On spec
the hours. The beautiful banks of the Bran
dywine were animated by the scattering o
that happy band. There n group bends thei
ndmiring gaze upon the rushing waters heav
ing and wreathiugirtTei rocky bed, cappet
with q fresh burst Of foam at each impedi
ment, until sinking exhausted in q gentl
murmur below. There a gay laughing fac,
is streaming by to show some bright howe
to q companion more skillful than herself i
the science of Botany. Upon that sum,
knoll rest two or three to weave bright char
let's for their fair young brows, never dream
sng Mt the time but all the weights that ma
Hereafter rest thereon can be rescued or cas-
aside as l~ightly,-whilst q little higher Il
walk n romantic couple discoursing of til
picturesque beauty and poetic brightness {
round them, and with their full hearts no,
beating in unison, the deepest feelings
their nature interlaced by the strong cord
friendship, oil thought of change is discar,
cd, as approaching a moral impossibility.
Dream on fair m~oralist, it is the era, me-
for bright aud sweet and beautiful dreamin,
ere morn IN the form of personal c~xperien,
tears the veil aside and reveals sober rea,
ties. Vet dream on, for life were indeed
dreary blank without such condolences, al
memory's tendrils will cling in after yea
about the shattered columns Of youths hor
full temple whilst many a sweet thought Fl
ting through its dim corridors will retu,
md linger ahid the subtil aroma which
sheds about the ruined pile. Dream on, DE-
pite the eanker worm which may eventual
nibble its way TO the heart and draw the |
juice off; dream on sweet girls whilst yet
may.
Still on sped the hours. Night flung h
starry banner out, but its dazzling SPLENDID
was strangely unheeded. The gentle mo
paused in her queenly tread through hei
ems pathway, to animate the quiet face of
expansive Delaware, now full in our vi
with her silyery kiss but intent on other pl
sRrcs it's subdued loneliness possessed
charm. There was a spot where that S
hour often found us lost in the scientific c.
temptation ofHeavon's gorgeousness, until
brain fairly roeled under the mighty conc
tons it inspired, but its magic influence '
this evening disclaimed, and instead, bri.
faces were flashing in and out the toilet, n
ror's busy hands were at work upon trut
ringlcts, or light fingers arranging the
grant jewelry of nature, for tho event
Flora's own pure gems according to the res
dictates Of fancy, while happy smiles fit
like o honey rover from one rosy cour
nance to another, and the Joyous repair
and light jest sprang fresh and untrame
from the heart, to indicate the existence
much enjoyment there.
On sped the hours. The school girls Z
ming May party was arranged, and the re
diadem Of blushing rose buds had been !
upon the sunny brow Of our fair young que
The graceful welding of her brief seer
was proudly acknowledged by her will
subjects, and we watched her in her pls
ioveliness whilst seated inher emerald wre;
ed throne as
"a dream of poetry
That may not be written or told,
Exceeding lovely"
Bright was the illumination of that
landed hall, for in addition to the soft r
ance that seemed to burst through every
vice and corner there were flashing e
hriltionk en,ilac nalOdinno la,rbtor "a 4