Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-12-13


hearts choice. o., brother, even now-the
feeble and wilhered thing am--dim recol.
lections, pleasant passages come forth around
me like the JOY Of old dreams. A boy a.
gain and in the confding heart of boy.
walk with Eva by the rivers banks. And
The gentle creature bushes at my protesta.
tions of love and leans her cheek nnon nv
neck. The regal sun goes down in the west,
and We gaze upon the glory of the clouds,
mat attend bis setting, and while we look at
their fantastic changes, a laugh sounds out
clear like flute and merry as the iingling
OF silver bells. 1t is the laugh of Eva
The eye of the old man glistened with
unwonted brightness He paused, sighed.
the brigltoeF7 faded away aud he went on
with his narrative.
As | said, the dying lesson of him
whom we reverenced were treasured up in
my soul. could not but feel their truth,
l feared that if again stood beside the
object of my love and looked upon her
face, and listened to her words, the whole
some axioms might be blotted from nv
thoughts, so | determined to act as became
man. From that hour never have be-
held the brown-eyed Eva
Il vent amid the world. Acting upor
the wise principles which our aged friend
taught US, looked upon everything with
suspicious eyes. Alas | found it but too
true that iniquity and deceit were the ruling
spirits of men. Some called me cold, cal
culating and unamiable; but it was their
own unworthiness that made me appear so
IN their eyes l am not-you know, my
brother-l am not naturally of proud and
repulsive manner, but | was determined
never to give my friendship merely to be
blown Oft again, it might chance, as feath-
er against the wind; nor interwave my
course Of life with those that, very likely
would gain all the advantage of the con-
nexion and leave me no better than before.
Il engaged in traffic. Success attended
me. Enemies said that my good fortune
was the result of chance but [ knew it
was the fruit of the judicious system whicL
governed me In matters of business as well
as of social intercourse.
My brother, thus have lived my life
Your look asks me if have been happy.
Dear brother truth impels me to say no =
Yet assuredly if few glittering pleasures
ministered to me on my journey, equally
few were the disappointments, the hopes
blighted, the trust betrayed, the Paintings
of the soul caused by the detection of those
in whom | laid my treasures.
'Ah my brother, the world is full of
misery p
The disciple of a wretched faith ceased
his story, and there was silence awhile.
Then Nathan spake:
In the early years. he said, Il too,
loved beautiful woman Whether my
heart was more frail than thine, or affection
had gained mightier power over me, I
could not part from her I loved without
the satisfaction of a farewell kiss. We
nett had resolved to stay but moment,
for had chalked out my future life after
the fashion thou hast described thine
How it was, l know not, but the mo-
ments rolled on to hours, and still we stood
with our arms around each other.
My brother, maiden's tears washed
my stern resolves away. The lure of
voice rolling quietly from between two
soft lips, enticed me from remembrance Of
my good sire's wisdom forgot his teach
ings, and married the woman l loved.
All +! how sweetly sped the seasons i
We were blessed. True, there came cross
ings and evils; but we withstood them all,
and holding each other by the hand, forgot
that such thing as sorrow remained in the
world
Children were born to us-brave boys
and fair girls. Oh, Mark, that-that is a
pleasure-that swelling of tenderness for
our offspring the rigorous doctrines
of your course of life have withheld from
you!
Like you, bargained. Various for
tunes followed my path will not deny
but that some in whom thought virtue
was strong, proved cunning hypocrites and
worthy no mans trust. Yet are there ma
ny | have known, spotless, as far as hu-
manity may be spotless.
Thus to me, life has been alternately
false and fair. Have lived happyl No
not completely-it is never for mortals so
to be. But can lay my hand upon my
heart and thank the Great master that the
sunshine has been far oftener than the dark
ness of the clouds
Dear brother, the world has misery /;
but it is a world still, and affords much ioy
to the dwellers ?
As Nathan ceased his brother looked up
into his face like man unto whom sim
pie truth has been for the first time revealed.
--~S0Ap-
YANKEE GALLANTRY.-A notion seller
was offering Yankee clocks, finely vanished
and colored, and with looking glass in
front, to certain lady not remarkable for
personal beauty.
Beautiful, indeed look at it almost
frightens me ! said tie lady.
Then, marin, replied JouatHon, Il guess
you'd better buy one that haint got no look
in glass
Boy said traveller to little fellow
; clothed in pants and roundabout, but minus
another very important article of wearing
apparel-'boy where's your shirt
t Mammy's washing it,
t Have you no other?'
No other = exclaimed the urchin with
, indignant scorn; would you want body
to have thousand shirts
/, A STRIKE [ amt going to be called
! printers devil any longer, no more | ain t,
r exclaimed our imp the other day in terrible
pucker.
D well, what shall we call you 2
9 Call me typographical spirit of evil,
/ you please that's ALL