Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-01-18
Origiuul paptra.
ron THE SPIRIT or THE AeE.

DEAR Mn. EDITOR: If there is any pc
riod OF time more suggestive to me of deep
and earnest thought than another, that pc
riod IS the dawn Of new year. However
unmarked the event itself may be by change
or startling incident Of any kind-however
unproductive. all surrounding circumstances
and associations are for the solemn reflective
mood naturally connected with tor how
ever much the mind may be Influenced by
those circumstances and associations Of
lighter character, it will turn, time and a.
gain, from the gay jest and ringing laugh
ter, to tho impressive fact, that another year
has glided down the deep swift current OF
time, not one single pulsation of which can
ever return again. And after the mind has
recalled and dwelt upon each fond hope it
has blighted, each loved one removed
changed or sleeping beneath the green grassy
mound-the question next will force itself:
What have | done towards improving my
own moral nature What have done in
accordance with whatever opportunities may
have presented themselves or talents been
possessed, for the improvement of the fellow
beings associated with me, either directly or
AhhHGCtlJy ~ lulS pTeSeHL lllo
It certainly detracts nothing from the
lighter emotions and beautiful enjoyments
Of social intercourse, to give the mind occa-
sionally to these sober moods indeed none,
if forever after we allow the wholesome in
fluences and resolutions Of those hours to
operate upon the heart and life. Very far
be it from me to advocate any of those NOR
bid viows, terminating in misanthropy; a
= sentiment or more property; II UornUnfatIoH
Of sentiments, not only irrational in their
nature and tendency for they turn sun
shine into gloom-the brightness of health
into the decay Of death-smiles into bitter
terness, and love into hate-renderng, un
der every phase it assumes, the lot of it,
willing victim more and more intolerable
and even progresses in hardihood until it as
sails the whole economy Of ust and holl
God.
Nor do these queries Of deep and search
ing import dim for one moment the lustrou
beauty which CLEANS upon our every STEP
Nay, whatever may be their effectup others
can always turn from an hour of examin
alton, in which regrets for the past and res
olutions for the future form the most distnc
tive features to deeper appreciation Of tn
beautiful and harmonious arrangements per
vading the natural, the social and the mora
world. Indeed, | start up, as it were, t
find tho earth visited with a fresher beauty
as il growing young again beneath the warn
luxurious sunshine, the whisper Of her ge
NAL zephyrs, and the Weakening up of he
stirring leaves, trilling birds and softly hun
ing bees. Down in the heart of the fra
blossom this spirit Of beauty glows-and a
way up on the smiling sky withits ever drift
ing shifting cloud-wrcaths, light as the air
fabric Of BRIDES gossamer veil-and oil
upon the forest boughs, where the gree
quiycring leaves are blushing rosy red undo
the kiss Of the frost king-carpeting tt
glen-lending a sparkling brilliance to tt
waters-garmenting the hill tops-deckir
old oceans caves-eUery 1Ohcre, she liv
and moves like thing Of subtil but sti
tangible shape. And wherever her wa
derings lead, whether hanging out her flo
cry wreaths or breathing her dulcet strai
in the footsteps of spring-ripening t
golden grain and glowing fruits of tho ;
dent summer tide-wrapping the earth
the gorgeous mantle Of early, or the russ
brown Of later autumn-or scattering t
pure snow flakes, in her roIicking play,
bout old winters brow, it is pleasant to Ge
her power and acknowledge the force of h
charms:
How strinkingly the course Of nature te
BY its light heed Of human suffering
That it was fashioned for happier worlC
If We turn to our social relations, Oh!
the eye kindles, the cheeks glow, and
heart warns, as we review, one by one,
sources Of pleasure and JOY We possess
remember at once the clasp Of fsien
hands-thc tone Of loved voices-the he's
woven smiles upon dear faces-the brig
ming eye, the gush of childhood's Taught
the toss Of sunny hair to the breeze ze--and
bove all, the deep quiet converse, wh
heart speaks back to heart again. We n
indeed moet with deception and falsehooC
we may ofttimes find the affections and p
ciples We trusted in, false hollow anC
mockery all
A faithlcus mist, desert vapour, wearin
The brightness Of clear waters, thus to cl
The thirst that sembance kindled.
But so long as We are conscious Of rem
cd efforts to improve our own imperfect
lures, aud 50 long as we are willing to
knowledge the existence Of similar eff
upon the part Of those to whom we clai
natural affinity, we must feel there are
good hearts and true, struggling to at
the highest end of a responsible exister
And yet, perhaps all this valuation of
cheering and priced emotions connected
natural beauty aud blended with our Sc
relation derives its zest, if not materi
dependant upon, the estimate placed on '
we have termed Gods moral arrangem
but which is really that religion introd
into a fallen world by the life, suffering>
death Of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Gil
| can imagine no more gross or unrea'
bic suppositioR, than theone often enter
cd by the world, that christianity and
piuess are inimical to each other. But
on this point there comes up SO
thoughts. thick and fast, that must
them until my next letter; still suppc
dear Mr. Editor, you will allow me to
BILE on in my own vague, restless ma
pretty much after the fashion of an idle
terfy, drinking tiny drop of nectar
one flower, then OFF again to futter ny
ble wings about the aroma Of another.
January 2, 1854. LOB