Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-09-20
WOODLAND

to man and beast, are growing sere and pale. 9
Oak, elm, maple and the stout hickory, blush !
with purple hectic of the woodlands! There
is a sermon in the slowly falling leaf. So
fall the flowers that bloom around the hearth
stone. We have stood by and seen such fall,
some slowly like the frail leaf from the tall
top of the maple, and others torn rudely
away as by storm. And we have seen the
dim eye brighten too as it caught ~glimpses of
the golden sunlight beyond the food! !!
4 AUTUMN ! we love thee In a thousand
ways it carries us back to an era when the
years were long and as happy as they were
long. The same dreamy and hazy skies
bend over us now as then. Hist ! the An
them of the Autumn swells Ger field and
forest The cricket sings a dreamy song in
the field and hedge, and now and then you
hear his happy chirp under the hearthstone
singing his content in the cosy winter home
he has found. The birds, always happy, do
not sing as they did when the May-buds be-
gan to open their ruby lips to sip the chrys.
tai dew; there is a p~laintive chorus swelling
their drowsy threats now, instead of the rol
licksome, chattering, pell-mell fantasia of
the morn in Spring. They are gathering to-
gether and 90 cleaning in the dusty stubble.
Birds that were strangers in Spring and Sum-
ner, come in long swinging circles across the
fields to gather the ripened seeds from the
darkening sward. The stock stand by the
CLASSY pond lazily brushing away the flies,
and chewing the nutritious cud, while the
sound Of the bells comes over the hills with a
more mellow chime. The wealth Of the sum
mer that so lately rolled like golden pillows
before the winds that swept the fragrant
fields, now lies stored away in the NOW, the
garner, and some has already been borne to
the old mill that chatters the live long day
with its old messy wheel. There is a grand
festival among the fowls in the barn yard
feeding upon the rich grains that have been
scattered withthe "sweepings." IT'S a year
of plenty and good cheer. Let the earth bow
humbly and thank God for His benefits p
ga Few more days and twill all be
over!" So said a poor woman as she lay at
the threshold of the grave. The struggle
with bitter life was about to close. Once her
path lay through pleasant places and her
way was strewn with roses. She was a child
of wealth, and none were more happy than
Emma, but her confidence had been mis-
placed by loving one unworthy of the boon.
Why it was that her husband was a tyrant
and a demon we need not tell-the story has
been told a thousand times. Firt, neglect Of
home, then abuse, then poverty and at last
cruel desertion. Such are the home histo
ries written over and over again. This WORLD
had lost its bloom and its music had dice
out to poor Emma; and she looked beyont
the cold grave for happiness. TIL dark val
ley had no terrors for her-life had beer
worse than death to her-beyond the fooC
she saw "sweet fields arrayedin living green,
while Hope wove for her a spotIess raimen
of sunny warp and golden wool.
T The Soul should not forever be shroud
ed in clouds of dismal and sombre gloom.-
There is enough in life to aflict and saddel
without searching highway and byway 70
keener troubles. The heart that is ever file
with forebodings Of evil is not prepared t
comprehend the beauties and blessings c
Heaven. Let US not make the burden of lif
unnecessarily Wearisome by sombre refet
tions:
"The road of life is hard enough,
Bestrewn with stag and thorn;
Oh, then mock not the simplest Joys
That make it less fOrlOrn,
But fill its evening path with flowers
As bright as those of morn 7"
TINES footsteps grow swifter as years fl
by. Not so with man as years sweep b.
hind, the head bows and the step grows fe
BILE and faltering. TIL hours of life's ever
ing are shorter than those of the morning
/ and it's deep shadows creep by with a heav
/ tread. The past, to the old pilgrim, is like
half forgotten dream lingering on the di
leaf of the heart ; to-day is like a feetir
shadow floating across the blue sky and tt
coming future is a better land than this, tt
old man thinks, where blessed Hope rul
the day, and where all is bright as the brigh
est gold and silver.
? "MY HEART IS NO LONGER MINE."-
Thus said a young lady not long since. \
. greater wealth or gift could she bestow
the one she loved than her heart and its ge
erous affections. THERE'S a holy and ablesst
confidence linking the affections together ar
: animating the eye with a happy light. Nj
: the world never have less Love in it than no
: IT'S better than gold. Pure Love is a ge
of a price beyond that of rubies, and hapE
they who can say of a truth:
1 love thee, and I feel
d That in the fountain of my heart a seal
s Is set, to keep its waters pure and bright
For thee"
4 CLOUDS of the Autumn drift swiftly
with the blue tide of the sky, casting a N
t. mentary shadow on the brown field as t
sun is hid behind them, fringing their edg
with hues of gold and silver. So fingers t
sorrows of life in our pilgrim pathway; tn
darken but for a moment, and if right
E. viewed there is u lining to all of the brightnt
Of of glittering gold and silver. =
--~~~~~~| >~<~~~-
pGy A riot took place in New Orleans,
I" the evening of the 18th, between the Iri
Iy and Americans, in which firearms were fr
G ly used, and many were shot, and three
1t four persons were reported as killed. I
a military were called out, but too late to r.
n der efficient service. On the next evenil
DIS the riot was renewed, and two persons W,
shot.
~ FIRE.-We regret to learn that on
night of the End inst, the residence of
Henry I. Wilbar, situated in Wilkes coun
~ 13 miles west of Wilkesboro', N. c., '
a. consumed by fire, together with most of
furniture, beds, clothing, &c. &c., His
- not less than $500.
ed There were 10 deaths from yellow fever
IS. Charleston on the 18th inst.