Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-12-20
TaNits' 1fpntnRat.
FoR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
THE SOCIAL CIRCLE.

tAnd what will yAd write abOutp
Indeed | cant toll, dear can you sng-
gest anything 2
'What, Mamma?'
tCan you tell mother anything you wosld
Ike her TO write for next weeks paper?'
mo nam. | can't sec anything but a
piano, and table, and book case, and chairs. |
Every body knows all ABOUT them. don't
think | can find anything'-and her eye
roved with an eager, p~zzlel expression
about our coy little room, '1nlcss Mamma,
and here it glanced oE the window aAd
rested upon the long line of silvery LIGHT
which swept the earth like a train, as tue
moon passed by nless you write about
the moon-do write about the moon it is
so pretty, SO very, 0Sy beautiful;-an
she had sprang up and was pressing her
glowing face to the glass, az she continued
to plead-'do write about the moon this one
time, Ma, for me- And so, at my dear Il
wish | could add, always good little girls
suggestion, l have furnished your readers
with these simple
MOoNhIGR& SCENES.
1T is too bright here an Internal sight
too bright were the low, blasphemous
words that bgrst from the lips of a mufled
figure, as with scowling brow he glanced up
hastily at the clear azure sky, across which
but a few heecy stripes like the gossamer
folds Of a bridal veil lazily Aoated, then
dropped bis face again amid the folds of his
sombro cloak. THE moon shines entirely
too bright; and yet this very night the
deed must and shall be done! Aye, dark
or here-still darker, and this the darkest
spot of any. wonder if the moonbeams,
in a truapt mood, ever penetrated into this
dark, narrow, noisome alley? But it scrves
my purpose well for of u surety he must
pass this way-there is no escape for him
now-noue-for darkness strengthens my
arm, sends a qufyering impotence through
my good steel, and lucifer shall welcome a
new subject to his fell domain Tonight
Ha! hal It will be glorious pay, and my
plans are all laid deeply, surely and we'll.
Justice, indeed a lash to keep spiritless
towards in track-a bug-bear to fright sim.
pie woman and doaty age-a jack o'lantern.
a FOOLS baublc, a dream, a nonentty thai
yo are, l defy, l spit upon and fear ye not
A step a nearer footfall-'6s he indeed
Quick, strong, steady, good steel, and senC
the rich man to the Mch mans final heme.
A plunge stihod cry for heP-a gurg
ling of the hearts warm blood-a gFoan-
and the pale moon peered o'or the moss
grown gable Of that Entned house, and gre'
paler at the scene of bloodshed, and rum
and death.
q was not solely made for this indeed
indeed, / was mott unused a fair young gi
as she wound her bare arm, flashing wit
towels, around the marble column of loft
yeraudah, and put by the clustering jass
mine spray which made graceful quiyerir
shadows in the food Of moonlight that Ia
upon the floor. She had stolen unnoticC
from the rcvelry of the bah roam, whea
music pealed out joyCusly-light forms g
ded through the mazesof the giddy dance
plumes wavcd-brocade rustled--diamon
sparkled-aud gilded candelabras Shed the
dazzling radiance DER the enchanting seer
Still she murmured plaintively-'No!
was not made for this and oh how tire
and faint, and heartsick | I'M of it all,
night. The moon looks down on me
calm mournful beauty, and fingers loving
upon my brow as in days gone by, VIII,
my mothers gentle fingers rose and fl
with the feryent breathngs of her hea
amid my c~hildhood's curls. No jewels 81
tered then among their careless rings, So
when a tear, wrung by some newborn fe
for hor child, dcepened her ~pleadings wi
anguish. If heaven bad but spared her
me, / know, l feel l sh0ald not be t
thoughtkSss, frivolous creature | am
night. Life is wearing away gently, slo
ly, almost imperceptibly /; still it is ever
the wane, and at any hour, even to me, t
dread summons Of death may come. Tn
call me beautiful-they praise the sparl
of my eye, the music of my-laughter, t
grace of my every movement-they tell
they hang Spon my words, they live up
my smile and yet after the first Sunni
blow had subSded, they would laugh
merrily, sing as gaily, and dance as wilC
as now, though &c sunbeams lay cdd a
silent upon my lowly grave
Why Bella, dear, dear, Bella what
you doing2 Inditing a sonnet to a mo
beam, or an epic to the dewfall and
the time we poor miserable creatures
fretting ourselves to death at your abser
This will never, never do and Frank "
ton gently detached her cIfnging arm Fl
the cold marble pillar, drew her hand
his arm and turned to lead her back to
hall.
ut is so beautiful out here, Frank
calm, so holy, so soothing in its infuen
1 wish Icould 60 home without their KIN
ing it,
Are you crazy, Bell! What upon 81
is the matter?'
Nothing, only On ~indeinable kin,
dreamy spell is on me a n impression
am not living the useful, responsible
it is my privilege olive. A crushing Sc
of my frivolity, my thoughtlessness my
difference TO the true ends and lofty a
of a rational and immortal existence
fPshaw! Bell think of that to-mOrr
Tonight belongs to pleasure it's sil
burden it with care, by you, too, who N
committed a sm in your life. Com
dare say, they are waiting for u
with a gentle force he drew her away,
her triumphantly into the ball room,
the next instant all trace Of solemnity
vanished from her brow, ~ she feate,
airy grace through the dance.
Draw back the curtain, dear Annie,
let me look out upon the moon once mC
sTheY are all drawn, Walter