Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-10-18

they were to plant their feet upon, had been
breathed on the ear. Together had their
voices blended in the farewell hymn, and ere
its echo ceased to vibrate mid the columns
of that lofty hall. a voice they loved and ever
listed to with reverence, arose IN solemn ben
ediction.
Even the congratulations Of friends, the
priced words of approval and the silent pres
sure of the hand when the heart was all too
big for other language, followed by the ice
cream and cake which circulated freely amid
the crowd, had all passed by. 1t were indeed
n scene for ne nory to linger upon. There
were those who could no longer be termed
school girls, with blushing cheeks and merry
hearts exchanging fond greeting with parent
or friend, and yet as their gaze fell upon
those with whom they parted on the NOR
rows dawn forever, the smile died upon the
lin whilst the shadow stole to the brow and
the unbidden moisture sprang to the eye.
There were those who returned with the
opening session to climb the steep their sis
ters had in triumph trod. vainly wishing the
lot to wear life's sterner duty even now their
own. There were the proud e~xnltant hearts
Of teachers, who with something of the fear
and hope a sculptor or an artist too might
feel, wondered il the world would censure or
approve their creations. There were fathers
and mothers, brothers, sisters, fIiends-all
0OOupiouANIJil wtsEr iIkafTiduaI scAksaCiuns"of
happiness, or weAring bright chaplets to
crown the statues Imagination was placing
in the niche Of future time. And then there
was the disintercsted moralist, who could
not refrain, even through this happy scene,
from brooding over the change that time and
falsehood, care and death, would in their
turn soon make. All this bad passed by like
the gay pageant of a dream-a bright Chin
era Of an over-charged imagination-and ST.
lence as the spell of twilight had at last
settled over the dwelling.
Gone were the crowd which filled the lofty
hall, and the girls were all dismissed to rest
for the last time beneath the same roof
The hour was late, for the sentinel who stood
at the wheel of time had sung out twelve in
his clear distinct tones upon the ear, and yet
there was but little disposition to sleep on the
part of the gay and excited young creatures
who had retired to their rooms. Some were
occupied with their final packing arrange
ments others laughed and TESTED merrily
on the events of the evening, or were com
pairing their future anticipAtions-whilst a
third class had withdrawn in couplets from
the rest and were holding sweet converse to-
gether for the last time.
At an open window where the beautiful
moonlight was streaming in and lay like a
tiara Of gems upon their fair young brows
sat the only two of all that happy band with
whom we have just now any thing to do
Friends they had been to each other, in every
sense of the term, for three long years, anC
no wonder now as they sat thus with hanC
clasped in hand for a long time, no word wa
adequate to convey what was passing in tn,
mind Of each. They had not only studio,
the same books, recited in the same class
shared the same sports, and even used t.
some extent the same wardrobe, but they ha
been of mutual and incalculable service j
the formation Of their respective characters
Many could remember the time when Mar
Alton was one of those quick, changeful, in
pulsive girls whose feelings no one coul
trust, because forever varying as fancy 0
v~exation led whilst Alice Clare was siler
and unsocial to all around her, as if disdaiI
ing the society of those whom her studio
drew her most Immediately in contact wit
e Silently slow but sure friendship had grow
up between them apd the firm rational view
$ 49f AIj9e l had Sheek asist the n she saShg Sul HeEtt
c~hangeful as it was of Mary's nature, hs
a diffused itselfand wrought a beneficial chan,
throughout the character of the other.
was Mary who spoke first and there was tn
in her very voice to draw tears to the eyes
4 her friend as she said
a / have been thinking all day, dear Alit
what proof / could give you in this partil
hour (for you know our goodbye must
short in the morning) of that true and UNI
terable affection which | know must alwa
q entertain for you whilst memory sits up
her throne-and it is this
is There is no proof requisite | can me
\ ure your love by the feelings that exist
:: my own breast, Mary
oh no, Alice you cannot, indeed y
IN cannot do any such thing. 1t was you "
a first taught me to think-you who led me
IN curb my impulses and search them with
torch of reasou-yo1 who made me realiz
IN was no longer a child, but old enough to
guided by principle instead Of undisciplir
= feeling-you have made me what l am
more, you direct and support me still;
u now, oh! | fear so much to so out in
We world without you by my side, to cour
,er and to sustain
til Nay, Mary; the child that can step fl
hi ly, no longer needs a guiding hand and
woman that is established in her princil
= and faithful to her God, requires no mo
: q aid to strengthen the foundation upon wi
om she stands
,pe But l am not firm without you l VIZ
It'll still. You have been every thing to me,
therefore you cannot feel as | do in this
we ing hour
A. lou arc IOTBcbtlflS, my uedF SlTl, Ihd
:" was your mission to lure the sunbeam
ere my path-to teach me by your interest
ore every human being the true philosophy
ath life and if | have aided you, it was you
has first prepared my heart by genial in1uel
new for the undertaking, and invested life
social charms aud beauty that l was i
ously shutting out from my heart
,ity But then my mission is done, if you
nat call it such, for you are no ieicle now, /
5ht- but a warm, generous-hearted girl, ever RI
lme to hear and sympathize with the tale of
ugh to relieve distress, alleviate pain and in
ass. find interest and beauty all along your r
way through life. But oh! l am so wea
tickle STILL
Ou Yet there is a fountain Of strength,
OUT Mary, and we feel in our hearts, | trust,
the its life-giving waters never can fall
lies L know, Alice, but l have depended
you so long-looked to you to decide 70
in every emergency, until now that we
part, l realize my own weakness and VIC
how l am to walk Alright without y
had uphold
the You will find iudicious friends in
e of Southern home, Mary but above all,
Tn will have your God whose ear will new
- closed to your cry, and who will supper
: 'ue sustain even though all earthly friend
tney fall
irlts But the proof | was forgetting that
pres your first Interruption
1auy And what might it be, pray p
essa. Simply, this, Ally my sacred word
= as a girl, l never will act in any impc
step where there is the slightest doubt