Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-04-19
For THE Sp1R1T or mn. A.

For Il SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
Dear Mr.. EDITOR The past week to me-
mas been one sadly deficient in sunbeamsN
iney have neither draped the world with
brightness, nor robed the sky in their silye-
~ rays nor thrown their long line of warm
Deamlng light through the darkened cham
OerS OF my soul. | have striven with this
gloomy oppression as consistent christianity
ever should. L have reasoned, philosophis-
ed, recalled the rich treasure of promises NV
Bible contains, bat vainly. ali how ~vainIyy
Tor the dark funeral pail engendered bv phy-
slcal WEAKNESS and spiritual discomfort fell
back IN shrouding folds enveloping their
brightness again. 1t is the province and
should De the peculiar aim Of every we'll bal
anced mind, to subject all it's capriciousness
TO the searching enquiry-Are they right or
Wrong-and abiding firmly and forever by
the convictions of a calm and deliberate iudg-
ment, has been my theory through many a
year now gone forever. Let sacrifices loom
up darkly and in as gigantic proportions as
they may-let obstacles unnumbered inter
vene, still a course, either of thought or ac-
ton, nationally approved Of, should be pur-
sued through them all. And yet when the
fingers of disease and pain presses upon the
citadel of bouyant life with tightness and the
spirit bows before their chilling influence,
how deeply do | ~re-learn my own bitterness
and insuficiency Of strength and faith for the
great moral conflict in which we are all en-
gagged.
/ cannot yield the principle to be wrong,
for, endowed as we are with discriminating
powers, having devolving upon us the respon-
slbility of a will to attain right or follow out
wrong, we cannot concede that mere unbri-
died impulses should be obeyed. Better, far
better, to turn the majestic ship with its rich
freight of merchandise and grain adrift
upon the surging pillows Of old ocean, with
out helm, or compass, or chart, than thrust
out the young and enthusiastic soul upon the
rude waters of life, devoid of principles to d.
rect and a determination to act them out rest
ing like a firm strong hand thereupon.-
Youth may term this cool calculating a sup
preston Of the hearts subtil voices, if they
will, but is it better to sow seed to bring forth
fruit of idle and unavailing regret for COM
ing years, or such as will be productive Of a
harvest, the fruition of which will not turn
to ashes upon the lips ? Still there are times
which will come almost to every one when
doubts of themselves, of others, almost of
christianity itself, with it's glorious precepts
and heart satisfying influences, will intrude.
The better spirit may indeed struggle for
; mastery, but earthly disappointments, and
earthly ease, and earthly weaknesses wears
E the veil denser and darker, until there is
nothing left for the crushed spirit but to bow
in renewed humbleness at the feet of Christ,
and learn anew, that the draught of strenth-
~;ns @atArs mnst qpsh alone from His throne.
! Perhaps it is we'll such seasons snouIu cOuIe
! well that the earthly stats we trust in,
should be removed, for we dare not rely a
Gain upon weakness thus tested-well thai
= the vanity and egotism we have been invest
= ing with a mantle of brightness should be re
vealed in its nudity to our gazc-well for III
sometimes to be made to feel that the SUI
! would shine as brightly, the birds sing a
sweetly, society flow on as tremendously, ant
even friends smile as blandly, if we were a
wav down in the deep, dark and silent grave
y, as now when we imagine ouT necessity t
their happiness. Vanity is a sad encroache
upon truth and justice, and though wlthlt
~ downfall many n glittering splre, and lott
y arch, and magnificent fame of fancy's gorge
d Gus mechanism is buried amid its ruins,
- stronger edifce, because more surely founC
~ ed, may arise therefrOm, to be tenanted in II
NJ turn by spirits ola more prosaic but happie
because truer character. And then thes
= lessons in our own insigniicance and disco
ery of our weaknesses, should teach us
80 deeply to feel for and to forgive the erro'
~ which may be offensive to our vision IN a.
" other. We cannot know the peculiar CT
cumstances of their early years-the car
and conflicts to which they have been expo
'' ed-the tenn ~ptations that have heset the
pathway-aud the fierce struggles winch M
S be the result of neglected principles betwe
" the right and wrong. As emanatlons ire
the same benifcent hand, with the SAL
Uu chemical compound flowing through the m.
4..z -ouo;EootIOpS Of tho human fran
l., with passions of love aud hate and susceE
bilities to pleasure and pain to a great extt
w. similar. tending to the same final home
tne the cold damp earth, would it not be well
tentimes to pity instead Of c~ondemning, a
seek 70 tighten instead of adding to the b
"00 dens perhaps already too grievous to
,oIl borne?
do not think I have been in the habit
= giving you altogether such sombre thong
as these, in my preceding corrasponoet
"o but if YOU allow me to write Mt all, and esq
ILL., iallv il YOU allow me the privilege and az
~ al pleasure of these random letters, you m
NV take my fancies as they drift idly thro'
~ of my brain, else they will be shorn OF all P
49, sure to me. TX Marvel has set the fash
oJist to day dreamings and r~everies, though
oa scarce believe myself a direct imitator eli
lptist IN form OF substance Oh any one ""u !
80 the eagle has scared the swallow may G
na - try to follow. But for fear | might ca
.o6 = shadow to your brow, the reflection Of w
80 might rest upon your weekly issue, the
80 calling down upon my devoted head the
- precautions of your six thousand reader
IL make my hasty ADIEU. LOR.
thirds -
y that DIvIDEND.-Thc Farmers Bank Of E
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