Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-05-31

SuHU6feQ IFOI1 tLdt OI uudFks
And the trees leaved out, and then in au-
tumn cast their foliage; and in due course
leaved out again, and again, and many tiEnes
again-and the brothers met not yet.
Two score years and ten! what change
works over the earth in such space as two
score years and ten
As the sun, an hour ere his sitting cast
long slanting shadows to the eastward, two
men, withered, and with hairthin and snowy
came wearirdly up from opposite directions
and stood together at the tomb built on
bill by the borders Of river. Why do they
start, as each cast his ewes toward the face of
ssae othert Whye do tess sas5p dean their
cheeks, and their frames trefnole even more
than with the feebleness Of age? They are
the long separated brothers, and they en-
fold themselves in one another's arms.
And yet, said Mark, after few mo-
ments, stepping back, and gazing earnestly
upon his companions form and features, and
yet it wonders me that thou art my brother.
There should be brave and beautiful youth,
with black curls upon his head, and not those
pale embers of decay. And my brother
should be straight AVID nimble-not bent
and tottering as thou.
The speaker cast searching glance-a
glance of discomfort.
And l. rejoined Nathan, I might re-
quire from nay brother, not such shrivelled
limbs as | see-and instead of that cracked
voice, the full swelling music of morning
heart. But half century is fear full mel
for of oop,oEnoee on6 of e4.oro.tL g., l.lc
century it is, dear brother, since nv hand
touched thine, or my gazerested uponthy face.'
Mark sighed, and answered not.
Then, in little while, they made enuui
res, about what had befallen either during
the time past. Seated upon the marble, BY
which they had met, Mark briefly told his story.
1 bethink me, brother, many years have
indeed passed over since the sorrowful day
when our grandsire, dying, left US to seek our
fortunes amid wicked and seductive world.
His last words, as thou doubtless dost
remember, advised us against the snares
that should beset our subsequent journey
ings. He portrayed the dangers that lie in
the path of love; he impressed upon our
minds the folly of placing confidence in hu-
man honor, and warned US to keep aloof
from too close connexion with our kind
He then died, but his instructions live, and
have ever been present in our memory.
Dear Nathan, why should [ conceal
from you that at that time I loved Ny
simple soul, ungifted with the wisdom of
our aged relative, had yielded to the DELI
cious folly, and the brown-eyed Eva was
my young hearts choice. O! brother, e.
ven now-the feeble and withered thing
am-dim recollections, pleasant passages
come forth around me like the Joy of old
dreams. A boy again and in the confding
heart of boy, I walk with Eva by the
} rivers banks. And the gentle creature
!, bushes at my protestations of love and
> leans her cheek upon my neck. The regal
:, sun goes down in the west, and we gaze up
4 on the glory of the clouds that attend his
f setting, and while we look at their fantas.
e tic changes, laugh sounds out clear like a
J, flute and merry as the jingling of silver
5 bells 1t is the laugh of Eva.
e The eye of the old man glistened with
e unwonted brightness. He paused, sighed
IS the brightness faded away and he went on
# with his narrative
EAs said, the dying lesagsn f hins whom
we reverenced were treasured up in my
!, soul. could not but feel their truth,
,f feared that if [ again stood beside the mur
y derer of my love and looked upon her fac,
l. and listened to her words, the wholesom,
s. axioms might be blotted from my thought
= so determined to act as became man.
O From that hour [ never have beheld tn,
d brown-eyed Eva.
If [ went amid the world. Acting upor
the wise principles which our aged frient
is taught us, looked upon every thing will
h. suspicious eyes. Alas | found it but to-
is true that iniquity and deceit were the rul
d ing spirits of men. Some called me cold
re calculating and unamiable; but twas thei
Is own unworthiness that made me appear s
d in their eyes. [ am not-you know, m
ID brother-I am not naturally proud and O
S, repulsive manner, but wasdeterminedne1
sr er to give my friendship merely to be blow
Id off again, it might chance, as feather
10 gainst the wind nor interweaye my cours
ht of life with those that, vefs likely; woul
gain all the advantage of the connexio
lis and leave me no better than before.
6 [ engaged in traffic Success attends
I'd me. Enemies said that my good fortun
D. was the result of chance but I knew it wa
m the fruit Of the judicious system which go,
erned me in matters of business as well {
it, of social intercourse.
w My brother, thus have I lived my lif
IT. Your look asks me if I have been happ
Dear brother, truth impels me to say nc
d. Yet assuredly if few glittering pleasure
d, ministered to me on my journey, equal
. few were the disappointments, the hope
Fe blighted, the trust betrayed, the faintine
We of the soul caused by the detection of tho
ps in whom I have laid my treasures.
,re All my brother the world is full of mi
eryT
les The disciple Of wretched faith CEASE
no his story, and there was silence awhile.
ny Then Nathan spake:
ice In the early years. he said, too, 10
. ed beautiful woman. WksaFnI my hea
Pc was more frail than thine, or affection HI
gained mightier power over me, I cou
old not part from her I loved without the s;
his isfaction of farewell kiss. We met
the had resolved to stay but a moment-for
had chalked out my future life after t
md fashion thou hast described thine.
.ss- How it was, know not, but the n
rial ments rolled on to hours, and still we sto
! in with our arms around each other.
Bit My brother, maiden's tears wash
yer my stern resolves away. The lure of
as voice rolling quietly from between two S
/ lips, enticed me from remembrance of