Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-09-27
SRPRRKGBER e..

D9- The following Editorial appeared in
the Spirit Of the Age some year or two ago
We have seen It copied extensively without
any credit attached, and that too by Editors
who are exactingly fastidious upon the point
Of rendering unto them, all due credit and
acknowledgment for the use Of their lucubra-
tions. They are very fond Of rapping others
knuckles for such neglect, in ever so small a
particolar-let them learn to exercise the
same punctiliousness with the property Of
others.
A Gem in the River.
A young mother with tears Of bereavement
in her eyes, stood over the River Of Death ga
ziug wistfully into its black n sluggish wa
tiers, as if she would fain rest her gaze upon
some object away d~own-doOn in its fathom-
less depths. She gazed long and wistfully,
and the black waves rolled s%ulIenly, sluggish
ly onward.
Aud tho mother laid her hands submissive
ly on her bosom and wept, and said My
Geml Ny Gem -
And a celestial being like an Angel stood
near the hidden door of her heart, and whis.
pered in a %silvery voice like music:-
"What seekest thou mourning sister ~
"Alasp' said the mourner, 81 once, even
yesterday, wore a beautiful gem on my DO.
som. To me it was invaluable-it was nc
trivial gem, but it was one that kings and
monarehs might have well been proud Of
The riches Of the east could not have pur
chased il from me. In an hour, that was tc
me evil aud miserable, that gem dropped
from my bosom into the black night of thi'
deep river. l saw it floating away from mi
gently as the coming Of an evening shadow
and | reached after it, bat it was beyond m.
grasp, and my gem-my babe smiled upoI
me, as II was ridiog on the waves farther an
farther from me. It began to sink-to sin
from my sight, and in a moment my gem wa
gone-and gone freoer ~ And she turne
%sorrowfully away
And the Angel voice whispered again :
"Stay, sister, grieye not-look again into til
dark river"
She looked as she was bid, and a cry
sweet aud rapturous JOY burst from her lips
Thanks to the Father | see my gem aoa
ing gently on a great black wave. o. ma
mot wear it on my bosom again?"
Stay, my sister, thou art deceived VIII
thou seest in the river is not thy gem it
the shadow Of what was given thee in trus
Look, sister, H-eavenwards andbid thy mour
ing heart rejoice"
She looked alolt, and away up in the dal
beclouded sky, she saw a single spot clear al
blue, and in it a bright star was gleamin
and its silverY ray, came down and dane
on the gloomy river, giving the black wav
a brightness as if silvered throughan thrC
and away down many fathoms the bright
Election rested and this the mOurner thong
was her lost gem. She gazed silently up
the scene, and the star from Heaven was s
ming
And the voice OF the Angel came aga
like unto the sweet song of many instrumel
Of music saying:
+" Sister, the gloomy waves thou seest, Il
cold, and dark, and terrible, roll c~easeles'
onward up to the great gate of Heaven, a
thither they bore thy mourned for gem, viii
the Good Father lent thee the waves ha
borne il back to Him, and it blooms a
shines foreverne near the Thronelike yon brig
ly beaming start"
The voice was hushed, and the sorrowi
mother turned away with her eyes lifted FRI
the earth and the gloomy river, and fz
them hopefully and w%istfully on Heaven.
And the bright star she saw, when te
filed her eyes mourning for her loss,
beams brightly, and it shines on her Ii
baby's grave!