Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-01-24

goal was won, and the crown of victory
Eother than that of unfading joy--to Sil
Walter Carlton.
The lapse of few short months found
Irene an orphan. All what tale, fraught
with sorrow, is often told ia those few
words Sir Walters last look of earthly
things was upon the blue SKIES Of sunny
Italy: Her soft and perfumed winds then
lifted the droeping bloom Of the flowers
which were placed by other hands than
th0sesof kindred or affection over the grave
of the wealthy stranger! It now remained
for irene to follow the dictate of her fathers
Twill, which was to reside with her uncle
until she became tWenty enc, with bis re-
stricted injunction to rememl laers her vow.
Earnest VAS to cnanplsta 4antat i'm ii,
England, there to continue until the period
named and if the result was, as he wished.
their union of heart and hand, they were
to return to their native land, to dwell in
the home of their ancestors Mr.. Irwin
had arrived On the morrow, Irene Carl.
ton was to bid adieu to her home, to that
beautiful spot which had echoed her first
cry OF existence, which had witnessed the
bounding speed of her childhood step
whose shady groves had SO often resounded
With the music of her merry laughing voice,
and whose fragrant flowers her own tender
hand had nourished with so much anxious
care. Yes, from ~all these loved objects
was the young orphaned heiress now doom
ed to part. AS Irene gazed forth from the
same orlel window of the library upon the
broad lands extended before her, it seemed
as if to mock the terrible desolation of her
own bosom, that all nature was rejoicing in
light and life. Every thing around her
was bursting with beauty and gladness.-
1t was emerald spring, when bright and
laughter-loving Flora wields her happy
sceptre-and all things, animate and mani
mate, obey her genial command to sing
aloud and dance with her over the fowery
mead-the smiling valley and the green
clad hill. Beautiful indeed was the Scene
which then greeted her eye; a large garden
intersected with wide shell-paved walks
grottoes, bowers sheltered by hanging vines
OF Jessamlne and honeysuckle-statues rear
ing highland every suitable erection of
tasteful art, were visible amidst the luxu-
RANT profusion Of fiowery sweets, and shrub
berry rare. But it was not on those that
Irene so sadly gazed-from the midst of
small grove of cypress and evergreens
cleaned polished urn of the purest mar
bic, around which hung garland, but it was
wlthered and fast fading from the pedestal
1t was an unusual circumstance for that
sacred shrine to be thus neglected but
alas ! the memory of her first bereavement,
had been almost displaced by that of her
second. Irene could not leave it thus; and
sad, unutterably sad was her heart, as she
descended to the garden for the last time
to wreath fresh garland for the tomb of
her mother. Aurora in her bright triumph
al car never shed more freely her dewey
showers over earth's blossoms, than that
which fell from the weeping orphan as her
hand brushed away all trace of neglectful
decay from that venerated shrine. Who
could faithfully depict the desolation of that
young being-just about to enter on life's
gay stage-a period when all believe this
world to be a 'world of love and truth
when it seems filled with spirits bright, and
the heart sings with gleeful revelry! But
just as her bounding foot pressed it's thresh
old, alas the vision melted away like
trost-work in the morning ray causing
her to start at the dreary void-of all that
was short time ago so bright and glowing
in her hoping bosom.
Earnest Malcolm was ever near to share
and sooth her sorrows; but an undefnable
change had come over Irene. She shrunk
from every proffer of his sympathy, and it
was not until the ships white sails were
fiuttering in the breeze, which was soon to
convey her to distant land the anchor
weighed, and the sailors deep-toned ahoy'
gave signal of an immediate departure, that
these unwonted feelings of repugnant sensi-
tiveness vanished. All timid fear was lost
in the agony of parting with one so tender,
ly loved-who had been the adored COM
panion of her childish joys and pastimes
slnse memory's earliest existence. Itseem.
ed the fercest stroke of her DESTINY as she
wildly
--' Cung to his embrace,
Till her heart heaved beneath his hidden face
The last dread farewell was spoken. and
soon the gallant vessel was walking the wa
ters like thing of life Her dark hull
grew fainter and more faint to. the fixed
eye OF Earnest, until it seemed like birds
speck on the horizon-another moment
and blrd-like, it was lost entirely to hi:
view; but long, long were the fearful face
and wave of lrene's parting signal visible
to the eye of his imagination. How gloom,
was the change of his life's picture The
child OF mystery-left alone, without one
tie of kindred-cast upon the worlds yas
main without one friendly eye to smile up
on him, and no monitory voice to eu;dt
him through its deep channel of difficult,
and danger But heavy as was his sigi
over the wreck ofthose visions his sanguin,
fancy had wrought, he still felt hope's stat
was bent, not broken,-and feeling TINS
youth rarely fails to lean on it. despite tn,
most despairing thoughts.
Yes murmured Earnest. as he turnet
from the beach, Irene shall never bav
cause to repent her voaC-for if, in comm,
years, she cannot ratify it with her heart
unsullied truth, never, no never, will Ear
nest Malcolm accept its ful6lment. linus
not forget myself in vain repinings,-bu
study to become worthy of one SO stran gel
committed to my care, and so closely assoc
ated with my destiny. Towards the stee
summit of fame, must my ambition now b
directed Roll on, then, many changes q
Times tide Heaven grant me energy t
breast thy fuctuating wavesr
So spake the animating voice of hope i
1.-The bosom of Earnest Malcolm. Soar high