Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-05-02

attracted by passage reading somewhat
as follows:
The Superior Court of Law for --
was in session last week, His Honor Judge
Bruce presiding;' and after enumeratlng
the cases tried, it went on to describe the
Judge as a young man of superior abili-
ties, well skilled in the Law, and conclu-
ded by saying that he was a native of
North Carolina, but had for the last few
years resided in - could not but
think that Arthur Bruce was the young
Jadge here spoken of but this was only
conjecture, and in few months the state
lment adsa almost entirsly from nly mem i
ory.
The day set apart for the sale of Thomas
Tyudars farm at length arrived The COM
pany was assembled and bidding had al
ready commenced, when carriage was
seen approaching. The old distller who
was evidently much chagrined at the tar
diness evinced by the bidders, requested
his son to await the arrival of the carriage,
that if possible the farm might be sold to
greater advantage. Thomas Tyndal, who
was somewhat intoxicated, took another
draught, and awaited the strangers ap-
proach. When the carriage was stopped,
tall. commanding young man ahghted
J from it, and after giving some directions to
his coachman, he turned about and ap-
J preached the company. | was looking at
, Thomas at the time, and vas surprised to
see his flushed cheek turn suddenly pale.
, Wishing to see the cause, [ glanced towards
5 the supposed stranger, but to my unuttera-
bic joy, | saw in the tall commanding
= youth, my old companion and schoolmate,
| Arthur Bruce. [ was by his side in mo-
a ment and received the hearty grip of his
!; hand. | saw his astonishment at behold |
e ing the great changes that so few years
/ had wrought in the appearance of Thomas
+ Tyndal but as if forgetful of all his past
# unkindness, he met him with that true,
:, open hearted frankness for which he was
It ever noted. The greeting over, the bidding
t. was resumed at Arthurs request, and in a
o few moments the farm was knocked down
= to him.
1t Now said he, as he handed over the
n amount to Thomas, his eye sparkling with
ID the intensity of his joy Now, my father
IT can spend his remaining years upon this
spot, dearer to him tlan all the world be-
Sc sides and | hope the calm serenity of his
IN setting sun, will contribute in some degree
ne to obliterate the memory of his past cloudy
!! career Here he paused for moment
ly aE turned towards the old distiller, who
as stood gazing with apparent morti6catian at
ne the contrast that so short time Should
ss- make between the 'drunkard's son, and
er his own victim of the still
zee Il rejoice to say said he, taking the old
1e, mans hand, that my father has faithfully
a kept his pledge, never having touched a
rk drop of Intoxicating drink since he left his
Mt, native state Arthur's eye kindled as he
. continued he is a reformed man i" He
of felt that his persevering determination tc
vas reform his father and free his family for
the ever from the odious name which had 81
of panied his youthful heart, was rewarded
of with success. He felt, too, that God wh'
his shapes the destines of men, had Lighted
as his path and had been as wall of fire b,
me night and cloud by day TO guard and pre-
serve him in the ways of rectitude and vii
md tue-leading him safely through the dea
her sea of vice and temptation and placing hir
at last upon the happy and long sougb
rm shores of honor and respectability. H
lme rejoiced, to-, to know that he could no
S of claim as his own, not amid the jeers an
ger ridicule of thoughtless crowd but as
an man respected and beloved, that sacre
heir spot of ground that contained his mother
lew grave.
ked The coachman, his servant, soon mac
to known that his master was Judge of IL
true Superior court in one of the western ci
cults of Arkansas.
No tongue could describe the Joy
Helen upon meeting with her long absen
were but dearly beloved, Arthur. They met
companions that had sported together ar
d, known each other from the sunny days
childhood-as trienas, that had tried al
;, proved each other-and as lovers, who
! hearts had been united together by t
strongest ties of mutual regard In tx
but weeks after Arthur's return they were n;
nore ried. 1t was happy marriage, such
ions union as makes earth paradise-an EIDE
the where no serpent dares to enter and whe
the the pure, holy sunlight of smiling heav
,ma forever shines.
bus- There is no bliss on earth like marriae
sted continued the good Quaker, lifting his ag
sor brow, while the soft night winds sport
G the with his silvery locks when true hea
,eary and twin souls are knit together not by /
ire of ties of sordid interest-but Loue-mut,
sympathetic love. No storms of advers
/ all can darken the hopes of such pair. Th
so as sky will be bright-they will be waf
more across the ocean Of life by smooth and tr
+; but quill gales, while others are tossed q
I his wrecked by its raging winds, and wild, t
fore. bulent waves But to return. Shor
/, and after their marriage, the happy couple
farm for Arthur's home; and in few'weeks
,mon vid Bruce, with servants, returned to his
and homestead.
) the Every thing around him soon partook
his changed nature. The old fences W
inter. repaired, the totterng house was demolis
ru;n aud handsome new cottage reared in
,deast stead and the lands, which had hereto
remained almost as waste uncultivi
q fate wilderness, were now, by industry and g
dr;pk attention, made to blossom as the rose.
con. Jacob and Thomas Tyndal now lived
into gether in small house, reared on the
served portion of the old distillery ia
been and had to earn their sustenance by t
IA his daily labor, but Thomas still spent all
orres. little earnings to quench his Unsuitable tt
return for intoxicating drink.
birth. After the lapse of a few years there