Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-03-21

June, and the DlrQ IN the cage sang q merry
song, and the flowers in the garden held sweet
drops of dew. Mabel looked out through the
window with her face pressed against the
glass and let memory run wild over the pages
of the past. Tears came and blinded her
eyes when she remembered a kind, old, gray
haired father that loved her SO tenderly but
he was in the grave. His ear was sealed for
ever to her sorrows, and his arm could no
more be raised for her protection. Is it a
wonder that she wept?
Her heart was heavy, and she left the win
dow with a sigh and took up the guitar that
she had played in happier days. She touched
its strings and a p%laintive tune rolled of on
the morning air. An old song came across
her memory-a song that her dead father
loved to hear, and q song that she sang to
him the night before his head bowed upon
his breast and his whitened hair fell over his
brow, like the silks of the corn ripe for the
harvest. She warbled forth the song she
sang a few hours before the old pilgrim died
and went AWAY with the angel. The rich
tones of her voice filled the room with melody,
and as she sang the brighttear-drops g~listened
on the trembling lash and fell one BY one on
the quivering strings.
Herbert entered the room. A strange
smile was on hisEface. He approached Ma
bel in a merry ApOd and imprinted q kiss
upon her pure, wHHte brow
Mabel was astounded. She thought her
own Herbert had relented from his harshness
and was beginning to make amends for the
past. She thought it might be a self pride
thatprevented him from confessingthe wrongs
he had done her, and that he had determined
to wipe out the reproach of his great error
by kindness in the future. The smile and
the kiss of her husband sent q thrill of Joy
to her heart, and she felt the cheering beams
Of the bright sun of love warming the cold
pathway she had trod for many weary days.
81 am going" said Herbert, "to take a
ride out in the country, Mabel, won't you go
with me?
She gladly accepted, and going to the nur-
sery to give the nurse directions to attend to
every want Of her babe until she returned,
she kissed her treasure and was soon ready
to accompany her husband on the little pleas
ure trip. A carriage was at the door, and
the wheels were soon rafting over the pave
ments bearing the two away from the city to
the green hills and cosy hamlets of the coun-
try.
The morning was beautiful; the birds in
the wayside hedges sang q merry chorus tc
the morning, and the breezes were fragrant
with tn. incense of blushing flowers. 1t wa:
a morning that would cheer hearts saddel
than theirs.
Herbert was peculiarly social, and tn
bonds that he had severed by his harshues
were being speedily healed. So trusts tn
cOn6ding woman love, oreven its sembiance
and kindness weave a net in which she de
lights to be captive. Mabel's heart was fas
throwing off the icy letters that had so Ion
bound up all its holy impulses and estrange
! ascendancy in her heart, and she pictured a
she rode q better and happier future.
The carriage stopped before a massiy
Q brown stone building. The grounds WEI
tastefully arranged and an air of comic
seemed to pervade all around.
Are you going to stop here" said Mabe
Eyes, Mabel, for a few minutes we ma
q find something to amuse us here at the res
dence of one of the city's wealthiest nabobs
? They assembled the wide steps, Mabel lea
ing lovingly on Herbert's arm. They we
d met by a digni6ed, wigwearing porter, W
IN showed them INFO the reception room. lie
they were met by a thin-visaged, withere
a gold spectacled little man, who bowed pl
foundry to Herbert and cast a furtive CLAN
, at Mabel as he profered her a seat. The
tie man begged pardon of Mabel as he !
Herbert to another room. Soon as they h
to left, q matronly dame entered the receipt
room, cladin plain habiliments and who VIC
solemn face. The matron invited Mabel
III another room, but she excused herself sayi
her husband had just stepped into anott
= room with a gentleman and would return
a few moments.
is Poor thing" said the matron in a l
On tone as she rang a little bell on the table
&C. This brought two strong men in white apro
nd and the matron pointed to Mabel and said
NV lead the poor creature to her apartment
- What does this mean," screamed the I
~ ri6ed Mabel.
ne But she was hurried away along dark a
zee narrow passages with the men in white aprC
on either side. At the door of one Of
ny many rooms she was met by another matt
uf. who looked at her with a searching gaze o
he her brass spectacles.
- Poor thing" said the matron with
brass spectacles as Mabel was rudely thr
ae into the room. The door was closed and
MS men in white aprons went away.
i'd Poor Mabel was stricken with terror at
strange position she occupied. There "
of the matrons looking in through q glass pa
80 young and beautiful" said one. 81
H. so wild in her looks" Alas! her p
mother must be crazy about her."
4" am not a maniac" cried Mabel,
am not crased! Why am l shut up here
oily Tell me for this maddening suspense
indeed run me to distraction"
ira w CEOdbuItS bdlu Lb0 EtUGIOA
the brass spectacles; how much she r.
like the poor girl that came last spring
= hung herself in her cell !"
'ltn They went away after locking the doc
s. How strange her situation! There W
and neat little room, with clean and tidy fu
ing ture; and the sweet song of the birds in
= maple boughs and the flower scented br
from the neighboring hills came in at the
dow TO cheer! But the song Of the birds
eS the breeze from the hills, came into the
'ner tive through a setadOW ecih CRATES!
she She saw her own Herbert through the
dow enter the carriage that brought
so there and saw it roll away leaving her an
orri- strange people a captive. She saw
-, through iron crates
The truth had flashed upon her mind
YER was in an Asylum for LuaGtics, sent
am, by a soulless husband to revenge himsel
my on her supposed crime. Her heart felt
OF as it would break. Betrayed into the han,
!. be- stern masters by a man who had swor
nm protect her, and no friend on earth to
A.. to. Her old father had lain in the gra,
1e months. Her eyes refused to weep, an
u 10 very air she breathed seemed to choke
the Her only treasure was torn from her
etter babe she had left in the morning confdi
Oh what she hoped was the returning IL
mon her husband. Oh! how she longed
h. with her babe and press it to her bosom
- gaze in its liquid eyes that beamed like
Oeu with innocence and budding love. She
IN ged for her babe, and the matrons pitie
etter in what they thought were her imaginal
nem- wings. Mabel tried to convince the ma
" L. -na ~0k tnnn~n k,k H. -ro.l1