Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-11-14
For the Spirit of the Age:

DEAR CIRCLE 1T seems a long, long time
since l communed with you last but ] have
not forgotten you, and come now, weary of
the gaieties of Summer, to welcome quiet
Winter, and our social ~enjoyments.
There is time for reflection too; which too
many of US must acknowledge has been
chased away for a long time.
Yes, this stiffness is delightful, for we can,
undisturbed, indulge as long as we please in
reading, writing, or thinking. Oh! these are
luxuries for which | love a country life in
Winter, and this privilege is one of the sun
ny spots in our existence. And though the
pleasant past is teeming with precious mem
cries, the future in this respect is more char
ming, and though the lines
"Trust no future, howe'er pleasant
Let the dead past bury its dead"
rise rebukingly before me, still I must give
you, dear Circle, one more waif of the past, |
ere l bid it forever adieu.
1t has been a long time since | was really
alone, and | revel in the luxury now, fondly
dreaming DER the past, present and future.
The past-its joys and sorrows, and especial
ly the summer that has glided by SO swiftly,
. Pleasures have been strewn like flowers in
my pathway, all roses without thorns but
1T is a solemn thought, to think Of much we
+ have said and done. We recall with a heavy
heart, time wasted, vain conversations, Of
kind, loving hearts that we have panied by
heedlessness, and above all, how often we
have offended and wandered from "Our
u Father" But the bitter, scalding tear of
d repentance trickles down, and with its sim
ID certify washes anew the wounded heart
strings, and points us to the living present
as a way of redeeming lost time.
TT We turn then to the present, and gay, gor-
4 geous Autumn is with US now. The sun
S. light assumes a rich, yellow gliding, and
q dazzles in resplendent beauty upon the many
IS colored tree-tops. Even now it is streaming
through my window, and gliding the ashes
H. on the hearth, forming a striking contrast te
d. the ruddy flames leaping and glowing beside
wv 1T. There are many such contrasts in thu
e. world we meet with them every day, anC
nd we should search the heart, and know wheth
er er they tell upon our future for good or evil
,ia How melancholy seems the Autumn ! tn
decay of all that is lovely, and as we lool
around we feel that we too must die. But t
las US, there is given a hope of Immortality, an
we can feel with the poet
pe- eyes! on every leaf is written
no In my mind q holy thought,
~, Yes! the hope of life upspringing
y From the grave, by them is bought.
my So our mortal frames will perish
ave Like the falling leaves and sere,
Yet again, will bloom and flourish
he, In q bright eternal sphere"
mt, All! there | am wandering awav off I'M
the uncertain Future, and it is a ioyo,
me- pastime to dream of pleasures in store. b
Tess Just now a long and lonely winter presen
1 to itself to my minds eve. There are a fe
AIN friends, it is true, who will brave the bla
and cheer US with a visit, and it is sweet
IAN think of these and wonder who, among
ght, the Summer friends" will prove their S;
the cerity in this way. But is it not wrong
indulge in these day-dreams? Is it not u
lie fitting the mind to receive stronger food?
rIet. know that while we are alone, quietly wo1
ing, these pleasing ~reveries will intrude, a
ents lure US far from realities so far that /
return is oftentimes disagreeable. But IN
owe we not prevent this, by selecting some
lrne ject, natural or artificial, and by consider
4 an its qualities, uses and associations thus
jalm pei these day-dreams? We do not live
lght an age of dreaming now, and to keep p.
d he with the wonder working world, we m
uge- adopt Longfellow's sentiment:
with "Let us then be up and doing
and With a heart for any fate,
With Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait"
p But apart from all this, there are some drea
look we ladies cannot discard, some subjecs,
leart motive which is the leading one in all our
lions, and which is really
hose "Full of fancy, full of seeming,
e., no Full ofendless daylight dreaming"
art a And as we are sitting quietly, day after d
away on an almost everlasting piece of work, W
IL as wonder that we should dream, and that
her thoughts should be woven up as our tlYt
more We have no means lin the country of
Apply stroying the ennui which overshadows
ader, ny a weary hour, and cannot like the ger
Far men face the cold at all times, to mingl
S the the social circle. Is it surprising then
rings dreams will hover around
ter to But it is quite late, twilight is deepening
the cheerful fires begin to cast shadows
D love on the wall. must conclude now, and W
ing we may often meet in the Social Gil
to be | also breathe a prayer for the welfar
N au- each one of you.
\ Yours sincerely, MATTE Ma
I'd the Elm Wood.