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

There is a volume of melancholy music in
the phrase-and not all melancholy either.
for there is the gladstone trill mingled with
the cadence and trembling on the strings
Tt speaks of the changes and the vicissitudes
OF the bYgone. Within the brief circle. "na.
ton has risen against nation and KINGDOM
against kingdom )" from beyond the seas the
shriIl clarion of a raging battle has rung ont
in laundering tones of strife and detained
The fire of isms and distractions have blazsd
forth in fury in the pleasant places where
the Dove of Peace was wont to sit and sine
the sweet melodies of love.
Hopes, bright as the pure sunbeams. have
sprung Up in the heart and put forth sweet
blossoms pure as the dewy roses Of June
then faded, withered and died. Joy has
gone forth singing glad songs in her proud
march, while in her fowry pathway Sorrow
{ has walked clad in weeds aud sable yestures.
) and on her brow a wreath of the weeping
willow. Wealth has assumed swift wings
, and flown away, while the poor and down.
trodden have risen and taken seats in high
= places.
Sec that wretched hovel. "a wear ago.
E a poor and miserable family wept there in
. the agony of wretchedness. The summer
9 rain dipped down in the saddest Of music
: through us 1ottsA
sbr;eked a wild alarm through its thousand
creviees. Its best and only room was damp,
chilly and dreary as the tomb Straw and
torn busks from a rich mans barn was the
" - apd on th;s n rao
a ing mother and starving children nightly res
- ted the weary flesh. Amid all the fierce tn-
: ais of this poor woman, the faith Of the chris
be tan woman was strong and it held the soul
as doth the anchor the tossed ship in a rest
less sea. She based her faith on the strong
arm of Him who feedeth the wild ravens.
A brighter morn dawns on the darkness Of
Is that gloomy hoyel. a husband and a father
a returns from the plains Of a distant Austria
er' liza and brings the golden gems from its hills.
eV- 1t is poured in. the lap of the wife and little
to- ones and the old hut is made tenantless-
ses Away in a green and fowery vale a white
an cot is seen half hidden by the woodbine and
roses and around its altar the happy minel
ek- and his family return thanks to the Father il
IN common.
[or- See that stately mansion. GA year ago.
ent an old man, gray haired and happy sat in thu
Ilth evening sun against its gorgeous pillars ant
IL l made merry with his gay daughters and onl,
son-the hope of his old age. You would
the have said, here indeed is a retreat-an Edel
ling where no sorrow enters. But in an evil hOul
ess- the tempter led the son astray and he wa
The ensnared in a fatal net. He drank the re
9 to wine and quafed the beguiling rum. IL
med sought the hell of gamblers and the viciou
1t to and he fell. He followed his beguiling Sy
fell rem and added crime to crime and bid adie
the to the world from beneath the shade Of tn
and gallows, a Jelon!
at OF "a year ago." how many that are nO1
in tombtenants, were gay with hope and haE
lg IL piness! Look around the circle and cour
er of the vacant places. There are those from a
mpts stations-the child of the dewy morn, Il
the strong man of the high meridian and the o
an pilgrimlo of the eventide, that have been gait
'ught cred into the sheaf of the Resurrection by Il
roht' solemn Reaper.