Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-04-11
GurrRspnnhing Ghitur'a Department.
Written for the Spirit ofthe &c.
"REMINISCENCES OF THE HEART"
R. G.. STAPLES, PORTSMOUTH, va.

X. @. STAPLES, PORTSMOGId, "a ~
Written TO- the Spirit o the A &c. in
"REMINISCENCES OF THE HEART" tn
BY LUTHER C. RIGGS. le
Patter, patter, falls the rain drops against 81
nv window as | sit listening to the whistlings "
of the wild winds and the creakings of the h
window shutters as they swing to and fro on ,
their hinges. 1t is bitter cold, and as | draw G.
aside nv curtains and look out upon the a
night before me, not a star is seen to flicker, o
not a solitary Illuminating object meets my v
eye-all is dark and even dismal. a
AS I turn my head away from the dreary
scene before me and again let down my cur c
tain, nv mind wanders away in search of I
some subject of rumination in the by-gone t
scenes of life, perchance some sunny little {
nook that NAV afford me a few moments of
sweet reflection. The lightnings vivid fash I
and the sudden clap of dcafening thunder
breaks the train of my reflections and turns
them on to an entirely different course, and
causes nv mind to harbor the remembrance
Of one whom [ almost idoliZed in former
years.
" She sleeps meath the spot she hath marked for re-
pose,
Where flowers soonest blossom in spring;
Where zephyrs first breathe the perfume of the rose,
And the birds come at evening to sing.
The wide spreading koughs of the chestnut tree,
Bend low DOR the place where she lies;
4 There ever purple beams longest glow on the lea,
2 And the morn drinks the dews as they rise"
SIDNEY DYER.
had trusted tAslif4 Bark OF existence on the
> false glittering wave, with no pilot but her
! own undisciplined heart. Her memory only
! brings sadness and grief, and when I reach
- forth my hand to the table that is standing
7 close beside me, and take therefrom a tiny
locket, and gaze upon the image of the now
~ forever absent one, and view the classic fea-
lures that were pertaining to her alone, the
~ tears start to my eyes. These large black
~ visionary organs that seem to be directing
,u their enchanting roguish glances direct at
no me-such a sweet expressive mouth with a
~ half curl resting upon its lips-a face that
1T tells its own story-so lovely and loving. .
Ia When first | met with this sainted maiden
it was on the occasion of my returning home
ot from a tour in a distant country, where |
,oS had passed away eight summers and winters.
bo l had become weary of life, sick of existence
40 which brought with it nothing but wretched-
ness, (for my life was at best but a miserable
ho one J and, upon the impulse of the moment,
,ho whilst l was in a thoughtful and Responding
mood, slowly perambulating the we'll shaded
ttbo walks of a Southern city, | made a resolve to
return TO my cnllQnOOQ S nome.
IL 1t was on the morning of a lovely day in
~ the spring-time of the year, that l reached
the mall and quiet village that | in my youth
of gloried in calling my "home." What pain
ter hath power to pencil the wanderers feel
&C. ings, as he, after the absence of eight years,
~ again views the scenes and places spent in
o ~ - the sweetest happiness in his youthful days
~ What pen can describe the emotions of the
throbbing heart as it nears the portals of his
Al L. loon 4Lo rno1 ouo,ol .-l:1 o-onx
or;I recollection dear to the memory clings p
~ Tongue cannot tell-the most skillful pain
ter, the most prolific and f~acetious writer car
r. only attempt a description of such a scene.
As l was slowly and thoughtfully vending
my way down the street that led to my faith
7;+b- er's house, a foreboding of a melancholy DIES
-. &c pOndency came over me-a thought that tim
nat and the foul destroyer might have wrought
and cnanse-" a a"u eo1onnn onan ."nJ t u:
these o"u iuo" 80 IN minu ~ VII
hem. 9'ou' a W ~ NV a " WV"
~ though many years had rolled over my hea
since my eyes had been moistened with
eE. tear. Who would not have wept thos
q COL whom l once knew and loved, perhaps, wei
a few no longer numbered among the living, {
r t tpY H HsFH tsM a St R 81 SssoSi5 eRa nnfH fhdsl4t The iS wid
o. the shaded streets seemed to me as lonely and d
: de. serted; although scores of busy men and W,
The men were constantly passing and re-passinl
this none of these l knew, for I was q strange
Caro- Al laStl reached my fathers door. 1t VIZ
n we some moments before L could summon u
q usa courage enough to knock, but I at last di
State anu IL was opened ny my father. NeVt
10 the shall l forget the welcome with which | W;
? greeted, nor the pleasure that [ experience
ished on learning that all Of my fathers fami
like were alive and well-neither shall | soon fo
nents get the glances that were directed upon n
,assed the moment that entered the door by h.
more whose death L sincerely mourn, and who
ssao the subject of this rumination. Nettie MI
.fnted grave, (for so she shall be known to the rea
It er,) was sitting beside my sister on a so
North matrass in the farther corner of the room fro
nhng the door. | thought as my eyes first fell u
Noino on her fairy,like form, that [ had never /
p con. fore seen anything half so beautiful. Tive
there vain to attempt any description of her. On
in he imagine that you see before you, reader, t
sense. smallest, loveliest, gayest, merriest, rosie
enact. wickedest and happiest specimen of a mort
sell a ahsel' auo you moy nave some liant Idea
,antlv a resemblance of Nettie Mulgrave. Heav
q thar surely placed her on earth to show man WI
o. men perfection is and nature, and malice, Join
together the first to give her every possil
this fascination, calculated to charm man, a
I'M sol. the second to endow the system with eve
art by which she could torment them
death. She was a sunbeam on earth; ala
voo peautllui' anu gay lor lie S dark storm
,cainst A smile, an enchanting bird a violet! !"
noison None could help loving her, for she wa.
t fight lrlehu 70 All her presence dispoiled the s
they TOW anu groom from the mover, just as t
vigorous morning sun olspeis the mist OF
readth previous night. Many were those who h
bowed their knees to her eueenly form,
10 con. short, she was, l fear, worshipped by
onents villagers more than the God that made the
mass a In her company | passed away week af
others week, and month after month. If I tool
sonons morning or evening walk she always aceo
) trnth panied me-if rode, she was also my CO
rant Of panion she was in fact, the god of my ez
% +bor tence.
40 tho Dearest Nettie," said I to her one ev
,ot the ing as we were sitting alone on a seat in
Fancy arbor of the garden, as We were oft acc
he S1' toned to do" Dearest Nettie, you KIN
ne has that ! have loved you long and sincerely, q
retail with all the fervor that an honest and O,
inr;ons heart is capable of containing, but never
nst;tn. til now, have l dared to ask your decision
W rao- regards a matter that most deeply intere
toueth- US both. My heart is already in your r
cnrred session, and am ready to bestow my hi
,nreme upon you whenever you will accept it."
90 IN " Is it possible that one so true and no
,a1l we as yourself can deign to offer your hand
ADAA WV