Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-10-17
R REvERIE Es.
BY LINDA MAY.

BY LINDA MAY.
Seventeen to-day Howmy thoughts are !
rushing back to the years that have fed =
Three short years since we were not here,
this splendid mansion did not belong to as.
but we were in that small house ON
street. / never look that way now, lest some
one should ask me if were ever there. I
was happy there, I suppose, for l knew moth
ing of fashionable life there; but now-well
would not exchange, have only just come
out and after such tiresome life at board.
ing school, one must have some relaxation. ,
wonder who first iRcentcd boarding schools !
IF no one liked studying better than 1 do, ,
there would be but fep such establishments
At least am thankful that my school-days |,
are over, and that know eUerythinq that 4
shall need to know about books, for shall 1
not trouble myself to read now, as I shall |
| have so much to do to dress for company, &c. |
Eighteen! How have been fattered and |
caressed this last year. Beautiful Yes, |
every one SAYS so mamma Is continually re- |
minding me of it, and Alphonse St. Leon de-
clares that he never saw such beautiful eyes
as mine, and that such delicate comp plexion,
and he has travelled 80 much in Europe, and
seen so many beautiful ladies-yet prefers
me before them! Last night he sat beside
me, and twined my ringlets around his fin
gers, praising their length and beauty
i What splendid ntastdckes he wears, how s,ceet-
ly they curl around his mouth.
lie is very handsome at least think so
the only fault is with his eyes ; they are
shade lottter than one could wish, but his
hair is magnificent and if one has beautiful
hair and arranges it a la mode and dresses
fashionable, it does not make so much differ
ence whether they have expression in their
/ eyes.
| | wonder if there was any truth in that
anonymous note that received this morning,
saying that he was looking after my fortune
! more than myself Pooh ! 1t was only some
i person who was jealous of our happiness
S Impossible that should be deceived, when
he told me that he had rather share cottage
r aciM me, than dwell in palace aoitbo,a me i!
1Ieigho, [ am weary of these thoughts. FL
o call Ellen to dress my hair, for Alphonse
J will be here soon.
!, = AIpho,ase! what saoeet name. To be sure
q he is a .toreignor but that is all the better,
sel Americans are common ! i--z--.g-sss
p A BRIDE! happy! Yes, what delirium
N OF JOY and happiness | have experienced in
n two short weeks.
I'll Alphonse is all tenderness, and chide
myself for giving thought to that foolish
note, calling him unworthy of me. How un-
grateful l must have been, to distrust him
q for a moment
Now we are in our house. How elegantly
d Alphonse has had it finished he delights
n IN taking his friends through the house, and
prides himself on having the best aviises of any
of our acquaintance. Papa shook his head
: very gravely when he glanced at the decan-
'e ters on the sideboard, and said, have care,
ID Alphonse, beware of the poison in the wine
cup
b. Alphonse turned away and shrugged his
ID shoulders. Twas sorry that papa had said
so, but said nothing. Papa and mamma
do not pay sufficient attention to their wines
! : to suit Alphonse, and we shall far surpass
l, them in entertaining friends, and Alphonse
is so kind that I am sure he will never do
e anything wrong, and | am half angry with
to para for interfsring With him. MBmWgA is
A DRUNKARD's WHEEL How that name
p shocked me once, but now it has been burned
as it were, into my very soul! What misery
as have not suffered; what wretchedness has
vn been mine, for three long weary years Six
no years ago | was a gay and beautiful bride
- .0 but now, alas !-Where are the luxurie:
it' that surrounded me then? Gone-aU gone
or and am 1, who was once cared for so fond
ly, forced to find home in this miserGbl
,as hOUet!
~ Yes. Weighed down with care and grie
-. dragging out miserable life-toiling fo
w bread for two half-starved children.
W Stitch, stitch, from morning till night Of
he the coarsest cloth, because | have no othe
lv- way to keep from staroing. There scGs
ms time, when fond mother forbade my usin
vas a needle, lest should spoil my eyes, Wher
n is that mother now? Alas she is far ava,
:. for | have wandered many a weary mile
a. be with husband who now cares not ft
tn me, for oh he leaves me to wear my Ii
%! away, struggling to keep these precious chi
Who dren-his children from starvation. Whe
ley is he now Where? In the dram-sho
inc with the vilest of men, he who was once
icH kind, to whom trusted my life's happines
, - for whom / left eoerything-home and frien
, ~ and all that heart could wish-he leaves q
lest now!
a. How the hot tears roll down my cheek
heir and my brain whirls with agony Is the
- no onel to look to now? No one to SCOT
emf. this bursting o
,,oo he is merciful, and will look down on
49, with pity, even though for long years / ha
: ,1"i !, neglected him.
ne am calm now, calmer than ha
his been for months. A little while ago wou
and gladly have died, but now am ready to Ii
the for these precious children, and for my pc
rood erring husband.
Now | see how have erred also. {
couraged him when my father warned hi
1 encouraged him to cling to his wine,
ming convince papa he was mistaken, and nov
hear have reaped the bitter fruits of my folly.
% to He has gone again, yet methinks that
Q memory of the past comes before him al
| meet him with a smile and a kind word
ence used to in days gone by. He seemed s.
r p prised, for / have wept so much that
I'd at heeds tears no longer. Oh +! II tn
,rev. was only way to rescue him, happin
might be ours once more.
ON REFORMED !-'Tis too much happine
fain Will it last, will he be faithful to his pled'
AIKEN How happy he looked when he came to
shut with those noble-hearted men, and toio
3 she that they had saoed him, had led him II II
noe; the dram-shop, induced him to JOIN tn
pvl e. Temperance Society, and now had come :"
'e TOT him to tell the joyful news that he was }