Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-12-05
Written for the Spirit of the Age.
A PEEP AT OAK WOOD.
NY Southern Home Q.
Bx A

Who does not love to look at a picture-
especially if the delineation is a graphic
one, the artist skillful and happy in the
execution, and the whole so arranged as to
give the production that rich tlnge called by
artists, warm eoloring2" Kind reader.
here is a "Hurry-graph," taken from real
life. The original is attractive, the c~oloring
material varied, and it only remains that
the artist arrange the perspective, group the
most striking features, and present the con-
trasts OF light and shade harmoniously. to
complete the requisites of a fine picture
should the likeness presented fail to inter-
est, 1t will be referable to the unskillfpI ex-
e%cution, rather than the ~faultless ORIGINAL
Oakwood-my southern home-is a roomv
white mansion, embosomed in a grove of
oaks, whose northern prospect oyerlooks
cultivated fields, intersected bv roads and
bounded by circling forests the southern
view being hedged in a strip of Woodland
whose lofty trees, all the long summer time
are the resort of numerous birds, and made
Juollant with their varied songs. The pro.
prletors OF this retreat Of learning are DIR.
: and his accomplished LADY. who is
herself a star of the first macnitude-
mis"e say aPtahet-for she is a acaadejer
Ir1m Tue hhp're State, and g~listens now
CONSCIENTIOUS roll AS fnp
the Dr., when not professionally anoocod
you may /" Ieok out for a Gale j 20 IT, 81
manac makers say, especially if Il ha boi;-
DAY, and the young ladies are released from
DOCKS, and the ~oticious restrictions of a Ger.
tain character with angular features weary
eyes and Voluminious regulations. who has
enjoyed the title of "school mann " for MANY
years. Then, it the day prove fine. the Or
mounts his gun and leads the way for a
group OF yo2ag, happy hearts and smiling
races: Where the purple clusters hide. or
the oily nuts come rafting down to the leafv
swaro, they are bound. Let us look at
them. Lizzie, with a sly twinkle in her 70.
gulsh eye, is adroitly fastening the Dr,s
handkerchief to the end of his oun barrel
thinking her flag very ~eleverly mounted, and
forgetting the retribution she will incnr in
the form OF hickory nut showers and grano
oombardment. See, too, Just behind her
the mischief loving Kate, in MOCK s~erv;l;tv
win her mlrthful face screwed into becom;no
dignity, attempting to carry the train of
Llzzie.s dress-that is as g~uiltIess of street
sweeping ability as many a modest boomer
AT her side walks the quiet Laura. wearing
acrown OF acorns and oak leaves. OCCASION
any humming some cheerful air or raising
ner eyes To watch a race between Fannie and
Nelly, or q squirrel who drops his half dis
sected nut at sight of the invading army
ana peeplng suspiciously at the Doctors Gun
oarts away.-hls long feathery tail stream,
lug nl1er hln like a flash of golden light in
Tue Tich autumn sun beams. In vain does
ene " point his gun toward the flying fu-
gltlve, and Susy and Lucy i~nstitnta q c3aoo
after him. Mr.. Squirrel leaves the sbo: sc
the one and the footsteps of the otbau ~
pattel far in his rear, and Lncv hon;n
caught her apron in q thorn busb rotnrns
TO the company with certain elinnses nf
needle and shears floating before her evoS
while Susy-the provoking thinp-fliow
marc after, laughing right merrily at her 90
lamity, until In her glee she trips her foot
against a snag and lies PROSTATE upon tho
lauen leaves, much to the amusement of bor
thorn-rent accomplice. Mrs. - III
tneSe hohday rambles, too her clear mns;.
80 Soaee waking sweet echoes mid the forest
shade and by the bowery stream. Tbe n.
never exnausts his store of spicy Jokes and
entertaining stories, and the comnon1 bni1
their sides for very WEAKNESS when he onona
one OF his tremendous broadsides nnon tbom
NO wonder-for the most rigid Of tba oIor;
cal profession, with stiff white necI.oiotL
ana oiack Kids, would be obliged to v;eld
before q Volley of the Doctors finn az
sure. Au"' am
How swiftly these holiday hours pI;de
now snort the walk seems-how soon a.
company unlade their forest wealth at t bnn oos
Al'er Tea there is a gathering around tho
piano Roo, where Mrs. is seated, while the
DOCTOR stands by her side. Then we baro
music anu pleasant voices minple in tbo
evening song; So closes the weekly hoIidsv
Inc sabbath brings no chime ofbolIs, for t3o
L mIe chapel distant about one fourth of q
m1le, boasts of no befry or spire. Oceasion'
ally the living preacher breaks the "4.na
oreaa o. lte within its humble portals to an
incon?lderable congregation, in which Oa u
WOOD Is largely represented. The old 49,
with neatly pinned kerchiefs, antioue boods
and huge, work bags" are in atte tend nooa !
an carry nour to shake hands and INQUIRE of
each sac 10Th Others welfare and the young ones to to
the little square desk o~ficiates as cbor;stan
as wen as preacher-lines the hymns and
leads the congregation in singing. No oranu
.thunders forth the high. sounding anthem n 40