Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-10-24
Ynmber s. ],
LADIES' DEPARTMENT..
the Social Circle.
Written for the Spirit Of the Age.

how many at different periods span and
the horizon Of existence.
Thave had an ideal home ever since / was
old enough 10 understand the beautiful sig.
niacansy Of the word. Listen, girls, and l
will describe It 10 you. ] have never had an
idea Of a mountaiH home, nor can 1 with Lai
Ia RhOok exclaim,
Aonin my fancy's wanderings,
Eve wished that little isie had wings,
And We, within It's fairy bowers,
Were waited OF TO seas unknown,
Where not q pulse should beat but ours,
pWhsfe we might live, love, die alonel
Far from tho cruel and the cold
where the bright eyes Of angels only
Should come around as 10 behold
A paradise so pure and lonely"
Nor have / dreamed Of q fairy residence,
hiddan away from the sight Of zAen, for we
have all Of us, solemn and sacred duties to
society, and our fellow man. l have not q
craving foI a retreat beneath the smiling
skies of Italy, nor amid the classic fanes Of
Greece, nor upon the vine clad hilIsof France,
nor the AOwery sod OF Spain. Nor, not from
the shores Of beautiful America, nor from
beneath the folds Of our starry flag Of Liber-
~, l would have q home beautifed and
made holy by a high and sacred love. Not
where SHOWS and ice attest old winters reign,
bat beneath the warm blue skies Of the sun
nv south. Not amid a city's noise and con-
fusion, but in the hush and delicious still
ness Of a country town, or village. Not q
palace, but a modest home embowered in
the shade Of lofty Films. IwOuld have leaves
and flowers, twiDing, and clustering, over
the windows, and caves. And a porch, a
"soeiable piazza" with the fragrant Honey
suckle, and the White Jassamine, my favor
ito flower, clinging in its own graceful way,
over the lattice, and around tue columns
Through the dancing leaves the morning sun
would pour, and strains Of joyous birdsongs.
And the evening stars, and the pure moon
light would steal through the dewy leaves,
at twilight, and at night. I would have
white curtains looped back, through which
would steal the perfume Of the Magnolia's
snowy flowers. And around my cheerful
rooms, should be scattered books, books the
ever loved companions Of my girlhood and
paintings upon the walls, paintins IS, before
which l have stood with awe, worshippinl
the great art. And my little oldfashione'
inkstand, my pens and portfolio, should hav
their old accustomed places by the sitting
room window, and not Ear from there, a cane
a f~ootstOol, q large arm chair, and a pair G
slippers, and upon the mantle q segar case
and above all, upon the hatrack a hat, whic
sometimes rests over a curly head, and
white brow ! Don't start girls, when / sa
"segar case" we hare to shut our eye
land mouths too) to these small vices of IL
gentlemen, and-you may observe l dor
countenanco spittooRs! And I'll have m
sic in my home, and each evening there sh'
be e blending Of home voices, in that dc
home, music which 10 eper the sweetest up
earth. And I'll have q family altar in n
home where morn and eve shall go up than
10 our covenant God for all his mercies, a
all near and dear to Us commended to |
care.
I'll have nothing stiff and formal in
home, but all day will move around t
earthly paradise Of mine. with the Joy of
heart speaking in the elastic tread, the "
song and merry laugh. This girls, is
ideal Of home, yet it may all my life
naught but an ideal home, a castle in
air. Well, so be it yet nevertheless
little home | see painted upon the morn
sky, family Swallowed forth amid the even
stars, and mingles vivid, and life-like a
---. W 4 IL LnI.aua e e 90 Il.
where'er the heart is" and that if my hea
love were upon the rugged soil of Cali
MIA, / would be happy there. Or by
side Of one / love, wild Texas, or the I
ries Of the far west, would alike be hon
me. Or il I should find a treasure in
city, its crowded streets, its noise and
fusion would have a charm for me, tn
be far from the fresh green grass, flow
trees and birdsongs Of the beautiful coul
Yet the home / have described is my
home, my girlhood's dream ola hearts q
and q hearthstOue, aud | sometimes 8
and strive to shake it off as a childish v
ness, the thought Of this dreamland hor
mine. All! and maybe l have q beau
Of another in that home, O vague fancy
dark eyes light. and a loving smile, wi
have dreamed looked in gravely and sv
upon my heart. Now perhaps some o
are surprised that as It'll only an ideal
that it was not a palace with costly furr
silken curtains, marble halls, and col
stately grandeur. Well, 50 it might
some, but the dream of my heart has
been a palace home, but an humble
where all my hearts warm sympathi'
find response and congeniality of tast
christianity shed its pure and holy ]
Now girls-Mollie, how often your ma
ours to my memory, Matte, Lora,
some Of you write. We ought, througI
long, winter evenings, which are Def
TO write often to each other, and ma
"Circle" pleasant to ourselves, and
readers of the Age"
Know you dear girls, that our Cir
lost a member an ornament. Ho
you will feel, when / tell you, that {"
our pure, and gentle "Inez" is no
She was the founder Of our az
and her clear and wOmanly intellect
brightly and purely forth in. her
full letters to us. She was known
domestic circle by the ever beautif