Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-02-07
Gaaies' department.
Written for The Spirit Oftks Age.
Leaves:
FROM LIFE'sTEAR.STAIN PAGES.

By A. L. HICKS.

do not speak Of the past said an old
man { let it fade from memory's pages.
Let its joys and pains, its hopes and fears,
its rcalizations and disappointments, Its
pleasures and sorrows, its sweets and its
worm wood and gall, be forgotten. You
wish to know my history : why did you
ask me to speak Of the past? | had hoped
that the oblivion of fleeing years had drawn
q veil, beyond which my eyes could never
see-vain thought, fallacious hope! Your
words have spread before me, memory's fa-
ding map | am q very child again far
back through the dim vista of bygone
days, / see a star, twinkling. How bright,
how very beautiful it appears that star
onced cast its mellow rays athwart my
~path--the star Of youth and purity Then
/ was no stranger to virtue and truth my
feet knew not the way of the transgressor
my judgment was not perverted my taste
was not vitiated, and | was a stranger to
the vices and follies Of q deceitful and cor
rupt world.
Young man, | was happy youth; full
= many werethc s5ngs l sang butd did not
sing atonei Many we're the hours spent
rambling among the hills, listening to the
mellow notes Of tie { wildwood Bird or
cullina sweet wild fowers-emblems of
Purity and Love but l was not alone !
Often times / toiled up the mountains
rugged side, and from its summit, with
thrilling pleasure would gaze upon the
great map Of nature, dotted here and there
with beautiful farms, and traversed by
many broad streams. Before me lay, en-
bosomej among the hills, the romantic lit
tie village of B.; in imagination, /
see it now yes, and hard by, l again be-
hold Vine Cottage, surrounded by tall shade
trees and clustering vines [; there too, is
the little garden, with its curiously orna-
mented walks and tasteful flower beds
and close by it, flows Silver Brook, whose
gentle g%urgliug waters ever sent up a con-
tiuuous anthem of praise to its great origi-
nal but | was not alone! | was romantic,
perhaps too much so l was afond dream
err, too-dreaming Of love, honor, reputa-
ton, fame and Overwhelming Of a bet
ter day, bat alas! that better day will never
comc-nor did | dream alone! There was
one who used to dream with me they call
cd her Ellie C%layers, but | called her my
Ellie.
Our fathers were ncighbors, intimate
friends therefore, you will not think il
strange if a great portion Of our time wa
passed together. We travelled the SAM
road to school, were in the same class, ant
a favorite, too, with all the children al
would smile when she smiled, and wee
when she wept. There Was no little com
petition among us boys to win he. smiles
many was the tribute ofrespect she received
! loved Ellie Clavers-ah ! loved her wit
all the devotion of a school boys warn
earnest heart. At school, it appeared ths
/ was no fayorite with Ellie, notwithstanC
ing her eye would sparkle, and her so
ruud-LhuuEVaCyIu aug wI~rxJ5u-tUSAe<ni
heart. L have learned many sad lessor
since then Learned, also, that Ellie love
mo, too she told me to herself, as we s.
together upon the vine-entangled banks
Silver Brook never pass q sweet singir
brook without thinking of Ellie ClaVer
Well, Ellie and ] loved each other !; v
were young then, very young. We dreamC
OF nothing but love and happiness, just
many others are dreaming now. We drear
ed not of dark clouds and stormy skies
no fears without, nor fears within distur
ed the minds rcpose ; no cankering wor
r lay within the heart to pale the cheek
dim the eye. Hope fired our young heart
the golden future lay before us, and t
glittering prize in full view My faith
designed me for the law his choice d
not please me, but | had been taught
obey, consequently, | made no objcctio
-. A. 81. - Att Gz-.-
plete my studies. Many were the XII
injunetions | received from my affection;
parents. They warned me to guard agail
the many temptations which beset I
young aud unwary student; to avoid vicic
associations, and to shun the Maclstr
of I~atemperaBce. Would to heaven Il
] had needed their a~dmonitions / W,
TO sec Ellie the morning before my dep
ture-she looked very beautiful that mo
ing. We talked but little, for sadness I
ted upon our hearts. l arose to depart
'stop Archie she said, and going into
room, she soon returned with a beauti
Bible in her haLl { this Bible is for y,
Archie she continued, take it, and wi
snarcs and temptations 6esct you, fy to
for refuge
| made rapid progress during the Fl
year, but still was much dissatisfied W
the profession my father had selected
me. The second year l made but lit
or no progress it was a perfect drag up
my hands, and | would have left the insti
ton, had it not been for the many encor
aging letters | received from Ellie. ABB
this time a party was given by the Prof
sor Of the University. OF course all
students were invited to attend. I W,
with a company Of wild, reckless, dissipa
young men. | feared nothing from
association with them | was q fayo,
and why should / avoid those who sou,
my company Fatal logic |! The pa
was large and we'll attended. Among
many queen-like beings who graced
gay saloons, was the Professors dapoh
Miss Jennie Walcott. Being our Pro
sor's daughter, of course much attent
was paid to her by the students. Yes.
bright, sparkling wine was there too n,
whose red wave hundreds and tbonsal
have been borne into an awful etern;t
Gay, reckless, rolicking Frank seize,
glass and proposed health to Miss Walc
Fearful that Il might be considered impol