davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-06-27
The Illusions of Life.

How little men are disposed to be content
with the real and practical pleasures, pur-
suits and purposes of life. The permanent
and substantial enjoyments derived from hon.
est industry, are readily cast aside for the
dubious and unsubstantial anticipations of
some chimerical dreamer. The quiet COM
forts and pleasures of home, family and
friends are all abandoned for the uncertain,
doubtful and hazardous adventure after gold
and the imagined pleasurable realities it will
purchase. Peace and plenty smile upon US
on the soil bequeathed to US by our fathers
and hallowed by every association that soft
ems and reines the heart, but they are aban-
doned for strange lands and stranger faces
who have none of the strong heart yearnings
and tender affections from which we have
ruthlessly torn ourselves away. But when
we wake from our gilded dreams Of unreal
ties, how bitter are our r~egrets-how disap
pointed those brilliant hopes and prospect:
that lured US astray by their dazzling deceit
~fulness.
Some one has remarked that realities neve
content US. The present is probably as fin,
a valley as there is in the whole region Q
life. But the woods are nothing but woods
shady it is true, and green, but quite ordina
~. The streams are excellent, but we wo1l
have beds of pearl in place Of those deceitfu
pebbles. All there must be woods an
sweeter dreams beyond the blue hill yondel
- IL -H - r.
ture becomes plain and hard reality as "
proceed. Those very rocks we tread ono
looked lovely under the warm haze of hope
SO shall the charm of the goodly heights b
fore as melt away, and show US, as we elm
just such lodges, gnarled oaks, chasms, m
raises, wild pines and barren slopes as '
have passed.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-06-27
The Old Farm House.

The above is the title of a beautiful and
affecting Domestic Story, by Mrs. Caroline
Il. Butler Laing, now in press by Charles H.
Davis, Philadelphia, and will be ready for
delivery on the LIST of July next. The work
is to be illustrated by fine engravings, will
contain 500 pages II mo. bound in extra blue
and red muslin, gilt, price 81 25. This
work is pronounced the browning effort from
the pen of this gifted and graceful Authoress.
For freshness and vigor of thought and
style, and for originality-in the charmin6
views of country life at the cold Farm
House"-in the striking illustrations of the
follies Of a fashionable city life-in her de.
scriptions of good and evil natures-in.a all
the various subjects she has touched with
her magic pen, she is truly excellent. Anv
one sending 81 25 to the Publisher. will re-.
ceive a copy of the work postage free. Adj.
dress Charles III. Davis, No. 80 South Foprtt
street, above Chestnut, PHILADELPHIA.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-06-27
For the Spirit of the Age.
A Passing Thought.

Many are the changes of a few short
years, and as [ gaze and dream Of the
past scenes, of the loved mes who lie
the damps of the grave, the
thought comes up before me, how soon,
oh how soon shall this frail body sleep
in the last sleep Of death. It is a sol
emn thing to die +; to leave friends and
relations behind !; but when we take
death and the resurrection together,
when we remember the agonies Of Geth-
semane, and the groans on Calvary's
brow, how we long to shake off this
mortal coil, and sleep in the arms Of
death. To the truly christian man or
woman death has no sting, and the
grave no victory" Through the dark
:" valley and shadow of death they
behold a row of glory. 81 GO said
the Lord Jesus, q 60 to prepare a
mansion" that where [ am, there may
you be also. Oh how sweet is the as
surance to the man of God, hat the
soul dieth never; and what a blessing
is held out to poor fallen humanity,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-06-27
Confidence.

Upon a little twig of the tree shading the
window sits a little bird with a jaunty air
and there he pours out his soul in a strain
of melody, though the storm is in hearing
and the drapery Of the clouds darkens the
sky overhead. Now the storm IS around
the bird, the winds have come down in ar
mics from the mountains AID from the sea-,
the twigs bend and the proud head of the
trees are bowed down; and yet the bird feels
no fear in its feathered breast, but sings and
sings merrily.
So may we learn a lesson Of confidence
from the innocent bird that when the foun.
dations are shaken, when the sky of life
seems darkened for aye, when the lightning
Of angry words from discovered friend:
seattle the brain, and when the strong bough'
of earthly life are ben to the earth, that W.
may sing and sing merrily our trust in Hin
who holds the sea in the hollow Of His hand
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-06-27
Pleasures.

Cheerful hours-peaceful blessings-life
in holy-day ~attire-among all hours, should
be devoted to innocent pleasure. The world
is not one great house of mourning, for there
is a witching song of pleasures gushing from
brooks, boughs, field and forest. Pleasure
rolls back and subdues the gloomy tide Of
sorrow that lash and beat upon the sunny
cliffs of our existence. Amid the innocent
pleasures and pastimes of the household, the
mind is relieved from the perplexing cares
that gather around the pathway of man, and
gives the golden sunfash for the gloom of
the storm. Pleasure teammates the dusty
tabernacles when worn down by fatigue and
toll, and ~revives the spirit within by fresh
draughts from the pure fountain. Many
are the pleasures lavished upon man, yet in
dulge not e~xtravagantly in their sweetness,
lest in the end they prove bitter and troub-
lous.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-06-27
For the Spirit of the Age

For the Spirit of the Age.
nes.-Suggested By hearing q little boy wA,
stood looking al the corpse Of his mother sag
" WHEN WILL MAMMA AWAKE"
BY NJ. H. BUTT.
A lovely child scarce over which
Five N bright had shone,
Beside his mothers corpse did stand,
And w~istfully looked on.
Why is her brow SO icy cold?
And why SO wan her cheek?
Oh! shed a smile on me, Mamma,
And to yoar darling speak.
Mamma-Mamma, the fair boy said,
Oh when will you awake?
So long, Mamma, SO longyou've slept,
Will ne'er your SAUNDERS break?
A sunny smile played on his brow,
And brightly beamed his eye; E.
But oh! the dear one little thought
That his Mamma must die.
When,in the coffin she was laid,
The little child then wept!
Oh dear Mamma, the sweet one said,
| thought you only slept.
Come here, my boy, the Father said,
To God let praise be given;
Thy mothers eyes are closed on earth
10 open but in Heaven.
Yes, yes dear boy her spirit scars
To endless paradise
The songs of angels now she chants
And lives beyond the skies.
Norfolk, Va.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-06-27
Our Book Table.

The MEDICAL ExANINER.-Liadley and
Blahiston, PhiIQd'a. We are in the receipt
of this sterling monthly Journal Of Medical
Science. Its list of collaborators is quite
large, and their contributions, for the most
part, highly interesting anu important,
while the selected matter in the Journal IS
creditable to the good Judgment Of It's ac-
complished Editor, DIR. Hollingsworth. We
can con~identally recommend the work to our
Professional friends. Terms $500 per an
annum, and sent free of Postage when pay
ment IS made IN advance.
b5- We are indebted to the Publisher,
Mr.. I. B. Peterson, Philadelphia, for a copy
of a new work entitled The Missing Bride"
written in fine style, and a really thrilling e1-
cellent Story. 81 25 sent to the publisher
will procure a copy free Of postage. Also
from the same publisher, Sister Rose" a
tale Of the Reign Of Terror, by Dickens
price 124 cents.
rg~ "THE WATcHMAN."-H. Long d
Bro, Publishers, No. 12I Nassau street, New
York price 81 ., free of postage. The
Waterman, we believe 10 be book that may
be read with advantage, alike by the old and
the young, and that will afford amusement
and instruction to all. 1t is highly moral IN
its tone. There are passages both OF humor
and of pathos, while at the same time the
author has studiously avoided anything Ike
overdrawn sentiment. There is not a passage
In the book which can minister TO the craving
for morbid excitement. The moral it ineul-
Gates is-that eventual success awaits the
efforts of those who earnestly strive to co
their duty to God and man.
GoDEY's LADY's BoOK-We have received
the July number of this universally admired
magazine. This number commences the
26th year of its publication and would be a
good time to subscribe.
Bag Arthur's Home Magazine for july,
is also to hand, filled as usual with interesting
and valuable matter.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-06-27
1855.
Music.

a the close q he dav when the hamlet
Is STILL when the iey's toll of the busy
million Is over " the last tap Of the
hammer tails on INC leated anvil and when
the hum OF busy WINS dies away into a
murmur-when the of the waterfall
grows more and more ~snctas the dav dies
softly away, there is an r1sistible charm in
music, whether it be in anoIished norror-
nance on glittering inst .ents mr. the ra-
tive, outgushing song Of t rnlouOb bow. re.
turning with his team fro. a. do;Iv task.
There is a sweet charm inti. lrives oncs
of the past-the songs once ..tlv srnc Inv
those. loved ones who have gg fror
earth to join the choral throna q ~ ZOO
orchestra of the skies. o! ear n,onrnf,l
tone Of some old songs falls OF ~ boort
like the wall of agonizing grief. a tbr;rls
it with the sad memories of ha DAVIS
long time ago!'
We love to bow the head, when til aav Is
dying, and listen to the song that is rnr A.
round his death bed Of glory in the +aded
+ west. How thickly the memories of tn #
E crowd up as the old, familiar notes iaron
f the ear The low cooling of the turtle eve
!, in the hedge calls up the faces of tn Sc
who once loved above all things her plai
d tive wall. Thehe is nnsic in the bleatin.
i focks and the indistinct tinkling Of the bell
d over the hill. As we listen to the music {
round the days death bed,
A s;lant tnar Dnh;d will oonrso oI,pr
re The cheek, and choking memory's sad, fon
song,
With wild emotion, bid the past revive,
And friends, long buried, seem again to liyC
e. 49,
The music Of days forever fed falls on Ii
ear sOlemnly as the tappings Of an old man
cane X
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-06-27

Wife and Mother /! strive to make
home SO pleasant and agreeable that
your husband will nothave any inclina-
ton to seek for sympathy or excitement
elsewhere. A man that is perfectly
satisfied with his home seldom seeks for
happiness abroad.
So long as the wine cup deseerates
your table-solong as you DEALT forth
unsparingly to your friends-so long
will there be mep to fght-ANTI-TEM.
PERANCE men.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-06-27
Opinions of the Press.

The Editor of the Camden Is. c. Journal,
who was in Charleston during the sittings of
the recent session of the National Division,
thus speaks of Rev. DR.. Deems effort:
DR.. DIS speech was, without exception.
the best that we eUer heard. We use the
superlatiye here pretty strong that is what
we mean, but rs we are afraid to trust our
self with a description of that speech, being
somewhat ultra and jealous, as some think,
we are content to give the words of others
to show that we are not alone in our admira-
ton of this speech on the subject Of temper
ance."
The same Editor, speaking of Gen. Cary,
says
General Samuel F. Cary of Ohio was the
acknowledged big guR of the Convention
he is regarded, and Justly too, among the
most prominent and efficient orators in our
country, and has been a most Jealous mis-
sionary of prohibition in many States. No
one who has ever heard him speak will ques-
ton this for a moment. There are few men
who exercise such a powful control over their
audiences as does Gen. Cary. We attempt
not, to give aiust idea of what we heard and
saw. lie is the best and most unanswerable
advocate of the cause that we ever heard or
expect to hear, and If there had been the
shadow of a doubt upon our mind in regard
/ to the justice and truth Of our cause, it would
all have vanished as quickly as the yapor
before the rays of the sun
The South Carolina Temperance Standard
nrnnannces DR.. Deems speech as one Of the
ablest and most affective lectures we ever
j., listened to. lie took his seat amid tremen-
! dous cheers The same paper, speaking Of
Gen. Cary's efforts, says
! From what we had previously heard Of the
= ability OF Gen. CARY, our hopes were high
: above what might have been reasonably tx
II pected but like the queen Of Sheba, VIC
+ found the half had not been told. No spea
ker that we have ever heard, ON any subject
u whatever, IS an equal to him. His Lon-ike
form-his massive head and braWny arm
sha Ike with the thrill and impetuous powel
a of his gigantic ideas, and the earth seems Il
tremble beneath the electric shocks which
: sway and move the multitude. At one mo
7, ment his hearers roar with laughter, and at
a the next weep at his will. His logic Is d
20 snch force as to convince any man agaiHS
has 1ciH, and at the same time rob him OF las
:" same opinion still. As an illustration Of An
a power, after showing most conclusiyeiy thj
ch tutillty of all reasoning against prohI8ltlOn,
n Gen. CARY called upon all present who wer,
l. opposed to Prohibition to hold UP their RICH
e. hands, and strange to say, in an audience Q
from two to three thousand, not a sIngl
hand went up, while afterwards, when III
r. call was made for an opposite shelving, ID
y. vote was well-nigh unanimous and we wer
~ credlbly informed that a topper held up bot
ke hands, whiletive Of his comrades did the time
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-06-27

nsE- We have received S. from Lafayette
Division, Fayetteville, for the Picked Rod
publication also S. from Bethel Division,
Hartford county; S. from Greensboro Divis-
ion; s. Sandy Branch Division, in Chatham;
81 each from three gentlemen in Wayne.
We have the pamphlet in type and should
have been able to put it to press this week
but for sickness among the hands in our Of
fee. The same excuse is rendered for delay
in publishing a Temperance Sermon sent US
from Newbern. We hope to be able to put
both to press next week. We shall print a
few thousand copies of the Picked Rod
pamphlet over orders received. Let those
who desire them send for them without de
lay, or they may be disappointed in getting
them. Price $l2 per thousand. The pam
phlet is larger than we had anticipated.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-06-27
Charity at Home.

Don't go to China to prove your benevo-
lence. That is like going to the mouth Of a
river to float up. If you don't love your
wife you should not possess too much love
for the antipodes. If it is your nature TO
urrvr v srrulaJ ruiy -~-v your uuuurc
towards your friends around the hearthstone,
we beg you to dispose of your stock in the
wholesale beneficence business and 60 into
the retail market You are not the man to
send flannel to the little heathens in the land
of palms beyond the sea. Begin at home
with those whom God has given you for your
nearest and dearest friends. Believe that
those with whom you associate are those you
should bless and make happy. Study how
you can make those around you happy. II
it be a dollar, advice, a smile, a favor, a kind
word, a pressure Of the hand or chastise.
ment, give it and give it freely. Remember
that the happiness of this world is like &
mountain of golden sand made up by the
contributed particles of those who dwell on
the earth, and that it is your duty to cast
golden atom on the glittering mountain eacl
moment ofyour life. In this way the noun
tain grows and feasts the eyes Of the mill
ions who gaze upon it with rapture and de
light. y
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-06-27

METROPOLITAN FEMALE SEMINARY.-Aneat-
ly printed circular of this Institution we find
on our table, and after due examination, take
great pleasure in commencing the plan of
stddles as laid down by the Principal, Rev.
A. Mcdowell. The Metropolitan Seminary
is under the control of a methodical and sys-
tematic manager, and one whose fine schol-
arship and conscientious adherence to. his
pupils best interest, prompts him to do for
them all that could be expected of any in
s%tructor, The next session will open on the
23rd of july.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-06-27
"Original and Rich

Under this head, our ~sneighbor of the Ra-
leigh Register has an article in which he at
tempts to ridicule a Resolution passed by a
Democratic meeting in Harrison county, Miss.
in which they resolved that they had no
preference for men, asking alone, is he sober,
honest, capable and faithful to the Constitu-
ton, and to such a ticket, we pledge ourselves
to give a hearty support"
The Register says, the test Of Mr.. Jefer-
son for candidates for Office has been uni
formly adopted by all parties, and not until
this Harrison county meeting was any i'm
provement ever made upon it. They could
not vote for q man if he was merely honest,
capable and faithful to the Constitution, but
he must actually be so6erP sc. We judge
our neighbor is not SO we'll acquainted with
the qualifcat Is for office s eonsidGE9 d e esgGR;
That renowned statesman said, before leaving
the Presidential chair, that if he had his term
OF Office to go over again, he would require
Of every applicant for office to abstain from
all Intoxicating drinks for the reason, tina
drunkenness among ofice-holders had giver
him more trouble than any thing else, during
his administration. The Harrison count,
meeting, then, instead of departing from tn,
Jeffersonian standard, are literally carryin,
out the sentiments and opinions Of the states
man-sage of Monticello; and we are Gel
tain all political parties would be the gamer
if they would maintain and adhere to tn
moral and patriotic ground taken by the dc
mocrats of Harrison county, Miss.
But he must actually be SOBER says tn
Register, as we'll as possess other qualifc;
tons. Of course he must. Of what ava
is it that he is honest unless he is sober
to discharge the duties of his Office? Ho'
can he be capable if incapacitated b
drunkenness! 1t is impossible for him
be faithful unless he is sober also.
We congratulate the country that the r.
quirement of 'sobriety' in ofice-holders
being considered a necessary qualification
We trust that the democrats Of North Car
lima, the wings, Americans, know nothing
and all other organizations, will make it
sine qua non, that their candidates must |
sober as we'll as profess other qualifc
tons.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-06-27

B9~ A Company of Gentlemen connected
with the Methodist Episcopal Church of this
City, nave purchased the eligible property
on Hillsboro' street, in which Rev. r r
Blake's School was held, with a view to es.
tabilshing a Female Seminary and BOARDING
School here. 1t is desired to open the first
session in July or 1st of August, if an accep-
table Principal can be secured in time 70 do
so. The attention of Teachers is directad 70
the subject. Letters addressed to Rev. N.
T. REID will be attended to.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-06-27

Bg~ The rock bound mountains and the
granite grit hills will one day fall to dust,
but good actions will endure longer than the
gales of the sea. The earth will grow old
and tottering-the moss on it's great brow
shall grow gray with age, but virtue and
truth shall flourish like palms by the
rivers side, and remain fresh and green as
the dew-headed bush on which the roses
bloom. The moon and the brightest stars
may be robbed of their lustre by the arch
thief, Time but truth and the glorious prin-
ciple of honesty and moral excellence will
grow brighter and brighter while the great
central sun sheds light upon the central
Throne. <
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-06-27

CIRCUMsTANTIAL EYIDENCE.-At Burke
Superior Court, Alfred Noblet was tried for
the murder of John Davis, in Mcdowell
county. The evidence was altogether cir
cumstantial, but, after l3hours' elaboration
the jury found the prisoner guilty. He
thereupon confessed his guilt, and implicated
the principalwitness, Vaughn, whowas forth
with arrested.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-06-27

Bg We learn that the Rev. DIR. G. F.
Deems has been invited to deliver the ora
ton before the Alumni Association of Dick
inson College, Carlisle, Pa, on the 18th of
July next.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-06-27
Corresponding Ghitpr's Department.
To Correspondents.
R. C. STAPLES, PORTSMOUTH,

All communications intended for this de-
partment of the paper, should be directed to
R. G. Staples, Box 157, Post Office, Ports
mouth, Va.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-06-27

that +" pressing forward towards the
mark Of the prize of the high calling of
the Lord in Christ Jesus" we will at
length receive the reward which is laid
up for us Heaven. Il
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-06-27

THE METHODIST CHURCH SOUTH has lust
published the tenth annual report of its Mis-
sionary Society, from which we learn that
the society has under its care 1858 missions.
3ll missionaries l2S. churches, 79,O5O church
members, l85 Sunday schools, 25,034 child
rem under religious instructions. 9 manual
labor schools, and 485 Indian pupils. These
are distributed thus i'm the destitute por-
tons of the regular work, 157 missions, l42
missionaries, 26,337 white members and
1885 colored, 81 churches, 1877 Sabbath
schools, and 1926 scholars among the peo-
pie Of color, 10 missions, ia missionaries,
1851 colored members, 43 churches, and
1888 children under7religious instruction F:
among the Germans, IL missions, ii mis-
sionaries, 4S3 members, 6 churches, 10 Sun
day schools, and pa scholars among the
Indian tribes, so missions, % missionaries
4,364 members, Is churches, 38 Sabbath
schools, 1881 scholars, 8 manual labor
schools, and ass pupils. The contributions
for the year 1854 amounted to Sl64, 366. OF
which S22,772, the largest amount, was re.
ceived from the South Carolina Conference,
$20,970, the next in size, from the Alabama
Conference, and 49, 8 AT from the United
States Government. When or how this last
sum was contributed we do not find stated
but upexplainedit is somewhatofan anomaly
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-06-27

- The Editors of the Georgia Temper
ance Banner ought to have credited the Spirit
o. the Age with two articles in their issue of
June 16, viz: "Cui Bono ?" and "The Tenn
perance Triumphs."
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-06-27

In the address made by the G. W. 2. Of
South Carolina, welcoming the Representa-
%tives, Of the National Division to the city of
Charleston, he said most truthfully and e}o-
quently:
We are in the midst of a great moral
revolution, and a celebrated author has said,
: in revolutions men live fast-the experience
of years is crowded into hours-old habits
of thought and action are violently broken
novelties, which at first sight inspire dread
and disgust, become, in few days familiar,
endurable, attractiUe. This was said of the
English revolution of 1858, and yet how stri-
king}y does its characterize the liquor recO-
luton Of 1855"
Yes, how strikingly does this description
characterize our country and the liberation
by the people Of the odious, Misunderstanding,
God-defying liquor traffic So much accus-
toned have they become to its monstrosities !;
so common are the murders, suicide, delirium
and all the evils that follow in its train, that
men look upon them with composure, and
apparently regard them as beyond remedy i!
Monstrous, indeed! And how faithfully
portrayed by the Poet in his we'll known
verse
Vice is a monster of such hideous mien,
That to be hated, needs but to be seen
Butseen too oft, familiar with his face,
We first ~pity-then endure-then embrace