Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-01-10
FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
The Social Circle.

To the loved friends of our Circle, l send
YOU greeting, the fond kiss of affection, this
beauteous New Years morn. Here In my
mountain home, | look out with rapture upon
the rosy God Of day as he mounts his fiery
car and speeds with oriental grandeur up
the broad, blue expanse. From my cloud
capped home l catch his first struggling ray
as it steals out above the Eastern horizon, and
gaze with increasing admiration until his
full-orbed beauties are all disclosed, and this
earthly sphere %rejoices in the splendors of
his glory. Fit time for reflection and conse-
Grafton Of ones self:
zone monarch to obey, one creed to own,
"That monarch GoD that creed, HIS word alone"
The prayer Of gratitude and thanksgiving
for His protecting care during the carnage of
the past year, expands the heart and, per-
fumed with holy incense, ascends to Heaven,
in praise to God. But how many of earth's
inhabitants, who rejoiced on a New Years
morn twelve short months a-past, lie now be-
meath the clods Of the valley, wrapped in the
sleep that knows no waking, until the power
that made aud killed, shall speak to life
again Have you, my dear friend, Lora, or
Flora, or Matte, lost a dear and valued
friend / have. The last New Years day
witnessed the bridal nuptials of one who was
to me more than sister. l stood by her side
and heard her vow Of love and constancy to
the noble stranger, who had come to take
her to his home in the sunny south. Dis
lance separated Us, but we were not estranged
from each other, for more than monthly visits
were exchanged in fond correspondence
But suddenly her priced mementoes of affec-
ton ceased-and the strangers hand dis
closed the fearful truth, that among the hun
dreds who had been snatched away in a mo-
mont, as it were, in the Savannahs of the
South, was his own idol wiGe-my loved and
cherished friend-MARY Fulton How
heart-crushing TO lose a friend-a dear, con
fding, con6ded frieudl Poor MARY!
grieye for his loss and mine-not THINE !
Thou art in Heaven Guard, guide his AM
my footsteps, that we may meet thee there
"A new years gift, mamma, and a swee
kiss for your little Amy" said a cherub littl
prattler a wee short year ago. The glow G
rudy health flushed her youthful cheek, an
the crimson tide leaped full and health
through every artery, saying long life and
green old age are mine. But Amy's littl
chair beside the hearth is vacant, and a littl
mound in the mountain glen hides her frol
earth forevever.
"This yearl-o, yes, this ~year!"-au
how many blessings, and fortunes and f
vors do the sons and daughters Of men prom
Use themselves therefrom. How many gil
ed castles will be built this day-how mar
schemes, and plans and projects | The your
mark this as the era when they are to emit
the rosy bowers of love and matrimony.
Heaven grant them a pure, and pious, al
happy life, as they fulfil the objects of ere
ton. The ambitious man sees in the d
tance, but q few weeks or months ahead, t
goal Of his desires, the summit of his mC
ardent aspirations. The man Of avari
snufs in the breeze and hears the vail
"hard times" and he counts his hoard
treasures whereby he may enrich himself
others Joss. The Matron gazes with a fo
mothers pride upon her charming, gift