Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-03-28
@tiainal Sturn.
FoR rHE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
:" Arthur Bruce,
Or the Reward Of Perseverance.
BY. RANDOM ESSAY.
By RANDOM ESSAY.

II was beautiful evening in the Au-
tuna of 18-, while / was travelling in the
mountain region of western North Carroll
"a ! came suddenly upon the ruins Of an
rs School House. It was made Of logs,
many of which were gone to decay; the
roof had fallen in, and the rough chimneys,
leaning forward as If disdaining to fall
back among the common ruins, were COW
cred ove-. With thick coating of moss.--
In oatI Us of1hu Ok plsh crouch could
st,ll be distinctly traced, both by the pure
white sand which covered it, and the state
ly oaks that stood in all thei ancient gran
deur, at regular distances around the out
skirts, lifting their giant arms towards
heaven as If invoking aid to protect this
spot, sacred and dear to the memories of
many fond heart, from the destroying
ravages Of Times corrodiug tooth.
The house was situated upon high
point of land, overlooking a beautifully
undulating and almost level tract of coun-
try, through which the French Broad
rolled its lirnpid waters proudly to the
ocean. An elbow Of the river extended
To within faw hundred yards Of the old
building, then making i sudden curve to
the west, its windings were soon lost among
the thick forests and overhanging foliage
of the surrounding landscape Gushing
from rock near the brow of the hill, was
spring of chrystal brightness, whose pure
waters, rejoicing in their freedom, leaped
aud bounded for brief moment among the
rocks around, anil then darted gaily on
ward, with merry ripping murmur, to
ioin the river and add their little mite to
swell the great sea.
rode down to the ford OF the river to
water my horse, and then winding up the
steep bank, passed, at some distance from
the landing, high bluff, where the bank
rose perpendicularly from the water to q
considerable height leaving, a deep, lark
chasm below. From this point beautiful
prospect opened out before me wild, ma
jestic mountains, whose hoary SUBMITS
seemed to pierce the sky, reared their rug
ged peaks on every hand !; the gay, wind
ing river, basking in the sunlight of eve
ming, rolled its waters far away before the
vision, and swelling hills rose grandly up
in the distance, whose tops were covered
with the gtowth IF centuries, now profusely
sprinklnd With the goiasn honnrs of fading
Autumn. Lvlving this, passed up the
steep hillside to majestic beech tree stand
in near the school house dismounting
here. commcncCd decyphering the names
which were carved on the trunk OF the aget
tree. There were many names cut on dit
ferent parts OF the trunk md roots of tn
tree, but three, more particularly than th
rest, took my attention, as they were muc
moro distinct. The first of these wa
Helen Glenn. This name was nicel
carved; little below it vas, Thomf
TyndaP-and on the opposite side Of I'll
trunk Arthur Bruce, The Drunkard
Son. was cut in large characters.
While was ponderihg over these sin
pie relics of the past, with the enthusias
that traveller in the East might feel whe
surrounded by the hyeroglyphics of a buri'
age, the sound of hunters horn-a sing
blast broke the train of my reflection
Glanciug in the direction from whence Il
sound PROCEEDED, saw man climbing Il
steep side Of the hill he held gun
his hand and was followed by two dog
apparently as weary as himself. When
came nearer | saw that he was an old ma
his head seemed as white as if bleached
the SHOWS of seventy winters, his form W
stopped beneath the weight of years, a.
the finger Of care bad not been idle on
couutcnance yet there was good natur
oherfulness about his appearance, viii
without further acquaintance greatly p
possessed me in his favor. Friend, 81
he, approaching me with true mountain'
cordiaiity, and afterwards found that
was, indeed, a friend to oil mankind, or
other words, Quaker Friend, thee
perhaps lost thy way among these lou'
mountains. as the country is so thiuly S
tied and there is scarcely path to dir
traveller to any habitation.' / explain
my object, and told him how l had b.
tempted TO tarry for a short time in t
secluded but charming spot. Ah, y
IL ia indeed beautiful, said he, after sh
pause. From this time he dispensed "
Quaker terms, and his intelligence and g
feeling plainly indicated that his gray h
we're to him crown of glory 1t is
deed beautiful, and even at this late pei
of my life | feel thrill Of youthful war;
and vigor when revisit these scenes
While he was speaking he leaned his
against the old beech, and seated him
upon its messy roots, while l went to
little spring near by, and filing a /
that hung over il with jos pure wat
gave the old man to drink and ha,
9uenched my own thirst, seated my
upon q stone near him, when he thus
menced
Il am growing old aud my fai
strength warns me that my days on G
will soon pass away. In that building
tottering to ruins, said he, pointing t,
school house, received my educat
and although have, since left it, le
eyentfu' life enjoyed the sweets of
perity as well as the bitterness of adj
ty.-ba,keJ n the sunlight Of favor
esteom, aod p.oed beneath the shrive
frowns Of ,glect yet despite the lap
the aud the changes that have
place since then, many OF the events
were here sac.ed, ire Is fresh and
in my recollection now, a, # tney WI
the work Of yesterday Here th'
man paused for a M ment, fixing his
steadily upon the ground as if lost