Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-04-04
ehitnr'5 lint.
R. c. STAPLES. poRrsMo<
"'teHJ0F tHe SPtTtt OF tie Age.
The May Voyage to Mount Vernon.

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"rfftea for Spirit oftAe Age.
The May Voyage to Mount Vernon.
BY SARAH J. C. wHITTLEsEY.
Edith ! Edith p whispered a frightened
voice. l opened my eyes, faintly, as the
Suodued tones startled my drowsy senses
ine round moon was pouring a full food of
SILVER radiance, through the drawn curtains
of our little chamber.
Re alone, you witch you've spoilt
one OF the sweetest dreams, that ever blessed
the busy brain of a quiescent mortal-hum p
l was sleepy and snappish-tnrned from the
disturber and settled snugly down for a sac,
ond embrace from Morpheus.
Don't care if / have, my lady crabannle
you shan't sleep another wink till You've told
me a tale to dispense the grim spectres that
are efoWding my frightened SOULS inner
sanctuary Pve been dreaming. too. your
unsympathizing ladyship, and Pm so scared.
take that land suiting the action to the
word, she substantiated her FIRST assertion.
by inserting her small fingers in the sensitive
region OF the heart, with an invidious energy
that completely dcposed tired natures sweet
restorer.' started bolt upright.
In the name of sense, Allie are YOU sane
or mad ?"
Mad as q discarded lover, nv sweet lit
tie vlnegar-cruet! and if you don't gracious
~ condescend to administer a narcotic mar
ration to ~forestall the efferveseence of nv or
gan of destructiveness, I'll be responsible for
your extraordinary overs of administering
iconsolati6n 10 stha poor and needy.' never.
more. Tell me the story of the Nav VOYAGE
to Mount Vernon, to counteract the horrors
of my NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. !"
She nestled her little frightened head tight
iy under the quilt, in the closest possible
proximity to mine, and drew nv arm over
her throbbing heart There was no alterna-
tive.
The last lingering bright star had shut
Its sleepy eye, after gazing all night upon a
howery. world sparkling with dew, and the
gold-orbed sun was rolling cheerfully out
from behind the Aeecy drapery of the ruddy
morn, when a light step broke my dreaming
and a glad gush of girlish music drifted on
tne air, from a par OF red lips that bent over
me and "arbled the old May song
Pm to be Queen o. the May mother:
I'm to be Queen o. the May p
And well worthy was she, in her first Ind
dlng loneliness, and unfolding h~eart-sweet-
ness, of a brilliant wreath of royal distinc-
ton, with the blush of morning floating unon
her fair round cheek, and the pearly dew
drops OF sweet sensibility trimming her soft
brown eyes.
Beautiful was Mabel Glare with her crown
OF roses, lntermingled with fresh green leaves
ana delicate snow-drops her slight form
veiled IN a muslin robe of dazzling wilderness,
that fell in airy folds, like silver clouds Of
| oEpnInO QPnnnd hn~ o-l L.
or golden brown curls glitterine upon her
round cheeks and white neck. beneath tho
fragrant blossom wreath of roses and lilies
lntertwined above her broad sunnyf orebeadi'
Well, now, that's a pretty fair descrin-
ton of a little mortal-more ETHEREAL than
earth-llke, seems to me, Ed but, however.
let's have the remainder. Ill make all due
tor extravaganza of imagination,
or rather tor the poetic license hem p
Hem" after that, eff you want anv
more you may sing it yourself p
Beg pardon, Ed! didn't mean to question
your Veracity, pom honor WAS thinking
what an Angel Mabel was, to be sure-minus
the oings! Well ?"
1t was a glorious morning that. on which
we bounded, with dancing hearts. brim-fnIl
OF pleasant anticipations, on board the prettv
steamer, Phoenix, bound for the far-famed
home of him who was first in war. first in
peace, and first in the hearts of his country.
men, The cool, fresh breezes, heavy with
perfume waited from the orange bowers Of
the sweet sunny South, came ripping over
the azure waves of the dimpled Potomac. to
the flushed cheeks of scores of smiling maid.
ems. and manly brows tossing gleefully the
glltterIng .ringlets of happy Mabel, as she
seoou leaning with willowy grace upon the
sustaining arm of Chester Clayton, her devo.
ted knight, and gazing admiringly upon the
picturesque scenery, spread out, a broad pan.
Drama OF beauty, on either side the beautiful
blue radiant river, foaming and fashino in
our wake, and sparkling everywberei in Snr;nn
sunshine. AS the first CLEAN of the White
massive pillars of the long. low norticn ~
W~ashington's once lovely home. sbone ont
through the thick foliage of grand old trees
that shadow the smooth sloping lawn in front
l turned to look upon the lingering ~vestiges
OF Its olden grandeur and in the mirthful
scramble OF tiny feet, stayed only from .drop.
ping by the way by the strong arms that
supported the delicate forms up the rude and
narrow teot path that wound from the wa.
tefs edge TO the green sWard, high above.
iost sight OF the happy pair. | will not at
tempt to describe with what emotions 7 first
trod the marble floor where the Father ri
his Country stood, in years long passed. and
glanced down the grassy, and fower.dotted
descent, at the blue waves washing it's emer.
aid edge, or wandered through the wide old
Tlme-stained halls where his noble voice So
often hoated, and azure eyes beamed benie.
nantly in the "long ago /"
The gay group scattered hither and thither.
two and two-of amid the purple shadows
OF the wild dark grove, over the long silent
avenue, beneath some sheltering tree, ancient
and ~rugged-and around the high wall Of
the forbidden garden, peering with wistful
eyes through some friendly Aperture made
by neglect and decay, at the blooming things
within many, perchance, whispering hon
led words to blushing fair, willing ones,
amid the fragrant GOODNESS and romantic
loneliness OF that sacred spot-lovely DESPITE
OF change and decay
We passed from the lone, sad mansion
away through the desolated and moulderino
RUNS OF a once proud and happy home. to
tne Tomb OF WASHINGTON! There. unon a
messy knoll, within the faint shade of q sin.
gle slender tree, stood Chester and Mabel, all
alone. A crimson spot glowed on either fair
cheek, and the long, dark lashes drooned
heavily over the modest eyes. So deeply ali.
sorbed were the lovers, that our proximitv
was unobserved, Cousin E drew me-
laughlngly from view. Chester's voice rose
softly upon the quiet air.
My Mabel mine now. mine forovor y,
Fore0er !" foated TREMENDOUSLY from the
malden's lips, and the sp~irit-union of two
young hearts was sealed with a-a-u
MA! l comprehend-pray go on p
They advanced to the ironerailino at tho
vaults entranca