Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-06-13

N@0e ASAAAS O0 % AANSAO Alsbs VA " AAA1A 1 "
you never half dressed him oyer-but on the =
whole, / thInk we have just as much right {
to be heardaas be has, for if he has been to s
Mexico, III wager q new three cent piece, he t
never was wounded, unless it happened to be I
In the back for who ever knew a real brave,
daringS manly soldier open his lips about
anyepecimen of feminality, except to indulge
inAR entirely different strain from that he
chnnnted about us. Never mind, | have a
shfewd idea in my brain that he will catch
it yet. Wonder if he hasn't made a recent
'investmentment in ~calicoes and muslins p
and when she discovers his slurring propen-
sity toward her sex, won't she have a wo-
mans revenge? Epaulets and pop-guns
won't Brighten her, after she gets used to
them, I'll warrant. Indeed l venture to
predict the Major will not interfere with the
secrets Of our little coterie again.
/ wonder, girls, if any of you experienced
the same thrill Of pleasure at seeing dear
Mrs. Sigourney's name in our paper that l
did? Many years ago, when my school
days were about drawing to a close, her
Letters to Young Ladies' was forwarded to
me by a kind friend, whose interest in my
temporal and eternal welfare | never yet have
had the slightest occasion to doubt. The
giver we'll knew my reverential love for the
Author and therefore Judged that it's i'm
pressioRs upon my mind might be pure and
lasting. l have read and re-read that book
many times it is a priced volume in my
library to this day; yet, never without the
vibration of a new kindly chord-never with
out a purer flow Of feeling from the fountain
Of my soul--never without a deeper appre-
citation of her motives and power to do good,
than was ever felt before. If there be one
amid our social band that has not derived
pleasure and profit from that work, let me
assure them there is as simply beautiful and
truthful a literary repast to regale and
strengthen their minds in reserve for them,
as any in which they have ever INDUCED.
Time has been passing very calmly and
quietly through the apartments OF my hum
BILE home since | wrote to you last. There
has been no startling occurrence to arrest
the even tenor of my life-no serious event to
mar the equanimity of my social relations.
And yet, amid all this peaceful monotony,
how many changes occur in the inner life
how many transforming influences became
gradually braided through the fabric of that
existence which the world seeth not, How
many doubts and fears-how many glorious
glimpses of that earthly love which HEAVIER
designed should shed a deeper radiance up
on the happiest hour, and span the pathway
when adverse clouds are gathering thick am
fast with the bow Of hopeful promise-hoV
many new and beautiful sensations-hov
many deeper condolences and stronger affec
tions may thrill the heart strings, yet Civ
to the world no sound-may form a curren
deep and strong without a ripping wavele
to disturb the surface Of daily life. Mar
from the face and actions of his fellow mar
receives impressions and derives conclusion
God looketh into the heart and registers th
struggles between our fallen and better n;
lures which are to secure our c~ondemnatio
l or approval before the hosts of Heaven an
; the c~ongregated myriads of a listenin
f world.
During all this time that has been passir
\ so quietly, however, I have not been inse
sible to the beautiful influence of the sprir
time which has claimed so many correspo
ding illusions in your letters. Oh l a
always young again, and the animation
lie childhood comes back with its life.inspiril
o hours. 1t often occurs to me how intimar
ly and naturally we might associate o
moral improvement with the changing 81
!; sons as they come and go over this beautii
:" world. In the spring time, when the for'
20 is hanging out its emerald hued drapery, a
Is the howers open to the suns warm kiss
p when the birds triu a neEv and fresher so
he and the bees hum their over busy tune an
nd the sweet clear biooms-Ryhen the skies or
nj bluer, the water clearer and all nature
i sumes q varied yet beautiful garb, how n
urally the idea suggests itself that we
~ might put on the mantle of a purer and /
Is ter life-that from our hearts might 20 u
Ii deeper song Of grateful praise to harmon
as in its high and holy rational improvem
IS. with the new and varied forms the GU
world was putting on. AS the summer ste
h on with her burning breath, developing
fruits and grain that are to sustain and I
~ serve oar physical system, so we too sho
le- see that those objects and pursuits best
ID culated to save our souls at last, grow
by strength and consistency according to tt
AN grand and important end. Autumn gi
ns. maturity, that the h~usbandman may gar
into his barns ere the winter cometh w
on' he canno work. So the heart that has b
ps, approaching nearer and nearer to the
md vine character that is given us for initial
owe with the command, be ye perfect as y
yer Father in Heaven is perfect has but to ,
in holy, happy anticipation for the g
reaper death, or yet anew with the autun
blast that sweep the ~rustling leaves thro
the dim forest isles to strip from the h
each vain and sinful desire, each unkin
bitter feeling, that it may be the be
prepared again for the fresh and beau
garniture of a moral spring. Winter is
more strictly the season for such prep
ton. There are no bright eyed flowers
flashing waters, or green arched forest s
%tuaries, or melliauent voices to vile the
a.. from the haunts of men but its quie
the Gov stems of an onen;nc snr;na Ri
ng /; my fancies do run away with me. {
ion, bye. LOR
AZ