Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-11-28
LADIES DEPARTMENT..
For the Spirit Of the Age.

"
most that he says. Truly while l read his
p~iaintive story, l imagine l could almost feel
the workings Of his grief stricken heart.
May he trust the promises Of the Book Of
Books, and remember that
"sho is not lost but gone before,
Where they may meet to part no more"
But before you decide that, In comparison
with the loss Of a wife, all other b-ereavements
IRE triHing," take with me an ideal walk to
yondor farm cottage. Now as we near the
lovely spot, mark the n%eatness Of the farm
and oil its appendages-now its vegetable
and flower gardens, with all their varieties
and beauty. How loudly do they tell of the
united strength and ingenuity Of man, with
the delicate skill Of woman.
Look we'll at the happy arrangement and
exquisite taste Of all the outer and inner parts
Of the cottage. Ali methinks that while you
gaze around, you instinctively exclaim, "Hap
by is this cottage, and happy are the sh rers
fit" BE not too hasty in your decision =
nor until we entor the family room. Tread
lightly, speak softly, for in this chamber the
good man is about TO meet his fate. In the
midst Of life's unfinished plans, a mysterious
Providence is removing him from the embrace
Of a helpless family. See! the sad group that
crowd mournfully around him Neighbors,
friends, relatives, wife and childrcn-all, all
look dark and dolorous, save the eye of this
dying christian. How solemn the scene He
is now delivering his last address. Ills neigh
bors and friends, he exhorts to follow him as
he has followed Christ. Begs that when he
is seen no more among them, that they will
be friends to his desolate family. What an
angelic smile plays over his attenuated face,
as he tells them Of his prospects Of Heacen,
"sweet H~eaven-his home, his long sought
homel" lie now calls for his little infant,
and with his almost feshless arms clasps il
TO his bosom OF what n soul thrilling pray
err does he send up to high heaven, in behal
Of this smiling, lovely babe. Then after i'm
printing a lingering kiss upon its soft cheek
he gives it to a friend, not to its now agoniz
ing mother.
Now all the little ones are drawn up. Lis
ten, while no points out to them the evil
and temptations Of life, and begs them eve
to shun the paths Of vice and folly. The
with emphasis adds, "Oh! my dear children
make sure work for eternity, and meet you
father in Hearen." Now q pausel Is h
gone? No, but a tear bedims his eye. II
makes another effort to speak. Hushl tits
his wife. She approaches, bends over him
catch the ~faintest cadence Of his now near
inaudiblo voice. Nature seems to rally O
wvr-AtrenGth-0nd he is AGAIN ab
wife," while his countonance speaks volum
Of true affection and sympathy. l turn frc
the scene, for OH who can witness the ser
ration Of hearts so long knit together by t
strongest ties of love. 1t is too much for /
upheaying bosom to bear and yet l canr
refrain from listening to his last words to h
whom he has loved more than aught on eal
beside. ! look again, and she has just
pressed the last burning kiss upon his n
cold, clammy brow. All now sec that
last threads of tho %"silyer cord" is loosi.
and L" the golden bowl is fast breaking.
supernatural brightness illumes his ia
while a ray Of transcendant glory seem:
light up his eye, as he exclaims-
Bright angels are from glory come,
They are around my bed, they are in my room
They wait to watt my spirit home,
All is well, all is WE'LL"
Oh the blissful halo that plays arc,
him, while the heavenly mansions sweep
fore his enraptured vision. And as he pas
the hpJid rirer Of death, he sees the splen
Of Immortality streaming abroad, and inv
ing his Home" 4 few more ftful bre
ings, and his spirit is caught away, Il"
heaven, to glory, and to God" 1t LEI
the body as calmly and sweetly "as the
ing winds Of heaven expire in the last hi
murmurs Of the Eolian harp :" and the
press Of its peace is left as q signet upor
c~lay-cold features, now slumbering in thu
pose Of death. Oh! what a painfully plea
stiffness pervades the scene. All present
that " their loss is his etornal gain"
length n stir is made, and the poor, ali
breathless woman is borne to another az
ment, where kind ones in vain endeav,
quiet her. Her babe is placed in her a
and around her gather her littlo ones. Z
with impetuous force, the awful truth b.
upon her, that her children are FATHERI
and that she is indeed a WIDOW. None
the bereft can imagine what are her feeli
and language is too meagre to describe Il
Oil who can tell the full import Of the
bidding word /" pidolor 1t is the EN-
ment Of much every way terrific to her
has been the happy wife Of an idolizing
band. She has lost
Her friend, given by God in mercy and in 10y
Her counsellor, her comforter and guide;
Her Joy In grief her second bliss in joy;
Companion of her youth! in doubt
Her oracle, in high pursuit her wings,
Her guardian angel through the storm of
They lived in each others esteem, and
happifed under its influence; and sh
not fully realize her loss, until she is
PEELED to meet the shallow pretensions
designing, and " taps at the hollow hea
imbecile friends" But this is doubles
before her for she will soon have to II
unskilled hand in providing for her
charge alone, both mentally and physi
And much will she DO thrown in the
sc N ooId-hearted oenaor;opa vworld