Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-10-17
W0Iume I.
The Changes of Life.

AAO'
The realities of life are full Of admon;,;o,
The events hat pass before our eyes in the
course Of a few years, the changes that tato
place, the characters that are deyeloned viii
II read rightly, be found full of practical
knowledge, and calculated not only to warn
put 70 direct. We are too apt to overlook
kthe ordinary circumstances of existence 20
De startled by results, without tracing ort
the causes. Most human beinos br-rr
from day to day, without slancing at the
past rejecting upon the present, or regard
ing thetuture. We are all to a certain o.
tent creatures OF the hour. We live. move
and have our being in the scenes and excite
ments Immediately around US. IF va boor
OF the fall, the wreck, the ruin of fr;ond -
acquaintance, we comment hastily, and in
most cases rashly-seldom look back with
the object of ascertaining The real source of
the calamity, andrarely perceive that at least
some OF the errors which precipitated tho
downfall of the victim are among ON. wool
nesscs and infrmitiesi
How numerous-we repeat-the chqnaes
@F,II
Of AJe! In what wide contrast! Let an in
dividual who has attained the age of fifty,
pause for a moment and gaze around him.
He viii discover that the children who, long
after he had attained the years Of manhood
played about his knees, are now among the
fathers and mothers of mankind while those
to whom re booked ~ in hovhood, are either
Georcpilan an totte1ins vintage, crharc raised
to the Valley ofthe S~3aa.lsw rfnaath., The
:. span e human life-a5w n~a--o.. 1 few
years, we appear, s,~aG e, al are gcne-
Even the ncares. 2ci 4~c2,cst Of the beings
with whom cur 2zis- en- is intertwiped. pass
= away, and a.e specify f,rgot:en, or if not
" forgotten, are remembered SO carelessly, as
scarcely to excite a momentary feeling.
q The philosophy Of life is understood by
or few. 1t is pr%actised by still fewer. We do
To- not live SO as best to provide for our general
10 and lifelong happiness here, as well as in
the live to cOme-but in most cases, for the
oJ qualification of momentary wishes, desires
ro- appetites and objects. The young, wher
they start upward and onward on the hill
-o- side of existence, are naturally buoyant, gay
10 and cheerful. Imagination colors and brigh
tens the future-they have little to regre
no. in the past, and hasten on their way rejoic
lv ing. When, however, they reach middI
nds me- III point peyohe' ana pause 1r a me
nd ment, with the object of asce~rtaining thei
,rn real position and prospects, they begin t
realize that there is much of shadow as we
as of sunshine in human MISUNDERSTANDING
are false, corrupt and treacherous-that tn
elli- evil principle still prevails to fearful extel
AND thus a feehng OF sadness and dlssatl
r in faction steals into their hearts. When, to
as it often happens, they find themselves d
ceived and betrayed by those they tried al
and trusted or when, after having toiled fl
years to secure some darling object, the
awake in disappointment and mortifcatio
we cannot wonder that for the moment tn,
hink should grow misanthropic, and view wi
= = distrust all their fellow men.
good 1t is at such seasons that a kind, an {
very couraging words all important. Tn
ison- should then be taught that life is full
IS. or change-that the brightest morning is p
pc we ceded by darkest night-that time, faith a
energy should never be inculcated and DR.
tised with aspirit of more determination I'll
fever "PPO"' ""P'''" WI
= and cover before the tempests of the wor
orely ''1.ons 'o8e'he' Dei
an hundred thousand dollars, were ten vet
ago, not worth as many cents. They at t
time hit upon a happy thought-ventul
ioi upon a new enterprise-prosecuted it {
con- and night with interchangeable zeal, and
'ereSI results are before you.
spond
If And these are not rare cases. The Oh
1ilful ces are as numerous as ever. Lie IS iull
nsure changes. But in order to take advantage
unon them, the anxious and adventurous N
taste have their thoughts about them. They M
;mnlo observation-disclosures having at
nencv determined, they must be prepared to
,ouph and act with energy. Let us despond and
No spair because of one or two reverses, and
an will soon be over with us. Integrity, dcti
iudoe faith aud energy, and any reasonable
# and dertaking may be accomplished.
him
Of life SwEARING.-Too much cannot be said
mess ; gainst this vulgar sin when cur ears are d
onset saluted by the jargon Of rude oaths and
&C puStinO ipGtS At ayary +uro ,va can !