Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-06-11
FOr INC DpIrl
Rainy Days.
BY \

BY FANNIE. {
Patter, patter, sound the rainarops,
On the brown and messy caves,
Mingling with the music-rustle,
OF the trembling leaves.
Patter, patter, mid the petals,
OF the lonely, bursting flowers,
Smiling by their soft leaves parting
How they love the showers.
Patter, patter, on the pavement,
And against the window pane,
How | love the merry tinkle,
Of the Spring-time rain.
Patter, patter, its the measure,
Of my hearts own music throbs,
Knocking at the door of memory,
With its silent sobs.
How l love Il rainy day. j mean just such
a day as this, when the tiny crystal drops
come pattering with q musical tinkle upon
the window-sih, and l can almost see the
grass shoot up, and the soft leaves smilingly
unclesing, to admit the dewy guests to the
shelter Of thoir fairy cups. And the birds
chatter and wGrble to each other in such
joyful strains, Of tire ruin, that / can tNIy
understand the spirit, and j almost,feel my
self initiated into the beautiful mysteries of
bird language.
You are indebted to such days as these,
reader, for most of the stray waits that come
floating to you from my pen. The very
steel point OF It in notion, as II 6ound to Keep
time to the dripping overhead. Nnd its
knockings at memory's door, seldom 60 I'M
needed some slumbering tenant is sure to
be aroused, by it's continued beating 'and
the sombre misty shade, that it throws over
nature, forms a delightful background, for
the wreathing of fancy pictures.
There is something SO quiet and soothing
in the sound of the rains fall, and then too,
it is such a safeguard against all intruders.
feel more indisputably my own property,
on such days than any'other.
Oh | love the rmin-the soft, moistening,
dewy rain, distilling life and beautp to na
ture, and the balm of peace to the heart. ]
can hold sweet converse with the past, with
out fear of interruption from any unwelcomt
occupant of the present.
Mcmory's magic pencil has been very bu
sy to day, tracing away with rapidity anC
vividness. 1t has brought before my vision
scenes of "long ago." that transpired be
| meath the mellow skies of the far off SUM,
south, where =" dark magnolias wave," an
t~hesweetest of roses are blooming perpetually
| have wandered again in that flower
dell, where dwelt in those LONE NE g a&4k td I've
while tps uhd gallant youths of that fair
land, haze fitted with vividness before me-
Y a rare and beautiful picture. While til
tawny faces, cleft with ivory, of those son
0 and daughters of toll, in their coarse attir
I and 'kerchiefed heads, form the sombre bac
ground.
And many o merry laugh wells up, as
: revert to my attempts at housekeeping dl
q ring the family's absence, and mode of maj
agement of these phenomenon of hama
nature.
For however well | might have fancie
q myself versed In the book of human natur
experience constrained me to admit that
j had not advanced through the FIRST chaptt
OF Negro nature. Their astonishing shrew,
ness and wit IL, some matters, and their pc
feet senselessness in others, rendering the
such utter anomalies, that inv progress
the study was very tedious.
But the picture changes, and now / a.
= wandering amid scenes of mirth and festiy
ty. | am standing within the spacio,
y apartment of Deacon Smiths stately ma
u sion, where the beauty and pride of the su
u rounding country are gathered, to witne
the bridal OF his dark eyed beautiful daug
in ter, the fair Susan, whose sparkling wit al
Of sprightly rejoinders are the life of ever
circle.
And again before me floats the brid
train, the fairy form of the bride with h
snowy wreath, and flowing vail, and her ira
es OF bridesmaids, six in number, ia their spC
is less tissue robes, with their gallant atten
is ants, forming a most imposing spectacle.
ct Now the solemn words of the bridal Ger
mony are said, and the throng are usher,
y into the hall where are tables grooming wi
~ ~ the most delicious refreshments, and CLOWN
nc with silver ware, that almost paled befo
d, the array of beauty and sparkling eyes tn
to surround it.
- But again the picture changes, and S
in months later l ana standing once more with
that self-same dwelling. But fairy form
r attired in bridal robes no longer fit throu,
aU the spacious rooms. The sound of mirth a
tie festivity is hushed. The sombre shades
re- mourning and the wall of the mournel
nd alone break up the solemn stiffness til
no reignS.
ed For there upon a low bier, aErayed for
IN last long sleep Of the tomb, lies she, the bri
~ OF a short half year-but now, alasi t
ne bride of death.
as Sadly we laid her in her last long restir
ed place, taking home to our hearts the soler