Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-09-24
LADIES BkPARTMENT.
Written for the Spirit Of the Age.
TO THE SOCIAL CIRCLE
SABBATH MUsINGs.-No. ,.

Pr 49, NAHNAA NAA1AA AAhEh9 NOEONhCA
cry imaginable comfort and luxury. Not
a defect in its arrapgement-not a failure
IN its ad~aptation-not a flaw in its beauty
or usefulness. Where an imagination suf-
ficiently fastidious to dare suggest an i'm
provcment upon any portion of it The
most cultivated ~epicurian taste can find no
fault with the flavor of its nutritious grains,
its vegetable offerings, or its luscious fruits.
Every variety of palate is had in remem-
brance and ~abundantly provided for. Do
we turn TO the atmosphere ? 1t is dark
ened with the edible tribe on the wing.
Shall we look down into the waters p
They are teening with a lavish abundance
which never fails ? Walk out in the for
est or glance DER the meadow? Animal
food of every kind gives back an assurance
Of prolonged plenty. The eye can CON-
mand no spot IN the Whole landscape spread
out to our view, where God has forgotten
TO SOW the means of. sustenance for His HUI
man family Nor has the distributing
seasons for seed time and harvest ever been
overlooked or omitted.
Shalfwe look deeper than the earth's
surface, with her rich drapings of vegeta-
bic wealth ? Auriferous veins or streams
Of silver bright burst upon the vision,
whilst many others Of her hidden produc-
tons, though far less dazzling, are no less
eagerly sought for and moulded into forms
of usefulness. Diamonds of ~bewildering
brilIiancy-Rubics stepped in bushes deep
Sapphires clothed in azure light-Emeralds
vieing with Springs fresh verdant tints-I
Amethysts of purplish hue-Topazas Of
golden CLEANS, are being necessarily pre-
pared aud finished by Natures master fin
gers.
Animals Of every description, adapted
for each variety Of climate aud appropri-
ately fitting every position of utility or
pleasure which the inventive faculties of
man call for, have been furnished, obedi-
cat to La bidding. The frightfnl worm
lives ont its feeble day, but in the short
period allotted, it manufactures the mate
rial which is to ornament grandeur and
lend 4 more ~lustrous magnifcence to roy
atty itself. The busy bee sips all the flow
Crs' nectar sweets, but drinks no poison in
to polluto the stores laid up for man.
View these, and a thousand other ar
r~asgcmcnts, minute and of daily occurrence
though they be, we still find them combi-
ming in each and every form to fill the sum
of human desire and cave nothing more to
be wished for. And yet how efectually
could all this have been accomplished with
out that enchanting garb Of beauty which
nature ever wears, that glorious diversity
of landscape which awakens so many emo
tions of corresponding beauty in the in
ner temple of the human heart. Each re-
turning spring-time we start up as it were
to find the earth invested with freshel
ch.rm, as if growing young again beneath
ths warm, luxurious sunshine, the wits
per of genial zephyrs and the Weakening W
Of stirring leaves, thrilling birds, and softl,
hummjng bees. Down in the heart O
each frail blossom this spirit of beaut,
glows-and away up on, the smiling sky
with its verdriiting shifting cloud-wreaths
light as the airy fabric of a brides gossa
mer vcil-and out upon the forest bough
where the green quivering leaves are blush
ing rosy red under the kiss of the fros
king-carpeting the glen mbroiderin
the Notwithstanding a sparkling rad
anco to the waters-garmenting the hi
tops-decking old oceans caves-eve
where, she lives and moves a thing of sui
til but still tangible shape. And where
her wanderings lead, whether hanging OF
Aowery wreaths or breathing her dulct
strains in the footsteps of spring-ripel
ing the golden grain aud glowing fruits
the ardent summer time-wrapping ii
earth in the gorgeous mantle of early
the " russell brown of later autumn
scattering the pure snow flakes in her re
licking play about old winters brow-it
still pleasant to feel her power and a
knowledge the force of her charms.
And here we arc at a loss which to wo
der ut the morc-the brightness and bea
ty Of natures ever changeful face, or Il
emotions which a contemplation of b
charms never fail to awaken. From q
stupendous mountain peering through t
feecy curtain which wells Heavens face,
the quiet vale sleeping in the sunlight
from the laundering ocean bearing t
huge steamer upon its billowy breast,
the pebbly stream which the fonC est moi
er's firstling may ford-from the forest c
defying the beams of the midday sun
his power, to the almost impercepti
moss cliuging to its roots-from the terri
storm cloud heaving up in heavy waves
blackaess, to the blush of the sun-kiss
Heavens brow-from the faint chirruI
a tiny insect, TO the deafening roar of
forest king-from the fedgling futter
in its nest, to the eagle soaring to his ey
amid the clouds-from the hurricaI
dread prostrating blast, to the perfur
zephyr Wooed by the invalid-from
melodious influence of spring, to the Dire
desolation Of winter-there is no sens
the beautiful-no conception of gent
poesy-no dream of spirit soothing
mony-or emotion of awe-inspiring g
deur awakened in the heart, which
not find a correct realization in the v
ing scenes which the shifting panoram
nature presents.
Who can analyze or explain the mi
appreciation of the grand and beautiful
Who account for the yearnings after
pure and holy which it inspires?
can %unravel the feelings of awe stirre
in the soul when the lightnings lurid
and thunders pealing crash proclaim
the storm-god's chariot is passing by
the pean of JOY swelling out through
hearts din corridors when the smiling
takes the rcins from the hands of the /
ing blast and paints a glorious pathw
light athwart the eastern sky WI
m the wonder at the perfect but
&C Al F.orr,rtb loasoroo a. -