Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-01-09
LADIES DEPARTMENT..
Written for the Spirit Of the Age.
The Social Circle.

80 49, wv
last l held communion with you, my friends.
When last | sat in social converse with this
dear circle, Autumn, DEAR delightful Autumn
was arraying each tree and flower in its gol-
den hues decay and change was scarcely
visible on the emerald trees, and my petted
flowers still wore their bright colors and rain
bow tints, But, Time rolls his c~easeless
course" md with him all things change
Old Winter has come, and is passing away
and another new year has dawned upon us.
May il como fraught with joy, and happiness,
and blessings bright to each and every one of
our Circle.
And now allow me to return my grateful
thanks and high appreciation of the many
compliments which have been bestowed upon
me by some Of cur dear Circle; and think
not, dear giris, that my ardines in making
my acknowledgements, was voluntary, or the
result Of Indifference. All, no; | should
have responded long ere this, but for a GER
tain " Spirit" who, for the last three months,
has haunted me continually with his dear
presence. By some means or other known
only to spirits, he found his way to Aethelin-
gay : and then, We Gods how he haunted the
romantic shades Of my woodland home
Scarcely q week passed by without. finding
him a participant in our social joys and
now, will you believe it! Mollie NJ. longer
dates fromhcr own sweet Acthelingay, but the
Metropolis Of the Old North State, now claims
her as her adopted child, and joyous faces and
happy hearts have already endeared her to the
far-famed Getty Of Oaks" Oh I've q beau
tiful home here, dear Circle, where / would
like to welcome each and every one of our
gifted band. IT'S not enactly like Minnie's
fancied home, being a little more recherche,
and on q mere extensive scale, though the
hat rack" and segar case, and cane, are all
here.
When / read, q short time ago, dear Car
rie's beautiful verses addressed to " Mollic
of our dear Circle" how my warm, young
heart thrilled with q deep feeling of love for
the fair Carrie, ind how | would fain have
clasped her to my bosom, and pledged her
my hearts best affection Should we never
meet, Carrie dear, always remember there's
one heart that win ever dearly love you. And
/ want to tell " our Willie" that he shall not
have all that neble, generous heart of yours,
however he may WOO and win, for l 1cW claim
q share Of it. And Florence Fay, too-oul
own peerless Florence-how kindly ant
sweetly she talked Of Mollie in her last beau
tiful letter. BY tho way, Florence, Matte
May, myself, and the good Spirit" cam,
very near making our appearance at " Arrow
Dell" a few weeks ago we were in A
all in sightof your cosy home, and have sine
regretted we did not make a call" From
A we went over to Washington, and ne
yer did we spend our time more pleasant
than in the " City of magnificent distances.
We had the pleasure of meeting with Coy
Reid, one Of the U. S. Senators from the OIL
North State also, Gov. Minslow, Col. Pain
Mr.. Clingmnn aud other members of I'll
House of Representatives. We arc ind,
obligations to Gov. Reid, especially, for h
polite attentions and repeated c~ivilities viii
in Washington. lie is a bland, 'affable ge
tleman, having characteristics in consonan,
with that Of his native State for becomir
modesty and elegance of manner. lie m;
hob ollltY hS lHt lACACOIy W uuLhlC VI d VI
space, and then go Down in darkness forcy
but, like the sun, giving the reflex Of
clear, bright and strong intellect, emitti
no uncertain or doubtful light.
Every morning, while'in the Capital listC
ing to the squabblc for the Speakership, 1
eye almost mechanically ran over the Gro,
in search of some fair Grecian face that l COZ
recognize as our own Florence bait in Va
No bright, bcuming eye, rejecting the dept
Of a pure soul, spoke to my earnest gaze, a
each day l left the Capitol with an almC
involuntary sigh that no Florence was the
And now, while l think oft, dear Floren
let me tell you that IRE seen the Mojor! q
bless my life if he is not really O f
looking gentleman, instead Of the cross, or
ty old bachelor that lac represents himself
III wager anything that could the Social {
Gle only get a glimpse of that magnifc
mustaehe Of his, it would play the miscl
with their hearts, and completely turn ii
wise heads. And then the Majors so agI
able, independent Of his distingue looks
irresistible mustache; and | really think
VIII uShbNO USllcE 70 our ClTclo III IuIufC
Poor Aunt Maud, it seems, has never
yived her marriage with the Major; not
word even Of counsel or advice to the v
laughter-loying portion of our Circle, has
written since. And LCra, Matte, Carrie
Kate, what has become of your Do le
have some dear, charming letters from
soon. Spring, Summer, and Autumn h
passed away, and Winter come again, 81
dear Lora has cheered our Circle with
beautiful letters. Of Lora, we cannot |
this continued, wcarying silence from
Do, sometimes, think Of Mollie and Ma
especially, pining for a dear welcome IL
from you and am sure, then, your W
heart will indulge in sweet communings
us.
promised n welcome to Claude, err
applied for admission into our Circle, an
here it is-G warm and hearty welcome,
young friend, and may you derive both p
and pleasure from your communings
our noble band. To Fredonia and Ma
we also extend q cordial greeting, and no
soon TO hear from YOU, each and all