Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-07-09
LADIES DEPARTMENT..
Written for the Spirit Of the Age
The Social Circle.

Written for the Spirit Of the Age.
The Social Circle.
uopE oN-H EVEN. III
Uuore he A star that viii lead us astray te
md deceiyeth the heart as tue assp 0"' u
ye, twas Mercy that gave it to beacon our Q
Tho i,s halo ilumines, where it never can $
reach" !
vesiit was the hand Of Infinite Mercy
dcor Circle. that placed the bright morning. +;
star. Hone, In every human heart DarS unu
drn,rv indeed, would be our way, d'd not
a. rays plinner thro' every cloud, ana point
US 70 " brighter days ahead"
When the sorrows Of the world peat upo"
"a aud the pillows of misfortune ron Z
Tn,nd When clouds darken our pathway,
a.I 40 seem TO flee away, then will that
one bright star arise in all Its brightness anu
glory. orod coreworn
nan on O,boss venerable head the SHOWS oi
t~av winters have fallen, aud now cause
gis hter on the brink of the graves H.
,,tas 40 nleasaf life are nearly run. ne
worIl' What h a the busy scenes Oh she
lie Homes the . sils that cheess an
ed, tho golden bovsu " ~ 9 9n " Tvs
spirit SOAR away ~ n
Ihe aaeetionate 0ei5s sDd oFss.;a- :.
cFrfue their checks, and the light Of love
to speak from their eyes? They Hope to see
the children of their love, rise high in the
world-becone great and good. The little
ones who now have no regrets for the past,
no cares for the presencand no hopes for the
future, are destined to realize or dash to the
ground many warm and sunny hopes.
The youth in the bloom Of manhood, with
form erect and sparkling eye fixed on bright
scenes in the future. What is it that gives
20 his step its firmness, to his cheek its bloom
and to his eye its brightness Hope is whis-
pering to his heart dreams Of fame and re-
nown. Already, with the eye Of fancy, he
can see mnltltudes swayed by the r%esistless
power OF bis eloquence, listening spell bound
20 words that cause the heart to burn, and
brow 10 throb with excitement. Already he
can hear shouts of applause, echoing through
che Senate chamber
Already be can feel tho pressure Of the
laurel wreath upon his youthful brow, and
hope sheds her cheering ray DER the rugged
md thorny path that leads to the Temple
OF Fame"
See the pale student, as lie keeps his lone.
ly yigils bending DER some musty folio. The
midnight lamp sheds u faint glimmering
light on his massive brow, and throws fan.
atnstic figures on the walls around. The
lines Of deep thought are traced on that pale
but youthful brow. The fires of genius
and intellect are shining through those spe4k
ing eyes, lighting up with almost angelic
brightness u face that was otherwise, toe
plea and sad. Sad no, not sad for sad
ness can never cause the sweet smile tina
now wreaths his lips, nor the brigh husl
that mantles his cheek Us warm, pure AM
holy thoughts " rush uubidden Ger hi
soul" What can cheer his lone and drear,
life He hopes to become the instrument Q
good 10 others. To carry glad tidings f." t
heather lands. To teach the heart of til
idOlator to bow in humility to the King G
Kings, to tell the story Of the Cross, an
Of robes washed white in the blood of tn
Lamb tf God.
ITO draw mems ~clinging hopes aJore,
And place them on q fathers love-"
And still farther on, Hope points him to hi
eternal reward IN Heaven. See the youn
maiden too, Just "blushing into womanhood.
She yet fingers on the Threshold and lool
back with wistful eyes on her free and ham
childhood, where her dearest wish was
gatLer tue fresh spring flowers and wreat
them into g%arlands, to deck her childish brov
She remembers her joyous schooldays to
when she delighted to pluck flowers of III
dying hue to crown the brow Of age. 81
chcrishes those buds Of promise yet. The
bloom brightly in her young heart but ms
they not 10 blighted, withered, crushed
the cold and chilling breath Of the worlc
Thus the young maiden muses. as she tur
from the happy past aud gazes into the 70
future of tho school girls fancy. SwC
Hope folds her gentle wings over that fiji
teying heart, and sends a richer tint to t
rounded cheek, a softer light to the brig
eyes, and Il warm, loving, hopeful smile
the cherry lip, and the trusting maiden fea
nothing in the future-hOpcs everything.
Alas how often is that trust betrayed al
those bright sunny hopes crushed in
dust. Thus we al have our hopes: the viii
headed sire, the bright-eyed youth, the 40
matror, the gentle maiden, all-all.
There is a star that cheers our way,
Along the dreary world Of woe,
That tips with light the waves of life,
However bitterly they flow.
lis hope-'tis hope, that blessed star,
Which peers thro' misery's darkest cloud
Aud only sets when death has brought
The pail, the tombstone and the shroud."
Hoping to hear from you all soon, d
girls, | am yours in love,
MAGGIE GLENN
The Valley.