Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-11-12
LADIES' DEPARTMENT..
Tor lho snlrit Of the Ago.

me in thought in my sad and lonely hours,
and in those hours my heart often yearns
10 be loved By you; to know that in some
Of your hearts the lonely lone has awakened
some interest. I have often wished, when
reading your letters, that / tor had genius,
that / had power 10 make the hearts of
others thrill as you have made mine.
have sat in tho calm starry hours and
dreamed bright dreams, in which ] thought
that I had written " words that breathcd
and thoughts that burned but ] only
dreamed. It is a dangerous gift to have
power to lead for good or evil the hearts Of
others; aud perhaps / should rejoice that
the fatal power is not mine yet | have in
the grey twilight hour, when all nature
seems preparing for rcpose, such scenes Of
thrilling beauty that long to paint them,
that others may gaze on them and feel
their hearts eSplnd in love to " Our Faith
err fJr lis loving kindness.
il is a still, bright night the wind
comes along gently tanning my upturned
brow rs / gaze on the Queen Of Night,
who majcstAally ru1he among the. clouds
wG6sc whitcNIc6cS spray seeihs Eekingb
hide her light and on the floating orbs of
MIGHT. That whea thousands Of years shall
k,,s passed, will shine with a lustre as
y or Iii mt ~ that which now gives night
her beauty. There is no sound abroad
save low strains Of music, which come
stealing through the air to fall on my ear
cnG s5pthe my heart for the busy day Of
ten awtkens thoughts and feelings which
for our peace bad better sleep forever deep
in the caycrns OF the heart. And rs thus
sit, with all this beauty and music around
me, I look upoa life calmly, almost sadly;
and ~ | box and see 50 much SORROW and
80 li,tli true happiness, | almost wish that
there wa SD.uc retreat-some way for me
to escape lie But then my wild thoughts
aGe aJIthed when | remember that / am
led hv my Father hand and | look up to
Him. seeking fDr His blessing to rest upon
me.
Amoag many things that rose before
me ia my %reverie, was the sin of I%ntemper-
aucc. / looked, and behold there was
scarcely Il crime in the black catalogue of
sins 10 which this vice led not. Intcm-
pcrluce is Il broad river, sending its tribu-
tarics over the whole world and many
broken hearts, tears of bitterness, prayers,
and supplieation it bears upon its dark
and turbid bosom. As | gazcd upon this
stream | saw a youth in his beauty and
strength 90 forth into the wide world
The deepest loyc Of his plrcnts was law
ishcd upon him, and their prayers were
aroundhim. Thoyprayed fcrventIy, d" Lead
him not into temptation but deliver him
from evil" They looked upon him with
pride, and well they might, Tor he was no
bic, high minded, generous, loving anc
had il not been for the demon in the wine
cup he might not have Disappointed then
in their fondest hopes. But alas tn,
tcmpter came to him in its most %allurin;
orm-ho yicIded-FELL! Hcwon love
" girl b be his bride. (Ah the sorrow
in store for her who gives her love, he
happiness Into the keeping of one VIII
loves, "thc wine when it Is red" Tongu
cannot tell the anguish of her lott 500
after he gave up his judgement to his appC
tite he drank deeper and deeper, and tn
more he draul the stronger his love for
became, until it swallowed up every othe
love. The love for his sad and lovely VIII
and for his p~rattling babes was cast frol
him, and he hngged 10 his bosom the lov
Of strong drink, unmindful of the dee
wounds it Inflicted. He drank deeply fl
wears; his constitution bore up bravel,
hut at last unable to Withstand the contil
utd shock, it rapidly sunk and he died
druukard's death, aud occupies a dishol
crcl drunkard's grave, leaving a lionel,
wretched wife and orphan children
live in sorrow aud poverty. In this i
staa.e the lives Of many were darkeuc
by one using to excess the despicable bow
- .. 80. l. 1T Il 800 . l..
in the use OF spirituous liquors and tho
who IT. not use it themselves do not co
domn it in othc.s.
I have heard por'ons when urged to 10
temperance -~3rictics, argue that it won
he signing away their liberty tn
Acknowledgement that they could not &C
syu themselves. They say that they
accountable to no man for their acts-tl
their acts have no influence up II others
Nh, that they could see their error 1
ere it be too late, usc their influence
Temperance, for God, and for the haI
ness Of themselves aud the Ladies.
Receive my earnest thanks, dear
German, fer tho good that you have
c,mplished and the much pleasure t
YOU have given me, during the last
years, by TIC weekly visits of the "Ae
/ have just received the last issue and
compelled % look over its pages to see
could nos fad ono eE my-fgieaas and
fore me there came the gentle, tFInval
whom | like so much, anl "Lora,"
4" Mollic." and Claude all of who
dearly love (that is all but Claude, L l
not say that | love him for it is leap
and he might think-well no matter wi
All! Minnie, dear, what advice was
You were Giving Alphcus a few weekssi
grit oring! Is it possible that
give THAI advice. Ii it had been wit
that he had fallen 10 lore, | shoult
have thanked you for it. Iagreo with
that " falling in love is a hazardous
ness" but, Minnie, dear, did never q '
u look, or tone send the blood in a
cloud over your bright face? Did
the sight of a manly form mingle in
dreams nor a firm gentle step make
warm heart beat unanimously ? And
Alpheus, when you have followed Mir
'dyice, please inform US Of the fact
how you managed the case, and if the
is perfect, you may expect to have
applieations ftom .loyc-sick SWANS fo,