Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-11-12
fast approaching. and we will forget the
GOODNESS without in the warmth within.
Goodbye. lone.
Lilly Dale, Va.
Written for the Spirit of tho Age.
Letters from the H~earthside.
.scribcd ID az NocinL G,rcl

IRScftOc0 10 me SOctut Ctrcte:
This is a clustering day and in the sigh
ing winds | hear the mournful requium Of
summer. How for the last month has
beautiful but sad autumn made the lovely
landscapes around my home to glow in
gorgeous splendor. Far away as eye can
reach over the quiet meadows stretched
Maryland's most lovely forests tinted with
the rich hues of the autumnal season. The
crimson sunsets poured their long lines of
s%lanting beams over hill and dale, making
nature as one vast painting, colored anew by
the hand ofthe Divine Artist. BUTT wassad
time. True it was beautiful, and | adore
"the beautiful in every" thing, yet those
richly tinted forests, the flowers dying in
all their blighted beauty, the fiery sunsets
of the Indian summer, and the echoing
winds signing so mournfully over all, was
a sight depressing to my heart. One or
two frowns from winters half averted face,
have chilled the last flowers of autumn and
caused the leaves to tremble and fall, and
now through the dry, almost leafess branch
es, the wind spirits wander signing asthey
goo And O~punofe / am%bised telaok
WlGhll " CI1OJ hcuJSj ~ l. plle
wood and draw near my cheerful IN
hearthside once more as of old, with ny
books, writing and sewing.
But not as of old, oh no, | can send
forth my hearthside letters nor, after ira.
cling them with glowing cheek and smiling
lip, sure that one dark eye will read the
lines | write, aud that Gertrude Perry
letters are welcome to one heart. WarlanC
| do believe you think | an some nissan
thropical old maid! Not a bit of it, sir
that is only what l may be, for we none o
us know what we are coming to. Yol
drew a vivid picture of yourself. Poo
fellow, | pity you, for bachelor life in it
happiest state seems to me to be miserable
l can see you in imagination as you sit i
that sacred and secluded sanctum, wher
feminine slippers never dare intrude. Yo
tasyoung gentlemen are so fond Of sitting
in nearly a reversed position, contemplation
tue toe of your handsome boot with,ever
appearance of satisfaction. The smoke
E yolr segar surrounds you like anything bl
a halo. Your huuting, ard shooting a
paratus and books lie scattered around, al
your faithful dog Proposes sweetly upc
your over-coat in the corner" Your pc
sonal appearance, if not exactly neglecte
: is somewhat disregarded and a ueyy ug
/ frown dishgurcs your white brow which y
can't see for the spider-webs over the gla,
Now, Warland, is the picture overdrawr
If so, | leg your pardon. But let us ia
d another peep, oh "Richayd IS himself
A bright fire throws it's cheerful lighto y
h not only your neat apartment, but over t
face and form of its graceful owner a
ID proprietor. Books and papers are fold
and placed away upon your writing tax
n~eatness and order reign throughout
ne quiet room. BY and by a light step
,c proaches, a girlish form enters and pau
e. at your side, a white hand rests a NON,
w on your ARM, and a musical voice
er quircs-'you don't want to bc read t,
no Your wife seats herself at your feet,
ne prisons one of your hands, and reads 10 y
On all SORTS of funny things out of The Sp
&C. of the Age. The paper is laid aside. a
he a voice whose very intonation is mu:
it courses gaily or gravely as your word
Ier tates, and you gaze down into that p
lie %upliftel face, and mark how every liGeam
,m CLOVIS with woman's full and persect low
we "Dos't like the picture? ?" as Claud \
ep Dotte said. Truly | think it is far the f
est of the two. at IS not good for mar
", be alone" Warlan1, | am afraid
in paid our sex a poor compliment, by tell
| me how well you get along in your bao
IN lor sanctum. = y Z =
ly, There {. one, two,-ten o'clock as | |
t. How provoking, to be startled out {
in pleasant revery by a chime, telling Of til
lcd rapid flight, But pleasant dreams,
Vi; airy visions danced through my mind {
l laid down my pen, leaned my cheel
ose my hand, and gave myself up to a q
on hcarthside revery. How many plea
faces pecped up at me out of the cul
DIN flames, and fantastic fire sparks. Blu
uld o'clock wjW come, so to every one who
acit read these lines, | bid a kinl 4"
row. night" War'and fl dreamed that I
are the golden key, to your heart, l TIL
that shouldte for taking possession immedi
s. and after fairly entering, and peeping
and every little shady corner to see if there
/, for any other occupants, l would turn til
.ppi- ,Jorerer and lock myself in. Good b
GERTRUDE PERR
Mr.. ROSE VALE, Md.