Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-04-16


Dedicated to the " Social CIRCLE" in general
and TO "MAr1IE MAY" in particular.
by "RAvENswooD."
[coyCLCDED.l
Notwithstanding Hans best bow and
assumption Of the most pleasing counte.
nance, h. was rcceiFed by his future pu-
pills, with a smile frots Pauline and half |
suppressed litter from Emira This occa-
stoned great confusion in our debutanfs |
feelings. Pauline saw it and Immediately
invited him to a scat. In few moment
tho old gentleman excused himself and
left the apartment, leaving the trio to them
selves. Miss Pauline soon engaged Hans
in conversation, and found to her surprise
that Notwithstanding his uncouth exterior
he was pos csscd of mind of no common
calibre His conversation bespoke him at
once tterdtus, though not on an extensive
scale, aud youth Of natural good paris.
and what was more, plain common sense
an article exceedingly scarce in the gilded
halls Of fashion, and as rare among the Sd-
rants. As to Elmira, she tossed her pret-
ty head aud waving curls, bounded from
the sofa, aud ran out into the passage,
where she laughed till the tears came, at
Hans hooked nose, big hump and odd ap-
pearauce. Miss Elmira's proceedings die
not pass unuotced by Hans; however, be.
fore the old gentleman returned, he had
come to feel quite easy, and had managed
in that short space of time to get on terms
Of friendship with Miss Pauline The
twain seemed to have mental regard for
each other, and Paulinos prediction for
her future tutor was as great as Elmira' )
antipaihy. So passed the evening whereon
Hans Van Iuuker was introduced to the
two Misses Clayer.
On the morrow, Hans arose with the
lark, considerably refreshed from the wea.
riness consequent to his toilsome pedes
trian journey Of the preceding day with
buoyaut hopes and bright anticipations fol
the future, which in ina ination he saw
already realized. Hope had poured her
delusivc beams in upon his soul. During
the night, his oir.castles, which were high
before, had risen TO giddy elevation; alas
too lofty and reared on too slender foun
dation to withstand the strong, cold winds
Of adversely, which ia his ethorial flights
fault stands not alone on the Record Of
Fate, as the history of human nature plain
ly shows. His dreams had been medly
of good aud bad, Of pleasant and disagree
able Under the potent spell of the en-
chantress Somnia, he had fancied himself
monarch, king, a famous potentate am
master Of wide spread domnions, with mil
lions Of slavish subjects at his nod. Th
scene changed he stood alone amid til
mouldering ruins of an ancient city b
beheli around him the sad evidences of
nations former splendor, a city's ancier
magnifccnce, the vestiges of its grnuder
In bygone days; an ancient warrior SUE
denly arose from the remains of decayc
temple and waving his hand, with an III
earthly voice cried, all, all is vanity, sal
. the preacher !! So saying, the warri
disappeared among the runs. Hans ne:
fanclcd himself proprietor Of untold thou
ands; he was surrounded by bags Of 20
aud chests Of silvcr;-' he awoke aud four
it all dream There was one face tn
haunted him in all his dreams, and th
was the face of Pauline
Breakfast over, Mr.. Van Hunker infor,
cd the old gentleman that he was ready
enter upon his tutorial duies The hi
was taken. Hans was straghtway us
cred into the apartment designed for t
instruction room for the two Misses G
yer. 1t was handsomely fitted up. Arou
the hooro Of this room lay scattered, glob
maps, mathematical instruments, mus
volunns, painters utensils and many otl
Il l., ,l, N.,I, e
erdtus. Hans contemplated these thir
for moment in an ccstacy of delight.
n,w saw new chances for literary progre
He was a regular book-worm and boo
of all kinds were a perfect rage with hi
1t may not seem strange, therefore, Il
he was delighted at the prospect of havi
access TO au extensive libra y, which
poverty had hitherto denied him.
will not weary the reader, with the
lation Of the particulars connected W
his first lecture to the young ladies alb
the sphericity of the earth, intended, | S
pose as preliminary to set of Geogra
ical demonstrations, which were to fol
in due time aud in their proper order;
fec it to say, that Hans, as he lectu
thought more about Pauline's dark
than he did about the globe under
thumb. His pupils expressed their pl
ure at his successful debut as a schools
ter. Emir, however, had hursted
an outright laugh at his unfortunate hi
several times during the lecture, which
termined Hans 10 visit her with a sum
ry punishment therefor, on some flu
occasion. /: is enough to say that ii
first act on the stage of schoolmas
passed off to the entire satifaction of
old gentleman as well as Of his daugh
Time wore on. Days, weeks aud mo
few by. Still affairs at Claver Villi
mained much the same Hans Van {
ker signally triuu. phed as a schoolm;
and lecturer on Science. The numbC
his pupils had increased from two to
and Hans now considered himself in a
way to make fortune. His fame
man Of learning had filed the who
the surrounding country, and from al
scure, unknown schoolboy, lie had q
once become liop and person of
note. And especially his reputation
mathematician, philosopher, chemist
alculator Of almanacs, was unparal