Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-03-26
Jmbmer 80,
LADIES. DEPARTMENT..
Written Tor the opirlt oA tho
The Social Circle.

~
The Social Circle.
/" there arc evil hours In our life
when but \ thoughb n word, a look mas power
To dash the cup Of happiness aside
And stamp us tereteaee.
How often, dear friends, are we reminded
Of the truth of these lines, when circllng In
the gay and giddy whirl Of pleasure and ex-
citoment when mayhap tho heart IS light
and free, the eye sparkling and bright, and
tho check glowing with real, heartfelt JOY,
Then what trine may stamp us wretched I!
Rut Il is n wise provision Of Providence, de-
q siOnod 10 show as the vanity of all earthly
lows. 10 teach US what shadows we are, and
remind us that we are but daily pension
ers upon His bousty. If not for this, count
less would be the numbers wrecked upon the
auieksands Of ambition, vanity and pride
hut this still small voice comes to us, TO lure
IA back, often with tears, to a just and num-
bic estimate Of our frail lives. cannot then
saw that these arc evil hours TOO many Oh
us recall them, and regard those debaslng
moments as the first foundation of a letter
and more enrolling life. ] know that they
are moments of deep, humiliation, and that
of times not = solitary star of hope will CHS
ten upon the cl0aded sky, but thenth lesson
tbougha bitter one, puriies us--and strength
ems every moral resolution we have hitherto
made.
But I had not intended to give you a lee
turo upon the vanity Of all earthly joys no,
no. we hear IL hsrpod upon every hour OF our
lives from the sacred desk--from our child.
-LA1A's little serro~g@-uud In Is uIousauu ull-
iercnt ways from all things created. All
teach Us We are passing away, and necessa-
rily awaken in our minds the one absorbing
question Of life 'lphither an l going "a
question to DO answered in Eternity. 1t be-
hooves US then rs q
/" Sky born, sky. guided, sky returning race"
TO guard aud watch our precious moments
TO live as we would die. And now l am tt
whisper n word to 'Sambo' and Small tina
knowing that change is inscribed upon al
thines below-that we are all shadows-bu'
vet for our own improvement and amuse
meut we write for the Social Circle, are no
so selfish when we arc writing, but that W
hope our readers may be amused, and per
hans one stray thought like bread upol
the waters find It's way to the cold and chill
ing heart and warm it to life, or mayha
kindlc hope in the despairing. If one mo
ment Of hope or happiness has cheered q lone
Nv heart. awakened by the perusal of on
communications-if one solitary seed ha
been sown 10 bring good fruit, and if on
shaft, may be, ut random sent, has arreste
the evil in its course, then we are indeed n
wGrded.
Again Srringtime is with us, and after
long, drcary and cold Winter, l am sure W
hail it with 10Y especially as Minnie's in
Is thnwing. How | envy her sleigh ride
but we nf the South did have n rare chan
TO spend a Northern winter during the la
two months, only not being accustomed
such n s~noc-fall Of luck, VIC presented qui
n Crotesuue appearances. Minnie, dear, "
must leave MS n trace Of those moonlig
sleighings. and occasionally refresh US wi
~glimpses Of such happy lines. Such men
ries during Summer will be peculiarly
freshing; Tut mind now, and do not hi
your avalanches very near upon 'Alphel
and chill his Joy and ardent enthusiasm
being allowed to take the chair next to yC
Ills 'trepidation' would most likely increa
Gertrude Perry and / would enjoy the fl
from our quiet corner by the Preside.
But it is late, and like Frank surrenC
myself up to dreams-those bright drea
which group all Of you around me. Th
is Estelle with her soul heaming eyes, 6
quiet dreamlike expression and you
Frank, so full Of your wild pranks and hGI
ouainted. | should attempt to pay you
NbhN wv IIlNf NV 10 ~ 10 Il "a OhiJ AS
pass for the present, with q mind
you repeat And there is Claude who h
urcd mo with those beautiful lines-'H
again! Can | not persuade you to
steadily upon that star yet t~winkling afar
and let it cheer yocr heart? Let me ask
10 impress upon your heart the full mean
of the words M desperandnm. 1t has chez
and perhaps saved many n wreck foat
helmless aud alone upon LIES stormy sci
Let il be u broastplate, n shield for all ii
aud all circumstances.
And Noble. our blushing bride, our
ronly housekeeper, | will not forget you
night, nor yet Maggie Glenn, who some
is very dear to me. Pray enter, sweet
aud cit by me. Our gentlemen Circlers
NIL bowed you u welcome, and a 'hapT
see you Miss So no ceremony, we de
here. All are welcome who viii write S
thing worthy TO interest and improve I
Come Their with your brightest and p
thoughts to enlivcn us, and let us uni
show the grumbling Sambo and Small
pardon friends for mentioning such insi
cant creatures) that we are not of the
mental calibre rs themselves.
MATTE Ma
Elm Wood.